Who's Online
Invisible Members: 4 Visitors: 68
Past 7 Days
Song Uploads: 135
Song Votes: 486
Song Comments: 2327
Forum Posts: 545
New Members: 73
Participation Points: 8145.60
|
Get Flash to see this player.
Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:
 
NoDerivs-NonCommercial
|
|
|
|
|
Keywords:
Death (128), mortality (1), grieving (4)
|
|
Description:
Funny thing, how songs get written.
The lyrics for this started with a conversation with Ledebutant about death and mortality ('Dive through time' is her line). About a week later, I was thinking about my parents, who are both dead ... you try and get over these things, but to an extent, you never can.
Anyway, I had a really emotional 'flashback', like drowning, being swamped in memories, and wrote the lyrics to this track in about half an hour... it just came out. I was in a bit of a mess at the time. I'm not religious, but there are times when you do call on someone else ... a higher presence ... for comfort, to try and make sense of things. During one of the world wars, a priest said:
'There are no atheists in foxholes'.
So I think of this song as a cry, a hymn from a particular foxhole I was in at the time.
I started working on the song as a sort of ambient/electro track, but after a month or so, moved to using more conventional instruments. During that time, I started working with Philip (Racerat) on a revamp of 'Manhattan hangs', and asked if he'd like to collab on this track. Philip took the track and really worked some magic - the majority of instruments on this are his work, and he added two particularly wonderful elements, the harmonica and the backing vocals. Mixing and mastering is all his work ... and it's a great job.
I find it actually difficult to listen to this track, as there is so much emotional energy in it for me, but, it's a mainline to a memory for me ... much better than having a photograph. I have as big an ego as anyones (hey, maybe bigger), and always like to get a good response to a song, but in this case, just having written this is enough.
Lyrics:
Oh come and hold us, you know our
Hearts ain't so tough.
And lead us homeward when the
Road gets corrupt.
Every night, like breathing water.
Oh come and touch me though your
Hands are cut.
Live one more hour
It'll be enough.
Every night, like breathing water
I feel you here
Every night, it's like breathing water.
And though I dive through time
It's not mine to keep.
The moment locked inside
Caught and then released.
We come in hollering
Whisper out in peace
Shantih Shantih shantih.
Born, never asked
Filled with violence and love.
If we lay down our guns
Would our tears turn them to rust?
Every night, like breathing water....
Hardware:
Philip's harmonica
Software:
Logic Pro
|
Finally &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:41:23 AM
I've been dying for you to post the final version of this, loitering around trying to peep in your window, hoping to glimpse you pressing that Bounce button on the final version, so I'm THRILLED to finally see this posted.
There's a lot to absorb here, partially because I have the other version in my head, which is making it hard to comment, yet, but I'll be back.
I do have to say that I don't think there's a single time I've heard you sing "born never asked," in either version that tears haven't sprung to my eyes. The way you sing this truly taps into a very deep place in you, so thank you. [ Reply to This ]
Window &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:44:34 AM
Also, I should obviously have been peeping in Phillip's window watching for that bounce button, also to steal his mixing secrets. [ Reply to This ]
Mixmaster &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:52:03 AM
The mix and master are all Phil's ... I'm waiting for the final file so I can figure out how the heck he can produce work like this. He is my logic idol! [ Reply to This ]
bloody hell &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:49:16 AM
I just posted this, went to check the spelling of shantih (which I got right), and you were already onto this - that's like 10 seconds!!
This is a very different version (I may post the other some day), but I think 1000 times better. Be interested in what you think after you've ahd a chance to absorb this. In all honesty (and I mean this literally), I can't get past the last verse/chorus without welling up .. it's almost embarrassing.
Thanks Lisa - will be in touch.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
wow &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:43:59 AM
1. excellent to team up with Philip
2. your vocals shine
3. I'm early on one of you tracks for once
4. pretty and a moving piece.
5. Philip did an excellent job, not that I would expect anything less
6. your on fire this last couple days.
