FAWMstock III And Some Songs

From August 2nd through the 5th my wonderful wife, Phoebe, and I drove up to Wisconsin and attended FAWMstock III. This is the third year in which FAWMers, or songwriters who participate in the February Album Writing Month, have collected to meet and greet each other while writing songs and performing tunes for each other. 

Friday night several of us contributed to writing the lyric and chord progression for the 'Explore the Core' challenge on the 50 Songs In 90 Days songwriting challenge website.  It was lots of fun and a lot of work (believe it or not) was put into it.

On Saturday I was lucky enough to corner Adam Hill to begin writing on a song. Between the two of us we had a darn fine guitar part (if I do say so myself... and I do) but were struggling with the lyric when Nancy walked by and we begged her for help. (Well, sort of.) I should write a song called, 'Nancy Saves The Day.'  I'm pretty darn happy with the song which was my first three way live collaboration. All in person from start to finish in one sitting. I might want to do that some more. We even got to perform it Saturday night at the Spring Green General Store for our friends and some locals.

As The Light Fades by Adam Hill, Nancy Rost and T.C. Elliott
 

And later Saturday afternoon John Crossman and I participated in a song skirmish collaboration. (A songskirmish is a challenge in which the participants get a title and an hour to write and record a song.)  We sat down and wrote a song. It's not the deepest song we've ever written but it sure was fun.

 Ignite by TC Elliott and John Crossman
 

I sure had a lot of fun and hope to do it again. I knew it would be great seeing fellow songwriters from an on-line songwriting challenge in person, but I had no idea I'd love it as much as I did. Here's to next year.

I'd Rather Be Lonely

It's July fourth and the 50 Songs in 90 Days songwriting challenge has begun. I had the idea for this song a week and a half ago and have kind of been mulling it over in my head without really working on it. My biggest question is the lyric. I like the melody: it fits my range pretty well. I like the guitar riff: it works both electric as well as acoustic. But the lyric is a bit less than radio friendly. Finally it occurred to me. Trying to make it pretty would take the 'm'e out of the song. This is the way I think and shows my sense of humor. So I went with it.

You can listen to this song here: T.C. Elliott 'I'd Rather Be Lonely'

  I'd Rather Be Lonely by TC Elliott

Title: I'd Rather Be Lonely
Method of Creation: Guitar riff and chord progression first.
Inspiration/Idea: After listening to some Buck Owens I got a cool little guitar riff going
Time to Write: Started on the 24th of June. Most of the chorus was written. Worked on it about an hour on July 3rd and finished and recorded on July 4th.
Time to Record: At least three hours.
Instrumentation:
Track 1_2: Acoustic Guitar
Track 3_2: Bass Guitar
Track 4_2: Vox
Track 5_3: Electric Guitar
Track 6_3: Lead Guitar
Track 7/8_1: Drums (via Rhythm Editor, bounced)

Key/Chord Progressions: Simple I IV V progression in A
Lyric: 

I'd rather be dead than have to live with you
And have to put up with all the things that you do
You know you done me wrong
That's all you ever do
I'd rather be lonely
I'd rather be lonely
Than to be with you

I'd rather sell my car than have to give you a ride
I'd rather stub my toe than have to walk by your side
You're always on the run
You never tell the truth
I'd rather be lonely
I'd rather be lonely
Than to be with you

I'd rather lose a hand than wipe away your tears
I'd rather go to hell than to ease your fears
Well, you can keep your lies
Now that we are through
I'd rather be lonely
I'd rather be lonely
Than to be with you

I'd rather be lonely
I'd rather be lonely
Than to be with you

Cloud-Cuckoo-Land

So... the plan was to record a song a week in 2011 and have an album (or two or three) done by the end of the year. Well that didn't happen. But I saw this title on songfight and had no idea what the connotation was at all. But I wrote this song and I think it fits pretty well. Feel free to go over there and vote for me and some other good songs till voting ends.






They say I'm living in a Cloud
I'm just one of many
There is quite a crowd
They say I'm living in a Cloud

They say I'm like a cuckoo bird
I'll tell you stories
The strangest that you've heard
They say I'm like a cuckoo bird
(I'm flying high)
(Up in the sky)

No matter where I go
or what I say
How much I wish
How much you pray
It's not your fault
I ended up this way
They say I'm crazy

They say I live in a faerie land
They just don't want
To try and understand
They say I live in a faerie land
(Brownies and pixies and sprites)
(Magical dust and pots of gold)

No matter where I go
or what I say
How much I wish
How much you pray
It's not your fault
I ended up this way
They say I'm crazy

Don't Tell Me That It's Over - Song A Week 2010 - 52

So.... last song a week for 2010. I've officially succeeded in writing at least one song every week of this year. Some songs were better than others, some demos or work tapes were better than others. But I'm happy I stuck with it.

