Songwriting Apples

Crown of Stars

2009-01-31T12:57:00.003-05:00

Crown of Stars will likely never be performed live, but it’s up on the player because I think it’s worth a listen. No, I don’t have any intention of abandoning my folk, acoustic act. This “song” came about as a result of some mad experimentation last night. It’s been a few years since I wrote anything other than on the guitar, but this one reaches out a bit. Somewhere deep inside me is a movie/TV soundtrack songwriter that is trying to get out.

A quick note about the arrangement and recording. There is no “programming” on this recording. The different instrumental voices were all played live in real time by me either on keyboard or acoustic guitar.

The spoken word you hear in the background came about after I listened to the music a few times. I heard this “nearly intelligible” conversation going on in the background so I went to an old book of poetry I have, given to me by a friend of my grandma’s back about 35 years ago, and picked out three poems and read. Panned one left, one right and the other dead center and there it is.

My left coast brother in songwriting, Steven Wesley Guiles is partially responsible for the creative outburst as well. He has hornswaggled me into trying this thing called FAWM (February Album Writing Month). More about this later. In the meantime, thanks for reading and listening!

John
January 31, 2009

Crown of Stars.mp3

The Song is in the Air...

2009-01-27T23:51:00.004-05:00

This post came about as I sat around the other night and reflected on a great live gig at a coffee shop (originally posted on my Wordpress Blog). The difference, though, was that I had been obsessing (as I am wont to do) over a particular song for about a week. I finally got to play it out the other night and as I wrote this blog entry, I played the song over and over to see what would happen. It ended up being more than just a "post-show blog entry"....

*presses play and reflects on a great evening*

Well, it’s “fare thee well”, my true love
The song is in the air
I hear the West calling
See what’s for me there

This song, The Open Door by Darrell Scott, has been “in the air” all week. I’ve been playing it daily, just like right now. I’ve been humming it in the shower and waking up in the middle of verses in my mind. I catch myself staring out the window at work hearing the melody. Tonight it’s the soundtrack for my blog entry. Playing on repeat, helping me to remember…
Some travel in the darkness And rest upon the shade Some wrestle with their demons And face them unafraid

Musicians travel in the darkness quite frequently. I’m no different I suppose. We rest upon the shade of the evening. Wrestling with our demons, we take the stage unafraid. We exercise whatever ills cumber us about. By performing for you we become liberated. We become free. And, hopefully in some small way, we free each other, even if only for a few hours.

We argue for our better selves
We only ask for more
We take the mirror from the shelf
And find the open door
Find the open door

Like Oliver Twist, we ask for more, but not in a materialistic or greedy sense. We try to improve our craft every time we perform. Hopefully make that connection with you a little stronger this time. We take that mirror from the shelf and try to break down the distinction between performer and listener, searching for the open door. Jiggling doorknobs… that’s what we performers do. Hoping someone lets us in.

I love you with a fever
I love you with a past
My heart is a keeper
As long as it will last

Tonight wasn’t about the music at all. There was love in the room tonight. For over two hours it flowed back and forth between us. From where I sat, tonight was a keeper, for sure. You listened, talked, sang, ate, drank, swayed to the music and interacted with each other and me. For as long as it would last…

Sitting here a few hours later, I remember each one of you. I see your faces. As I sing, you talk, eat, drink, laugh, smile and sing along. Tonight I am grateful for the songs that I write, the songs others write that I am able to learn and sing and the folks who came out to be a part of this evening. These “shows” are not about me or you. What are they about?

As long as it will last
I’ll tell you what I know
We walk this road together
And we walk this road alone

From where I sit tonight, it’s about a group of people walking together with one another for a few hours. I’ll tell you what I know… we spend too much time in this life walking alone. Once in awhile we connect to one another. Music helps us do that. Thanks to everyone who came out tonight for taking a little musical walk with me.

Until next time…

“Fare thee well”

John

January 23, 2009

FAWM: Crap And Diamonds

2009-01-27T22:15:00.007-05:00

Do yourself a favor. If you've ever said, "I want to write a novel" or "I want to write a song" or maybe "I want to learn how to play (insert instrument here)" then this is for you.

If you've ever said any of these things, it's time to get busy and stop talking and start rockin'. Join FAWM (February Album Writing Month) and take a stab at writing 14 songs in 28 days. You've never even written a song before? Cool! Then you're welcome at FAWM. Don't think you can write all 14? Who cares! If you write even ONE song, you'll have one more song than you had before.

You can write instrumentals. You could just write lyrics. It's up to you. There's no pressure (except the pressure you put on yourself) and the community is extremely supportive.

It's time to dive in and get workin'!

This may sound very "infomercially", but it worked for me. Two years ago John and I started this blog. We wrote a song or two a month. It wasn't easy, but we DID it. It was all about knowing that someone else was there to check on us and see how we were doing. It was about having a deadline. It helped us create by having some set goals. FAWM is just like that. By setting a goal (write a song every two days) you have a real deadline that helps focus your energies.

Last year I was able to do this by dropping a lot of unnecessary things from my life (TV, extra web surfing, sleep, meals) and I wrote down and pursued almost ANY idea that came to mind. Were all the songs good? Uh...no. Some were total crap. But, in the piles of crap were several diamonds that were well worth slogging through the other crap to find.

Friends, it's time to make some crap. And diamonds.

See you there!

Peace,

Steve

What Is The Future Of Songwriting?

2009-01-19T13:03:00.002-05:00

Here's an interesting discussion taking place on the 50/90 forum about the future of songwriting.

Ira Glass Indirectly Teaches Us Songwriting

2009-01-14T00:12:00.003-05:00

If you listen to public radio, ever, chances are you've heard one of Ira Glass' snippets of This American Life. He's a GREAT story teller and he talks a little bit about what makes a good story.

There are several of these and I think they all will give inspiration for us as songwriters as well.

Dive in!

PART 1

PART II

PART III

PART IV

What do you think? Anything YOU can use as a songwriter?

Apples and Birds In The News

2009-01-08T01:13:00.003-05:00

Well, not yet. But real soon.

Apple will soon make it easier for you to copy iTunes purchased songs to any device you own.

Here's the news.

Andrew Bird has two new records coming out, "Noble Beast" and "Useless Creatures". You can get into his songwriting process at one of my favorite music blogs. Here's that article.

Songwriting Inspiration Information

2008-11-30T18:20:00.007-05:00

awesome photo by this guy

First, forgive the unforgivable sin of blogging: infrequent updates.

Here's some new content for ya:

Songwriting Sessions Hosted by John Mayer called "Inspiration Information".
Sure, the video is sideways, but it's worth it anyway. A friend at Facebook told me about this.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9

And these REALLY COOL podcasts on the structure of song from Pandora. Each podcast focuses on what makes each TYPE of music unique. What are the elements that make country music SOUND country? What are the song structures and chord progressions? Very useful for a songwriter.

Podcasts on the structure of music.

And this super-duper awesome blog that interview several different songwriters and asks how they managed to write 50 songs in 90 days.

Songwright.co.uk

Hijacked!!

2008-10-27T00:38:00.001-05:00

Well, somehow our website address at www.songwritingapples.com got hijacked. We're pretty sad about it and if you have skills, and the means, and you know how to get it back for us, we'd sure be grateful. But if not, life goes on.

We still have all our posts here. Some of the files are missing and a few of the pictures (like our header).

More posts to come.

Tweedy Tells His Fans To Just Shut The F Up

2008-09-27T00:58:00.002-05:00

And I'm kind of glad he did.

And he said it in such a nice way.

Probably the nicest use of the F word in a long, long time.

Five Four? What For?

2008-09-26T22:01:00.002-05:00

Because it's COOL, that's why.
Try it. Break out of that 4/4 thing and put an extra beat in your step.

Here's the NPR article on the subject.

They Don't Fall Far From The Tree

2008-09-20T23:22:00.000-05:00

My song made me proud tonight.
He layered multiple vocal tracks.
His a six year old rock and roll super freak.

Here it is:

Proud Moments In Rock History

Types of Songwriter Publisher Agreements

2008-09-11T18:26:00.002-05:00

It may not be the sexiest information on the planet, but if you ever want to make a career (or life-long hobby) out of songwriting, you might do well to know a little about these legal documents that might affect your career.

10 Best Lists From A Master

2008-09-09T19:05:00.002-05:00

Alan Parsons knows a lot of stuff.

His advice might even be worth listening too.

You should.

Listen.

Read.

10 Best Bits of Musical Gear Ever

10 Things Everyone Should Know When Recording

Setlist for The Vault Martini Bar Show on 9/6/08

2008-09-07T23:24:00.003-05:00

It's going to take me a moment to figure out my set. It changed the moment I walked in and scoped out the venue. Not drastically, but I realized I would need to do something a little more "rock" and a little less "singer songwriter". Not that I HAD too, mind you. Matt Coleman, the curator for the evening, gave me full permission to run my hour however I wanted, but I decided to alter my set slightly to make it flow better in the environment. (Read "Lots of people drinking and walking around, stage next to bathroom").

First, The Vault is a bar with a very unique set up: the inside has a great vibe and then you head out back into the alley. Old brick buildings go up two or three stories with lights hanging across between buildings and chairs and stools against the sides. It was really cool environment to play in and I hope to do it again. My only issue was the lighting. I had a hard time seeing my lyrics, which at some points I desperately needed. Oh well.

Opening the evening was a lovely bilingual set from Olga Tapia. She played acoustic guitar and had a wonderfully tasteful bassist accompanying her. I wish I could have heard her a little better, but I was sitting toward the back of the room and was hearing both the music from the front bar and from the little side bar farther back in the alley. She still did a great job and I really dug the cover song she played, but I can't for the life of me recall what song it was now.

Here's the set I played as I remember it. Please feel free to correct me if you remember it differently:

American Girl *This was planned originally and left, because who doesn't like this classic Petty song?)

Simple Math *My friend Eric really likes this song and as it turns out it also seems to be one a lot of people liked (including my brother who has recordings of just about every song in my repertoire). My brother Dave and his wife Elsa also really like this one. I need to do a proper recording. The one I do have doesn't even have the bridge section, which is really cool (imho).

~~Questions For The Wiseman~~ *Well, this song got cut because I didn't feel it had the energy needed to sustain itself in this particular setting. Lots of people drinking. Lots of college age students on their first weekend back to school looking to hang out. It just didn't seem the right place for this song.

~~You've Got A Heart So Big You Could Crush This Town (also known as "Walls")~~ *I SO wanted to do this song by Petty, but it was so dark and my lyrics were so lightly printed that I couldn't pull it off. I think I was the only one there that night reading lyrics. A little embarrassing, but you know, I did write 70 songs this year, so I've only just started actually PERFORMING them recently, which means I'm relearning many of my own songs so that I can pull them off live. This song WILL be played soon, but just wasn't ready for this particular night.

Tammmy Faye, I Love You *I love this song. It's also been a favorite of many people at live shows and via my myspace page. This (along with "Questions for the Wiseman") will be on my solo album that is nearing completion. I can't wait for everyone to hear the final version.

Move On *I introduced this as "Not a political song"...because it's not. But that's the title of part of the Obama campaign so some may have taken it as a supportive song in that vein. It's neither for or against either candidate...unless you want it to be. :) I had a hard time with this song during the key change. I could sing it just fine, but I kept missing the chords. Nothing like missed chords to keep you humble. Well, if you don't take risks, you can get stagnant, right?

