JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Arizona (Thanks Jan Petter!)

Edit (2/13) - Jan Petter was kind enough master the song for me and provide me the track - which I've replaced the former version with. Thanks so much, Jan - you can really hear everything a whole lot better!


I'm putting together a collection of some of my newer folky stuff and am adding to it what I consider to be the best of some of my older stuff. Problem is the vocals don't really match - back then I was doing everything I could do disguise and/or hide my voice. Now I just live with it.

I've posted this song before but have just redone the vocals. I doubt I'll change anything in the lyric or arrangement at this point. But I would be interested in hearing what folks think of the mix or if there are any glaring problems anywhere.

I wrote this after my wife and I spent a day at Pearl Harbor. What a gut-wretching experience....

Arizona is here:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=377550&songID=8748177

I'll stick the lyric below if anyone wants to read along. Thanks!

Scott




Arizona
(c) 2007 by S.W. Campbell

We heard the planes just before eight bells
And December seventh just went to hell
When a bomb hit our forward magazine
It blew me off the deck into the burning sea
Some boys on the dock pulled me from harm
And they pulled the skin clean off my arms
In the space of nine minutes my ship was gone
It took twelve hundred of my brothers along

Oh Arizona, Arizona
One day I’ll come back to you

I recovered in time to join the war
And I never forgot who I was fighting for
But even when the Missouri left Tokyo Bay
I didn’t feel my debt was paid
I was discharged home and found my wife
Someone else to save my life
She’d hold onto me with all her might
When my brothers’ screams woke me at night

Oh Arizona, Arizona
One day I’ll return to you

I’m an old man now, ninety three
Twenty people trace their name to me
I’ve pulled my weight with change to spend
But I never stood the world on end
For over sixty years I’ve tried
While living an ordinary life
To find the answer I never got
Why was I spared when they were not?

Doc tells me I got a year, no more
Then they’ll slide my urn into turret four
When I meet my brothers on the other side
I got a list of things for them that I’ll describe
Like pouring your son his first beer
Watching your wife grow more beautiful with each year
The smell of cut grass around your first home
And how it feels the day you pay off that loan
Showing your grandson how to hit a ball
Seeing the Red Sox finally take it all
Teaching your granddaughter to tie her shoe
Little things but they’ll do

Oh Arizona, Arizona
Won’t be long till I come back to you
No it won’t be long till I come back to you

Man Scott. This is fabulous. The music and vocals are great but the story is sublime. Really picturesque. Sounds like some of the stories old vets have told me. Very realistic in everyway like you lived it yourself. Not easily done so I won't try this at home, haha. Right up there with Mother Road for me. Perhaps the most powerful song I've ever heard and I seriously mean that Buddy.

I still wish I could write like you do.

Steve

Scott,
this makes me cry every time I hear it. Let us know when you get this compilation together. I want one.

have fun,
John

Scott...

This is a very powerful tune.
I have been to the memorial back in '73.
It was a somber experience then and you brought it back in my mind like it was yesterday.

Larry

Howdy Scott, How many of these fantasic tunes do you got stashed
away. one after another, each better than the last. This is a patriotic song, but with the essence of Saving Private Ryan
I was stunned kinda after just reading the lyric & living
the story thru your words, then I listened, then I downloaded
...........Thanks for sharing..........Gus

Hi Scott,

A lot of good things going on here, but the way you sing The Hook

with seven Syllables spoils it for me I'm sure you could lengthen that line via other words, keeping the same melody.

No one would speak the word Arizona that way and that makes the song sort of unreal. alter that and you have a good song.

Wow Scott

Man the whole country needs to hear this song.
Made me feel made me cry made me proud
what a song
You really struck to the core with this brother, thanks for letting us all hear it

Paul Gaines AKA Shooter

I looked up about the Arizona and was reading about it as I was listening to you sing it and it all went together so well..you did a great job on this and your voice was top notch for this song..no way to me, could this be any better, made me cry, trying to picture the horror and fear that day...thanks for making this song, we all need this...glyn

My favorite version yet

yeah this is pretty great stuff. Love the doubling of vocals in the ch..

Yep, this is good stuff

Scott...I listened this morning...I remember this one....it's very good.....it is "pretty great stuff"...imho....Bob

That's some seriously great writing there. I remember this one, so I guess it's an oldie (ha, ha) -- but it has staying power.