7. way to go guys [ Reply to This ]
8. thanks Vic. &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:58:27 AM
9. What time is it - shouldn't you be in bed.
10. Oh, i forgot, you never sleep 'cause you're always writing and recording.
11. If I'm Bowie, Philip is definately Eno.
12. ta!
steve [ Reply to This ]
brett anderson &mdash 08/09/07 - 02:34:58 AM
I really am &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:47:43 AM
speechless Steve. This song got me too. Very, very emotional and beautiful. I think that there should be a bigger fave icon for songs like this - majestic songs. Wonderful collaboration - everything about it is top class. I want to say more - but am speechless still.
Cheers
Len
[ Reply to This ]
ballads! &mdash 08/07/07 - 02:12:35 AM
Hey Len - I never thought the day would come when I posted a song under 'ballads' .... but I guess you mellow with age. One of the really clever things Phil did was still give this some edge - the discordant guitar in the verse, the harmonica .... it pulls it back from me having a Barbara Streisand moment (which is a good thing).
Thanks for checking this out
Steve [ Reply to This ]
powerful song &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:48:52 AM
I can really feel the emotion coming out in your singing. This was moving. Aside from the musical excellence it was the kind of straight from the soul, gut wrenching song you can really cry to. I'm sorry for your loss. At the risk of sounding preachy may I offer the words of Jesus Christ, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."
peace
chip [ Reply to This ]
From the gut &mdash 08/07/07 - 02:20:02 AM
Hey Chip - just listened to 'Nadu', which is wonderful, straight from the heart. Thanks for listening, and for the kind words.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Steve &mdash 08/07/07 - 02:35:49 AM
I'm waaaaay too tough to start blubbing over pop songs, so I'm gonna buck the trend and start with a very minor crit (constructive of course). Namely the piano in the opening verse. Do you think it might be a bit dry? Not sure whether it's a real or pen piano, but it really sounds like the latter - a bit fake?
Ok, gripe over. I'm commenting after 3 back to back listens and already the melody is firmly lodged in the memory - a good thing. The best thing about this is the way it builds, though, always a sucker for the big finish. The arrangement and production are spotless (apart form the early piano), and the vocal is as strong as always.
I totally agree about it still having an edge as well - imprtant in a 'ballad' so congrats to Philip for keeping you on the straight and narrow.
It's another great submission. DL'd, Fave'd etc. Nice one.
Phil [ Reply to This ]
No real instruments were harmed by me... &mdash 08/07/07 - 02:53:11 AM
Hey Phil, yeah, good call, the opening piano is fake, and I'm totally responsible for that... I thought someone would call me out on that! It was originally recorded using the Jam pack Steinway sound, but I changed it to a Logic instrument when I sent Philip the file ... if I had more patience, I would've changed it back ... but I haven't!
Good call, and thanks for listening ... 3 times!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Ahhhh... &mdash 08/07/07 - 03:16:01 AM
...patience, and the lack of it. I know all about that!
---
Same Same, But Different [ Reply to This ]
Man, I can feel... &mdash 08/07/07 - 03:39:39 AM
Your emotion in this song. I'm a grown ass man and I don't normally well up to something I listen to but for some reason, this song reminded me of my mom (she passed away in 1990) and brought tears to my eyes.
If you asked me why, I couldn't answer you but thank you for the warm memories that I almost forgot about.
"There are no atheists in foxholes"
beautiful. [ Reply to This ]
Stunned &mdash 08/07/07 - 09:28:01 AM
Bjack - I heard your work for the first time today and was stunned - bamboozled is an awesome piece of work - you guys can really wail! I'm glad you got this song ... it's good to take time and remember.
Thanks for coming by and listening
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Raw stuff Steve &mdash 08/07/07 - 04:44:51 AM
Bloody excellent :-)
This is such a good song and really well produced.
A wonderful hook line. Your voice is shining and the instrumentation is top notch.
Cheers
Dick [ Reply to This ]
raw &mdash 08/07/07 - 09:30:27 AM
Thanks Dick ... although your latest track is pretty, er, brutally honest!