Short People *Not the song by Randy Newman, though I TOTALLY stole the first several notes and words. After that it's all me. Several lines were given to me by my good buddy, Mini Mendez.

Los Angeles/Stand By Me/Bridge Over Troubled Water *Los Angeles is a Pushstart Wagon song that has been a long-time crowd favorite and is almost always a request of someone. I love the fact that a song that has NO chorus and really, no repeating lyrics is such a favorite. It's just four verses with a repeating chord pattern of C-Am-F-C.

Green Beans For Breakfast *Another fun song that people seem to enjoy even though it's just totally wacky. I always have fun performing it too. I just wish I could do a better mouth trumpet noise. I really need to invest in a decent kazoo. Anyone wanna donate one? I used this song to switch moods after the heavy medley preceding.

Don't Give Up (I Hope This Finds You) *This song was written awhile ago for a friend at work that eventually passed away from cancer. I was never able to play it for her. This song is another that people seem to connect with when I play it live. Perhaps because it came from a genuine place. Not that that is the only reason a song connects with people, but in this case I think that's why.

May He Keep You As You Go *An alternate title for this song could be "The Irish Blessing Song". I wrote it to be just that. This will also be on my forthcoming solo release. I can't wait. It came out wonderfully in the recording.

I'm Sure I've Made Some New Friends *I'm using this song to close my sets because it just seems like a good show ender. Another tune that should make it to my solo album. Keep your ears peeled.

Following my set was a great set by Chad Villareal. He plays a mean funky acoustic guitar. His rhythm and lead playing reminded me of Dave Matthews (in a good way). He also had a sweet drum machine that he jammed along with. He really go the crowd moving and much dancing occurred.

The evening was closed out by Matt Coleman and friends. Longtime friend and collaborator Chad joined him on drums and I wish I had everyone else's names. All I know is that the combination of bass, drums, electric guitar, and Matt singing and on acoustic was magical and a near religious experience. It was obvious that this group of players not only loved music, but loved playing together. (And if they didn't, man they sure faked it well!)

This was a late evening for me. I crawled into bed around 2:30. Yowzer. I'm an old man now. :)

Tom Is So Focused On The Prize

2008-09-01T11:47:00.004-05:00

image by Scott

Tom St. Louis has haunted these halls in the past. He's a songwriter. He has a VERY CONCRETE GOAL: To "Get My Song In A Movie".

I was reading through a few of Tom's blog posts and I realized that most of them ended on this note: Would this song work in a movie? Tom would then proceed to explain what kind of movie and/or scene in a movie that his song would work. I can't help but think that if he continues on like this it will happen.

Tom, I'm pulling for ya'.

Anyone else out there set some specific goals? I'm sure goal-setting is one of those characteristics of Highly Effective People.

Vampire Weekend, 70+ New Songs, Summer's End, the Silver Jews

2008-08-24T21:03:00.006-05:00

keyboard picture by

Forgive me bloggers, it's been weeks since my last post.

But, in my defense, I wrote 50 songs for this year's 50/90 challenge hosted by the fine folks over at fawm.org. I've got an album that's about 80% finished.
I've met a few songwriting goals. This February I wrote a little over 20 in 29 days. That puts my year song count at 70+. Dang. I've never written that many songs in one year's time, but then again, I've never tried until now. Granted, many of the songs will never, ever be on an album, but many will be coming soon to a theater near you.

I've discovered a band that reminds me of an indie rock ska band fronted by Paul Simon. I must have had my head under a rock and missed them. Surely you've heard their hit single? And the band name is just awesome: Vampire Weekend. C'mon! What DO vampires do on weekends?

In other news, the lead singer of the Silver Jews gave quite an interesting interview on the process of writing songs for his album. His a complex and interesting man. And he had an eye transplant too.

It's with a little sadness that I bid farewell to summer. I have quite a bit of freedom to work on music during the summer months, one of the reasons I originally became a teacher. Now I enjoy teaching AND playing music. Any chance I get to do both at the same time, I jump. If you haven't had a chance to catch some of my songwriting tutorials on youtube, you can find the whole lot of them here. The teacher in me had fun.

I'm Covered

2008-08-07T11:17:00.003-05:00

"Covering" a song by another artist is simply the process of playing a song that was written by someone else.

Now, if you want to record that song onto a CD, you'll need to read this article.
It's painful. It's not easy. But if you're a musician and you care about being fair, legal, and legit, do yourself a favor and read this.

Clever Joe's Cover Song Advice

This Guy Is Awesome

2008-07-26T10:14:00.001-05:00

There's no getting around it. Ronald Jenkees has mad keyboarding skills.
Watch this youtube video and tell me I'm wrong.

:)

How To Write A Song III

2008-07-24T15:32:00.002-05:00

These videos are definitely labors of love. They take a lot of work to put together, but they seem to be beneficial...and I'm learning more about Adobe Premiere Elements. Like, it's youtube upload button is a big fat lie. It neither uploads nor goes to youtube. I had to import into MovieMaker...but that's another story unrelated to this.

I wrote THIS song and filmed the whole process.

It's called Except, Perhaps, The Human Heart.
It's not a real upbeat number, but it is a song. And when you need to write 50 songs in 90 days, every little song counts. :)

Naked Baby of Teen Spirit Fame Now A Teen

2008-07-24T14:15:00.003-05:00

This just seemed really interesting to me.
I'm sure there's a song in there somewhere.

The article of the boy who's private parts made rock history.

Paul Weseterberg, My Hero, Releases 49 Minutes of Music For 49 Cents

2008-07-21T18:42:00.004-05:00

Paul rules.
Period.

I'm listening to his 49 minute track right now. It may have lots of slop, but it's Paul's slop, so it's probably better than most. In fact the first "track", "Terry, Who You Gonna Marry?" is quite catchy.

What a great idea. This is up there with Radiohead's "pay-what-you-want" scheme. Clever.

Write A Song, Then Pass It Around...

2008-07-21T10:51:00.003-05:00

I found this at NPR and thought it was incredibly apropos.

Here's a link to the full audio article. It's pretty cool. It sounds a whole lot like what collaborators at 5090.FAWM.org are doing.

Here's the creator's website: Telephono.org

I'm emailing this guy for sure.

Radiohead Makes Video With No Camera

2008-07-16T10:56:00.003-05:00

This "video" is pretty cool.
I heart radiohead.

See it here (hosted by Google).

Some Good Reading For Songwriting

2008-07-06T23:14:00.005-05:00

Starting with this article in the New York Times songwriting blog Measure by Measure, An Uncommon Thread.

The best of Nerd Rock with Weezer.

A new blog I discovered called Songwriting Zen. He's also a fellow 50/90 participant.

Another 50/90 participant has a great title for her blog...The Shy Singer/Songwriter.

Some tips of Self-Producing Your Own Music.

A 639 Year Performance!

2008-07-06T20:59:00.002-05:00

Now, I've been to shows that seemed a little on the long side. Around the bands 2nd or 3rd encore I was heading to the parking lot. But SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE YEARS!!!

You have to read this article.

That John Cage was one cagey guy.

Steampunk, Melodicas, and Dub Reggae, Oh My!

2008-06-27T16:10:00.003-05:00

Well, it's funny how things turn out, isn't it?

I started this month (well, last month) with the intention of writing three Steampunk-themed songs, and having a grand unveiling upon this very website. However, in attempting to pin down the genre of steampunk in a musical style, I seem merely to have chased it away. Instead, this month has produced two pieces of music that I shall share with you.

The first MP3, entitled "Further", began as a Steampunk piece. I figured that acoustic guitars and organs would have a lot of interplay in times where steam ran amplifiers, and so I set about attempting to create a cathedral-like space in which an acoustic guitar gave way to an almighty organ (fnarr, fnarr). What happened next, I'm not entirely sure - it may have been the fact that I've been listening to a lot of Porcupine Tree lately - but the time signature became slightly off-kilter, the bass became busy and the structure more epic. Add in an organ/electric break and you get something which I'm actually very proud of.

The other thing I want to share with you this month is an experiment, brought on by the fact that I obtained a melodica. Firstly, I love experimenting with the flow of an album - songs which, unless you look at the track number, you aren't certain are new songs. Secondly, melodicas are big in dub reggae.

Yeah, I can tell you're worried now. But it's okay.

Anyhow, this track begins with a hard cut and an Am chord. That means that any other song that ends on Am could, in theory, be hard cut at the last note and segue into this one. To play with flow even more, this track transitions into a straighter rock piece - now that, I'm not finished writing. You get a little taste of the verse riff at the end of all the dubness.

Whew. On to next month - and 50/90!

MP3 1 Further
MP3 2 Dub Experiment

Help Me Be Good

2008-06-25T20:27:00.009-05:00

Here's a new one... don't have a recording of it yet, but I'll put up a link as soon as I am able. Looks like the last tune I wrote was Nothin' All Day back in January, so this is a welcome addition. I'm truly amazed and impressed with you all and the songs you've been writing! Keep up the great passion!

Short commentary/introduction:

We're all affected by bad decisions and/or mistakes. The person who makes the mistake suffers, but also the folks in their circle of influence sometimes pay a price. This song thinks a bit about those on both sides...

Thanks for taking the time,
John
p.s. Thanks for all you do with the site, bro...

Help Me Be Good
words and music by John Natiw

He woke up on Sunday and made one last mark on the wall
The last time he lived as a free man he couldn't recall
Since then it's been nothin' but dodgin' these big iron doors
Tryin' to stay out of trouble and settlin' scores

They gave him his old clothes and said 'don't you ever come back'
The rest of his life and a Bible tucked into a sack
Twenty one years to forget all the things that he'd done
He walked through the front gate, his face turned up into the sun

And he said...

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin' is help me be good

The day that they took him away she was too young to know
Why a man that she wanted to stay said he still had to go
In the years that have past pain and anger have come home to live
In the place of a man who just didn't have nothin' to give

She thought to herself more than once 'he can go straight to hell'
Then a voice from the front room said 'momma, can I get the bell'
Twenty one long years of thinkin' 'bout what might have been
She turned to her son and said 'go let your grandaddy in'

And she said...

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin' is help me be good

[instrumental verse]

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin'... is...

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin'
All that I'm sayin'
Please hear me sayin'...
Help me be good

Write Fifty Songs In Ninety Days?!

2008-06-25T18:15:00.004-05:00

No. I'm not even considering it. But I thought about it and I think I've found a good middle line.

15/90.

From the people who brought you February's FAWM Challenge (14 songs in 28 days) comes their newest challenge: 50 Songs In 90 Days.

Fifteen songs in ninety days. That might be possible. Yes?
It begins July 4th.

Here's the official website.

Wish You Were In My Space

2008-06-25T10:33:00.003-05:00

Here's the latest from one of our contributors (and a fellow FAWMER), Billy Sea.

I have a basic chorus in my head but haven't recorded it yet. (if you remember my music from FAWM, it was mostly country/folk. This is no different, lol) When I lay it down with music it will probably need a little tweaking.