Just super wonderful. I can't tell if I agree or disagree with Matt's point on the singing of Arizona -- might be something to play with. Maybe have the lead guy sing it straight and then have a choral group singing it with the seven syllables.

Kevin

well, all I can say, is I LOVE THIS SONG....GLYN

Hi Scott,

Your such a good writer. This reads well, on the page, and sings in an honest yet heart rending way.

This is so masterfully detailed, I really feel like I know this 93 year old man, by songs end.

I need to mention the excellent phrasing of lines like "Watching your wife grow more beautiful with each year" you know how to use that all important space, before the phrases first downbeat, to sneak in "watching your" --so the long line sounds completely natural.

My highest praise for this. Every bit of me, moved by this.

Oh, maybe throw more reverb on the "string synth" and maybe even flange it, so it 's "wider" in the stereo spectrum.

Mike

That's a pretty strong statement, Steve - but thanks!

I know it's almost a cliche but I felt like I was pulling this out of the air instead of writing it.

Thanks so much!

Scott

I'm flattered, John. Of course I'll send you one

Appreciate it!

Scott

Hi Larry:

Yeah, you know then....

Here I am celebrating my 25th anniversary in Hawaii and I spent that whole day fighting back tears

Glad it captured the feel of the place for you.

Scott

Hi Gus:

Thanks again, for your support. Not too many more stashed, unfortunately. Gonna have to get off my butt soon and write some more.

Scott

Hi Matt:

Thanks for weighing in. That part you don't like actually appeals to me. But then it would or I wouldn't have done it.

I'm probably going to keep it. Tell you what though - if I'm pushing this and someone makes that same comment to me, I'll come back here and give you credit for catching it.

Thanks, man!

Scott

Thanks Paul. I've been trying to get some of the Pearl Harbor organizations to give it a spin but haven't has any luck yet. Will keep trying.

I never want to make a cent off this song - wouldn't feel right to me. But I'd like to have people hear it.

Scott

Thanks so much, Glyn! Glad it inspired you to do a little digging on the story. Is one worth knowing, imo.

Much appreciated

Scott

Thanks Louis. Was the one I should have done first. Actually it was Niteshift whose comments earlier inspired me to take another crack at it.

Scott

Thanks Tom - glad it worked for you!

Scott

Thanks Kevin.

I put some thought into Matt's comment. I did sing that as one syllable. Problem is it passes through a bunch of notes and you pretty much have a new syllable with each note - even though you're on the same syllable.

If that didn't make sense, I'm not going to repeat it.

So I'd either have to add words, like Matt suggested, or change the melody. Right now, I'm not fired up to do either. If it becomes make or break, I'll give it a shot though

Glad you liked the writing on this

Scott

Thanks Bob - I think this is the third time you've commented on this. I doubt I'll post it again but feel free to skip it if I do.

Glad you still like it!

Scott

Cool! Thanks for coming back, Glyn.

Is probably my personal favorite - certainly in my top 3. Glad you like it too.

Scott

High praise from you is high praise indeed, Mike. Many thanks!

That phrasing trick you mentioned is a favorite of mine - can't believe how many times it's gotten me out of a jam.

Thanks for the suggestion on the strings - I'll play around with it.

This lyric came far easier than most - I guess one can't underestimate the power of inspiration.

Thanks again, Mike

Scott

Scott,

You have quite a way with story telling! The thing I like best about this one is it's told in a very conversational way. It has an authentic feel. The vibe it created was real and believable. Well done!

Hi Scott.
This is a very good write.
Good story telling!
There is stuff here for a whole movie.
I know it's already done, but that was not my favorite.
Great performance and good warm sound.
Only thing I would like to hear is another string sound.
Could be an old church pedal organ or a mellotrone?

very solid work!

Kem

Scott

I have no clue why anyone has issues with the chorus, That part of the song reaches inside me, it makes the Arizona big, something to honor, brings in a taste of patriotism, throws that John Wayne apple pie and mom thing in there, American stuff we are proud of.

There is a writting rule about putting extra syllables into a word, but I dont think the rule applies here.

Im always happy when I see a new song post by you Scott, I like the simple story song and you have that wired.



Paul

This if really good Scott. I like it. It is solid. The sound of the lyrics work for me - They work with the music. Good development too - does not seem repetitive to me.

