This is where I expose the grimy underbelly of my songwriting.
I am hoping in the future to be able to have a simple mp3 player embedded to show this progress. At this point, substack does not have the means for me to have separate mp3 files. I can publish a podcast but that would require a single file. I uploaded them as videos and they are embedded below.
I wrote The Path for Deb back on March 26, 2019. I know this because I have the first two stanzas recorded on my phone’s voice recorder. About 2 hours later I recorded a 2nd phone demo that included the chorus and the last verse.
I’m annoyed at myself. Being annoyed at myself is nearly a full-time job. I can’t find the writing journal I originally wrote the song in. I’d like to include an image of it here. Sometimes the lyrics just come - almost exactly the way they end up. Other times I have a mishmash of snippets, words in the margins, and crossed out lines of questionable merit.
I did go into the Google Doc where I have the lyrics and looked at the revision history. Based on that information and the timestamps on my phone’s voice recorder I can conclude…
On March 26, 2019 my morning looked a little like this.
5:02am - Google document created
I can assume I had at least one stanza written. Given the time of creation, I was up at approximately 3:30 or 4am. This is a common theme with me.5:43am - First two stanzas added to Google Doc
6:39am - Phone recording of first two stanzas - no chorus
8:24am - Chorus and last verse added to Google Doc
I must have completed the last verse and chorus between 6:39 and 8:24.8:43am - Phone recording of entire song
The Recordings
The Initial Phone Demo
Per the video image, I recorded this on my phone’s voice recorder at 6:39AM. Mornings are a highly-caffeinated creative time for me. I only had the first two stanzas. It is obvious I haven’t figured out the melody.
Full Song phone demo
About two hours after recording the demo above, I recorded the full song. I must have completed the chorus and last verse in that time and practiced it enough to record a very rough version. I kind of like though. I like how I start the recording with a little self-encouragement. ;-) The melody is a bit more defined.
A More Produced Recording
In June of 2021, I recorded the song in my DAW, Reaper. “More Produced” is a stretch. I like the guitar sound, if not a little noisy. I like some of the 2nd guitar embellishments. I have no idea what I’m doing with the clave for much of this song.
But, I do love the song and will get back to it.
I hope this gives a little insight into what writing a song might look like. It isn’t always like this. I don’t always complete the song the morning I start it. But I have dozens of demos like this, or in video format. I hope to share those in future episodes…
Episode? Posts? Whatever we’re calling this.. I’ll share them here.
Edit: Played on my 12 string yesterday
I recorded this yesterday morning on my 12 string. Enjoy!
Lyrics
The Path
© 2019 - Matthew Moran
VERSE
If we can catch a little break my dear
Perhaps the timing could be right
Can you check to see the coast is clear
Perhaps we’ll slip away tonight
This might play as irresponsible
But I don’t really give damn
The deck is stacked, the dice are loaded here
Take a chance, take my hand
VERSE
In another time we might troubadours
Keeping the company of kings
Or princes, paupers, and the people of the night
Who laugh and drink and loudly sing
And I’m not asking for a sacrifice
Unless it’s everything and all
I've cast caution to the wind my dear
And turned the bow into the squall
CHORUS
All these matters of the heart
Is all that matters so it seems
We’ve found fit to find our feet upon this path
To cross these valleys, fields, and streams
Find our dreams
VERSE
So this simple riddle we’ve been asked
No ready answers and no clues
Leaves us guessing just like all the rest
And leaves it up to me and you
The hero and the lover often fail
Victims of avarice and greed
Let’s choose fail in the most heroic way
With an appetite for the lover’s deeds