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

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

Right On Time - Song A Week 2010 - 32

Another skirmish song. This is where a title is posted and then an hour is given to write and record a song. I actually finished this one in about 38 minutes or so. It needs polish, but I'm pretty happy with it.
Oh, and the melody of the hook line is the same as a popular Green Day song... might have to change that. (Thanks to Morti for pointing that out.)






She was only a minute away
From saying, ‘ I do.’
When I walked into that church-house yard
I got up the courage
To tell her, ‘I love you’
Turned out not to be that hard

Let me tell you baby
You should be all mine
And I’m glad I got here right on time

She was only seconds away
From becoming Mrs. Black
When I stormed through the church-house door
When I said those words
To try and win her back
Her mother fainted right on the floor

Let me tell you baby
You should be all mine
And I’m glad I got here right on time

As she turned to look at me
Imagine my surprise
She wasn’t the girl of my dreams
Apparently those directions
Were blurred by tear-stained eyes
I missed my chance or so it seems

You just aint my baby
And now she can’t be mine
I’m in the wrong place right on time

You just ain’t my baby
And now she can’t be mine
I’m in the wrong place right on time

The Void and the Future

This is another Skirmish song. A title is posted and we have one hour to write/record a song. This one was completed and uploaded in 33 minutes. I think it needs a bridge or something else, but it has a lot of potential.




This time flies by so fast
Nothing ever seems to last
Never depend on luck
Or you will end up
Trapped by the void and the future

The plans you make can fail
The spice of life can stale
Never depend on luck
Or you will end up
Trapped by the void and the future

If you are lucky enough
Then you will find true love
You won't depend on luck
And you won't end up
Trapped by t he void and the future

I Believe In Angels - Song A Week - 2010 - 30

Influenced by all the youtube videos of Susan Cowsill I've been seeing. Thanks to Brian Henneman for turning me onto her.
This demo is a rough one take version. I'm off to go camping in a bit.




I believe in angels
As I life my life of sin
As all this trouble
Keeps on sinking in
I need an angel

My mother raised me in a small town
Where they say the good life can be found
She would go to work
To give us what we had
She is my Angel

I believe in angels
As I life my life of sin
As all this trouble
Keeps on sinking in
I need an angel

I met a girl down at the Taco Bell
Where love is found you can never tell
We fall in love
Time and time again
She is my Angel

I believe in angels
As I live my life of sin
As all this trouble
Keeps on sinking in
I need an angel

I’ve got two girls that I call my own
Two sneakier kids you have never known
They smile so sweet
As I pull out my hair
They are my angels

I believe in Angels
As I live my life of sin
As all this trouble
Keeps on sinking in
I need an angel

Satin (And Other Vices) - Song A Week 2010 - 29

This is another skirmish song. A title is posted and we have one hour to write and record the demo. I don't have my condenser so the vocals are through a sm58 which does *not* suit my voice at all. Other than that I'm not too unhappy with this hour long song.






Satin (And Other Vices)

I know you're a lover
I know you're a sinner
You know that I want you
The memories still linger

I love your leather
And I love your lace
But it's a touch of satin, baby
Makes me yearn for your embrace

I see your picture
And I can smell your hair
I don't know where you went now
But I wish I was there

I love your leather
And I love your lace
But it's the touch of Satin, baby
That makes me yearn for your embrace

I know you know
That I love Your afterglow
You have the power to make me bleed
You're everything that I'll ever need

I love your leather
And I love your lace
But it's the touch of satin, baby
That makes me yearn for your embrace

You Make Me Feel Like Shit - Song A Week 2010 - 28

This was recorded very quickly and just might be the song I enjoy the most out of the song a week experience that has become my life. At least for now. My wife loves it when I write break up songs.... *not*




You Make Me Feel Like Shit – T.C. Elliott

I know I make you angry
I didn’t mean it to be this way
And I know that you’re unhappy
With every word you say

And you and me
Were never meant to be
Cuz you make me feel like shit

Why do you come back to me
When you stay out all night?
Are you just feeling sleepy
Or do you wanna pick a fight?

And you and me
Were never meant to be
Cuz you make me feel like shit

Sometimes you say you’re sorry
When you want me to buy you things
Then you ask me to drive you over
So you can pawn our rings

And you and me
Were never meant to be
Cuz you make me feel
And you and me
Were never meant to be
Cuz you make me feel like shit

See You Again - Song A Week 2010 - 27

I wrote 6 songs in a little over 2 hours on Saturday. This one is fast but I think has lots of potential. Forgive the short demo. Sunday was July 4th (Independence Day here in the states) so today is really Monday to me (Plus I was out of town.)