Tom

Scott....I can honestly say that in the years that I've been on these forums, this is probably THE most beautiful and moving song that I have ever listened to. It is absolutely outstanding story telling about a subject that has always been very near to my heart. My Dad fought in WWII, but was not on the Arizona. For some reason, throughout my life I have felt a very strong pull to the Arizona. Before I die, I know that I must go there...but I never could explain it....very odd to me.

But I watched and listened to my Dad while I was growing up, and although he was reluctant to speak of the things he saw....it was obvious that they would forever be a part of him.

I have seen many documentaries about the survivors of the Arizona....and based on all that I saw on them..you have captured their feelings beyond measure. I hope that many of the survivors could hear this song.....it would do to them....just what it did to me. I cried all the way through it, especially after that first chorus....the harmony there symbolized what the men feel for each other....always in harmony with their thoughts of the Arizona. Thanks for this one, Scott. Outstanding...is not big enough of a word for this one.

Jan

Scott,

YES!

You have such a great way of presenting your songs. The way you became a survivor, then to mention what you would say to the buddy's who got killed....It really takes the song to "the end", which is what those buddy's experienced on that day they died. Their end. Brilliant to have it end like that.

I bet at coffee houses you might play at, that folks are into every word of your songs.

Looking forward to your new/old album!
John-nay

Scott,

I know this is an old one but you just keep cranking them out. Wow, these lyrics are flat out great yep one of those I wish I could say that I'd written) and your guitar/vocal style are right on again.

Kevin

ABSOLUTELY BLEW ME WAY WITH THIS SCOTT
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL WORK !! MY GOSH !!

Thanks Tom - believability is a critical aspect for something like this - glad it had it for you.

Appreciate it!

Scott

Thanks Ken:

I'd like to see a movie on the subject as well - not just about Pearl Harbor but the affect that it had on someone over the course of his life. Could be very powerful I think...

I'll listen some more and see what I think about adding another sound. I'm starting to become conservative because I have a habit of throwing too much into things

Scott

Thanks Paul - appreciate you telling me that. People hear things different ways. Makes it hard to know sometimes what to do - unless you get enough opinions that you can use statistics.

I find story songs much easier than non-story songs - where I'm often hard pressed to know what to do after the first verse and chorus.

Scott

Thanks Tom - It IS a little longish (4:40 or so) so I was a little concerned about it keeping the listener's interest. Glad you liked it!

Scott

Wow - between you and Steve, those might be the nicest things I've ever heard about a song of mine. Many thanks, Jan.

I would like for the Arizona survivors to hear this. I've tried a couple of things but no responses so far. This thread has provided me the encouragement to try a little harder.

The story about your Dad resonated with me. Mine served in the Pacific in WWII. Sadly, he died when I was 17 - just as I was beginning to understand that the world was bigger than me and that my parents might have interesting things to say. I really regret now missing out on all that history.

I hope you get to see the Arizona memorial. Take a lot of tissues if you do

Thanks, Jan

Scott

Thanks Johnny!

I don't play out but this would probably be one of the ones I'd play if I did.

I don't exactly recall how the idea occurred to me to have it end with him telling all the things he'd describe to his buddies - I'm pretty pleased with it though

If I regret anything about it, maybe it's that I didn't say "Seeing the PHILLIES finally take it all". But it was written in 07 after all.

Thanks Pal!

Scott

Thanks Kevin:

I never know whether what I'm writing is any good or not. But I do have a sense that, however good or not good this is, I'll probably never top it. Was really in the flow on this one

Thanks for the compliment that you wished you'd written it - highest compliment that a writer can pay another

Scott

Hi Dan:

Very cool it had that effect on you!

Thanks for letting me know that!

Scott

Best song writer on the planet my brother,
dang I wish I had your talent ... so when can I buy your CD???

Hi Dan:

I can't tell you how cool it is to me that you like this stuff. You can't buy it - but one is going to show up in your mailbox one of these days

Thanks

Scott

Howdy, Scott, Yeah I replaced my 1st download with this one
right away, Thanks Jan..........Gus

Hi Scott,

Wow! Trying to play catch up and glad I caught this one. Very well told and done in your own unique style. Everything about it, lyrics, music, vocal, instrumentation, all woven together into a colorful fabric describing an ordinary man who went through an extraordinary time. You are quite the story weaver! Put me on your list.

Ricki

Cool! Thanks Gus! Jan did a really nice job enhancing this imo.

Scott

Cool - just what I was shooting for! Glad that came across, Ricki.

I'm flattered you want on the list - of course!

Scott

Scott

I cant stop listening to this song

Paul