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Description
Better Men
This started like many of my songs... A chord progression and a rough melody. I hadn't thought much about lyrics but I had wanted to work with Dajama (David) for a very long time... His tune "Find Yourself", (http://www.macjams.com/song/39692), was one of the first I came across here on MacJams. So I spent a few moments recording this progression and singing some nonsense words for the melody and I sent it off to him. My "demo" was pretty rough.
I asked if he could write some lyrics and perhaps lay down vocals. It took David about a week and he sent me back 5 vocal tracks with multi-layered harmonies. His vocal work sounded amazing even with my wimpy single poorly played guitar.
So I quickly sat down and reworked the drums, added bass which took me about 2,000 takes to get right... Finally I re-recorded the guitar to make it less busy. Next I went to work on an organ track. I would say I had one of those (very rare) moments where my head was totally into it. The organ track here was a first take! I had one or two minor fixes I had to make but it just flowed. It was like I had played organ all my life! I know its not a complex part but it just fit perfectly for my taste. Rick Wakeman I am certainly not but it sure felt nice to do something in a single take for once!
I originally imagined some lead guitar in the open places. During a chat session the idea of sax came up and Andy was right there... so I pitched a copy over to him to see what he thought. He seemed to think it would fit. You can hear the result.... The sax just took this over the top in my humble opinion. Originally I was thinking... ok sax solo just at the end. I'm glad Andy ignored me and played sax throughout the song... It really added a whole new dimension.
I spent a day or so getting the sax EQ right with Andy's help. I was floored at the dynamic that the sax added to the song once it was properly EQed. Just floored. So with this I will add a HUGE THANK YOU to Andy for taking part in this. I have limited experience with sax but he made it a pleasure to include it in the tune.
Credits and Appreciation:
I'd like to thank Dajama (David) for his stunning vocals and lyrics to this tune. I don't think I would have pushed this forward without them. Thank you David.
I'd like to thank awigze (Andy) for introducing me to the wonders of sax and being patient with my novice ways and teaching me how to correctly EQ the sax for the right effect. The sax parts in this tune were adlib by Andy and fit perfectly. It is a amazing that an artist can simply listen to a tune and lay down a perfect fit counter melody as quickly as Andy did. Simply stunning!
Song structure and composition by: MarkHolbrook (2009)
Lyrics by: Dajama (2009)
Tracks:
Vocals and harmonies: Dajama
Primary and backing guitars: MarkHolbrook
Bass: MarkHolbrook
Organ: MarkHolbrook
Drums: Courtesy of Drums on Demand and a few accents of my own
Sax: awigze
This started like many of my songs... A chord progression and a rough melody. I hadn't thought much about lyrics but I had wanted to work with Dajama (David) for a very long time... His tune "Find Yourself", (http://www.macjams.com/song/39692), was one of the first I came across here on MacJams. So I spent a few moments recording this progression and singing some nonsense words for the melody and I sent it off to him. My "demo" was pretty rough.
I asked if he could write some lyrics and perhaps lay down vocals. It took David about a week and he sent me back 5 vocal tracks with multi-layered harmonies. His vocal work sounded amazing even with my wimpy single poorly played guitar.
So I quickly sat down and reworked the drums, added bass which took me about 2,000 takes to get right... Finally I re-recorded the guitar to make it less busy. Next I went to work on an organ track. I would say I had one of those (very rare) moments where my head was totally into it. The organ track here was a first take! I had one or two minor fixes I had to make but it just flowed. It was like I had played organ all my life! I know its not a complex part but it just fit perfectly for my taste. Rick Wakeman I am certainly not but it sure felt nice to do something in a single take for once!
I originally imagined some lead guitar in the open places. During a chat session the idea of sax came up and Andy was right there... so I pitched a copy over to him to see what he thought. He seemed to think it would fit. You can hear the result.... The sax just took this over the top in my humble opinion. Originally I was thinking... ok sax solo just at the end. I'm glad Andy ignored me and played sax throughout the song... It really added a whole new dimension.
I spent a day or so getting the sax EQ right with Andy's help. I was floored at the dynamic that the sax added to the song once it was properly EQed. Just floored. So with this I will add a HUGE THANK YOU to Andy for taking part in this. I have limited experience with sax but he made it a pleasure to include it in the tune.
Credits and Appreciation:
I'd like to thank Dajama (David) for his stunning vocals and lyrics to this tune. I don't think I would have pushed this forward without them. Thank you David.
I'd like to thank awigze (Andy) for introducing me to the wonders of sax and being patient with my novice ways and teaching me how to correctly EQ the sax for the right effect. The sax parts in this tune were adlib by Andy and fit perfectly. It is a amazing that an artist can simply listen to a tune and lay down a perfect fit counter melody as quickly as Andy did. Simply stunning!
Song structure and composition by: MarkHolbrook (2009)
Lyrics by: Dajama (2009)
Tracks:
Vocals and harmonies: Dajama
Primary and backing guitars: MarkHolbrook
Bass: MarkHolbrook
Organ: MarkHolbrook
Drums: Courtesy of Drums on Demand and a few accents of my own
Sax: awigze
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Lyrics
You can stare the demons down
Or just close your eyes
You can stand and hold your ground
Or roll with the tide
Outside your open window
The dark descends
Will you be yourself tomorrow?
Guess it all depends
Better men than me have floundered
In this endless night
I guess I’ll do the best I’m able
And call it right
Heart beating
Head unbowed
But you’re miles from home
No one ever loves a crowd
‘Til they’re all alone
You risk a glance and drop your guard
As the siren’s call
I guess it never looks that hard
But a fall’s a fall
Better men than me have floundered
In this blinding light
I’m going to do the best I’m able
If you’ll just help me
The candle’s burning down
Tell me
When you get turned around
Do you spin like me?
Do you spin like me?
I know you know the score
It’s in your eyes
So when they come kick down your door
Just act surprised
Or just close your eyes
You can stand and hold your ground
Or roll with the tide
Outside your open window
The dark descends
Will you be yourself tomorrow?
Guess it all depends
Better men than me have floundered
In this endless night
I guess I’ll do the best I’m able
And call it right
Heart beating
Head unbowed
But you’re miles from home
No one ever loves a crowd
‘Til they’re all alone
You risk a glance and drop your guard
As the siren’s call
I guess it never looks that hard
But a fall’s a fall
Better men than me have floundered
In this blinding light
I’m going to do the best I’m able
If you’ll just help me
The candle’s burning down
Tell me
When you get turned around
Do you spin like me?
Do you spin like me?
I know you know the score
It’s in your eyes
So when they come kick down your door
Just act surprised
davisamerica
turned out nicely mark and company. first!