#Lyrics, #music, #Retirement Projects

Wind of Sorrows. How possible songs develop.

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How songs develop in Summers’ land.

Writing some new songs for next year to bring some new energy and fun times into retirement. I want to get a batch of at least 12 new songs together for an eclectic studio project. I have a fair few half written and some newer ideas recently too. Nothing finished at all.

Infancy and naivety is the way to start. Doesn’t matter how simple and raw it sounds. Pick up the guitar and just strum. Anything really. You may have a melody swirling in the brain and it needs to get out. These are how I get at songs in the early stages. Once you get a basic down it can proffer a thought process of adding lyrics, other instrumental considered inclusions and a rhythm to get the best out of the whole caboodle. A tune may only have a ‘la, la, la’ or ‘da, da, da’ application. No words spring to mind. But you need to get it down before it disappears into the wind of sorrows. You actually have some lyrics and have put a tune to them. Or you may have a whistle that has been produced while making a cup of coffee and continues to swim in the little grey cells with a jaunty or haunting melody.

More insights? Write a few lyrics down and develop a possibility by giving them a tune with simple chords. The overall ‘Rhythmic Groove’ is a future change consideration too. How do you want the song rhythmically? Not as you strum the guitar. That produces an ‘all songs will sound the same’ energy. The overall sound could be to bring an energy of soft bounce and quirkiness. Or a driven rock beat. Or a ballad. Thing is, the tune often determines the way to go. Emotional content, life’s interesting themes or lighthearted observation. Once down, you just explore the energies of imagination. A few riffs become added to the idea. Maybe on guitar, keyboard, brass or woodwind. Even some ethnic vibes added from instruments never tried before.

Presently? With this idea here I haven’t got a clue. But it’ll be fun to see if it actually works its way into a proper song. It probably won’t. It’ll become a gardening ditty. Something to sing whilst planting radishes.

On second thoughts….No! Vegetables need happy vibes to grow well.

I don’t know why

I’m living in a sea of heartache

I should be high

Living up and having a party

But Oh No.

Not me

Oh No

Can’t you see?

I call her name

Down through the wind of sorrows

I call out loud

Until I can’t face any tomorrows

But Oh No

Not me.

Oh No

Can’t you see?

35 thoughts on “Wind of Sorrows. How possible songs develop.”

    2. Hi Shep. Sorry for the delay. Just dropped Angie off at work and helped get the boxes of eggs in! 😊 Yes. In A. The chords are Am, Dm, C to E and then an E7 for ‘mood’. I play the little top string insistent ditty with the little finger hitting the E string back and forth. The C drops out from index finger too to give that C chord harmony within itself. No idea what it changes the standard C chord to though! Diminished or a 9th or something. I have no idea about chord names when it drops into the weird stuff. The potential is also a weird thing. I was playing another completely different idea with a tune yesterday and it went all over the place to eventually settle into a familiar manageable one. But listening back, it had a very nice tune lilt in one small section that could have got lost if I hadn’t started this habit of recording all my mucking about on the iPad now. All the best Shep and thanks for your encouragement.

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    1. Thanks. I’ll just let it doodle around the mind and see if it can be shaped. There are times when little tunes appear and you just have to get them down. In case they have that little spark. But you understand all that Sheila. It would be nice to get in amongst some local musicians now and channel ideas. All the best.

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      1. Excellent points, Gray. I have begun a couple songs that we ran out of steam to finish. Those are on my list to revisit in a few weeks (after I retire and get my 5th book out). Haha! I sure do understand. You keep plugging away, Gray. I send my best cheers for its completion.

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      2. Best of luck with both ambitions re: book and songs. It’s nice to focus and be a part of interesting pastimes. The weather here is so awful though, it’s beginning to take its toll. Need some sunshine and dry days. Cheers Sheila.

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    1. The iPad internal microphone cannot pick up the Bass Guitar frequencies at all. I have tried to record the Bass on amplifier. But it just cannot pick up the guitar sound at all. It misses a bit of the vocal depth too. So the natural voice sound in the room, when singing out at the volume I would use in a studio or live, is more rich in depth than on recordings. I’ve used really top end microphones in the past and they have beautiful tones on recordings. I wish I had one now! Also, when writing tunes gently by getting them safe for remembering on to the iPad, you sing very lightly, so no strain is involved. So top notes can be reached more easily. Your own low singing tone is more my preferred style though. Thank you.

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  4. I loved this Gray. It really was creating lots of images in my mind when I was listening to the music at the beginning. I found it quite inspirational 🙂 I think I might need to work to your music.

    I don’t know how you managed it, but despite having a soulful feel for me, you still sounded like a cheeky chappy 😀

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    1. You should get a guitar and learn how to play Brenda. A new venture for you. I wrote an answer to Stephen, the photographer, below to how this writing of songs goes. It is just a relaxed strum and gently sing situation in a nutshell. When you feel confident in your lyrics, rhythms, tune, etc. it is then you build on vocal style. Studio sound is then the way to go to wrapping it all up. I loved the film ‘Get Back’ with The Beatles on Disney. How they were exchanging ideas and letting them grow into the songs that they became. How results are achieved. I love The Beatles. Peter Jackson did an amazing job putting it all together. Very insightful of bringing life to their dynamics. Cheeky chappy description made me smile. 😆 Cheers Brenda.