Song - Wish You Were In My Space

v1
That computer seems to take up all your time
I can remember when your attention was only mine
But now it feels like you've drifted away
And you seem more distant every day

v2
I used to love the way you'd smile at me
Now I only hear your laughter at something on that screen
I'm afraid I'm losing us, I'm afraid that it is true
So I'm praying that my music can still get to you

There's nothing else I know how to do

Chorus
I wish you were in my space
I wish you were with me
I wish that I could break the spell
And I could finally set you free
It's hard living without you here
Together in this place
I wish you were beside me
Wish you were in my space

v3
If my words don't get through to you this time
I'll try again with different phrases, different rhymes
I love you too much to ever give up on you
And I'll just keep at it, hoping one day to break through

There's nothing else I know how to do

Chorus
I wish you were in my space
I wish you were with me
I wish that I could break the spell
And I could finally set you free
It's hard living without you here
Together in this place
I wish you were beside me
Wish you were in my space

(c) 2008 William Crowe

LOL, that was fun, Hope it isn't too terrible :)

Billy Sea (Bill Crowe)

Heartreak

2008-06-20T23:13:00.002-05:00

Here's a new little instrumental bit that might sometime become a song.

2008-06-20 Instrumental

The Hard Work of Rewriting

2008-06-12T00:51:00.005-05:00

I don't enjoy rewriting. But when I arrive at the better lyric, the more apt phrase, it all seems worth it.

I've rewritten a lyric tonight and I'm much happier with the finished lines.
I'd share it, but it's too fresh and I'm thinking I may regret it in the morning.

We'll see how it pans out.

:)

**EDIT 6/12/08**

Here's the original lyric (and the original song can be found here):

There was a wise man on a hill who once said
things fall apart, degrade and disappear
Now carry me down this hill to your town
I'll tell you why we're all here

So I carried him on my back for miles
As I labored he still carried on
'bout seeds and how one day I'd wish
I had a bucket full of them

How do we fit into this Earth?
Have we been wanderin' since our birth?
And once I get there what am I supposed to do?
That's something I'm hoping you could tell me too

When we got there he sat in a chair
The kind with springs all sticking out
He leaned forward and caught my eye
And then he opened up his mouth

We are diamonds, we are pearls
Lost treasures in this coal-mine world
If we never step outside ourselves
How can we be so sure? **weak melody line here**

How do we fit into this Earth?
Have we been wanderin' since our birth?
And once I get there what am I supposed to do?
That's something I'm hoping you could tell

How do we fit into this Earth?
Have we been wanderin' since our birth?
And once I get there what am I supposed to do?
That's something I'm hoping you could tell me too
That's something I'm hoping you could tell me too

Now, the revised lyric (bold parts have been changed in some way):

There was a wise man on a hill who
once said things fall apart, degrade and disappear
Now carry me down this hill to your town
I’ll tell you why we’re all here

So I carried him on my back for miles
As I labored in the dust and heat
and the questions filling up my mind
like water drops into the sea

How do we fit into this Earth?
Have we been wanderin’ since our birth?
And once I get there what am I supposed to do?
That’s something I’m hoping you could tell me too

When we got there he sat in a chair
The kind with springs all sticking out
He leaned forward, caught my eye and
then he opened up his mouth

We are diamonds, we are pearls
Lost treasures in this coal-mine world
the pressure and uncertainty
that’s all we are guaranteed

How do we fit into this Earth?
Have we been wanderin’ since our birth?
And once I get there what am I supposed to do?
That’s something I’m hoping you could tell

How do we fit into this Earth?
Have we been wanderin’ since our birth?
And once I get there what am I supposed to do?
That’s something I’m hoping you could tell me too
That’s something I’m hoping you could tell me too

The second verse ("we are diamonds, we are pearls") gave me much more trouble. Here are all the other lines I attempted. I'm not saying this song is done yet either, just that I'm happier now than I was before.

These lyrics would replace the spot of "the pressure and uncertainty" lines...

then he stood and uttered one last word
but he whispered so I never heard…

like a bird that needs it’s wings to fly
your questions help you redefine

like a bird that needs the sky above
but first you’re gonna need a shove

I just didn't like the "like a bird" metaphor, so I decided to can it and move on to something that somehow related to the original comparison of people to diamonds and pearls (and coal). Pressure makes coal into diamonds...hmmm...pressure and uncertainty, those things make us grow.

Yep. There's the inner working of my brain. I can't tell you how long it took to do this. You would think a few minutes...

:) More like an hour or two. Was it worth it?

Summer Is Almost Here

2008-06-04T00:18:00.002-05:00

When I write instrumentals on the acoustic, inevitably the end up sounding something like this.

I set up two mics, an Sm57 about 1 foot away from my cheap Yamaha guitar, and the M-Audio Nova about 2-3 feet away. Then I recorded several one try passes playing various little chord/solo bits. I ended by layering a pedal-y tone type organ sound on the Casio keyboard.

I'm sure I could make a living as a new age acoustic artist of some sort...

:)

Here's the song:

Summer Is Almost Here

Stupid Laptop Cables!

2008-06-02T11:06:00.002-05:00

So, due to issues (namely my being a dork and leaving an important cable behind after playing a gig), I did not achieve my steampunk goal last month. With this in mind, I still aim to complete three steampunk songs by the end of /this/ month instead.

I think before I try, however, that I shall paint my laptop power cable some kind of neon colour to prevent any further mishaps...

Cash In Your Ears

2008-05-26T21:16:00.003-05:00

I thought this was such a clever title.
Read this article by Roseanne Cash. It's good.

The Article

Which Cliches Do YOU Use The Most?

2008-05-26T10:27:00.002-05:00

According to Music Thing, these are the top 100 Most Cliched Cliches In Pop Song Titles.

Hmmm...how about a song composed ONLY of the 100 most cliched cliches?

CD Baby Mastermind Tells You How To Be More Successful

2008-05-21T19:10:00.003-05:00

I think he's got some good ideas in this article.
Check it out.

I like the idea of "recklessly excluding". Just read it.

I'd say that most people that love Slayer will totally HATE my music.

Or, "I sound sort of like Metallica if all the guys in the band weren't so angry looking, only played acoustic guitars, and wrote songs of hope and peace. Oh yeah, and if they all had a really good sense of humor. That too. That's exactly what I sound like."

Power Out Light Bulb Idea

2008-05-19T23:29:00.004-05:00

So, I decided to head out to the studio to work on song I've already demoed (sp?) but needed to refine. As I was sitting there I started fiddling around with my guitar with the capo in a position I don't always use. I started strumming some open notes and soon a little melody flew out.

I decided to open up ProTools and get this idea onto "tape". Just as I got ready to push record the lights went out and everything shut off. A second or two later the power returned. I left the room to check on the family and talk to the neighbors to make sure everything was ok. It was.

Whew. Idea not gone. I proceeded to hop on the family computer using a cheesy lapel mic thing. It works. Here it is. Raw tuna. Nothing yet...but you heard it hear first if it becomes something later. Don't go stealing it now.

;)

light bulb image by misserion

A germ of a seed of an idea.

T-Bone Burnett Plays DJ

2008-05-16T09:19:00.002-05:00

What does the man who made O, Brother Where Art Thou do with his time? What does he listen to? Here's T-Bone in an interview.

If You Could Record In Wilco's Loft...

2008-05-13T09:00:00.004-05:00

...what would it sound like? How would YOU go about recording your songs?
Do you see computers as an evil in the process of making your songs real?
Or do they need to be reel (tape)?

Read Andrew Bird's thoughts on this matter as he explores Wilco's studio, filled with every gadget and guitar his heart could desire.

Radiohead Hurts Me

2008-05-09T23:43:00.004-05:00

...with this song and this video.

There are just some songs and videos that fit so well together and say so much in under 4 minutes that it's amazing to me.

Even if you don't like radiohead you will be able to appreciate this.

This video made me feel pretty crappy, but also made me more aware. I already knew there was a problem, but this gave me more food for thought.

The Videotape

Watch. Don't look away. Let it hurt a little.

The Beauty of Co-Writing

2008-05-08T12:26:00.004-05:00

photo credits

Here's a great article in Measure by Measure about co-writing.

I've done a few in my day and am becoming more and more open to the idea the more I write. I've been very happy with my past collaborations.

How many of you have done co-writes/collaborations before? How did they turn out? Easy or hard? How was the "letting go process"?

Read the article and then let's talk.

Neverending Armpits!

2008-05-06T21:47:00.005-05:00

Bono has been quoted as having said "Imitation is the highest form of flattery." And if you check out these lines from his song "The Fly" from U2's Acthung Baby!, you'll see this theme continued:

"Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief
All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief"

Continuing in that tradition is my five year old son.

Picture, if you will, a 5 year old singing in the shower.
Then, imagine, if you might, the melody for the song Neverending Story.

Here's the original song on youtube. It's pretty cheesy. Get that melody locked in your brain.

Then, add these words: "Neverending armpits...ah ah ah ah ah ahrmpits". Repeat about 50x.
Rinse. Repeat.

Sister says, "STOP SINGING!"
Brother replies, "I have to sing. Let me sing."
Sister says, "Ok."
Brother continues for at least two more minutes.

I'm SO proud right now I could just burst.
Moments later, sister joins in full voice.

Beautiful.
My son, the melody thief.
I'm sure he'll be a songwriting genius someday.

Recapturing The Magic Of That First Demo

2008-05-05T22:49:00.004-05:00

How many times have you recorded a demo of a song that was great (with obvious flaws and recording issues), but when you went to rerecord it you couldn't capture "the magic" again?

I can't even begin to tell you how many frustrating times this has happened to me. This year, during the February Album Writing Month (FAWM.org) I tried my best to set up a decent recording no matter what I did, but sometimes inspiration was flowing and I just had to commit the idea to hard disk or risk losing it entirely.

So, I wrote a song in one take called "As They Please". I had just learned a new tuning and this was the song that came out of that. I recorded in one take and got most of the lyrics and most of the melody that I would want to use.

There were definitely things that weren't good, but there was a lot I really liked. So for the last week or so I've been relearning this song (because I hadn't tried playing it since). It wasn't too bad and I made a video of myself playing the fingerings (so that I could review it in the future if need be and so I could teach others the song). I can now play the song pretty easily and I've added a short instrumental segment to break up the mostly verse-y-ness of the song.

I just don't think my newest takes quite have that "magic touch" that the original had.

I'm going to keep trying to get a good recording, but I think I'll limit myself to to or three takes max per evening, that way it's still fresh and not to over thought. This is hard to do, but I'm going to try my best to make it happen.

Anyone else out there relate to this? What are YOUR experiences?

The Birth and Rebirth of Steampunk!

2008-05-02T20:48:00.003-05:00

Until fellow songwriter Dan mentioned, I had never even heard the word "steampunk". Wikipedia tells us a bit about the origins of steampunk, but more important than the origins to us here at the SA, is that Dan will attempt to do something not done before. Here's Dan in his own words:

Okay, better late than never, right? Hello, Songwriting Apples!

My name is Dan, and this month I will be attempting to create three or more songs in a new genre, if such a thing exists any more.

I am writing a gothic horror storylined song cycle involving mad scientists and brains, and the genre I am hoping to be able to apply to them is "steampunk". Now, if you don't know what steampunk is, I suppose the simplest explanation would be to think of the modern world if we were still in Victorian times. If we had the technology we have, but it had merely evolved from steam-powered technologies of the day. William Gibson was involved in a book entitled The Difference Engine which is seen as something of the birth of steampunk.

