My newest song: "I Want To Be Here"

[Strat1958]

Well, I won't give much of a preamble on this one, since some say that ruins the song for them

This is quite a departure from my last song "The Blue Horizon" (which was covered beautifully by Gecko Zzed). I raunched it up a little, making it into a bit of a blues rocker, along the lines of the White Album version of "Revolution".

No JamStudio on this one, just a Strat through a Vox amp, a Martin acoustic, Fender bass (direct-injected using Zoom's Bassman amp sim), and PC Drummer for the kit.

Hope you like it!

-Mike

I Want To Be Here
Copyright 2009 by Mike Pilling

[V1]
I want to be here, he said to me
Really not looking for a break
Why wont you people just let me be
Not everyone wants to be saved
I want to understand but I dont get it
So I grab my coffee and forget it

[V2]
I want to be here, she said to me
As she stood in line for her meal
Im happy and free of responsibility
The friends around me are real
I think she wants to be left alone
Wants to live a life unknown

[CHORUS ]
We feel good when we try to help
Tell them what they should do
"If they only had a bit more drive
They could start anew"
We want to keep our conscience clear
But I can still hear them saying
I want to be here

[SOLO, follows structure of the Verse]

[CHORUS]

 

[dodgeaspen]

Cool man, good job.

 

[gecko zzed]

Not using Jamstudio is a great way to get more energy into a song.

This is a pretty cool rocker . . . the general feel reminds me of George Thorogood, and there's a hint of essence of Tom Petty in the vocals.

The musical ideas are sound, and the lyrics sit well with the music.

There are a couple of things that might create more energy with the song.

The kit has a pretty big reverb on it, as do the vocals. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because you can give the track a big stadium feel about it . . . but you would need to give similar treatment to the guitars. Importantly, you would need to picture yourself in this stadium, in front of thousands of people, and deliver it as if you were there. For the type of song that it is, the vocal seems a bit inhibited, and you would not lose by growling it up more.

On the other hand, you could go the other way . . . dry up the kit and the vocals, make everything more immediate, and perhaps try a more conversational type of vocal (think Mark Knopfler).

In any case, I enjoyed listening to the song; its come up pretty good.

 

[rayc]

Good story above all else.
Paternalism & conscience assuaging often get in the way of the real needs of people.
I'd love a little more of the dirty guitar & a little more urgency/anger in the chorus vocal.
As it stands it's a millions miles beyond garage band & works quite well.
Good song - good work!

 

[Frankie Rage]

Now that the lyrics are in the context of the song, my (good natured) "gripe" re the directness of the lyric evaporates.

Listening to the song just now, I didn't actually register the detail of the lyric but picked up that it was about somebody telling somebody else what to do/where to go and maybe they should be left to it. A sentiment I agree with!

I like your voice but felt that you needed to "let go" a bit more. You don't sound like you mean it! Also, the lead guitar seemed too thin to me.

But I liked it. Not as much as "The Blue Horizon", but I do like "The Blue Horizon" QUITE A LOT!!!

Fx

P.S. If you do sing it with more conviction and beef up the guitar, you will move the song forward quite a-pace!!!