This one was a veiled attempt at writing about an ending, but the lyric is a bit odd. I guess I channeled the end of the challenge into a new direction.






It's been years since you trusted someone else
Now you only pretend
I wonder when you're gonna realize
You've lost your only friend

Don't tell me that it's over
That it's coming to an end
I don't wanna know about
the shit you're always in
Don't tell me that it's over
Our time will be no more
Don't tell me that you loved the ride
As you lock me out your door
Don't tell me that it's over

You say you just refuse to believe
In noble acts
You say this world is built on greed
You just recite the facts

I know it's not the easiest
Thing you've ever done
But when you think about someone else
The better you become

I know you haven't heard a word I've said
So let me set you straight
You're gonna have a meeting in hell
And you won't be late

I'd Do It Again And Again - SAW 2010 - 51

A last minute one. Second to last of the year. One to go. Bout damn time, too.






You come home late from work
And you've had a really bad day
You look tired, you look worn down
You walk into a dirty house
You snap at me as I say hi
You go off at the slightest sound

You say what you say
And I say what I say
We don't always see eye to ey
Through all the trials
The good times and the bad
We are just trying to live our lives
I'd do it again and again

Both the kids start a fight
Ask you what there is to eat
All you want to do is take a break
Hey Mom sissy's touching me
She hit me when I told her to stop
Somehow you get another headache

You ask me if I'm coming to bed
It's late and you're getting tired
You say it's time to hit the sack
I lie down and hold you close
Tell you it will be okay
If you want I'll even rub your back

Say Goodbye - SAW 2010 - 50

I wanted to write a song that kind of metaphorically represented the end of the challenge. I like the idea in this song, and it was fun doing a lyric first for a change, but I'm not really happy with it overall. Luckily I have two more weeks to get one I do like. I did try to use the new method of lyric writing but it didn't work as well as the first time. Will try again soon, I'm sure.

One Room Apartment - SAW 2010 - 49

Only three to go. This week I experimented with destination writing. I admit that I did not do it 'properly' but I did use the idea of using a journal and writing in a free form, free expression sort of way to get ideas for the lyric. I think it has a lot of potential and the abbreviated method I used didn't take much time. I'm hoping this proves very fruitful in the future.

One Room Apartment
T.C. Elliott





I knew I said the wrong thing
Soon as the words came out
I hurt you, made you angry all at once
Now it’s too late to take it back
All those words I said
And the hurt you said felt just like a punch

This one room apartment
Makes me realize
You were right and I was wrong
This one room apartment
Lets me fantasize
You won’t make me stay away too long
When will you let me come back home?

I hear the neighbors fighting
‘Bout that last cigarette
I wonder how they got stuck living here
I open my wallet
And see a picture of you
As I fight back another tear

This one room apartment
Makes me realize
You were right and I was wrong
This one room apartment
Lets me fantasize
You won’t make me stay away too long
When will you let me come back home?

Lonely Memories - SAW 2010 - 48

Another song about my Grandmother who passed earlier this year. This was suppose to be the juxtaposition of sadness with good memories but I think I failed pretty thoroughly in that effort. But at least it was somewhat cathartic.






I saw a bird up in the trees
I couldn’t help but think of you
Up on your shelf, all those figurines
Always watching after you

Lonely memories, Feeling alone
I feel lost without you
Lonely memories brings tears to my eyes
Whenever I think about you

Your beautiful smile would light up the room
I never met a gentler soul
Your gentle touch wiped my tears away
Your tender kiss made me whole

Lonely memories, Feeling alone
I feel lost without you
Lonely memories brings tears to my eyes
Whenever I think about you

I try to sleep, I close my eyes
But I’m still awake with the sun
With the daylight it’s easy to see
My placid front has come undone

Lonely memories, Feeling alone
I feel lost without you
Lonely memories brings tears to my eyes
Whenever I think about you

Empty Bottle, Empty Man - SAW 2010 - 47

Sharon Goldman over at The Songwriting Scene Blog posted a challenge to write a song about, referencing or inspired by the word 'cheese.'
Eventually this song kind of plopped itself down in front of me and of course I couldn't help but put the reference in there.