Steve
[ Reply to This ]
Bring Out The Big Guns &mdash 08/07/07 - 06:24:44 AM
Steve,
This is great evidence of just how smart you are. Oh sure, you can sing, and write fun children's music, but look how this song has evolved. I really loved the first version, but man o man, you've really made this something to disrupt the skyline.
You're a smart cookie, because you know who to work with and you really seek feedback on the parts you think are strongest and the parts you think are weak. You consider every single comment you hear almost to the point of absolute compulsive, neurotic lunacy. No, beyond that.
I'm just glad that I was able to be a part of this tremendous production at the level I was. Honestly, and we've had this argument before, I don't think the song would have the same emotional impact if you didn't listen to me.
"If we lay down our guns
Would our tears turn them to pumpkins?'
Not a very good rhyme, but hey, that's a thing of the past.
My final serious point is that I am so impressed with the power of this song. Phil did a fantastic job doing all that he did with the scraps of an idea you sent him (kidding big time). I know you are a major control freak, Steve, and you have a hard time letting go of the reins, but you did a great job by letting Phil be great and it makes you a better artist yourself.
You guys are amazing.
Thanks for feeding the hungry iPod! [ Reply to This ]
You have no soul! &mdash 08/07/07 - 09:35:48 AM
How dare you mock my grief ... actually, I'm okay when the track stops ... it's just when i play it I start wailing.
This is pretty far from the elctro version you heard ... in fact, Phil removed the cathedral organs, which I loved in the original (and gave it a real hymn-like quality), and I didn't even notice.
I am an utter control freak, but know my limitations ... this is probably the most 'collaborative' track i've done, but I totally trust Phil, so it's easy to loosen the grip ... i could happily work with him until he tires of me (so Thursday, then).
You know what this song means to me, so thanks Bob.
Now for more songs about cars and girls.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
A Second Listening Session &mdash 08/13/07 - 01:56:05 PM
Steve,
I invested some serious listening time comparing/contrasting the 2 versions of this great song. What truly amazes me is how different they are straight from the git go.
I really loved the electro version and I didn't want to write it off just because you did a new version. There are so many really beautiful things happening in version 1. I had kinda forgotten about it until I listened to it over the weekend. By the way, the beach was unbearably hot no matter how deep I buried my feet in the sand.
Phil's ideas and instruments do more than just enhance this song, it really is a totally new song you two have written. It's just as different as any other 2 songs you've done that weren't the same song done differently when you did them again for the second time. I'm sure you know what I'm babbling about.
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy this production.
Bob
---
she'll love five extra arms. [ Reply to This ]
moving and humbling &mdash 08/07/07 - 06:52:58 AM
Perfect vocals as usual, and your well-known sense of the dramatic build-up. I don't think the flute in the first verse brings as much as the rest does (the harmonica, the acoustic guitar), but on the other hand, it would be great song, no matter what.
No atheists in foxholes, well maybe. Depends on what you find at the bottom of the foxhole, I guess. [ Reply to This ]
As if by magic &mdash 08/07/07 - 09:40:01 AM
... speaking about songs about cars and girls (well, filthy fifteens). Yeah, there's a real odd range of instruments in here - i really like the flute, but the harmonica I think is just ace - Phil put this in and just said he had a 'surprise' - I think it works really well. It is a big swirling, dramatic kinda song ... Celine Dion is very interested.
Nice to hear from you again JC
Steve [ Reply to This ]
I love the way you &mdash 08/07/07 - 07:03:25 AM
chip away at the subject matter... like a sculpture to get the idea to emerge... I really love it that you take the writing serious... I get a sense sometimes, that folks have music and are looking for some words to put with them... here, there is an urgent sense that you have something to say... and if it wasn't a song... it would be a poem... excellent producer chair skills Phillip... you enable the song on it's trajectory... that's key... every element that you've added, seems to be toward the song.. you've kept the work in sight... I have come to really expect great things from your voice Steve... you have the ability to instill real emotion in songs that are less charged than this one... so I'm not suprised that you really inhabit the song as you present it...
