Truth. Faith. Reality. Music. Art. Creation.

These words came to mind while listening to this excellent piece. Good
to hear from you again, Tobin. This is a wonderful song. An unsual key
change in the "don't remind me" verses, but a nice suprise. A subtle
groove from those rhythm samples, and excellent guitar work from
Elliot Friedman. I see you are still enjoying your B3?

Loved the 'trashy' harmonies too. Thanks for posting this, setting a
standard.

10-10-10-10

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Thanks for commenting on my "trashy" harmonies! Whenever I sing harmony
like that, I think of how my mother used to love to hear three of me at once, as I
try for that David Crosby middle note. And yes, I think I may go back thru my
2004 MJ songbook and add organ to everything. Love the textures (you can
hear more of them if listening in headphones). Since I always sound like I have a
cold now (and, indeed, I do have a constant cold), I have to go for the "truth"
element in my sung tunes, since I can't possibly go after the perfected vocal any
more. Thanks for noticing the positives and ignoring the negatives. Maybe the
negatives can become like wrinkles, colorful touches that help illustrate personal
histories, maps of living.

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...from having listened to "Escaping The Fray Zone". More clear
mastery here.

I see you use some candle lighting to help set a creative mood?
I've been having those thoughts. I'm going to run out and buy
some today in hopes of getting one step closer to where you are.

I'll try anything.

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Thanks for noticing then photo. My wife, Suzanne, cannot eat dinner without
candles and wine, and the candles always need to be lit in odd numbers (even
numbers are bad luck, and being half Hungarian and half Italian, luck is very
important to her, and spirits). Just like I seem unable to write a song without a
key change in it somewhere, usually in odd places. We go thru a lot of candles
in our house, and wine, and key changes...

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Another interesting composition. Like a man having a conversation
with himself. Lyric writing is so personal, the oddest words come out of
nowhere, as though the hooks and melodies yank the "chosen" words
out of one's brain, grabbing what fits the structure.

Writing to a melody makes you think of things you normally never
would have thought of, because it's all about consonants and vowels
bumping together and how they "feel" within the melody.
Once one phrase forms, it begins to dictate what the next phrase is to
become, and before you know it, you're thematically somewhere you
never consciously intended to be. Usually it's a wonderful place. But
sometimes some awful thoughts form, and you have to follow them
through, and you wonder how you could be thinking such hideous
things. So you pretend you're writing to a character. Or are you?

I'm rambling. This song is far from hideous. It's great! It made me
think, which is always a challenge.

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I tried to have it be about me talking to myself, me as a guy who writes and
plays. I considered writing it from a perspective of someone other than a
songwriter, to make it more universal, but then decided I wanted it personal.
You are right about how even oneself becomes a character, but not just in the
writing process, it happens in the living process too, in how we relate to others
as well as ourselves; and that was one of the allegorical ideas I was trying to
incorporate, so I am thrilled you picked up on it. Thanks for thinking it all not
too hideous, I tried to edit out those parts before sharing the track.

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I enjoyed the guitar on this a lot and the keys might have haunted me a bit of "Thick As a Brick" in some parts. Seemed to be more relaxed from your usual stuff. Thanks for sharing. A definite download.

Regards
John

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After traveling, it is nice to relax. The el piano instrumental section (the "I have
not forgotten that" part) was supposed to be hipper, but my fingers just
wouldn't go there. I wanted the forgetting to seem more ominous than, but it
ended up being a kind of comfort, a kind of ghostly memory passing moment
instead of a negation of anything. And so I let it happen the way it wanted to
and ended up liking it better. I will pass along your regards for the guitar work.
I am working another with Elli soon!

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great lyrics - great idea - that is why I sing too - because I can't remember the truth...

you've got lots of great musical changes with appropriate rises and falling...
(something I can never seem to do)
Great job buy Elliot on the 6-string...
Well done...thanks...
mokus

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Brothers in forgetfulness. I think therefore I forget what I was think of
previously... It is my excuse for improvising. I love the rise and falls, especially
the falls at the end. I do a lot of stage music and they always want big finishes; I
prefer the gentle finish, like the end of the day. Thanks for riding along side.

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Wonderful guitar works, and I like your vocals on this Tobin. its very near. Your harmonies is perfect.

I'll enjoy to have a go at the bass if you like...

