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Description
This is a re-do of my first ever Garageband song. My first two, actually. The song grew out of a true story of a friend of mine who fled communist Czechslovakia, back when leaving was a very difficult task. He worked on his plans for nearly a year, compiling the right papers to forge, setting up his alibis, etc. I heard his story just about the time I was getting a divorce and it resonated in a personal way. I had always wanted to include the two impression in a single song but never had the right venue. (It never fit into any musical I was working on.)
With my first GarageBand experiment, I wanted to combine edited loops and samples, to see how the program worked. I had never written like that before. I also hadn't done any recording "just for fun" in years, writing instead either for the stage or for my Hong Kong agent. So, the experience was liberating in many ways. I think the most successful part was how I cut apart and edited all those drum huts and loops, especially in the vamp at the end.
This track also marks my first collaboration with Norman Goodman. The idea to collab with Norman, who I admire as a player, came from a from thread that suggested different MJ member pairings. When someone suggested that I work with Norman, I emailed him, sent him 2 possible tracks, and set him lose. Other than filters EQ, I didn't change anything about Norman's playing, which I unusual fro me, since I like to inker and change things to fit. Norman's contributions didn't need tinkering. THANK YOU, NORMAN!
Also, Part 1 was the first time I collaborated with Del, an across the street neighbor. Together, we later set many of my poems to music. What a marvelous voice he has. Even more impressive in person.
This track does three new things:
1) I combined Part 1 & Part 2 into a single long-play track. The original was submitted as two separate tracks, one that leads up to when the person finally escapes, the other after he has gotten to where he is going. This one runs 7:46.
2) I added an acoustic bass on Part 1 and an electric bass on Part 2. I got this idea because of Norman's desire to add bass to the ending vamp. I realized there was no bass anywhere. In keeping with the polyrhythmic aspect of the accompaniment, I played the bass with a jazz feel, adding one more layer of psychological intrigue and tone poem painting.
3) I've mixed in Norman's lead guitars, rhythm guitar and bass into the vamp starting at 6:11.
Ther original tracks can be found here:
Forge A New Life - Part 1
Forge A New Life - Part 2
The represent the oldest songs in the MJ database. Kind of neat.
With my first GarageBand experiment, I wanted to combine edited loops and samples, to see how the program worked. I had never written like that before. I also hadn't done any recording "just for fun" in years, writing instead either for the stage or for my Hong Kong agent. So, the experience was liberating in many ways. I think the most successful part was how I cut apart and edited all those drum huts and loops, especially in the vamp at the end.
This track also marks my first collaboration with Norman Goodman. The idea to collab with Norman, who I admire as a player, came from a from thread that suggested different MJ member pairings. When someone suggested that I work with Norman, I emailed him, sent him 2 possible tracks, and set him lose. Other than filters EQ, I didn't change anything about Norman's playing, which I unusual fro me, since I like to inker and change things to fit. Norman's contributions didn't need tinkering. THANK YOU, NORMAN!
Also, Part 1 was the first time I collaborated with Del, an across the street neighbor. Together, we later set many of my poems to music. What a marvelous voice he has. Even more impressive in person.
This track does three new things:
1) I combined Part 1 & Part 2 into a single long-play track. The original was submitted as two separate tracks, one that leads up to when the person finally escapes, the other after he has gotten to where he is going. This one runs 7:46.
2) I added an acoustic bass on Part 1 and an electric bass on Part 2. I got this idea because of Norman's desire to add bass to the ending vamp. I realized there was no bass anywhere. In keeping with the polyrhythmic aspect of the accompaniment, I played the bass with a jazz feel, adding one more layer of psychological intrigue and tone poem painting.
3) I've mixed in Norman's lead guitars, rhythm guitar and bass into the vamp starting at 6:11.
Ther original tracks can be found here:
Forge A New Life - Part 1
Forge A New Life - Part 2
The represent the oldest songs in the MJ database. Kind of neat.