This is remenicent of C S Lewis's writings for me... he took the tenants of the faith very serious... he really believed that we are a fallen race... that we remain outside of "what we were really created for" because we were created as eternal beings we will always feel out of our element... like something is not quite right... somehow the constraints of time... death... longing... will leave us feeling like we are beathing water...
bravo... and deepest bow [ Reply to This ]
Woow! &mdash 08/07/07 - 09:50:49 AM
Thanks Scott. I sometimes wonder how well I communicate through lyrics ... I don't really like to draw a straight line through things, so I guess they can be a bit obscure .... i wasn't sure about 'breathing water', but it worked with how i felt at the time. I think the odd thing about this lyrically, for me, is that each line is pretty clear, but is almost a seperate idea. It's hard, because there's so much behind each line:
'Live one more hour, it'll be enough' brings really strong imgaes back to me ... almost a child-like wish.
The joy of this collab for me is that Phil really got it, there was really no arguement even though the song changed quite a bit - the music and lyrics I think support each other.
Thanks for your considered comments
Steve [ Reply to This ]
love it &mdash 08/07/07 - 07:38:24 AM
Steve your vocal on this is just soaked with emotion. Its pouring out the speakers. I feel like I should be able to fav twice on songs this good.
Philip you are the mix czar. Awesome harmonica! [ Reply to This ]
Admin &mdash 08/07/07 - 09:55:20 AM
I'll talk to the admin about the 'double fav' button - sounds like a winner! thanks for the kind words - really appreciate the response this track has had.
steve [ Reply to This ]
wow.... &mdash 08/07/07 - 07:49:11 AM
much emo energy here.....love the choir-like backing.....steve u have a gift man......racerat nice job ...kudos' to u both...... [ Reply to This ]
One man choir &mdash 08/07/07 - 10:01:10 AM
... called Philip, available for hire at reasonable rates. Thanks for your support man, really appreciate it... look forward to working with you and the guys again.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
What a great piece ! &mdash 08/07/07 - 07:55:14 AM
ohh .. my new friend, this is the 1st time i hear you and i'm really want to say as you said "I've sorta seen you around the site, but not yet checked out your work ... I wish i had earlier", I'M IMPRESSED BY YOUR STUFF, your vocal is very nice, the music is great, the performance VERY GOOD !!
Loved this piece and faved it !
Take Care my friend
==============
Yeman Auf Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
The feeling's mutual &mdash 08/07/07 - 10:04:19 AM
Yeman, really enjoyed hearing your track today .. there's so much excellent music on this site, I need to hire a gopher to help me keep up. Thanks for checking this out, and I'll try to get round to listening to some of your previous posts
Steve [ Reply to This ]
wonderful ballad. &mdash 08/07/07 - 08:14:00 AM
from such a sorrowful place. thanks for sharing this piece of yourseof!
a touching, wonderful song! [ Reply to This ]
ballad??? &mdash 08/07/07 - 10:09:08 AM
Hey Jason - I wondered what you'd make of this, you and rad being the masters of metal mayhem! Thanks for checking this out ... rest assured, Phil has but loud guitars on our next collab!
LOL
Steve [ Reply to This ]
loud, soft, or bluegrass... &mdash 08/07/07 - 03:27:15 PM
a great song is a great song...
and this is it!
the song makes me feel what you feel, no easy feat, and very nicely done, my friend
---
Learn, Love, Grow... that's all one can do. [ Reply to This ]
wonderful &mdash 08/07/07 - 08:49:27 AM
steve - your voice is a Wonderful Thing - i just LOVE it.
"And though I dive through time/It's not mine to keep./The moment locked inside/Caught and then released." - what fine, fine writing.
great build - that last stanza was packed with emotion. you, sir, are GOOD!
