A hello and a song....

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Murphster

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Hello! Long time lurker, time for my first post.

I am getting old, haha, or at least feel like it, and while have always dabbled in music my whole life I have always had other things to occupy my time (like working) and never written down, or finished any of the songs that I strum out on a Saturday morning.

My plan is to set myself a task of actually finishing writing and recording 10 songs for an album that will never go anywhere else, but will count to me as achieving the biggest goal I had when I was a kid with a dream.

The thing is that now I have 10 songs, a mix of songs written in guitar and piano, that I like very much. I am happy with the chords and the melodies and I believe there is something there. My problem is frustrating me, I have no lyrics, I struggle to write anything - Hence why the year of lurking on this site. I just sing random ad-libs whenever I play them.

So this week I came up with a song on my guitar that I was pleased with enough to force myself to write some words and I would love to hear any thoughts on them. Any thoughts, good or bad, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

The story is fairly simple, and is probably going to be the theme of my album, I think this track will be track one. It is about growing up thinking I was special, capable of anything and destined for something great. Then waking up one day and realising that I am just an average man.

Average Man

It took me all this time so see
the shape was never put to me
the clouds they form as shadows clear
there was a time I felt so sure
I built my frame around the door
it opened up to all I feared

And while I promised you I could
my head was in the sand
and though I long believed I would
I'm just an average man

I jump back to another show
where I'm the star and in control
there was a time when I was free
An action man, a man of steel
a jumped up punk who cannot feel
a lie to all that stomached me

And while I promised you I could
my head was in the sand
and though I long believed I would
I'm just an average man
in truth I think for all that's good
you'd forever understood
and while I long believed I would
I'm just an average man.

Average man

Average man

An action man, a man of steel
a jumped up punk who cannot feel
a lie to all that stomached me

And while I promised you I could
my head was in the sand
and though I long believed I would
I'm just an average man
in truth I think for all that's good
you'd forever understood
and while I long believed I would
I'm just an average man.
 
I like it a lot. Definitely something a lot of people can relate to(especially myself). Personally if I come up with a nice guitar riff that I like I always start writing some lyrics to it(whatever is on my mind) If I don't finish the song though it just gets lost in space. So I guess that's my advice... when you start writing try to finish a song. You can always go back and edit/change parts that you come up with something better for.
 
Cheers guys.

I think I will post a demo of this song, after all that is the point of joining this site. I am ver nervous about doing so however.

I am not really a singer, and if I am to be honest not much of a musician either! But I can strum a guitar and play piano chords and I know how to operate Logic Pro enough to make me sound like a musician.

I will record something in the next couple of days.
 
Most everyone hates the sound of their own voice at first. It really takes a lot of listening to get used to hearing yourself. I still cringe at times when I post a song. But everyone here is cool and they can listen past a poor vocal delivery to hear the meat of the song. They can hear the recording and mixing for what it is and give good comments.

Be sure to listen to others' contributions and return the favor.
Welcome to the site.
 
Murphster - I am exactly like you. Squeamish about my voice. But ya know, I have three things of wisdom to pass on.

First, you're among friends. Regardless of the quality of your voice, people on this board seem to have a genuine interest to help. Just imagine you are standing on the dock afraid to take a dive. Then just do it. You may get a little water in your nostrils, and probably no one will accuse you of being an Olympic diver on the first shot, but what the hell.

Second, you can't judge your own voice. Let others comment. You may be pleasantly surprised on what they do or don't say. If you want feedback on your voice, ask for it specifically. Don't let the kids from the high school choir group echo in your head today; you are who you are today.

And finally, and perhaps the best tip of all... if you haven't investigated the "V-Vocal" utility that comes with Sonar X1 Studio and Producer versions, you should. Google some videos of the feature, there are a number on you tube. While V-Vocal won't make a Sinatra out of Mickey Mouse, it does a damn good job of editing small pitch (and timing) errors in your voice. (Your voice must be recorded on its own channel for this to work.). It really has helped me lots. It takes a bit to learn, but it is well worth the money.
 
It's a bit "literal" for me, Murphster.... it is exactly what it says it is, I guess. For mine, I think it needs to develop how the person (you, whoever) got from their belief in themselves to their current state of averageness... that's where you can get some more angst in, I reckon.

It's hard to tell these things without musical context. Lyrics rarely read all that well on their own, but the musical accompaniment and style of voice can really bring things to life - a gritty growly voice on this would make it more interesting than a clean, higher register, IMHO.

Congrats on using the word "stomached" in a song tho.. probably a first... :)

And think about the implications of starting your career as a songwriter with a song saying how "average" you are. Where do you go from here? ;):confused:

Keep it up. Words come in waves...
 
Cheers Armistice, You have a good point, I do agree somewhat.

I am having another look at this, though I am kinda stuck with the chorus now, I might actually try and do something to change the context a little.


Btw, do people wait until they have a finished track before they post songs, or is a rough demo acceptable? At this stage I am more concerned with my songwriting.
 
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