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Leafs
by Gary E. Andrews - 03/04/24 12:47 PM
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I must have written the first half of this song more than 35 years ago. It shows! Firstly, because it obviously relates to the experiences of a much younger version of me, and secondly because I wrote the tune right after I got my first guitar and had way more fingers on my hands than chords they could play! Still, I always kind of liked the lyric, so I dusted it off and recorded it. Click to listen at SoundCloudAll comments and suggestions very welcome, and probably needed! In particular, should I ditch those "Sha la la la"s? They were an afterthought. I've never done anything like that before and thought it would be fun to try. [Edit - I tried a different approach, substituting words for "sha la la las" in the backing vocals. That's now the version in the above link, while the original is also on SoundCloud, if anyone has the time to check it out by clicking here and let me know which works better (or if they both suck equally)] There's a word in the second verse, "craic," which might not be familiar to folks outside the British Isles. It's Irish originally, but used everywhere in the UK to mean "enjoyable conversation." GOOD LUCK EDDIE Good night I’m going home I guess you’d call me a fool And I’d have to agree I don’t understand it I came here looking to get laid But I only got more lonely The longer I stayed Good luck to you, Eddie I hope your system works tonight I hope you get what you came for By the look in her eyes you just might Tell me about it tomorrow I’d love to hear the craic Good luck to you Eddie, I’m going back Good luck to you Eddie, I’m going back Through those frozen streets To where I Can be alone Turn off the light And switch off the phone I guess you’ll say I’m crazy Somehow it has to feel just right And here I am alone again tonight Good luck to you Eddie I hope she keeps you warm tonight I hope you can laugh in the morning When you see her face in the light When the door closes behind her And your hair’s still wet Don’t look in the mirror just yet Give yourself a moment to forget Oh you did it again Cos Eddie, How'd you know? She didn't use the same system and Set her sights just as low As I sip my coffee I hear my mobile ring “Yeah, OK, Eddie, tell me everything.” (INSTRUMENTAL BREAK) Good luck to you Eddie And good luck to me as well Because we sure as heck need it We’re miserable as hell If only we could see ourselves The way that others do Oh Eddie we’re easy to see through We’re nothing special, me and you As anyone will tell you. In fact, We’re not too smart Me on a quest for my Lady Elayne and You in search of a tart These mysterious beings Oh if only we could see They’re looking for the same as you and me Good luck to you Eddie And to every girl you meet I hope you get what you came for Just isn’t the thing that you need. Tell me about it tomorrow But tell it differently Good luck to you Eddie and to me Good luck to Eddie and me
Last edited by Gavin Sinclair; 08/24/18 04:02 PM.
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A really enjoyable listen, Gavin:
Brought back those memories of the Kingston Trio and their folkish songs I used to go hear in Honolulu back when I was doing the same "research" Eddie was "in to!" LOL!
Great backing including the "sha-la-la" thrown in at all the appropriate places. Loved your vocal on this, too. This one is perfect for a small venue where a front row seat would be so enjoyable. Your personality makes the song even better. Well done.
----Mayberry Dave
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Thanks Dave. Not sure that I'd dare to compare myself to the Kingston Trio, though There's three of them, for a start. I think most of us did a bit of that kind of research at some time or other and didn't exactly cover ourselves in glory.
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Sounds 60's folk. Not a bad thing. Very male-centric. That's bad these days. I had a little trouble following the story. I got it, I think, but there was nothing about it that drew me in. Unlike your political satire which I read closely. Feel free to ignore what I wrote. Martin
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Sounds 60's folk. Not a bad thing. Very male-centric. That's bad these days. I had a little trouble following the story. I got it, I think, but there was nothing about it that drew me in. Unlike your political satire which I read closely. Feel free to ignore what I wrote. Martin You forgot to mention it's also too long I would never ignore you, especially since both your points are valid. It is a song about a couple of guys, and it's more a slice of life or snapshot with a small dose of philosophical musing than a complete story. So you're right on both counts - not that I can really do anything about them - it kind of is what it is. One odd fact. Of the few people who have heard it, those who liked it best are all women.