anne [ Reply to This ]
Ledeb &mdash 08/07/07 - 10:19:05 AM
... helped with those lyrics ... I owe her a fiver. Thanks anne .... one day, we gotta do a song together, you're vocals are always so perfect. Thanks for dropping in
steve [ Reply to This ]
shanti shanti shanti &mdash 08/07/07 - 10:17:13 AM
What a profound message you have here. I know it's your story, but it reaches everyone of us. Thank you for bearing your soul here for all of us to stop, in silence, and listen. Really listen. It's a transcendental fear... or knowledge depending on your level of optimism. I, for one, find this song rather haunting. It hits that place in my brain that brings comfort and warmth knowing we are all connected by these wills for peace and connectedness, despite our fears and our fragile health. I love this. Thank you for sharing -- what a gift. [ Reply to This ]
Out of the chaos &mdash 08/07/07 - 10:24:41 AM
I'm not much for pimping, but I e-mailed you about this 'cause, with the collab coming up, and the subject matter, i really wanted you to hear this. I've always thought it strange (well, lately , at least), that death is such a taboo, yet is so much part of life ... something we all experience, yet it's still talked about in hushed tones ... how many people do you know that talk of someone 'passing on', or 'passing away'.
It's a subject I've come naturally to explore, to try and make sense of my experiences, and I'm giving it three shots ... this track, Fragile, and another track i've worked on with Pengui.
thanks Miss C ... look forward to working with you.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Magnificent! &mdash 08/07/07 - 10:59:31 AM
As you once said in one of your comments on one of my tunes: "I'm speechless"... I love everything about this. Phil did a great job on the M & M. Your vocal is positively and authentically heart-wrenching Steve. Like I said above: MAGNIFICENT!
Be well friend!
PS: "Born, never asked"...Someday you may find out that you DID, in fact, ask... [ Reply to This ]
Ditto &mdash 08/07/07 - 11:28:40 AM
Hah - don't i say that about all your tracks .. and now that you're all Logiced up, your work has taken another quantum leap! Thanks Mike - I usually rattle off the vocals fairly quaickly on my stuff, but it took weeks before i got this ... i did loads of versions, and they just didn't feel right ... this one's pretty close.
Heh - I lust solo'd Philip's vocals on the Logic file of this - they sound great - i may use them for another song.
thanks for the support, friend.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Never drowned &mdash 08/07/07 - 11:15:04 AM
Fabulous lyrics. Life is made up of opposites, colliding as they do inside our experiences, not in conflict but in a kind of growth-synergy that hurts as we keep hold of joy, gathering meaning deep inside.
Sonic details (especially that weird organ) are also really nice: giving a sense of underwater, of even a phone call from another dimension. Very nice swaying anthem feel, but the poetry remains front and center, never drowned.
Excellent. [ Reply to This ]
Drowned world &mdash 08/07/07 - 11:47:45 AM
That's so weird, tobin - there is a wildly effected choir sound, which Philip also referred to as 'underwater' ... great minds ... drown. This to me is all about delivering the lyric, and the content behind it ... if that comes across, then we've succeeded.
Thanks for listening
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Props to tha Man &mdash 08/07/07 - 12:18:41 PM
Hey Steve et al,
It was so great working with you on this track. The kernel of the song is what is to thank for it's greatness. The lyrics, the progression. I felt like I just was adding icing to an extent. And you know how I LOVE adding icing...! The only challenge was when Steve wrote me and said "Dude, (he didn't really say "dude") here's the file, but I want it to be about 30 seconds longer". So I had to chop it up and architect some new passages, but I think it works.
Steve, your vocals are ACE as usual, no challenges for me there. I have listened to this cut probably 200 times in working on it and I can say I have never tired of it, I always hear something new, and I am always touched by it's sincerity. Props to tha man and looking forward to hearing what folks say about our Manhattan hangs redux.
Cheers and Ciao,
Philip [ Reply to This ]
Spooky &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:11:21 PM
You know, I have the new version of manhattan hangs on my ipod, and I've called it MH redux - how spooky is that!
This is a total collab, so we split the royalties 50/50.
BTW, i got the Logic file and listened to your backing vocal tracks ... fantastic, and only eq and a bit of reverb. And there's me thinking more plug-ins woz better!
Thanks dude!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Wow! &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:20:43 PM
This is such an excellent song. Great production, playing and amazing, heartfelt, singing! Loved it.