There are bands out there who use steampunk as a genre, notably Abney Park, however (and not to trash-talk) I feel that their steampunk influence is purely visual. I do not deny that they provide a wonderfully begoggled and top-hatted, brass-sheen spectacle, however the music is fairly well within the industrial genre - which is, I feel, the right place to start. After all, steam punk is all about industrial - just not modern industrial. Imagine a guitar amplifier as a huge brass contraption with brightly lit valves atop it, glowing like mechanised firelies in an attempt to create a distortion from steam. Think of a drum machine as a giant contraption of cogs and gears which literally plays the drums.

This is the genre in which I hope to create three songs by June.

-Dan

Learning Your Own Songs So That You Can Play Them Again

2008-05-01T00:17:00.003-05:00

Sounds like one of those "chicken and egg" scenarios doesn't it?

I wrote a song in the month of February that I called "As They Please". It was one of those "gift" songs that comes all at once with not much conscious effort on my part. I learned a new tuning and BAM! Out comes a new song.

That said, in February I was writing about .75 songs a day, so I didn't revisit this song until last night. I'm glad that I recorded a little instruction of the chord shapes and tuning on the origninal demo of this song.

I decided to make myself a video diary of HOW to play this song, first for myself, but also for anyone wanting to learn a few new chords in a new tuning. DADGAD. Gotta love that tuning.

Insecurities Laid Bare By Email

2008-04-29T00:05:00.004-05:00

cc by Lisa B.

If Joe Henry and Roseanne Cash can feel insecure and doubt themselves, I think we all need to cut ourselves some slack and keep pushing through with our song ideas.

This post at Measure by Measure is by far the most illuminating and interesting. You get to read the email correspondence between these two great musicians AND hear the demo that came out of it. Great, great reading and listening.

Do it now. Here it is.

This Website GETS Your Music

2008-04-24T23:00:00.003-05:00

Really. It understands your music. It analyzes it. If finds patterns.
I discovered this via Music Thing.

You'll have to try it and let me know how it works out.
The Echo Nest.

Jamie Lidell: Cheap Knock Off, Or Happy Return?

2008-04-19T09:59:00.003-05:00

You be the judge.

Watch the unicorn video. If you have an aversion to serial killers DATING unicorns and then murdering them, you shouldn't watch the video. Just listen to the music.

The Rawest of the Raw

2008-04-17T18:13:00.003-05:00

photo by psd

There’s a debate among songwriters and others in the publishing world that’s been raging for decades. It’s considered settled by many, but I diverge from common currents of thinking.

The debate is about whether music people can really “hear” songs when they have so many song demos to listen to. Are they overwhelmed and unable to distinguish? Have you been in their offices and seen the stacks? They have been accused of judging by “production quality”, which, for many of us is frustrating, because, tell me true baby blue, does the snare sound really trump the lyric and the melody?

Some “pure” or naïve songwriters have hoped in vain that “Label Heads” would be able to actually hear and recognize a song’s inherent quality. But what about an unadorned little clip of a pure melody played off key. Is it possible that someone could simply hear it? What it really is? Or, if the “production quality” is not up to snatch, should the music suit be forgiven for turning off and failing to recognize the quality of the piece?

It is a failure isn’t it?

I remember when my friend Bob Wiseman produced Ron Sexmith’s first recording. It was a little bit outside, as it would be if produced by Bob. I took it to some music business people I knew, and they said, “The guy can’t sing, and it sounds like it was recorded in a garage”.

Somehow, Ron got through. Enough people, or the right person, heard Ron and recognized the quality of his songs and of Ron the performer.

Demo Quality is the key to EVERYTHING we’ve been told over and over. Have you ever stopped to think how retarded that is? In other words, they can’t tell the difference between Jameson Irish Whisky and Aqua Velva but they want us to surrender to their expertise in music?

I have to fess up that in my own “career-let”, the one and only time I was signed to a publishing deal, it was a quality demo that got me there.

So why would I insist on working with rough demos? Well, for two reasons. One comes from marketing and the other comes from the realm of pure spirit. The marketing justification can be summed up as follows: when everyone else is zigging, it’s time to zag.

Waldo Emerson said something like… “Who you are is talking so loud I can’t hear a single word you’re saying”. Well that’s me. I’ve decided to let my essence shine for whoever gets it. I’ll let people hear the roughest demos…even with words incomplete and off key singing. Then I’ll know that whoever gets it really gets it.

All this is to say that I like the rawest of the raw demos. And the clip you are about to hear, of ‘A Prayer to Ireland’ being conceived could not be rawer. It was recorded walking in ‘The Burren’, in County Clare, Ireland.

As I climbed a craggy hill I said to Ireland from within myself, “Let me know you!” I was afraid that, after years of yearning to meet Ireland up close and personal, my visit would go by in a blink and I’d miss her completely.

After my little prayer, I turned on my tape recorder and started to whistle a tune that was coming in right at that moment, in real time.

I challenge you, gentle reader. Can you recognize what a good tune is? Can you hear a tune in the roughest form? Or have you become addicted to all the little burnishings the studio provides to trick the ear? Do you think this tune would be more than itself if played into a great microphone? Or is it already its essential self?

Next on the recording we’re in a pub after an afternoon of weeping on top of a misty mountain. Well, I did most of the weeping.

Okay all right, I did all the weeping.

So, anyway, the point is I think an audience can be trusted to hear the really rough early versions, or, in this case, they can actually hear the tune being born.

Am I wrong to share such rough, unpolished gems with whoever wants to hear them anywhere anytime?

I’d like to hear your opinion on this.

And please let me know how you like the tune.
http://zerald.com/prayertoireland.mp3

Checking In...

2008-04-13T12:06:00.005-05:00

You just never know what's around the next corner.

Truer words were never spoken. Though I won't bore you with the details, these past few months have been hectic. Fortunately, there's been JUST enough time left each day/week to get out and play some music. Unfortunately, my involvement with this site has been sacrificed a bit, BUT... I'm loving what I'm seeing/reading/hearing. And I'm really looking forward to catching up on all the posts and concentrating on the writing process when the time is right. In the meantime, everyone in the band is on the same page and that page says "GO PLAY YOUR MUSIC FOR THE PEOPLE!" And so, the people keep showing up... and we go. And what a ride it is turning out to be. But, I digress...

First, WELCOME to our new contributors. I'm still trying to figure out who is who, but keep posting and we'll become great friends, I'm sure.

Second, I have to give some love to my "brother in musical madness", Steve (the man who wrote about a hundred songs in a week or some crazy thing). Thanks for carrying the ball for a bit. I should probably call you and catch up soon. Look for it. Somehow, my friend, we've managed to keep this site running into our second year in the midst of real, everyday life. Family, jobs, kids, our other creative desires and other endless repsonsibilities keep pulling us in every direction.

But we're still here. And this place is growing.

So come on in, write a bit, sit back and listen... whatever feels right.

Peace,
John

Measure For Measure: An Outstanding Songwriting Blog

2008-04-13T11:05:00.005-05:00

Photo by jef safi

Creativity breeds creativity, yes?

Here are several highly creative people (Andrew Bird and Roseanne Cash among them) that have a songwriting/creativity blog in the New York Times.

Measure for Measure

Thanks to Tom St. Louis for his post that lead me down the rabbit hole.

“Catching” Versus “Writing” Songs And The Eternal Question—Is Chiggy Chaggy Really That Good For You?

2008-04-11T13:11:00.005-05:00

/editors note/ Please welcome Tom St. Louis, a fellow traveler in the mission to write songs, and a new contributor to our wonderful little slice of the songwriting world/end editorializing/

One day I called myself to leave a message on my “answering machine”.
I was out somewhere, having played a gig. Feeling high…

After listening to my message — this was in the days of answering MACHINES and there were no buttons you could push to get right to the squeal – I spontaneously broke into song, extemporizing an unheard of Mills Brothers-ish tune.

Felt good.

I love it when songs come like that…they just arrive from nowhere and bite you on the left buttcheek and say, “Yoohoo!” And you say, “Where the heck did you come from…gosh you’re lovely!”

And sometimes you can feel it just before it happens…
…like a little wind stirring up at the edge of a plain…the creative spirit is THERE and available…and for the next magic moment or two you can pivot in any direction and the magic is all yours. It will do your bidding. You could sing or dance or draw or extempore in words or tunes…whatever you want, darlin’, it’s all there for you.
In truth this state is probably available all the time. I think we only recognize it some of the time.

Certain fishers of song, like Hoagy Carmichael and Irving Berlin were quite deliberate in the way they stalked* inspiration. It really WAS inspiration they found again and again, but dang did those dudes know how to prime the pump.

* Stalked as used by don Juan in the Castaneda books

When I contrast that kind of songwriting with what I call “chiggy chaggy” songwriting, I think catching songs is far better. Think of ‘Yesterday’, by Paul McCartney, one of the most covered tunes ever. He whistled it for a while before he even knew it was anything. Could chiggy chaggy EVER bring you a tune like that?

Could 6 dozen monkeys typing away like mad write the lyric for ‘Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts’ in seven centuries?

Okay, so I’m a snob. I admit it.
I know that many great great songs came from some dude scratching out various combinations of chords on his acoustic guitar or plonking out patterns on a piano. (And okay, mea culpa, I have done it a few times myself.)

That’s fine. If it works, God bless you.

My objection is that for many that’s all songwriting is and could ever be, and they are missing the best part, poor sods.

Can I be honest about my motives?

I’m an inspiration piggie — so much so that I don’t want to “do” anything as much as simply let it roll in…and then get inspired and keep rolling. When it rolls in, I’m thankful for the gifts I’ve been given. What you can make up can never rise to the level of what you can receive.

Another example: George Harrison’s solo on ‘Something’. Did he “write” that? Or did he receive it? Let’s not kid ourselves. There’s no way to write something sublime. You must receive it. Its complexity and beauty are so far beyond our conscious minds.
More on chiggy chaggy.

It seems to be an entirely reasonable proposition. You play around with a chord pattern to see what will happen. Then you try it to see how well it works. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I just don’t work that way. My greatest joy is in “catching” songs. Sometimes completely. In other words the whole song is complete before I pick up a guitar or piano… (insert joke about relative weights of uprights vs. grands).

I know a couple of songwriters who have gotten Pretty Defensive about this. I told them that I wrote every note of a song internally before I ever played it. They don’t like hearing this. Tough. I say mix it up. Do your chiggy chaggy if you must, but open yourself up to inspiration and learn how to really listen when it comes.
The song featured below is called ‘Tell Me How To Do It”.

It took as long to “write” as it takes to sing. The “Inkspots” of Canada are planning to record it. It’s a bit twee, but it is what it is. I wouldn’t change it for nuthin’. Otherwise the Inspiration Gods might just pass me by and throw a lightning bolt at one of the chiggy chaggers.

Listen here:
http://www.zerald.com/tellmehow.mp3

More examples of songs that fell from the sky and discussions of songwriting craft and philosophy:
http://gmsiamovie.wordpress.com

Guns and Roses Drinking Dr. Pepper?! Colplay Releases All Spanish Sleep Inducing Record About Frida?!

2008-04-11T10:17:00.007-05:00

Well, one of the statements above is mostly not true.
You decide and then read the articles and see how you do.
For the record, I love G&R's Sweet Child o' Mine and Welcome to the Jungle.
I also really like Coldplay. I have all of their albums.