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Lyrics
PART 1
He stands there
across the wide road.
Just stands there,
looking in the window.
Every step from the subway to this very spot
he has counted them all. Open up my life.
He can't move on, one step closer and he's lost.
He can't turn away, take his life and turn it off.
What's behind the drawing curtain?
What's beyond the shadows cast?
Memories we know for certain.
Futures that will come to pass.
Working late every night, waiting for the right time,
hiding papers in an unlocked drawer,
slowly forging...
Forge a new life.
Forge a new life.
You, there... Do you have the right papers?
Are they correctly authorized?
Do you have the proper identification?
Where do you intend on going?
See the borders of your life.
At the boundaries of the world,
there's a man who checks your face.
If you're not who he expects
then your name's erased without a trace.
There I... at the gate.
There I... waiting.
There I... at the gate.
Do I... pass?
What's behind the drawing curtain?
What's beyond the shadows cast?
Memories we know for certain;
Futures that will come to pass.
Working late every night, waiting for the right time,
hiding papers under lock and key.
Lock and key.
Forge a new life.
Forge a new life.
PART 2
If the weight that once framed you
and the darkened days are all left behind,
then the mirror of your hidden hope
will reflect on this new place and time.
Working late every night, just to save what you can.
Filing letters full of words unsaid,
in American...
Like a savior that renames,
gives you courage to simply start again,
there's a genius to this crazy land
that reflects upon my face and hands.
I've come to America.
I've come to America.
I've come to America.
I've come to America, America.
Forge a new life.
Forge a new life.
Would I have learned?
Would I have earned the same mind?
Would I have burned the bridge between dreams and home
had I not left in time?
Would I have lost you
had I stayed and lived a lie?
Driven underground, every right every wrong,
wouldn't every passion die?
What of my sons?
And the sons of my sons?
Would they be proud
when the day is done?
When the day is done?
Can't go back home.
Can't go back...
He stands there
across the wide road.
Just stands there,
looking in the window.
Every step from the subway to this very spot
he has counted them all. Open up my life.
He can't move on, one step closer and he's lost.
He can't turn away, take his life and turn it off.
What's behind the drawing curtain?
What's beyond the shadows cast?
Memories we know for certain.
Futures that will come to pass.
Working late every night, waiting for the right time,
hiding papers in an unlocked drawer,
slowly forging...
Forge a new life.
Forge a new life.
You, there... Do you have the right papers?
Are they correctly authorized?
Do you have the proper identification?
Where do you intend on going?
See the borders of your life.
At the boundaries of the world,
there's a man who checks your face.
If you're not who he expects
then your name's erased without a trace.
There I... at the gate.
There I... waiting.
There I... at the gate.
Do I... pass?
What's behind the drawing curtain?
What's beyond the shadows cast?
Memories we know for certain;
Futures that will come to pass.
Working late every night, waiting for the right time,
hiding papers under lock and key.
Lock and key.
Forge a new life.
Forge a new life.
PART 2
If the weight that once framed you
and the darkened days are all left behind,
then the mirror of your hidden hope
will reflect on this new place and time.
Working late every night, just to save what you can.
Filing letters full of words unsaid,
in American...
Like a savior that renames,
gives you courage to simply start again,
there's a genius to this crazy land
that reflects upon my face and hands.
I've come to America.
I've come to America.
I've come to America.
I've come to America, America.
Forge a new life.
Forge a new life.
Would I have learned?
Would I have earned the same mind?
Would I have burned the bridge between dreams and home
had I not left in time?
Would I have lost you
had I stayed and lived a lie?
Driven underground, every right every wrong,
wouldn't every passion die?
What of my sons?
And the sons of my sons?
Would they be proud
when the day is done?
When the day is done?
Can't go back home.
Can't go back...
lavalamp
Congrats on 5 years. This tune has a life of its own. More art than music, which is very cool. A lot of interesting things going....twilight zone and all.
Great vocals, too.
Bravo,
Dave