Flames Grow Tall by michael2
Genre: Folk (contemporary)
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Keywords:
indie folk (2), freak folk (2), folk (413), fingerpicked (2), melancholy (59), indie (138), psych-folk (3), stay away from drugs (1), ()
Description:
this song is pretty intense for me, after finally winning the battle over a serious drug habit I wrote this about the relief i felt at having survived when so many didn't. i've been clean for a long time now, but this song still gets me.
this could have went under psych-folk if there was such a category (but only because of the sound effects at the end).there is a real mellotron on this one (actually a chamberlain). it's doing the cello part, and an old ARP synth, and some backwards tape effects. but the bulk of the song is straight acoustic guitar and vocals, recorded at the same time. My voice sounds weary, but i liked it so I didn't bother doing another take.
even sadder than the subject matter, is the fact that I will never own a mellotron or an ARP (they belonged to a friend).
this could have went under psych-folk if there was such a category (but only because of the sound effects at the end).there is a real mellotron on this one (actually a chamberlain). it's doing the cello part, and an old ARP synth, and some backwards tape effects. but the bulk of the song is straight acoustic guitar and vocals, recorded at the same time. My voice sounds weary, but i liked it so I didn't bother doing another take.
even sadder than the subject matter, is the fact that I will never own a mellotron or an ARP (they belonged to a friend).
Lyrics:
long time ago, when the clouds were on fireI found a way to breach my soul
toyed with my chemistry
denied my humility
I thought i'd finally grown up
took it all for granted
until it all was gone
tried to prove I really didn't care
everything around me belonged to someone else
i had nothing I could call my own
my friends all fled
when the flames got too high
choking on the smoke
from the fires I'd built
there was no way out, all the exits were engulfed
in sick amounts of blood and sex and drugs
the flames grow tall when the soul falls flat
it's not like that right now, thank god
the flames grow tall when the soul falls flat
it's not like that right now, thank god
the flames grow tall when the soul falls flat
it's not like that right now, thank god
Hardware:
this was recorded live to DAT, and then the synth,mellotron and tape effects were overdubbed. It appeared on the Old Hickory album "Other Eras Such As Witchcraft."Software:
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cjdaley
moving in its sincerity. The mellotron/synth in the end is a bit downplayed (for me a bit frustratinly so), but I suppose it means the song retains a certain humility (Don't know if I make myself clear).DLed
TobinMueller
Fabulous lyrics. The bluesman stylings add to the meaning. So much ironic truth, not saying what you mean, and saying more in the process. Marvelous.
Vic Holman
sometimes we have to put it out. great results here. glad you won the battle. thanks for sharing.
i started thinking...i hope i don't seem like a song stalker here.
honestly, i'm just enjoying all your stuff!
michael2
stalker? no way; i love the attention:-) i'm just glad that someone likes this stuff. thanks for listening Vic.
drakonis
impressed (again)... a very nice bit of personal autobiographical writing, well written, appropriately (slurred) sung, and perfect sparse backing. The synth at the very end seems in the wrong place though, it feels like it should come in right at the end of the first stanza... it seems to represent the haze of drugs. Anyway, very moving song.
ttfn,
Drakonis
michael2
nice to hear from you. the bits at the end are actually supposed to be a seque into the next song (whatever that may be). i'm so happy that you liked it. it's one of my favorites at the moment.
jgurner
Great performance that's made even better by the obvious emotion that's behind the lyrics. There's a real sound of hurt and hope in the vocals. I love the little touches of dissonance. They give the smoothness of the rest of the tune a little edge. I think the touches of the synth are just right. Love the ending.
michael2
you for listening. i'm glad that you liked it, i prefer the synth at the end myself. i need to fly over and check out your page; can't wait to hear your stuff.
elektronix
Sparse instrumentation and the weary, broken voice. This gives this song depth and authenticity.
It was the right idea to use the first take.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
Greetings from Germany,
elektronix
michael2
i'm really glad you liked it. and so glad you stopped by and listened.
Don't know what else to say!
michael2
to hear from you. thanks for giving this one a listen.