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      1. Glad I made you smile.
        I’ve been fighting another migraine, but now passed and left me with insomnia – I’ve got to go on campus tomorrow, so not happy at being awake at 2am 😦

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      2. So sorry about these migraines. I know we have spoken about them before. And insomnia too. The answers to their cause you have explained. But the remedies are so frustratingly difficult to be truly effective. I often wondered as a nurse, when my patients started having specific symptoms. It then helped to source a little more information to how it kick started. Like my Aphantasia and the fact I smacked the back of my head really hard on a concrete floor when little. Concussion ensued. Hope you are feeling brighter. All the best Brenda.

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      10. You can get something out quickly if you want to though Brenda. The charity record ‘Do they know it’s Christmas’ was fast. I suppose it is when inspiration hits. Nowadays it is all platforms to release. Those grand old days of vinyl and CDs are now completely vintage status. Weird all this technological advance isn’t it? I don’t believe musicians get much now sales wise. If you think how much concert ticket prices and meet and greet prices are!

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      12. My daughter was looking at prices for festivals and a Taylor Swift concert. Hundreds upon hundreds of pounds for tickets. Long gone are the times when record sales were what made the money for artists. I don’t know how royalties work any more, but there used to be radio plays and a price given to artists there too. Control of one’s own work must be in place still though? Surely. Ah well. As said…technology brings easy access for all at times. I know people have downloaded or screenshot my black and white photographs in the past. I don’t mind that at all though. As long as they like them….I’m happy. I must go to the theatre sometime. Been absolutely ages since watching a live play. All the best Brenda.

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      14. Sitting looking at others’ uploads. Hence so quick replying. 😊 When the single release in 1982 was played on the radio a few times, because I write the song, I should have had royalties. But…..no. I never saw anything. I think it was about £30 for national radio and about £12 for local radio. A fair amount back then. We were on the Radio 1 a few times and lots of plays locally. But management being management! Hey ho! Nothing. The music business is rather corrupt at times. The Bay City Rollers suffered terribly. Sorry for the small rant. 😆 Cheers Brenda.

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      16. Rant away …. but ironically I’m a few days in coming back to you … work, family and domestic emergencies etc. There just never seems to be time. I’m thinking I need to go part time just so I have time for my life

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      17. I felt so relieved on retirement Brenda. The stresses of life disappeared. And although financial adjustment was a little difficult, it works because the mindset is relaxed in order to plan and readjust. Life became busy with alternatives still, but in a completely normal and enjoyable way. Look after yourself Brenda.

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      18. There are so many things going on … family and work and home that I wonder if it would be an idea to cut and run. They’ve announced that the college will consider applications for voluntary severance. They’re expecting more budget cuts. The college sector is being strangled. But im not sure I’d get enough from my pension at the moment, but im sure I could identify some other sources of income

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      19. It may take some time to think things through. I applied for jobs outside of nursing a few times due to the overwhelming state of coping with the realities of NHS machinations. It is seeking something that is comfortable in your own interests. I watched Bob and Paul (Gone Fishing) a fair few months back with a guy running a vinyl record shop. He opened it up just after Covid. Said it was his best move. The scene is on YouTube and I watched it last night. That is what is important I suppose. Finding joy in what matters. Working in an environment you can enjoy over the day, go home and not think about it until you go in the next day. Comfort in work enjoyment. It is how Angie’s staff feel about their jobs. Smiling all day long with customers who are positive because of the shop ambience. Rather like coffee shops and cafes you frequent yourself. Maybe your blog theme enthusiams show where life could lead. Also, this weather doesn’t help does it! A bit brighter today though.

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      20. Bright but cold here. I do still enjoy the classroom and working with/helping students. Seeing 3 of my students today (outside of class) with bright, beaming smiles, makes it all worthwhile. I think you’re right … I have different interests pulling me in different directions. I guess I need to figure out what I want; what’s important… and if its both, how I find and maintain that balance.

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      21. The answers always do arrive to an enquiring mind. And, let’s be real here, you do have an enquiring inherent value to life. 😆 So an answer will sit up and say ‘Oy! Over here!’ Cheers Brenda.

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    1. We played riffs like that Ramones song. The driven beat always worked from picking up my first guitar. I played a lot of Status Quo song around the pubs and clubs alongside The Rolling Stones, The Beatles (Back in the USSR, Get Back, Please, please me), etc. Then punk happened and it continued. But melody was always considered. No shouting in angst vocals. 😆 We also did ‘Pop’ too. The Turtles song ‘Outside Chance’ we covered a lot. It was just one of the songs that felt precious to me for some reason. Anchored the nerves when playing live. Weird! Cheers Danny.

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