See You Again – T.C. Elliott
Way back in the hills
Just past Still-House Hollow
I saw you swimming in that dirty pond

You didn’t notice me
Peering through those bushes
Right next to the pile of clothes you left

When I see you sitting
Out on your front porch
I always make a point to smile and wave
And you may not know it
But I’m your biggest fan
You’ve made a believer out of me
And I can’t wait to see you once again

My momma asked me, “Son
Where are you going?”
Gonna take a walk out in the hills

It’s not a waste of time
To see the things I’ve seen
I love to see the sights out in the wild

When I see you sitting
Out on your front porch
I always make a point to smile and wave
And you may not know it
But I’m your biggest fan
You’ve made a believer out of me
And I can’t wait to see you once again

Hard Landing - Song A Week 2010 - 26

Half way. This demo is the rawest possible. Very un-finished. The project for 2010 is to write a song every week. The recordings are very rough at best and can be much worse. I am hoping to have an updated demo of this song soon for you to listen to.
After talking in chat this weekend I've contemplated continuing the song a week into 2011 but instead of writing a song every week I'm thinking of recording a song every week. That might mean that I would write and record a song for a particular week but more likely it'd be recording an older song (possibly one from song a week 2010.)

At any rate, here's another songfight song. As I said, if I get a better recording this week I'll update this.




Hard Landing

I know it's wrong
I'm glad you're gone
You're like a chain holding me
Now you're gone and I'm free

You're like a drug to me
Whenever you're around
Another needle in my arm
And I'm headed for the ground
Hard Landing

It's been ten days
Since you betrayed
I'm wide awake in the night
A blade of steel held so tight

You're like a drug to me
Whenever you're around
Another needle in my arm
And I'm headed for the ground
Hard Landing

I do what you want me to do
I wish I didn't love you-

My eyes held shut
Salt in the cut
I can't help but think of you
Or the things you could do

You're like a drug to me
Whenever you're around
Another needle in my arm
And I'm headed for the ground
Hard Landing

Dirt Nap - Song A Week 2010 - 25

Songfight.Org is a place where a title is posted every week and half or so and anyone who wants to can write and record a song and submit it. Listeners can vote for all their favorite entries and the song with the most votes wins. This past week was the dead line for a song called "Dirt Nap." Those of you who know me will not be surprised that I went the way of the murder ballad.




Open your eyes and see what I have done
I know that you’d be proud of me
You always told me I could never make it alone
But I don’t need you anymore

I washed the dishes but still you would complain
I was never good enough for you
Look around. I’ve got to clean up now
I don’t need you anymore
No, I don’t need you anymore

You’re taking a dirt nap, honey
You’ll never ever hurt me again
Now that you’re laid out on the floor
You’re taking a dirt nap, honey
And I won’t have to feel this pain
Cuz I don’t need you anymore
No, I don’t need you anymore

No-one notices. There’s no-one left who cares
No-one to come and check on you
This is your last chance to send your last goodbye
I don’t need you anymore
No, I don’t need you anymore

You’re taking a dirt nap, honey
You’ll never ever hurt me again
As I drag you out the door
You’re taking a dirt nap, honey
And I won’t have to feel this pain
Cuz I don’t need you anymore
No, I don’t need you anymore

I kiss you goodbye through the tears and pain
As I dig this grave out in the rain
It’s not easy for me to say goodbye
But I don’t need you anymore
No, I don’t need you anymore

You’re taking a dirt nap, honey
You’ll never ever hurt me again
No, you can’t hurt me anymore
You’re taking a dirt nap, honey
And I won’t have to feel this pain
Cuz I don’t need you anymore
No, I don’t need you anymore

Take Off Your Pants (And Jacket) Song A Week 2010 - 24

Chad, our drummer, made this comment at practice last week. Who says the stalker song genre is obsolete?

Beer #5 - Song A Week 2010 - 23

In a forum about 50/90 over on FAWM.org/ someone posted that they really don't get started or comfortable until beer number three and it got me thinking. So I wrote the lyric to this really fast. Then I just put the simple common chord progression to it. This is a one take acoustic/vox all recorded at once type of demo. Just to get it done so I can go to bed and be up early for work.




With beer number one I’m ready for fun
But I just can’t get too relaxed
Gotta find a chair with nobody there
Gotta find me a place to collapse

Beer number two goes down real smooth
As I start to get loosened up
I start to sing as I shake that thing
Boy can I cut a rug

Solo

With beer number three I start to believe
I can do most anything
I boast with the best and wager the rest
I have the whole word on a string

With beer number four I’m ready to pour
A shot of jack on the side
I let it slide down ‘til I’m ready to drown
This bar is a carnival ride

Solo

With beer number five I really come alive
Are you ready for an awesome night?
Don’t be dishearted ‘cuz we’re just getting started
Everything will turn out right

Solo

Additional verse by Vanncad from Songcrafters.org
Beer number 10 and I'm p*ss drunk again
Don't think I'm gonna make it to work
My mind's in a trance and I just p*ssed my pants
Why does everybody think I'm a jerk?