I'll never be beautiful
I'll never be a pretty man
I've done some things sorrowful
(That) not even I can understand

Sometimes I feel like old Swiss cheese
With all these holes in me
I know it's gone, a missing piece
I just don't know what it could be

I am a man with an empty bottle
I want my life back again
So here I stand with an empty bottle
with this bottle I have been
An empty man

Why can't you see I'm a different man
I've pulled myself off the floor
I've given it up, can't you understand?
I'm not like that anymore

I am a man with an empty bottle
I want my life back again
So here I stand with an empty bottle
with this bottle I have been
An empty man

What can I be without that bottle?
What can I be without that glass?
I've lived my life full throttle
Now my brakes are locked up, I'm out of gas

Your Breath On My Skin - SAW 2010 - 46

Challenged to use the line 'turkey baster on the nightstand' by the creative giant that is Nancy Rost, I have this song to show for it. This is song 46 out of 52 in my Song A Week endeavor.





I get so excited when you
Look into my eyes late at night
I wanna hold you so close that you
Know that I will love you till it's light

I can feel your breath on my skin
You know that it drives me insane
And you know it tickles madly
But you'll never hear me complain

I get so excited when you
Tie me up next to the bedpost
We take turns just to see who can
Make the other beg and plead the most

I see the twinkle in your eye
And know that you have a sneaky plan
You let me see the lotion and the
Turkey baster on the nightstand

You don't call it torture
You say it's just a game we play
I obey your orders
You're the boss if only for the day

A Wounded Heart - SAW 2010 - 45

It didn't start out this way, but here is a song for Mary Kate Letourneau.





She says that she never wanted
To be living this way
Can’t you see that it’s true love
What else can she say?

And now she has to go away

She packed her bags, she has to leave
And now she’s saying goodbye
She’ll miss the kids and the school
She’s been living a lie

And now she has to go away

She tries to hide and lick her wounds
But she’s torn apart
She suffers from a wounded heart
A promise told has been betrayed
She knew it from the start
They left her with a wounded heart

Eighty months goes by to slow
When you’re still in love
She can’t wait until she’s out
Life can be so tough

And now she has to go away

Chorus

He was on thirteen years of age
When they first became engaged

Chorus

Hacksaw Legs - SAW 2010 - 44

Almost to sleep about a week ago and the wife started snuggling, which is perhaps my most favorite thing in the whole world. Just as I was getting to sleep I suddenly sat upright in bed with a song idea and had to write it down. You'll never guess where I got the idea.
Sorry, Honey. But I told you I was gonna write about it.





You ask me if I'm ready
To come and sleep in your bed
I love your smile, the way you wink at me
I wanna kiss your pretty little head

But when I try to lay down with you
I feel pain when I'm in your bed
You say you only shave every week or two
And I'm tired of your hacksaw legs

I love the way you look at me
With that twinkle in your eye
You hold my hand and whisper sweetly
I love that you will always be mine

You ask me if I'll come with you
You wanna go into our bedroom
But there's one thing I want you to do
Something you can't do too soon

You Keep Me Running After You - SAW 2010 - 43

I believe this is the first blues piece for Song A Week. I did an album of acoustic blues in February but I do not believe any made it to this challenge.

You Keep Me Running After You
Written and performed by: T.C. Elliott
Acoustic: Yamaha acoustic/electric
Vox: AT2020 Condenser
One take live: It is what it is
Recorded: BR-900CD
Mixed: Reaper DAW
Vinyl Effect: iZotope Vinyl plug in






Every time I see you
You just turn the other way
I tell you that I need you
You just turn and walk away
Then you call me like a dog
You keep me running after you

You say you're comin' over
But then you say you just can't stay
You say we'll be together
But it just can't be today
You got me rollin, like a dog
You keep me running after you

I called your momma on the weekend
She said you just can't talk right now
She said you'd call me on a Tuesday
But you said you lost my number somehow
You got me beggin', like a dog
You keep me running after you

You Didn't Even Say Goodbye - SongAWeek- 2010 - 42

Ten weeks to go. I'm counting down. Last night I saw Diesel Island play in St. Louis and got inspired. But by the time I finished this little song it sounds nothing like it began. More my usual style than the style I was heading for. Looks like I'm doomed to be me for good or bad.