The triangle groove is done by someone who has da mojo workin':)

Thoddi

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Thanks, I will email you about the bass collab. I'm thrilled!

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I'm not much of a lyrics guy; usually I'm listening to the vocal melody and not paying as much attention to the messages. There's many exceptions though, including your music, with the words so personal and honest and well crafted. Excellent writing, playing and production all around, very enjoyable!

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Thanks, I edited out a lot of lyrics from my original draft, trying to hone it down
to just the basics, so that it might have a wider application. Your tunes all have
great production, so I especially appreciate your comments.

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being a bit critical of your voice on a song earlier this year... something
to the effect that I thought it sounded forced, almost without emotion.
But this, this is just wonderful and more. The perfect harmonies with
shades of CSN&Y and even Simon and Garfunkel but it's all original
Tobin. Beautiful instrumentation and graceful percussion- but it's the
way this is sung that resonates with me.

I love music that strikes an emotional chord with me... it can be in the
lyrics or it could be the way a particular chord sounds. In this case it
was the way you sang "the jagged lines that still sting" that sent those
shivers up my spine. That's what seperates a good song from a great
song to me. This is a great song!


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Thanks a ton. That was my favorite sung lyric too. A moment when pain slips
thru even tho you are trying to guard against it, trying not to yield, yet
something in the words opens a door deeper inside and, bam, no longer words
be feelings with articulation. I love Peter Gabriel becuz of his ability to do that.
Thanks for imagining that I was able to do that for at least a passing moment,
and for the careful ears always. (I still cringe whenever I hear myself sing,
regardless.)

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First, absolutely adored the music. Impeccable.

But the lyrics aren't up to the same standard. Oh, the sentiments you're
expressing are genuine, that comes through, but if you're going to
write about the craft of writing, brother, surely you can do better than
"I've tried to capture it all on paper, I've crumpled all of it up and
thrown it away."

These aren't folk lyrics Tobin, these are pop lyrics. And that's fine if
that's what you want the song to be. You say you listened to Dylan but
I don't think you heard him.

You have here the makings of a truely incredible song. The music is on
a plane all by itself, one that even the best musicians rarely reach. And
it speaks to the subject matter of creative angst in a way I've never
heard before. There is a story within you aching to get out. But I think
you're still lying to yourself. These words may be coming from the
heart but they're being filtered through something before they reach
the song. Perhaps it's time you "murder some most beloved
children" and simply tell it.

Ah, what the hell do I know? Maybe I'm just not a big fan of candles.
(Unless they're in the rain, of course.)

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I know exactly what you are saying. Not normal folk lyrics for sure. I had
more lyrics that detailed some of what you are hinting at, but they ended up
needing to be a different song, I decided. But you did misunderstand what I
meant about listening to Dylan before hand. This was the setting: me sitting
alone in a room in some other town trying to write lyrics to stuff I needed to
finish, getting frustrated and putting on Dylan and hearing truly great, even
revolutionary, lyrics and thinking, in comparison, my stuff was all garbage. It
didn't mean to imply I was trying to emulate Dylan in my lyrics; rather, that I
was failing to reach the same level, that my lyrics seemed like lies in
comparison. I used that moment to make the moment an allegory, like what
Jim mentions about the self-reflection of songwriting (below). Plus, it felt
wrong singing about not knowing the truth and then putting in any lyrics that
sounded like an answer to what truth might be.

There is an old adage in film editing: take your best shot and throw it out
right away, since keeping it in will inevitably result in a distortion of the
overall message. Perhaps what I ended up with was more a meta-song than a
folk song, a song about a song. I will try again, after murdering some more
children, and see if I can get closer to the truth.

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I am envious of anyone with the knowledge, patience, and time to go through the process of creating music like this. I can imagine how much time you spent with the particular tune on your mind. I hope you are feeling content as it has turned to be truly moving song from beginning to end.

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Thanks for your very nice comments. And, yes, I am filled with contentment
when working on a piece like this, especially while I am playing in the parts,
listening to each track as if it were a jewel in a fine setting. I love the process of
creating, it brings me such great joy, and this song, which was born out of a
melancholy moment, transformed into something warming and fulfilling as I
built it layer by layer, as it came to life. Thank you for wishing me contentment;
it lasts until the next song begins nipping at my heals.