Guns and Roses Chinese Democracy

Coldplay's Viva la Vida. They also won the dubious award of band most people fall asleep too.

Both bands have more than one hit song that we could probably tear apart and learn a thing or two from. Have a favorite GnR or Coldplay song? Tell us why. When did you hear it?

I remember first learning the riff for Sweet Child o' Mine when it first came out. What a sweet riff. It's slowly becoming the new Stairway to Heaven.

The Man Who Wrote 69 Love Songs Writes A Song In Two Days

2008-04-08T12:08:00.006-05:00

If you're familiar with Stephin Merritt, then you know he's a master songwriter, capable of almost anything. His band The Magnetic Fields is one of many of his creative outputs.

Here's the video of Stephin writing a song in two days in front of the cameras. He wrote it based on a challenge given involving his choosing from six pictures and six words. You have to see the video to see the process. I thought it was interesting, because as I understand it, Stephin is generally a much more planned out songwriter, so this faster style of writing is quite a departure for him, but not a bad one.

David Byrne and Thom Yorke Discuss The Value Of Music

2008-04-03T09:12:00.002-05:00

Thom Yorke, frontman for Radiohead, and iconic pop genius David Byrne, discuss the value of music. And what an interesting and enlightening conversation it is.

The Wired Article

YOU Can Remix Radiohead!?!

2008-04-03T08:17:00.004-05:00

I could have gone with a more provocative title, but I decided to take the high ground on this one. You can remix their song "Nude" by purchasing the individual tracks and then adding them into your favorite audio remixing software.

The question is this: is this an April Fool's joke, or the real thing? With Radiohead, I could see this being for real. We'll see.

Pressing Onward!

2008-03-31T22:09:00.004-05:00

photo by Melanie

Wow. So, in February I wrote about 20 songs...in March, I think I've written 1. Ok. So, there's been a slowdown, but I'll be honest and say there's no way I could maintain that pace unless I was a full-time songwriter. I'm always THINKING of song ideas, but in February I took a much more active role in chasing those ideas down until they were fully formed (at least, as far as basic structure was concerned).

Pressing onward. My goal is to take this mass of songs and DO something with them. I want more people to hear them in a more finished form, so I've started the process of rerecording and have even had the privilege of passing on some tracks to be mixed by a fellow musician.

I hope to have a 5-7 song E.P. to release for this summer. I realize that during this process I have to redirect my limited time and songwriting energies towards perfecting rather than towards creating. This is neither good nor bad, it's just what I'm gearing myself to do for now. I have to admit that it's a difficult transition because in my mind I FEEL like I should be writing more more! MORE!!! but I know that my brain would explode if I didn't stop and reflect and refine.

So, here comes the refining.

Stay tuned.

Move On (My First Post-FAWM Song)

2008-03-16T00:06:00.001-05:00

I wrote this song on March 1st.
Here it is in it's ragged glory.

I have much work to do because, as Eric stated in his last post, I've written a few thousand songs and I need to sort through it all.

This one just sort of snuck up on me.
Sneaky songs.

Move On (if that's what you've gotta do)

No lyrics for this one yet. Too lazy to type them.
Must create.
Picture suggestion?

Clouds Have Rolled Away

2008-03-11T00:39:00.005-05:00

While Steve was busy writing like 1,000 songs in the month of February, I was busy sleeping, well actually dreaming. In early February I woke up 5 consecutive mornings at about 4am with a song in my head. I proceeded to my computer to get at least the main line and melody.

This is one of those songs. I dreamt the chorus and when I woke up I thought the words "the clouds have rolled away" fit.

I love sleeping! Wish it was always this productive.

Eric

PS - I had some fun with the production too. :)

Clouds Have Rolled Away mp3

Clouds Have Rolled Away
Words & Music by Eric Shouse © 2008 Everybody Run Music

Verse 1:
Oh my eyes have turned to grey
The world’s been on a rain delay
The radio says there’s another storm today
But as of now the clouds have rolled away

Chorus:
The rays are breaking on the scene
The hills are a new shade of green
There’s shelter here if I decide to stay
The news for now looks promising
The weatherman is smiling
Announcing that the clouds have rolled away

Verse 2:
All the sheep have gone astray
There’s nothing left to do but pray
Heaven knows that there just might be hell to pay
But for right now the clouds have rolled away

Chorus 2:
A check was written sight unseen
Accountants are calculating
Expecting another red letter day
Our hero appeared on the screen
Awake the troops with tambourine
This isn’t the same old routine
And in between the clouds have rolled away

Bridge:
Though it’s only just the moment, I will get out and live for it
While I’ve got the strength I’ll run ‘til I’m consumed
Though the road’s not paved with roses, when the thunder storm imposes
I will pause and inhale each and every bloom… Yeah!

End:
The rays are breaking on the scene
The hills are a new shade of green
And for right now the clouds have rolled away

14+ Songs Completed

2008-02-25T10:26:00.004-05:00

January 23rd I decided to attempt the FAWM.org challenge.

Here are the fruits of my labors.
I will attempt to make a post with direct links from here eventually.
I'm still recovering from the process.
I may even have a song or two left in me before February closes out.

Goodnight

2008-02-20T15:07:00.004-05:00

The other night as I was getting ready for bed (probably watching the Food Network as I brushed my teeth) this song popped in my head (well the first few lines anyway) so I sat down and worked it out. After sleeping on it, I figured out what the song was really about... a love that never leaves you alone or forgotten through life and beyond... the best thing anyone could ever ask for in my opinion.

May we all know that kind of love.

Goodnight mp3
Goodnight
Words and Music by Eric Shouse © 2008 Everybody Run Music

Goodnight my dear it’s not the end but the start
Of a journey to dreamland that’s not very far
And the night will be wonderful, your heart will be light
As you dance away, drift out of sight

The day has been long and your body is worn
When you open your eyes again, it’s like being reborn
And I’ll be right here holding you close to my heart
You will never be lonely in the dark

And I’ll be right here holding you close to my heart
You will never be lonely in the dark

I Think I've Written 11/14 Songs Now...I'm Losing Count

2008-02-17T01:04:00.003-05:00

It gets harder when you have multiple scraps of paper with lyrics and chords, and even sorting everything into a folder doesn't help.

Here's a link to my page. the link

Here's what my page looks like (without the active links)

The Songs So Far
#0: (prefawm track by two days) You and Me Could Get Together
mp3 video
#1: Eddie Vedder Told Me There'd Be Days Like This mp3
#2: Sunday's Work Has Just Been Done (Delmar Beneath The Water)
mp3 video
#3: Green Beans For Breakfast mp3
#4: I Always Want To Be In Control (but it never works out like that) mp3
#5: Myspace, I Don't Hate You But I've Had Better mp3
#6: Jump on the Couch mp3
#7: Casiocore Song: You Won't Find Us In The Way mp3
#8: coming soon: I Used To Like You But Now I Think You're Ugly mp3
#9: Dog Dog Dog Dog mp3
#10.5a: Danny Elfman Be My Guide COLLABORATION* link mp3
#10.5b: Cheese Pizza collaboration* with Scott Lake
#11: coming soon: rock collaboration* with My Name Is Milk
#12: coming soon: Irish Blessing Song
#13: Thankful mp3
#14: I Love You Very Much mp3

#14.4: collab with Nico?

*I may be counting these collaborations as whole songs for myself because of the amount of effort put in, but in a sense of fairness, I will also complete 14 "regular" songs if at all possible.

bonus tracks? perhaps if I reach my goal earlier than planned.

These Are Links
songwriting blog songwritingapples.com
soft rock band myspace.com/frictionbailey
solo myspace myspace.com/stevenwesleyguiles
rock band myspace.com/pushstartwagon

my youtube "songumentaries" (FAWMumentaries?):
how to #1 I Can't Get Over It
how to #2 You and Me Could Get Together
Song #2 Sunday's Work Has Just Been Done

4 Of 14 Songs Completed

2008-02-05T10:16:00.000-05:00

View my 14 song progress here.
Whew! This is a LOT of work, but a lot of fun.

Here's a video of one of my songs:

See You Fly

2008-02-02T00:02:00.000-05:00

Per my January goal to finish "See You Fly" recording.... it's done :-)

Here's the song page that has all sorts of good stuff like the streaming player and MP3 link, lyrics, instrumentation, and video performance:

http://www.tintorecords.com/notations/64/see-you-fly-finally-recorded

For just the MP3: http://www.tintorecords.com/file_download/5

I wrote this song as a surprise gift to my wife to perform during our wedding reception March 30, 2007. She knew I was going to play a song, but not a new one. It's taken me a long time to translate the composition and preparation for that performance to an actual record, but here it is :-)

Nico

Pre-FAMW Song and Video:

2008-02-01T04:47:00.000-05:00

To prepare for the February Album Writing Month I wrote a song (and recorded the process on video).

Here it is:

Here's an MP3 of the songs.

You And Me Could Get Together

My Plan For Writing Fourteen Songs In Twenty Eight Days (Twenty Nine Really, But Who's Counting?)

2008-01-25T22:38:00.001-05:00

So, I'm a teacher by day and musician all the time. I'm also a notorious note-maker and post-it stickerer.

I figured there's no way I'm gonna pull this "Write Fourteen Songs In Twenty Eight Days" thing off through sheer will power...so I've gotta have a plan.

Here are a few things I'm going to try and force myself to do over the process (I guess they're sort of challenges to myself):

1. Write at least one song using a tuning I've never used. (I might get 3 or 4 songs by doing tunings I've never done...maybe I'll just start turning strings until I get an ok sounding chord and then go for it).

2. I will try and not write any song on the same instrument two times in a row. I'll force myself to pick up the bass, or play a drum beat, or use just a loop...but I'm going to try and not simply record on my guitar, because that's my go to "crutch".

3. I will write at least one song by doing the lyrics first.

4. I will write at least one song by writing all the chords first.

5. I will write at least one song by singing only a melody and then placing chords on it. (I normally play guitar by myself and then sing along, so I want to try and break out of that to push myself a little).

6. I will write a song in the style of: (blues, jazz, metal, hiphop, rap, anything other than my standard rock/pop/folk).

7. I will try to write at least one missing song to The Sound of Music. (Not sure why, it just sounded like a funny idea, and I sort of know a few of those songs...my mom watched it ALL the time).

8. Take several other FAWMer challenges, because, ain't that the point of the whole thing anyway? :)

I admit that I'm a freak. I also spent a bunch of last night organizing my mancave/studio, setting up mics, instruments, etc. so that I could be ready at the drop of a hat if an idea came to me.

Nothin' All Day

2008-01-25T16:58:00.001-05:00

Been a bit since I wrote a song. Since starting Arlington Station a few months ago, I've been concentrating on the shows we have scheduled. In terms of writing, I've not been in a hurry. It's been a wonderful process of learning what our abilities as musicians are as well as exploring the sonic pallette that we all create together. I was hoping that my next song would take advantage of our strengths as a band, but this one is more of a singer/songwriter/folk tune. Lisa and Dave got involved with the lyric end of the writing process. First time we've written together. Hopefully we'll continue to do that!