In my eyes
You wouldn't look into my eyes
And you never said goodbye
Why won't you look into my eyes?

In my arms
I woke without you in my arms
Now I'm lost 'cause you are gone
I want to hold you in my arms

You would wake up with the dawn
When I woke up you were gone
You got up and let me lie
You didn't even say goodbye

And your smile
I got lost in your smile
I saw the future for a while
But now I'm missing your smile

Say goodbye
You didn't say goodbye
You never even told me why
Is this suppose to be goodbye?


You would wake up with the dawn
When I woke up you were gone
You got up and let me lie
You didn't even say goodbye

I Don't Know How To Say Goodbye - SAW 2010 - 41

This song was written with two groups of people in mind. This summer I attended my high school reunion and last week was the end of the 50 songs in 90 days songwriting challenge. This was written for two groups of people who, with a few exceptions, I generally only communicate with in a sporadic or infrequent manner.

This song was written 10 days ago. All of the other songs to this point were written within 7 (and a half) days of the post date, but I've had a case of bronchitis this week so singing is out and I decided not to post an instrumental.






Goodbye, all of you
Glad you came around
Don't know where you're headed now
Where you can be found

I'm so glad you came around today
Won't you come around again
I don't know how to say goodbye

So long and fare thee well
turn out all the lights
Dawn turns into dusk again
And fades into the night

I'm so glad you came around today
Won't you come around again
I don't know how to say goodbye

Dangerous - Song A Week 2010 - 40

Valerie Cox is awesome. I sent her this short instrumental track and she sent back a finished track. I bow in awe.

Lilac In the Dark - Song A Week 2010 -39

Another skirmish song. I'm beginning to like the time restraints. It's fun to write about things that normally don't touch you.






I met you in the evening
I met you in the night
You said you'd give me a good time
You said you'd make it all right

A hundred dollars
All inclusive
I promise not to
Become abusive
I tell you my name
You tell me yours
Your my flower
My Lilac in the dark

You were standing on the corner
Down on 12th street and vine
I love those clothes you were wearing
We both had a good time

A hundred dollars
All inclusive
I promise not to
Become abusive
I tell you my name
You tell me yours
Your my flower
My Lilac in the dark

Collection Round (The Rot Band) - Song A Week 2010 -38

This week is a song by the re-uniting Rot Band. I had the guitar part and Nancy and Hoops added all the good parts.

Tommy Rot (T.C. Elliott): guitar (the original music composition)
Gerald Teacup (Hoops): lyrics, vocals, drums, bass, production
Nancy Rot (Nancy Rost): backing vocals, banjo, accordion

Views expressed in this song are probably not the views of the writers.







Everything in life
Brings me down
From the nuclear bomb
To the collection round

Collection of the bins
Brings me out in a sweat
It shouldn’t be done
It causes first world debt

I find it hard to believe
That we spend our cash
Paying human beings
To collect our trash

Make everything from plastic
So it doesn’t decay
We can leave it in the streets
And it will be okay

No time to get angry
Only time to...
Break some arms and break some legs and
Break some bastards’ heads

Everything I do
Everything I say
I do because I’m right
And it’s the only way

You might think I’m wrong
But I know what to do
So you can live in a world
That is better for you

A Thousand Sunsets - Song A Week 2010 -37

This was a skirmish song from a week ago Sunday. But 23 minutes into it I had to leave. So I finished it today when I realized it was better than other songwriting efforts. Although to be fair I haven't really listened to all the songs from this week.







If I had the time to spare
I'd give you all I own
All my joy, my hopes and dreams
I would give to you alone

A moment with a the sunset
A lifetime drifting by
A thousand tears and regrets
And sunsets floating by

If I had a moment more
I'd spend it in your arms
I'd get lost in your loveliness
And stay lost in your charm

Chorus

If I could stop time for a day
I would hold you close to me
I'd memorize your lovely face
To hold for eternity

Chorus

And in my mind I know it's time
That I set you free
And learn to live in my emptiness
All alone with my memories

Chorus

Voices - Song A Week 2010 - 36

So some weeks I barely squeak out one song, and others, like this week, I have eight to choose from. Although to be fair, most of these are shoddy recordings of barely more than sketches. This song kind of came out of nowhere.








I know I'm never gonna be alone

Voices keep on talking to me alone

Lonely voices talking to me alone

Never ever leave me alone

I am alone