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Long folky and a target for the PC police no doubt but who cares! Kingston Trio ah the great John Stewart you seemed to have cornered the market for these songs in fact you're probably in a corner alone, or as Alfred E Neuman once boasted number one in a field of one. That a side i enjoyed it, keep them coming Travis
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde
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Thanks for listening and commenting, Travis. I have had the occasional comment from the PC crowd, but usually they haven't listened all the way through. There's actually quite a lot going on in this song and it contains a hint of redemption. By the end of it, the narrator is at least beginning to understand that he and Eddie are pretty pathetic in the way they approach women. It's easier to objectify these "mysterious beings" than to try to understand them. At the same time there's a suggestion that the narrator also realizes the irony that the two of them are not exactly God's gift to women and at least some of the girls they objectify and fail to respect are returning the favor. I think many women will recognize the type and probably have had to deal with them a few times. The idea for the song came to me at a party many years ago, when a friend shared to me that his "system" was to chat up the less attractive girls, figuring he had more chance with them. I was never sure if he was kidding, because I never saw him actually have any success, but the song kind of grew out of that. I don't usually pontificate at such length or so pretentiously about my own songs - not sure how that happened LOL. Weird that people see this as folk. I had thought of it as kind of old-style indie rock. Not that it matters, except for how to tag it at SoundCloud .
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Yes a touch of irony. Well thought through
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. Oscar Wilde
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Interesting, amusing lyric as usual, Gavin. Arrangement works well too.
I suppose it could be trimmed in length but at a live gig it wouldn't need to be.
Vic
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Gavin,
What a fun song! How did you know so much about me in my younger days?
steady-eddie.
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Gavin,
What a fun song! How did you know so much about me in my younger days?
steady-eddie. LOL, I didn't recognize you from your photograph, Eddie.
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Hello Gavin,
Fun tune / done well.
I liked this.....
I hope you can laugh in the morning When you see her face in the light
Calvin
Maggie Udder - http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart
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I enjoyed it. It feels free form with lots of words at times, but it still held my attention throughout. And I always enjoy your vocals.
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Glad you liked it, Calvin. Those lines are actually the ones I was most unsure about.They're pretty insensitive, almost cruel, but somehow I felt like they belonged there in the song, given the context, so I left them in.
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I enjoyed it. It feels free form with lots of words at times, but it still held my attention throughout. And I always enjoy your vocals. Mike, there is no extra charge for all those words. As for the vocals, I have no illusions about being a singer, so mostly I concentrate on just sounding like I'm telling you a story or, in this case, talking to friend. Anyway, glad you enjoyed it and thanks for listening.
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I loved it. Taking a bit of opposing view, I am not seeing this lyric as male centric. If I understand the lyric correctly the women in the lyric are potentially just as politically incorrect as the men. Love that angle. I thought it was a great lyric and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the sha la las.
Dave
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I loved it. Taking a bit of opposing view, I am not seeing this lyric as male centric. If I understand the lyric correctly the women in the lyric are potentially just as politically incorrect as the men. Love that angle. I thought it was a great lyric and thoroughly enjoyed it. I like the sha la las.
Dave Thanks for listening and commenting, Dave. And yes, that was the intent of the lyric, at least of it.
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Curte, Gavin and while someone may find it mildly offensive, I'd say it's because they weren't paying attention to the lyrics. I thought it was pretty funny and have met more than a few guys like this. I think you characterized them well and in a humorous way. The only thing I found mildly confusing was that I thought you were speaking generally, to the world, until the chorus when Eddie suddenly appeared. Then it became clear that you were speaking to your friend, Eddie. A well placed "friend" or "mate" as in, "Good night, mate" would make it more obvious that you were talking to your friend, wishing him luck where you had failed. A minor thing, though. Overall, I enjoyed my listen but didn't think of it as indie rock although, genres are as much of a mystery to me as are men. Ricki
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Thanks Ricki. Yes, I'm not sure what genre it belongs in either. Happens a lot with me
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