Here's the latest. It's called Nothin' All Day.
John

Nothin' All Day - mp3

Nothin' All Day
lyrics by John Natiw, Lisa Chambers & Dave Chambers (Arlington Station)
music by John Natiw

5am and the rain won't stop
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
I need to sleep, but on second thought
I'm gonna think about nothin' today

Newspaper said that the war's still on
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
I'll just leave it to the Pentagon
I'm gonna think about nothin' all day

CHORUS
I'M GONNA THINK ABOUT NOTHIN' ALL DAY
AND WHILE AWAY SOME TIME
IT DON'T MATTER WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY
I KNOW THE SUN WILL SHINE
TOMORROW I'LL SEE IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY
BUT FOR NOW I'M THINKIN' 'BOUT NOTHIN' TODAY

Bank man said that the money's all gone
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
Preacher man told me I'm doing wrong
I'm gonna think about nothin' today

Postman brought unhappy news
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
It ain't nothin' but bills and blues
I'm gonna think about nothin' today

[CHORUS]

My friends all tell me that I've lost my mind
cause I'm gonna think about nothin' today
24 hours and I'll be fine
But, I'm gonna think about nothin' all day

Now don't go thinkin' that I don't care
I'm just gonna think about nothin' today
Some folks say that life ain't fair
I'm gonna think about nothin' all day

[CHORUS]

Dare I? Write Fourteen Songs In February?

2008-01-23T01:33:00.001-05:00

The thought of doing this last year with a 1 year old in the house was all but incomprehensible, but now...maybe.

I think I've actually convinced myself that I'm going to do it.
One song every two days (on average--if I manage to write two songs in one day, I can take a day or two off to recover my creative juices).

What manner of songwriting insanity is this? See what the FAWMers are doing here.

http://fawm.org/

This is a great idea, and the goal, as far as I can tell, is right in line with what we're hoping to do here at Songwriting Apples: push one another to create and write music.

What's the worst that can happen? I'll accidentally write a good song that I might actually use when I perform live? Cool.

Anyone care to join me in this craziness? No worries if you don't. The Songwriting Apples is all about doing what you can, but trying to do SOMETHING.

I know for a fact that I won't be able to write 14 songs EVERY month, but I sure as heck am going to try to do it in February.

That You Would Not Believe: The Mixing Process

2008-01-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't spent this much time on one song in a long time. Really. This whole year I've been cranking out at least a song a month (ok, a few of those "songs" were little more than weak instrumental jams, but still, I was trying). But I digress.

I have the evolution of this song in these mixes.

This demo was the first inspiration. You can hear many of the elements are in the latest mix, but it's definitely evolved since the demo.
First full demo.

The things that I wanted to keep:

-the "gang vocal" of "Just get, get me out of here". I liked that.
-the funky bass line

What I wanted to do after listening to my demo version a few times:
-a tighter bass line (more consistent).
-a big noisy guitar section

Here's the first updated version (SupaMix2)

What I did:
-I had to break down exactly what I was singing that made the gang vocal sound good to me. I sat down and wrote out the notes as best I could for each part, and then tried to recreate what I had done randomly in the demo version. That took a long time.
-added percussion to add some elements to the

What Joy wanted to hear:
-some handclaps for the end chorus

What Joy got:
-handclaps for the chorus

That You Would Not Believe SupaMix 5 with handclaps and enhanced bridge.

-I attempted to make the vocals as "up front" as possible while maintaining the power of the instruments.
-I cut the intro section and made it all shorter with no "gang vocal" until after the first verse
-I added some sound effects into the first verse (restaurant noises and champagne cork pop)
-I upped the acoustic guitar in the second verse
-the bridge was a big problem for me (1:26)...it never seemed to have enough power, so I added some instrumentation, played with the tambourine panning and volume, added some guitars and keyboards to give it a little more "thickness".
-I made the last chord hit of the song more solid and loud

You've come a long way, baby.

Here's the original post with the lyrics.

Songwright.co.uk

2008-01-22T10:26:00.001-05:00

This site looks fantastic! Lots of great information that goes into some depth.

songwright.co.uk

Thanks Tom for posting this address in the comments.

Welcome New Contributor, Nico Sanchez!

2008-01-22T00:15:00.000-05:00

"My name is Nico Sanchez, I'm an individual singer/songwriter type that likes to fuse the traditional and folkloric sounds of my native Colombia with the modern movements of rock and alternative music (though, lately, I'm on a more classic rock kick). I write my music in both English and Spanish, just depending on the mood or theme of the song. My main instruments are the piano and the guitar, but with my personal means of music production (my home studio and home "label" Tinto Records http://www.tintorecords.com), I enjoy stretching what I can do and sharing my music. With my lovely wife, who is a ridiculous violinist with great singer-songwriter vibes, we want to self-publish our own "EP" album this year (we'll see how that goes)."

Here's Nico's first contribution to Songwriting Apples, his song "Year".
Read the details and hear the song.

But Can You Whistle It?

2008-01-16T20:52:00.000-05:00

I guess melody IS pretty important. How many of us whistle the bass part for Can't Buy Me Love (which is, by the way, a wonderful bass line)? We whistle the melody. That's what sticks in our heads long after the song arrangements fade away.

How do YOU write a song? When do you write the songs melody? Here are a few thoughts on the matter.**

Forgive the pop-up ads.
Write Better Songs Part III
Writing Better Songs Part I (writing in major keys)
Writing Better Songs Part II (writing in minor keys)

This is a great site! Tips For Young Songwriters (but much of it is great for us slightly less young songwriters as well).

Here are a few of his tips on melody.
Tip #1: Use and existing melody to write a new song.
Tip#2: Elements of a melody.

**For the record...I can't tell you how many times I FIRST came up with a chord progression and then a melody. Many times I write them at the same time (singing into my favorite Radio Shack tape recorder.

The Major Labels Drop DRM

2008-01-05T22:15:00.000-05:00

Quick definition:

DRM- Digital Rights Management

Basically the major labels put DRMs on all the downloadable songs they were releasing. This meant you couldn't easily copy the songs or distribute them (even for your own use).

This bothered many people.

Here's the article.

You Would Not Believe

2008-01-05T18:37:00.000-05:00

I started this song during my vacation in December and just had the chance to put some finishing touches on it. It now becomes my first song of 2008.

The lyrics came after I watched Spiderman 3. I'm not saying the movie itself was overly inspiring, but the situation was. I found the relationship and miscommunication between Peter and Mary Jane to be pretty believable (I know many people who have similar relationship communication styles). This song came from that.

I wrote this song on the bass guitar, so it is featured as the primary instrument. I also built the song around a single 2 measure drum loop. Everything else is candy and icing.

alt. song titles: "This Is What I Thought That You Would Not Believe" "Peter and Mary Jane" "Spiderman Tries To Convince Mary Jane To Leave It All Behind"

You Would Not Believe.mp3 (the polished apple version)

That You Would Not Believe demo.mp3 (the original demo)

That You Would Not Believe
c2008 Steven Wesley Guiles

Just get, get me out of here
Just get, get me out of here

This is what I thought that you would not believe
This is what I thought that you would not believe

I was at the restaurant when we said we'd meet
That I would propose to you like you wanted me
Champagne bottles popping, and I'm on one knee
This is what I thought that you would not believe

Just get, get me out of here
Just get, get me out of here

I've got more problems that I care to count
Traffic was the worst and then the Christmas crowds
Reservations for two at the blah blah blaheeeeeeee
This is what I thought that you would not believe

Just get, get me out of here
Just get, get me out of here

Don't lay this at my feet darlin' don't you
Think I'd be the one to tell you I'm a
Fool for you, fool for you

Just get, get me out of here
Before we say things we regret
Just get, get me out of here
Let's go while both of us can get

Just get, get me out of here
Before we say things we regret
Just get, get me out of here
Let's go while both of us can get

This is what I thought that you would not believe
This is what I thought that you would not believe

Kick Off The New Year With A New Song!

2007-12-30T01:24:00.001-05:00

Here are some suggestions from Graham English.

For other ideas you could also visit one of these sites:

The Songhacker's post on the Musak Test.

Jeff's Songwriting Blog. A Lesson From Country Songs.

Rob Roper hangs his songwriting butt out for all to see.

In Case You Missed These Three Songs That Put Us Up To Fifty Written...

2007-12-28T18:14:00.000-05:00

The Pepto Song.mp3

Built-To-Spill-inspired Instrumental.mp3

Rock A Bye Baby.mp3

Pepto Bismol Revisited

2007-12-18T01:29:00.000-05:00

Yes. In this post you may remember my challenge. To go where no writer has gone before. At least, no writer here at Songwriting Apples. To my knowledge anyway.

So here goes. I ain't too proud. Heck, I posted a song about Unicorns so what have I got to lose?

Pepto_Bismol.mp3

Pepto Bismol Commercial Jingle

Nausea, heartburn, indigestion
Upset stomach, diarrhea

Yeah, yeah, yeah pepto bismol oooooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah pepto bismol oooooh yeaaaaahhh.

I made it to be exactly (or almost exactly) 30 seconds so it would fit as a traditional commercial length. It's patterned after those cheesy beer commercial type songs. I think I may have achieved it too well. :)

2007-12-09 Instrumental: Did I Steal This From...?

2007-12-18T01:22:00.000-05:00

...that one band? Uh...what's their name?

Seriously, I can picture the band I stole it from. The beauty is, most people won't know I took it. But I confess now in advance that I realize after the fact that I most likely stole it unintentionally from...

**edited on 12/28/2007** The band was Built To Spill. I'm pretty sure I must have ripped off something from their album You In Reverse.

I can't remember. But there last album looked like the drooping clock paintings that Van Gogh. Wait. Google says that would be Dali. (See accompanying picture).
Whatever.

2007-12-09 Instrumental

I just had fun playing bass, drums, and guitar.

Rock A Bye Baby

2007-12-18T01:08:00.000-05:00

I don't know where this song is going, but this is a jam I was playing on my front porch. I saw my kids playing outside, thought of the old nursery rhyme, and found that it had a new significance (at least to me) sung in this way. The keychange weirdness is something that popped into my head as I was working it out in my mancave.

Here's the origin of the song. I may reference this more if I decide to do something else with this song. Here's an extended lyric and a midi-esque sounding piano version.

Rock A Bye Baby.mp3

Rock A Bye Baby

Rock a bye baby on the tree tops
when the wind blows, the cradle will rock
if the bow breaks the cradle will fall
and down will come baby cradle and all, cradle and all

even if God finds me I will take a chance
even as the sun hides from the moon
even if the wrongs I've done can track me down
even if your love comes back too soon

Some Effects of Playing Music I Never Counted On

2007-12-14T19:33:00.000-05:00

Last week the bass player in my new group asked me to play in a situation I had never before. His church was hosting a group of homeless men each night this week. Feeding them, offering hair care, entertainment, etc. He asked if we might have our weekly practice at the church building to entertain the visitors. I quickly said I'd love to, not at all aware of what sort of effect it might have on me or the visitors.

Last night on the way to the building, I found myself feeling anxious, but excited. I wondered how the music would be received. Mostly, I just reminded myself to be open to anything.

After practicing for an hour or so, the vans began to arrive. And for the next hour and a half we were able to play our music for a group of homeless men. They applauded. They joked. They sat, rapt at the music they heard. Privately, they discussed some of their feelings with Dave while Lisa and I did a few songs ourselves.

