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it’s the year of the monkey it’s the season of the moon but I really can’t believe they make me do the things I do there’s power in my purpose and a purpose in my plan I tell you now I do it all because I can
no one’s going to stop me, I’ve emptied everything with nothing left to lose I’m not afraid of anything there’s perfect cherry blossoms and they’re shouting at the sky nothing lasts forever every season has its time passing on or left behind it all remains the same autumn winds are blowing clouds are pushing out the rain even lives fully lived are but a moonlit night nothing lasts forever every season has its time
it’s the year of the monkey it’s the season of the moon but I really can’t believe they make me do the things I do there’s power in my purpose and a purpose in my plan I tell you now I do it all because I can
shooting stars and rising suns to me they’re only names fire, water, wind and earth ’s the only thing at stake in trying to find an answer all I do is look inside nothing lasts forever every season has its time day by day I’m better every hour less is more there comes a day of reckoning I’ll know what its all for I’m master of my body and I’m master of my mind but nothing lasts forever every season has its time
it’s the year of the monkey it’s the season of the moon but I really can’t believe they make me do the things I do there’s power in my purpose and a purpose in my plan I tell you now I do it all because I can
Last edited by John Voorpostel; 08/04/2203:09 PM.
If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop
Poetically interesting Lyric. Coherent theme, while wandering widely through abstract concepts.
Opens with The Chorus; a somewhat rare practice, which I recommend if a Song can 'work' that way. It breaks the Repetition of the same old Verse/Chorus, Verse/Chorus pattern so many Songs employ.
The Line, "...because I can...", ending the Chorus, seems to be the emphasized concept, the 'summary' Line, occupying the strategic 'Last Line' position left ringing in the listener's ear as the Chorus ends. The '...year of the monkey...' Line, employed as Line 1 of the Chorus is forgotten by that time. To make "Year Of The Monkey" the title Line, THE Hook, you could repeat it at the end of the Chorus. That adds to the overall time, pushing toward the typical radio-friendly time of 3:30, but I think it's 3:14 now, so it might not be too long. Shortening the Introductory Movement by 10 or more seconds could trim some of the overall time. Unless an Intro is doing something special it need only be long 'Enough' to serve the function, to engage listener attention long 'Enough' to get to the Lyrical opening, Verse, or Chorus.
It’s the year of the monkey! It’s the season of the moon! I really can’t believe all the things they make me do! There’s power in my purpose and purpose in my plan! I tell you now I do it all... do it Because I Can! Just Because I Can! (Repetition emphasizes the concept. Last Line, strategic position, left ringing in their ears. Two 'hits' on this Line in each giving of the Chorus, six hits, strong in memorability. I'm walking away singing those Lines. Someone 'hearing' the Song, without a Lyric sheet, might come looking for this title, and not find it because the 'chosen' title is "Year Of The Monkey", a Line they forgot by the end of the Chorus.)
Verse I (0:54 - 1:28) (Timing of the 'Change of Dynamics, about 60 seconds in; good. Human attention span. Whether you start with a Verse or a Chorus, about 60 seconds in you have to 'be somewhere' with 'Change' for Structure to keep them 'Hooked', listening.)
No one’s going to stop me! I’ve emptied everything! With nothing left to lose I’m not afraid of anything! There’s perfect cherry blossoms and they’re shouting at the sky! Nothing lasts forever! Every season has its time! Passing on or left behind, it all remains the same! Autumn winds are blowing! Clouds are pushing out the rain! Even lives fully lived are but a moonlit night! Nothing lasts forever! Every season has its time!
(1:30 - 1:52) It’s the year of the monkey! It’s the season of the moon! I really can’t believe all the things they make me do! There’s power in my purpose and purpose in my plan! I tell you now I do it all... do it because I can! Just because I can!
Verse II (1:58 - 2:31)
Shooting stars and rising suns! To me they’re only names! Fire, water, wind and earth’s the only thing at stake! In trying to find an answer all I do is look inside! Nothing lasts forever! Every season has its time! Day by day I’m better! Every hour less is more! There comes a day of reckoning, I’ll know what it's all for! I’m master of my body and I’m master of my mind! But nothing lasts forever! Every season has its time! (This Repetition also begins to have 'title' power via memorability, qualifying as a Chorus Refrain, ending each Verse.)
(2:33 - 2:57) It’s the year of the monkey! It’s the season of the moon! I really can’t believe all the things they make me do! There’s power in my purpose and purpose in my plan! I tell you now I do it all... do it because I can! Just because I can!
Coda (3:01 - 3:10)
There will always be another song to be written. Someone will write it. Why not you? www.garyeandrews.com
Got that awesome JAPOV sound going again. I would never have imagined the lyric with a musical treatment like this, but it works particularly well in the chorus, which I really like. I'm glad you started with it because it means we get to hear it once more than we might otherwise have done. Musically, I'm slightly less of a fan of the verse. After the first four lines, I don't really want to hear the exact same again. How about adding some background vocals there to switch it up a gear. Even just some oohs or ahs, or a choir effect?
Thank you JAPOV for your "just another point of view" take on this.
I was hoping it would "drive" like it did.
And thanks for the detailed look Gary, and you too Gavin. Note any melody "shortcoming" is mine...
I wish you would post your original John. It wasn't so much your arrangement or playing... but, the way you sang the chorus is what inspired me. That energy was easy for me to cue in on
I like both versions and the lyric is superb. Really like "nothing lasts forever every season has its time". Interesting that you use it in your verses a couple of times.
The lyric does have a good feel and movement all on its own, and I knew JAPOV would make it pop with his equipment and talent.
Say I'm heading out east this Friday and would love to hook up if you are in town. Will be crossing the Bay to Digby some time mid next wee and planned to use your neck of the woods as a base for NS.
The aim is a circle through the east coast back through Charlevoix and home over three weeks
I'll pm for your deets and see if it will work
If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop
Expressive and powerful lyrics and vocals. no monkeying around on this one. This song made me want to get started on a whole lot of things not yet done, great work John.
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