Peter [ Reply to This ]
Long gone &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:46:01 PM
Hey peter - where have you been - it's been ages since you posted (actually, I just bought a book on Banksy, the grafitti artist yesterday ... sorry!). Thanks for the comments, and look forward to your next opus.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
The imagery in your lyrics &mdash 08/07/07 - 01:56:51 PM
is stellar and very moving - same to be said for your vocal performance.
Oh come and touch me though your
Hands are cut.
Live one more hour
It'll be enough.
is simply brilliant - and Philip's production and playing really add the perfect weight and arrangement to this song. I'm very impressed - and quite moved. Thanks for sharing this with us. [ Reply to This ]
Flow &mdash 08/07/07 - 02:06:02 PM
Thanks Bud ... sometimes you have to drag lyrics outta me slowly ... this one just flowed out .. it's a gift when it happens like that.
Your work is always great (even the stuff you recorded in the 70's!!), so we really appreciate your comments.
Thanks for listening.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
I'm so glad &mdash 08/07/07 - 02:51:35 PM
that you left a comment on my page, because I hadn't gotten around to hearing your music. This is incredibly touching. Both my parents are gone, too, and sometimes the memories come flooding in, so I know what you mean here. I tried many ways to find peace, and Jesus was my answer. I pray you find this peace and never have to breathe like breathing water again. Thank you for letting us hear your emotional prayer cries in song. I think we can all relate in some way. I love your voice and the music, and the harmonica was an extra treat. :-) [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Roxy &mdash 08/07/07 - 03:11:12 PM
Loved your latest track ...there's so much good work on this site, its a real struggle to keep up. Being Irish, I usually deal with stuff by keeping it locked in ... music is a great way to release the emotions!
Thanks for listening, and for your kind words
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Amazing Song &mdash 08/07/07 - 05:03:10 PM
Steve and Phil you guys bring it home- good good stuff, this song is so well developed and recorded so well, good job both of you...
Steve you are man of the week here at MJ :) keep bringing the good stuff, as you tell Len you'd never thoghtt you'd be posting a ballad well I am working on one myself but I must say this isn't exactly a ballad but I get what you mean, this is more like a head song for the mind! trippy in its own way, excellent my friend! [ Reply to This ]
Trippy &mdash 08/08/07 - 12:20:14 AM
man of the week - do I get a crown and sash to wear - cool! I didn't know what to class this as ... trippy ballad suits me down to the ground. Thanks for the comments Tom, that's really cool. I was talking to Bob about a get together ... miami, new york, so maybe we'll actually meet some day!
Steve [ Reply to This ]
Big Aura &mdash 08/07/07 - 07:17:48 PM
There's a lot here, but it's all so airy and spacious I want to just dissolve. Beautiful performances all around, and a seemingly effortless pace.
Don't change the fake piano; it goes great with the sound of your lyric sheet rustling at the beginning. [ Reply to This ]
Rustled! &mdash 08/08/07 - 02:08:30 AM
hah - good spot Jim - I think it's a constant on every track of mine that thsat ol' lyric sheet can be heard (it's very clear on Gentle machine) ... Although on crashed i did pin them to the wall. Tricky thing tempo - too slow and this woulda dragged, too fast and it woulda seem rushed .... hopefully we got it right ... thanks for listening.
Steve [ Reply to This ]
I've been kind of missing... &mdash 08/07/07 - 09:48:15 PM
...real songwriting...
This is a great lyric, and a great Bowie-esque vocal, and frankly, David would be lucky to come up with something as cool as "every night like breathing water"...
Of course I listened to this right after watching 'Casino Royale' with my wife, a film that ends with someone breathing water and breaking someone else's heart, or soul... So that image is attached in my head...
This is a great combination of collaborators, too... You two are different, but you mine similar enough territory, that the blend is enriched rather than predictable...
Ed [ Reply to This ]
| |
There's a lot to absorb here, partially because I have the other version in my head, which is making it hard to comment, yet, but I'll be back.
I do have to say that I don't think there's a single time I've heard you sing "born never asked," in either version that tears haven't sprung to my eyes. The way you sing this truly taps into a very deep place in you, so thank you.
[ Reply to This ]