You Just Don't Give A Damn - Song A Week 2010 - 22

Umm... not much to say about this one. I think I stole part of the melody from another song I wrote about a year ago, but cannot find it. Must not have been that good. Hopefully this is an improvement.




You Just Don’t Give A Damn – T.C. Elliott

I know you just don’t understand
And you have ruined all my plans
Can’t you just try to believe?
How hard can it really be?
You just don’t give a damn

Some days you sit there and pretend
That we will always be best friends
Then you say something not quite right
Somehow you always start a fight
You just don’t give a damn

Sometimes I wonder why I try
When you tell another lie
For six years we were the best of friends
And now you’re gonna let it end
You just don’t give a damn

Chances come so infrequently
And you know what it really means to me

Will you just try to understand?
Will you face me man to man?
Do you know what it really means?
There is more to it than it seems
You just don’t give a damn

Cherry Chapstick - Song A Week 2010 - 21

This is a co-write with Travis Allen. Travis is the singer and guitarist in our band, Melancholy Trousers. A special thanks to Travis for allowing me to use this as a song a week.

Give Me Five - Song A Week - 2010 - 20

I've played the 'give me five' game with both of my daughters for years. I have no idea why this idea came running out of my noggin but it did.




Give Me Five – T.C. Elliott

Give me five on the side
Way up high, way down low
You’re too damn slow
Give me five on the side
Way up high, way down low
You’re too damn slow

It isn’t easy at six years old
It isn’t easy just doing what you’re told
Mommy and Daddy always fight
And they know neither one is right

Chorus

There was a program at school
And my Daddy just wanted to look cool
So he came up with this game
So now Daddy bares the blame

Chorus

There were people all around
Laughing at me I hate that laughing sound
People just stood there and stared
No-one ever seems to care

Chorus

My Daddy saw the teardrops in my eyes
So he gave me a little surprise

Give me five on the side
Way up high, way down low
Way to go
Give me five on the side
Way up high, way down low
Way to go

Truckin Down The Highway - Song A Week 2010 -19

A quick one. A fun one. An easy one. A light one. These are the phrases I choose to describe this weeks song.




Truckin Down The Highway

Truckin down the highway of love
Truckin down the highway of love
Back to the girl I've been dreaming of
Truckin down the highway of love

Been singing my songs
For three weeks straight
But now I'm headed back to you
I'm driving my truck
Down the interstate
I'm driving the whole night through

Chorus

Five hundred miles
Another tank of gas
Seven hours closer to my home
I wear a bigger smile
With every car I pass
Soon I won't be alone

Chorus

These Stairs - Song A Week 2010 - 18

This week was a pretty quick write. It's a one take vox/guitar with an additional track of lead acoustic.




These Stairs – T.C. Elliott

You said you didn’t want to see me
‘Round here ever again
Of course you say a lot of things when you’re mad
What is it that I did
To make you feel this way?
Am I really all that bad?

Here I am walking down these stairs again
You shut me down, you never want to let me in
Here I am on these stairs again

I remember first year college
I saw you on the street
You said I could pick you up at eight
You looked so good that night
Walking down your stairs in moonlight
I fell in love on our first date

Here I am walking down these stairs again
You shut me down, you never want to let me in
Here I am on these stairs again

Now I’m walking up to your door
To make you understand
There is nothing we can’t overcome
If you let me in I’ll tell you
How much I want you near me
Who wants a heart that’s on the run?

Here I am walking down these stairs again
You shut me down, you never want to let me in
Here I am on these stairs again

Intro: G D C D x2
Verse: G D em C, G D C x2
Chorus: Em D C B, G D x2, Em D C B Em

A Matter of Time - Song A Week 2010 -17

My next door neighbor was diagnosed with cancer and given about six months to live... that was almost a year ago. The details in this song are completely fabricated, but the spark that led to the song is real, lives next door and still waves to me sometimes when I mow my lawn.




A Matter of Time – T.C. Elliott

He’s been here for years
In this neighborhood
As the world just goes on by
All the things he loves
Turns into memories
They grow old and then they die

A lonely teardrop falls
The only sign of pain
He knows that this too will pass
It’s only a matter of time

All his kids are grown
They’ve all gone away
So he sits lonely and alone
He talks to the photographs
Hanging on his walls
Lonely in the house that was his home

All his pills are gone
And so is all his wine
Soon his pain will go away
He’s been sick for years
Now his time has come
He knows he’s better off this way