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I listened to this song of you and was happy.


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to listen to too much Dylan...anyway, Nice song and harmonies going on,
I like the changes, very natural how they flow into eachother, great lyrics
nice intrumentation, congrats, excellent!

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What an inarticulate title for my comment on this most articulate song!
This is really great. I like that it sounds like you have a cold; it reminds
me of my own singing voice. I think "House of Cards" might still be a
good title for this song, though the line didn't get used in the
end..."When I Sing" might be a little obvious for a title, and I think this
song is about that delicate structure we construct in music that is so
self-reflective, so that the house of cards might sum it up pretty well.

Really well made song with an extraordinary bridge section and a nice
percolating rhythm. Sometimes I was wishing the rhythm bed was a
little higher in the mix, but it's definitely a delicate balance with all the
wonderful elements. Wotta organ sound! Awesome!

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Thanks for the nudge to go back to my original title. I did. Also, there are
moments when I think the percussion is too soft too, one of the drawbacks of
mixing in headphones where little details come thru better; some of the hand
percussion especially is lost thru the speakers. Plus, for some reason, my voice
always sounds a tad louder after the mix is mastered to disk, something about
the frequencies I think. Thanks for your careful listening.

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I didn't think you'd take my suggestion! Nice to know that sometimes I might
have a good idea...hehehe!

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The percussion, the bell tone (of the b3?) on the fade.
I hear the care and craft that went into the song itself and the recording,
although (broken record) 'not my cup of tea'. :)
I can commiserate with the 'constant cold'. It's been recommended by my
ENT that I have surgeries on my nose and sinuses to clear my air
passages. I've declined so far, but with my year-round allergies I'm always
reminded of the problems.

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My brother has had that surgery. Twice. I don't think he can even smell
anymore...

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Thanks for the warning! I guess I may wait and see if the bone spurs multiply.

---
Mungo

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Can't add much to what's already been said, but just wanted to let you
know how much I enjoyed this, Tobin. Beautifully done.

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Nice to have you back. This is a delightful song in the lyrics and
instrumentation. Very uplifting. The little electronic details give it a lot of
character. I think I would like to hear just a little more punch (maybe
another layer) on the "It's not that..." parts to emphasize them a little
more from the parts leading up.

I particularly enjoyed the "I've tried to capture it all on paper..." section in
the context of the surrounding chorus verses.

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...Tobin finding and re-finding himself in song...

So it has elements or moments of feeling from this and that, to me.
There are moments where this is folkish and intimate, and there are
moments when I sort of imagine you-as-character stepping center
stage and being illuminated by the single spot...

You mention Crosby as regards getting the 'middle note' in harmonies,
and I also hear some Crosby-isms in the 'musing about big themes'
lyrics... He does it well in 'Lee Shore', to my ears, less well in things like
'Delta'...I've sometimes thought about what makes the difference...

I think that one of the things that helps musing about big themes is to
anchor them in concrete detail...a cup of coffee...a view out the
window...the outer concrete things that mirror an inner state...In fact, I
sometimes will start a song describing outer reality and see what inner
truths come bobbing up out of that... I think that lyrically, my own
taste would run toward hearing more anchoring details in this...so that
I can almost see you there... I think, for a similar song, I would suggest
a listen to Stan Rogers' "Song Of The Candle"... I think that one's got
the acoustic guitar and B3 thing going on as well...It also is a song
about writing a song... and it has a candle, so there you are...

You have a great sense of melody and harmony, and a great sense of
how to blend tones and timbres. And I like your singing, like the hint of
roughness, nasality, imperfection in the vocal...

And coming back to the original comment, I continue to see this as a
'searching' song. It is interesting to me, and not at all a bad thing, to
see someone as musically experienced and accomplished as you
coming back to that search... It's kinda cool...

Ed

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Insightful, thanks. I agree with everything, would have said the same things had
I been comment on the song myself. Funny how the song changed names while
you were writing. So many lives intersecting in the silence of the Internet, songs
flowing into rooms and the sound of keys clicking, and no one having a true
sense of simultaneity. Thanks for crossing paths so often.

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When I started commenting, this song was called one thing. When I
finished it was called something else.

I've plainly gotta write shorter comments...