Leon
This sounds like I'm On Fire by Bruce Springsteen... but this has more feelings.. more serene... love it!
Jim Bouchard
Incredible song! Well recorded, with great arrangement and a very unique personal vision is well presented. Powerful message, and I think this is very worthy. Reminds me a little of a Bobby Bare, Jr., but more at-peace with himself. Glad I found this song!
michael2
thanks for listening and commenting. i will check out bobby bare jr., i'm not familiar with him at all.
Realy got in to this one Moving it is. I think everyone has been through something like this at least once in thier life excellent music
guitapick
...just an awesome tune, man. Played and sung to perfection.
Deepest respect...
Bob
buckhorn
I like the bent notes in the vocals. Nice melody. Your vocal style reminds me a little of Kurt Cobain. Glad you didn't end up like him. Regards
michael2
i'm so glad you guys all like my song. ahh open G, open tunings make things sound a little fuller sometimes (as in there is really not much to this song). as far as the Cobain reference, neither one of us is what would technically be called a singer. i really appreciate the nice comments (and the downloads).
echoroom
You sing from the heart, from experience, and it really cuts through Mike. This hits like a slap in the face - the vocal is fantastic, groaned out but still with a sense of optimism. The arrangement works really well - nice and spacey, wonderfully supporting the guitar and vox.
Really, I'd like an album to listen to of tracks like this from you ... thoughtful and moving, but inspirational.
We all have our addictions ... I get this totally.
LOL
Steve
michael2
I'm so glad you got it. i have actually got a bunch of acoustic songs that I was thinking of recording.i don't post everything that I do as I don't want to bore people to tears; but that said, I guess they don't really have to listen. Thanks for popping in.
johnny d
I really dug this.
Love the sounds in the fade out.
You really hit me with this. great lyric and sung with such soul.
Nice recording of the acoustic,and well nice recording all round.
jd
michael2
i'm glad that you gave the song a listen, and even happier that you enjoyed it. thanks for listening.
sherrill56
of this piece brings to mind a transition into another song that you have sort of in and around your head at the moment, the lyrics and the musical material mix extremely well together and it wasn't boring...
very nice metaphors!
michael2
that you like this piece. It's one of my favorites that I've done, and I like the way that the outro sounds work with it (they were done on a 4 track).i'm really a fan, so I appreciate your comment. Thanks for stopping by.
five_extra_arms
You know how to get their attention, dont'cha!?
Seriously, this is a really strong work. Isn't it funny how you thought you'd be boring people to death with this song, but in actuality, this seems to be one of your more popular tunes.
I'm about to take another hit of it and enjoy the ride.
michael2
huh? i thought that everyone hated acoustic stuff and long winded psych crap. guess i'm wrong.
dajama
in its simplicity, driven by emotion and truth. The vocal works perfectly, in my opinion - conveying the weariness of the struggle. I'm with cjdaley on bringing the synth up a bit at the end, but that's just a matter of taste. You are one of the most talented people on this site without a doubt. Nice work. Peace.
michael2
thanks for the kind words. this is one of my favorites, glad you appreciate what i'm trying to do. we've got similar taste in a lot of ways.
stooey
First congrats on breaking the habit.
Musically, this made me think of Sprinsteen's Nebraska.
The vocals really reflect the pain, and the guitar suits the vocals so well.
thanks!
michael2
know, when I was younger I hated Sprinsteen. thought his macho working mans pose was a bunch of crap, but as I get older i can really appreciate a lot of his stuff. still don't like the "boogie" thing though.
Ed_Moran
Great song, feel and performance.
Ed
michael2
for stopping by
Jezus, Michael! I sit here in awe. Nicely chilled and relaxed. I didn't focus on the lyrics, but on the way you sang and play guitar. It all sounds very direct and personal, yet through some quirks in the melody and voice also very experimental, like the reversed end took me by a gentle surprise. A versatile and very talented artist you seem to be.
Jb
Heightened
I'm speechless.
singingshrink
nice work
Lennon714
I'm sure this was a difficult piece to write and record, seeing as how sometimes music brings back the emotions of the moments we are writing/playing about. You sound a lot like Jonny Polonski on this track. A good thing.