Today I receive an e-mail from Dave with some of the content of those discussions. He mentioned that a few of the men indicated that they appreciated the songs. They were easy to understand and had a relevant meaning. The following is a quote from the same e-mail:

"Many of these guys that I have had conversation with each night this week indicated, they were "just like me" (hope that was meant as a good thing) when they were younger but had just taken their eyes of of God and started to direct their own steps and bang! This is where they are. Interesting find in all of this, not one man has asked for anything more than what we have provided and not one man has blamed God for their misfortune. Quite the contrary, they blame only themselves."

And here I thought WE were the ones providing the service and giving out the lessons...

John

In The Studio With Stephen M.: Control Freaks Letting Go

2007-12-12T09:45:00.000-05:00

Here's one of my indie-rock super heroes talking about letting go in the studio.

Dylan Goes Electric

2007-12-12T09:32:00.000-05:00

Well, it's nothing so radical, but for the last three months I've been playing acoustic only shows. This week I will be plugging in and hauling along a drummer as well.

I'm actually pretty excited about it. I get to use my newest amp for the first time in a live setting.

I'll report back or post a link of the show when I'm done. Here's a tentative set list for the evening:

Paul
We Could Write Our Own Songs
Things (Brothers, Sisters)
Such Great Heights
Here's To Things I Haven't Done
I Can't Get Over It
Can You Hear Me?
Don't Give Up
Silent Night
Auld Lang Syne

I Like How This Song Sounds

2007-12-03T22:24:00.000-05:00

This song sounds good to me. When John posted his last post about hearing records and listening for sounds you want to have, I realized that I had a recording of my own that I was reasonably happy with sonically. If I can recreate the acoustic sound, the drums, and my vocal sound, I will be very happy with my own recordings. I just have to see if I can recreate it.

(I accidentally posted this post on my family blog and someone commented that it sounded like Wilco. Cool! I'm sure I hope it sounds an eighth like one of the good Wilco records).

Four Fingers and a Broken Swiss Guitar Tied Behind His Back

2007-11-25T23:47:00.000-05:00

Even with it tied behind his back he could kick my butt.

CHOPS. Out.

2007-11-25T20:05:00.001-05:00

Some Things Live On

2007-11-24T16:59:00.000-05:00

We had a great Thanksgiving here. Jen, Rachel and a couple other friends and I did the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot run in the morning. It was very windy and snowing during the race, but fun was had by all. Did a little prep around the house and then welcomed 20 or so family members for dinner. Dishes brought by all made for quite a feast. A morning spent running makes the bird and trimmings taste even better.

A personal highlight of the day, for me, was to have Grandma Renda in our home again. She is over 90 and was in the hospital most of the summer/fall. I didn't see any way she would be with us for the holidays, but, thankfully, I was very wrong. She walked into the house assisted only by an offered hand to steady her up the stairs and visited with the family all day. Quite a woman.

In recent weeks, I had been looking into purchasing a Mandolin. Jen mentioned that Grandma had a couple of Grandpa's old Mandolins lying around. Well, word got to her about this and two mandolins are now sitting in the Man-Cave™. I was a bit nervous about the whole thing, but she was very gracious about it all and said that Grandpa would've liked that someone is playing them again. As I said, quite a woman. Kent (relative) had brought his bass along, so the two of us retired to the Man-Cave™ to while away a couple of hours in song. Family members wandered in and out to listen and bring us cookies.

Today, I got some new strings for the instrument and began to read up on the process. Sometimes particular instruments have little quirks that must be respected. After a bit of study, I decided to remove all the old strings and use some elbow grease to polish her up. About halfway through, I was struck with a nostalgia that made me pause and look a bit on the instrument. This was Grandpa's mandolin. He had been the one to play it and change out her strings for years. Now, it was my responsibility. Now, it was my pleasure. I thought a bit more and, for some reason, grabbed my camera to capture the process a bit.

The bridge on a mandolin is not fixed. Rather, it can be moved to bring about the best possible sound. Not being comfortable with the whole process, I replaced the bridge in the same spot.

Not exactly re-stringing a guitar. One by one, the new strings began to bring the old mandolin to life.

Done. Polished body... Treated fretboard... New strings...

And music.

Some things live on.
J

Trying to See the Sound

2007-11-18T22:09:00.000-05:00

Now that I have a few songs in my suitcase, I've really started to think about recording these things for real. While being away for awhile hunting I took the opportunity to begin to think about my "sound palette". You know, the "colors" that will make up my sonic painting. When I write, the palette usually consists of an acoustic guitar, main vocals and maybe some harmony vocals. Occasionally I'll add something to the mix, but that's pretty standard.

Over the past few years my sonic palette hasn't really been important or obvious to me. Recently, I've begun to see my desired sound more clearly. LeAnn Rimes said in a recent interview in American Songwriter Magazine that she made a mix CD for her producer to give him an idea of what she was looking for in her sound. I thought this was a great idea, so I began to look through my music collection for the "sounds" that I've been inspired by. After getting down to a short list of songs (not necessarily artists), I sat down and listened. Over and over again. Why do I love these songs, sonically? What instruments are playing? Where are they positioned in the sound field? What types of instrumentation and mixing fits the type of songs I write?

Here's a little bit of what I've learned the past few days. I'm a sucker for a few specific instruments when combined properly. Also, I have some very specific and different ideas about drums and percussion and how they should relate to the song (well, MY songs, at least). I actually took it so far as to make a list of instruments I would love to have on my CD someday. Here's that list with a few observations about each choice:

Acoustic Guitar - This will be the bread and butter of the sound. Sometimes it may be the focus of the song, other times in the background as a scratch track. Also, combinations of Acoustic Guitars (posssibly capoed) could be great.
Piano - Sometimes there's nothing like a few well timed chords from a piano to anchor an idea in a song.
Slide Guitar - High soaring sounds. Adds atmosphere.
Bass - Upright if possible.
Cello - Adds low end acoustic flavor.
Mandolin - Adds high end acoustic flavor plus a little country.
Violin/Fiddle - A lead instrument.
Drums - Sparse, but with a purpose when used. Not overly busy. Pocket.
Percussion - Usual shaker and tambourine, but other non-conventional sounds as well when effective.

So, there it is. The beginnings of my sound palette. Now all I need to do is find some folks who can actually PLAY all these instruments!

Write on,
John

2007-11-15 An Instrumental Thing

2007-11-17T01:56:00.000-05:00

It's not really instrumental in the sense of there being only one instrument played well. Instead, I'm playing several instruments poorly to make a louder noise.

I just had to try and record the idea. There's a whole other part to it, but it wasn't interesting enough to bother including.

Enjoy!

2007-11-15 Instrumental

What Are You Waiting For?

2007-11-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

This came in a flash this morning. I was up earlier than normal and decided I should just record it quickly. I just picked up my guitar (capo II already on) and played this little ditty.

What Are You Waiting For.mp3

What Are You Waiting For?
c2007 Steven Wesley Guiles

What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?

There's no time like the present
There's no time like the present

You'll regret it forever
You better go and get her

You better go and get her
You better go and get her

Something can wait, but somethings are needin' some of your attention
Can you bear the weight of a deed undone that could release the tension?
(repeat)

Win A Chance To Have Sufjan Record YOUR Christmas Song!

2007-11-11T22:28:00.001-05:00

It could be cool. Sure, you relinquish all rights to your song forever, but it gets recorded by SUFJAN STEVENS, indie songwriting master of destruction. How can that be wrong. Plus, you get to KEEP and OWN one of HIS songs! Tell me THAT ain't cool. I officially make this our December challenge that you can start now. I didn't even ask John. But this is too cool to pass up. C'mon people!

Here's the link. Christmas Song Give Away

Here's the official skinny from the Asthmatic Kitty (Sufjan's label) website.

Times of Possibility

2007-11-11T15:38:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Big Fish and an email with John Natiw...written in about 5 minutes. I may change it or rerecord it better. But I like what this rough sketch looks like...

Times of Possibility.mp3

Times of Possibility
by Steven Wesley Guiles

Times of possibility
times of risk and change
Times for moving forward
and times for making gains

Times for consequences
to actions that we've made
These times of possibility
Times of risk and change

Times for past resentments
growing for too long
Time to let them fall to earth
before they become to strong

Time for pure forgiveness
Time for feeling pain
These times of possibility
Times of risk and change

SWG Show Review Nov. 9

2007-11-10T17:43:00.000-05:00

Here's my show review in plain old text.
You can also recheck it at the ol' myspace page if you want.

Here are some photos from my last show at Rico's. The first is me and the second is My Name Is Milk. Thanks to Somafied for the pics. Thanks to my head for looking smaller than normal. And a special thanks to the fish eye lens.

Rico Coffee November 9th

This show was a pleasant surprise. I've had a few pretty horrible weeks. For the past two weeks I've been in and out of being sick, losing my voice, etc. Fiona and Joy have also been sick, so sleep has been sporadic for everyone and the misery index at the Guiles' house is at a new high. We're going to survive, but it sure ain't fun. Did I mention I had two wonderful nights of kidney stone related pain? Yeah. That was part of the "sure ain't fun" of the past couple weeks.

The pleasant surprise was first, there were more people here this time than last time. That's always nice. Our faithful attendees were attending (how attendant of them!) and several new faces were in the audience. We had offers of live bongo playing from one audience member and some neighbors of mine also came. It was an all around fun evening and I got to pick and choose from a bunch of songs that I've been wanting to play. This once-a-month residency has been working out nicely so far.

My Name Is Milk, co-headliner for the evening, started things off in strong form. As soon as he comes out with a recording I'll be better at identifying the titles to all of his songs, but last night I was in the middle of figuring out my set while he played, so I didn't do a very good job of tracking his set. Milkman played his newest song (which is a tear-jerk masterpiece) and ended with his great set-ender, Goodnight, I Love You.

Here were the songs in the order they were played...or close to the order they were played:

I Won't Back Down (with modified kidney lyrics)
-I dedicated this song to my kidneys. Tom Petty sure has written a lot of songs I like.

Weapons of Mass Destruction
-I really, really need to do a good recording of this song. I like it and have played it to positive response for sometime, but I've never recorded it properly. I have one recording with spastic drumming that captures the idea I want, but really sucks as a recording.

Can You Hear Me?
-I decided to do this song in a simpler version because I forgot my lyric sheet, but everyone seems to like this one when I play it. I scratched out a modified lyric to use for the evening and it worked out fine.

The Next Chapter
-I have a pretty good recording of this song that I included on my second E.P. I handed out 10 hand numbered copies tonight. 5 new songs. It was fun. This is a really good song too (of course, I'm biased). My recording had only drums and acoustic guitar as background instrumentation, but it sounds so full that I really like it.

Here's To Things I Haven't Done
-This is a song that may eventually become a Pushstart song (if I don't record it first). I may work up an acoustic/drum demo version of my own to release on an E.P. in the future. I love how it feels when I get to the chorus on this song...mmmm....big chorus.

Don't Be Waitin'
-This song is the step-child of two other songs I'd written. The guys in Pushstart liked the verses but didn't like the original chorus, so I took a chorus from another song I'd been working on (in another key) and slapped it on, and they LOVED it. It was weird for me at first, but now it seems natural and I can't imagine it any other way. This is another chorus that I'm really proud of.