Ed

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Excellent music. Although I rank many of your lyrics as tops in the field,
these are almost anti-lyrics, frames in which you force me to think in
between your lines instead of you filling in everything yourself. My
favorite aspect is the halting manner of your presentation, the time
between phrases in which I guess what you are going to say, how you are
going to finish your lines, and the difference between how I fill in the lines
and how you fill in the lines. It created a dialogue between your brain and
mine that added a new voice to the song. Very effective. And that ending
harmony washes over me with great power. Excellent arc to your song
making.

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Excellent song. But (and it might just be my speakers) you should bring up everything but the vocals. The guitar has a great melody to it, but you can barely hear it. Overall, very nice though. A solid professional sound, and refreshing lyrics that other musicians can relate to. Keep the hits coming!

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I agree about the vocals level and it is a continual problem I have with the mix
down process. When I hear my voice in the context of the multi-track mix, in
headphones especially, it seems at the correct level. Then when I mix it down to
a 2-track, my voice is too loud. I try and compensate, but what a pain, trying to
guess how low to set the vocals. I theorize that it is a frequency thing re: the
multiple frequencies my voice must generate, but really have no idea. If you
listen in headphones even to the mp3, it does sound better. This is more of a
pop mix, I rationalize to myself, with vocals being 6dB above the
accompaniment.

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What a perfect song. Someone who knows so many things and can do so
many things, are they the ones that always seem to think they don't know
anything? This is a song I will listen to over and over, like a prayer, for it
reminds me of the holy search. Even though it boarders on sad, the
beauty and balance of the music oozes hope that just the act of putting it
on paper is salve enough, sometimes. Wow. And I get to download this for
free! Thank you again.

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Thank you, Eva, and congrats on your MJer of the Week award. You are very
much appreciated.

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My comment is simple. This is my favorite of all your vocals, Tobin.
Cold or not, you sounded just right to my ears.

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Thanks. When I hear myself sing, I always decide it should be my last.
Comments like this help keep me trying yet again.

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nice music u got there

look like u have alot of sense with

the candle light around,

nice work

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the intro made me imagine an up beat action piece with motion. it turns
out to not be one, but it was alright. I really enjoyed the instrumental
pieces. overall a good piece.

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I'm glad I came back to listen to this song! I think this may be one of
my faves by you! I really like the simplicity of the lyrics (even if they are
"pop" lyrics as snowdragon has said...to which I say, "Does it matter?").
Not everything has to be a manifesto. (Although I also enjoy your more
complex lyrics, but these fit well in the song.) I like that part of the
melody where you sing "jagged edge." This is one that I'd love to give a
stab at singing sometime.

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Yes, you can sing anything of mine. But you have to put it at the end of the list
and sing the other tracks i have piled up for you first! Thanks for the kind
words.

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that is what this song is
perfect stuff for this genre i like the organ syncopation with the guitar
and the drums. this is perfectly ricorded and i can hear every lyric (which
by the way i like)
you have a good voice, i feel like it would feel out of order in another kind
of music
kepp makin' good stuff
-1/2 the third person

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I feel harmony in this song.
And some fear, but I really like it I really do.
I think you have done a master pice here and thanks for sharing this nice
charming tune.

Respectfully
---------
Skean
My last tune
Being a Friend (Collab
with The NightBird)

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Wow, your voice is so amazing! So deep, and yet vulnerable. Does that
make sense? Great harmonies. The only thing I could do without is the
organ in the background, only because of a personal preference, it
doesn't detract from the song at all. So why did I even mention it? I don't
know. I guess I just really like the lyrics and vocals, and the rest of the
instrumentation works. Now, what about that abrupt key change? Was
that intentional? It seems a little startling. I wonder?

Cool song, great voice, I'm off to listen to more of your stuff now! Thanks!

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I put key changes in nearly every song, part of my restless spirit. They usually
correspond to change in moods, in perspective, and I tell myself they contribute
to the storytelling. But really its that I can't help myself. I love playing with
tonal centers, trying to make difficult things sound easy, smoothing over the
changes, creating intuitive images in my head as my mind wanders. It helps me
to fall in love with whatever I am doing. (Thanks for your comments about my
voice, by the way. I really appreciate that. My voice is my Achilles' heal.)

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Excellent piece of work, Tobin!!!!

Respectfully,
Wade

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