Hey - hi all I just discovered this site thanks to my good friend Dan "Third Rate Poet" and Dan Monk (ex of Freedom Exchange) - nice to be back on a forum with those guys for sure

Thought I'd get some opinions on this one - it kinda grew on me
Thanx for lisnin

Robby

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=113551&songID=5054435


Around Here

Theres a sadness around you today
The Black Dog is on your trail
We gotta keep him at bay
Around Here
We all need good memories to keep
We dont want bad dreams when we sleep
But theres plenty to make you weep
Around Here
The stars will always guide us
Theres no need to be nervous
We all got a purpose
Around Here

High ideals hide dirty work
Ugliness in beauty lurks
There’s a heart of immense darkness
Around Here

The darkness at the centre of the empire
The politicians are all walkin’ the wire
Theres too many liars
Around Here
Details are still emerging
The planets are converging
But all the signs are disturbing
Around Here

I got a ruthless criminal mind
Hidden behind these eyes of mine
I’m a fierce killer with eyes like ice

I was talking to Dr Death
We were discussing my last breath
He said I got a few years yet
Around Here
He said “we still own your bones
You are gonna die all alone
You’re too well known
Around Here”

You got a grim fate in China
A doomed ocean liner
Is out of control heading my way
And Im by the beach in Ty-Phai

High moon drives me crazy
My timetable delays me
Nobody even pays me
Around Here
So I completed a questionnaire
Discovered I should be a millionaire
But nobody even cares
Around Here

So Im on the run and always high
Like a night shadow across the sky
But darkness is clouding my blue eyes

Hi and welcome to JPF! I'm in Seattle. I see you're in the UK. I love it that we can communicate all across the world this way.

I like the guitar work and rhythm here. And the sax coming in, in the middle, is a nice solo too. Nice playing, and it suits the song well.

The lyrics are different in the recording from what you posted here--any reason? It's interesting, anyway. I like the verse about Dr. Death and "a few years yet." Funny.

Nice to meet you.

BTW what are your goals for your music and where are you headed?
Thanks!

Linda

Hi Robby!

I love the sax - it really complements the song. I guess it has a quality which works well as contrast to your voice. Both are very 'human', and very fluid.

"So I completed a questionnaire
Discovered I should be a millionaire"

I like that too!

The 'black dog' is a great metaphor for depression - never heard of that till you told me about it! But this song is full of great metaphor and allusions. I love the way you mix and merge these things and make them your own. It's a real gift - it just paints a picture beyond the literary.

Love the way you've mixed the 'mystical' with the reality. Excellent lyric all round.

Dan

Hey Thinman, great song. Is this a live performance? It sounds great, your guitar playing is better than ever and the sax is perfect. It sounds like Bruce and Mark Knopfler got together - I like it.

I think this is my favorite song by you now, even ahead of 'Lists of Love'.

thinman....nice arrangement....the sax was a well needed break....for a long song.....it did keep my interest....a modern folk song...well done....vocal and guitar very nice....Bob

Hey ThinMan,
Nice to meet you via this board. New poster here. Interesting to hear someone saying "fixin' to" in the UK. Thought that was a Southern thing here.

Loved the lyrics. Some very nice imagery there. And some truth, also. Also like your spare and rythmic use of guitar. I tend to overstrum my way through a song. The mark of a beginner, I guess. I must say, though, for me there was a disconnect between the lyrics and the feel of the song. It almost sounded cheerful. Maybe you were going for a cavalier delivery of all the doom and gloom. Or maybe I didn't get it. Anyway, enjoyed listening to you. Well done.

Feel free to listen to my song Destiny and give me some honest feedback.