Help!
-Another cover tune that I modified to fit my kidney/intestinal situation. You've got to be able to laugh at yourself and your life or else you just get sad all the time.

Country Star
-Jeff said I should play this song for someone that was coming, so I broke it out from memory (because I HAVE performed it hundreds of times by now). It went well and didn't feel as worn out as it's felt in the past. It was like visiting an old friend. I may have him over again sometime soon.

As Milkman heckled me, I cut into the first line of this song...

I've Got News For You
-On my previous 5 song E.P. The recording of this is very basic. I love the 3 part power yell harmonies on the last chorus. I was trying to copy a song I'd heard before (but couldn't remember what it was). I'd really like to mimic what the Verve does on their vocals on Urban Hymns. He does a lot of vocal tracks where he sings the chorus in octaves (a low and high voice) and it has a great sound. Not that this song is ANYTHING like the Verve. I just think maybe that was the original inspiration for HOW I recorded it.

Fill My Mind With You
-ON the new 5 song E.P. (#2). A pretty and simple song I wrote for Joy.

One
-One of my all-time favorite songs from one of my all-time favorite bands, U2.

Bridge Over Troubled Water
-Once before I had played this song and then done a few after. My friend Eric told me once before that I probably shouldn't try to play too many more songs after playing this one. It IS like, super epic. It IS by Simon and Garfunkel, the masters of 60s and 70s top 40 pop. (Would they be considered top 40?) I love this song too. This song has deep roots with me because I've heard it since I was a kid on my mom and dad's record player. I still have the record.

Song I left out that I want to try and do next time:

Don't Give Up (a newer song that I really like), Such Great Heights, Los Angeles, With Friends Like These Who Really Needs Amphetamines.

I also want to play Tammy Faye, I Love You and People Are Pictures next time. Both were on the new 5 song E.P. but I didn't have enough time to practice them (due to the sore throat, lack of sleep, kidney stone-esque, very bad, horrible week).

Covers I'd like to do:

The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes, and the Pride of Life (by the 77s). This is a song I used to cover all the time that I absolutely love. I may try and find this one and pull it out for Dec. 14. We'll see how the kidneys fare.

Good Grief! Radiohead Inspires Paste!

2007-10-29T22:32:00.000-05:00

I told you in a previous post that Radiohead may well shake up the model for how people do business. Now Paste Magazine is following suit. If you don't already subscribe, you MUST take advantage of this freaking amazing offer online. Here's the deal: Receive one year of Paste Magazine for whatever you think it would be worth. That's it.

I already get this magazine and can't recommend it highly enough. I would pay the full retail price to get it, so this is just an amazing offer. I'm sure many of you will be hooked and addicted within a month of subscribing.

Here's the link. Do it. Do it now.
(The lowest price you can set to receive one year is $1. Shoot. That's a good deal.

Be A Pepto-Star

2007-10-29T22:20:00.000-05:00

Sure, it's cheesy, but then again, it's a potential $15,000 of cheesy.
I'm willing to bring the cheese for the pesos. If I can put one of my silly songs into a nationwide ad campaign and make some money, I'm ok with that. If the Rolling Stones can do it, I think it's ok for me to do it too. Not that the Rolling Stones ever did a Pepto-Bismol ad...

Here's the link.

I've already got a sweet little tune in the hopper for this.
I'd like to make this a songwriting challenge...but we'll make the bonus challenge for the year. The contest is open until January something or other.

Here are some more rules and requirements for your perusal:

You must be at least 18 years old to enter, and anyone appearing in your video must be at least 18 years old, too.

• Video must be original and no longer than one minute.

• Video must portray the five symptoms—nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

• Video may not contain or refer to any brands other than Pepto-Bismol.

• Please don't depict anything crude, lewd, or vulgar.

• You and up to five additional people may appear in your video, but it is not necessary for you or any other person to appear.

• All video entries must be your own original unpublished work and cannot contain, incorporate, or reference anything that is owned by any third party or entity or would require the consent of any third party or entity in any jurisdiction.

• Videos will be judged based on the following criteria:
• Originality and creativity (50%)
• Appropriate portrayal of the five symptoms Pepto-Bismol treats (35%)
• Suitability for use in an advertisement (15%)

--Here are the lyrics...yeah, they're pretty bad, but they do get across their central message--

Pepto Star Song Lyrics
Nausea,
Heartburn,
Indigestion,
Upset stomach,
Diarrhea,
Yay, Pepto-Bismol!

Cold Tacos

2007-10-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

For every extremely serious song I write, my brain creates at least three ridiculous, wacky songs. A majority of these songs are written around my kids or my students at school. I've noticed that my school written songs TEND to take on a more hip hop vibe.

This song is destined to rank up there with other classic dumb songs, like Unicorn: The Other White Meat, The Chicken Song, or Don't Be Hatin'.

I now present to you, in all it's silliness, Cold Tacos.

Cold Tacos.mp3

Cold Tacos
c2007 Mr. G and the Homies

I like tacos, I like 'em when they're hot
Tacos are good to heat when they're hot
If you get a cold taco that's not so great
Cold tacos on my plate
That's messed up...I don't want no...cold tacos
I don't want no cold tacos

Cold tacos
Cold tacos
Cold tacos

Don't give me no cold tacos
Don't give me no cold tacos
Don't give me no cold tacos

Cold Tacos

Death In Texas

2007-10-25T00:45:00.000-05:00

I wrote and recorded this one last night after deciding on the title about a month ago.

I really didn't know what this was going to be about. I thought up a melodic structure (typical western song structure) the other night as I was falling asleep but that and the title were all I had until last night.

I didn't know where the verses were going to go until I got there. The third verse was a twist to me, it gives the song more meat. I really like where it goes.... Hope you do to.

Happy Halloween!
Eric
________________________________________________

Death In Texas.mp3

Death In Texas
Words and Music by Eric Shouse © 2007 Everybody Run Music

One dark night as I lay half-asleep in my bed
Got a strange phone call from the world of the legally dead
I was awake enough to hear the rattling chains
And through the hisses and moans, this is what I heard him say

"Get out of town, ride out as fast as you came
Don't pack a bag and tell all the rest to do the same
Don't know what the night will bring
All I know is one thing
In this world nothing can be certain...
but death in Texas"

Hung up the phone and tried my best to get back to sleep
Figured it was just a crank call from some psychopathic creep
But all my dreams were nightmares, kept me awake
Saw Texas chainsaws & Troopers and this is what I heard them say...

"Get out of town, ride out as fast as you came
Don't pack a bag and tell all the rest to do the same
Don't know what the night will bring
All I know is one thing
In this world nothing can be certain...
but death in Texas"

Hopped out of bed, swore I heard someone screamin' my name
Looked at my hands and all I saw was blood stains
I was awake enough to hear the voices and the rattling chains
And through the whispers and sighs, this is what I heard them say...

"Get out of town, ride out as fast as you came
Don't pack a bag and don't tell no one your name
Don't know what the night will bring
All I know is one thing
In this world nothing can be certain...
but death in Texas"

Ooo!... Death in Texas
________________________________________________

PS - Ben Franklin has been quoted and misquoted by some of the greatest minds of our time... and me. I heard Mr. Franklin's famous quote about taxes and filed away this idea a few weeks ago. Thanks Ben Franklin!

It's the Rest of Your Life

2007-10-23T10:59:00.000-05:00

photo courtesy of the city of Pittsburgh,
the sun and my daughters - 2007

This one started to form on October 14th. A couple verses, which did not make the cut, came out very quickly. The chorus idea came shortly after... It's the Rest of Your Life. There have been a lot of things happening in and around my life of late that probably helped bring this song out. I've tried to keep it as "open" as possible. Hoping that many people can relate to the simple idea of "beginning anew". The music is deliberately simple in this one. I struggle a bit with lyric writing and melody (not a good thing for a songwriter), so I decided to use only two chords and try to vary the melodies and focus intensely on the lyrics. I can't remember ever putting more work into lyrics than I have these. Hopefully it'll pay off.

This recording was done after making numerous work tapes as the song progressed. Just felt like this one needed a little better treatment than just a work tape. And, yes, that's my cell phone going off silently at the end. *doh*

Thanks for listening,
John
10/23/07

UPDATE 10/26/07 - Had the chance to rehearse this one with a couple of my ex-band-mates from Seven Bridges the other night. Not often these days that I get to play music with other folks. Dave did a great job of lending some "bottom" to this one with his bass. Lisa added some nice dynamics with backing vocals as well. Even in places where I had not originally heard them. Looks like the three of us will be debuting this one on November 10th at the Baseline Folk Society open mic. I can't wait.
John

It's the Rest of Your Life.mp3

It's the Rest of Your Life
words and music by John Natiw

Well it's time to go
I see it in your eyes
It's a winding road
It's a big surprise

It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life

And it starts now
You're born again
No goin' back
To where you've been

Maybe find some hope
Or even something more
It's the time to dream
It's an open door

It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life

Maybe see the world
Through different eyes
It's the chance to change
It's a new sunrise

It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life

Oooh, yeah
Oooh, yeah

Well it's time to go
I see it in your eyes
It's a winding road
It's a big surprise

I See Your Ghost

2007-10-21T23:25:00.001-05:00

Here's my best at a spooky song for October. I didn't think I would get one, but I did.

I See Your Ghost.mp3

I See Your Ghost
c2007 Steven Wesley Guiles

I see ghosts everywhere I go
I see your ghost everywhere I go

Wander through the earth
Wonder when you'll return
Cuz' I see ghosts everywhere I go
I see your ghost everywhere I go

Now I thought I saw your face
But it was...just a ghost

Live Show Review By Me And Of Me

2007-10-17T00:20:00.000-05:00

I played a show.
I reviewed that show, song by song, to the best of my ability.

Here's that review.

Simple Math II: The Revision Continues

2007-10-07T00:11:00.000-05:00

Well, this blog has given me several songs that I've loved and a few I've regretted...

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?

So, this song has been rattling around in my brain and I've come up with a bridge for it that I think is pretty clever, if I do say so myself. I haven't had time to record it, but I may try to tonight if the kids are sleeping peacefully. We'll see.

For now I wanted to post the lyrics because I think they're pretty clever.

One is a number that I'm thinking of addin' on to
Two is a number indivisible me plus you
Three now that's progress we've added one more Are we a company yet?
Four that's where I had to lock the door
I don't think I'll look back with regret

Who knew simple math would be so hard to do?
Sub-tract add on until they say you're through
Count cruel numbers until your face turns blue
I always thought...that one plus one was two

One was the loneliest I'd ever been till you moved in
Two now I think maybe we added wrong let's do those numbers up again
Three was a trainwreck crashin' into
Four four four is walkin out my door,
Excuse me while go and get her back

Who knew simple math would be so hard to do?
Sub-tract add on until they say we're through
Count cruel numbers until your face turns blue
I always thought...that one plus one was two

First we were just multiplying
Now it seems our times are dividing
I think we’ve met our quotient for this year
If you factor in the joys and the tears
If in this equation you are an x, and I ask “why?”
Do we subtract, add or multiply?

Who knew simple math would be so hard to do?
Sub-tract add on until they say we're through
Count cruel numbers until your face turns blue
I always thought...that one plus one was two

One plus one was two
One plus one was two
Aaaaaaoooooooohh