It was about 01.30 in the morning. I was chatting to my friend Stuart. As the banter flowed, he mentioned he was trying to write some song lyrics. I had been trying to get some inspiration for some new artwork, but, to no avail. I had the idea of a straightjacket drawing but it just didn't have enough of an impact for me. And so, I thought, I'll try and write some new lyrics.
I didn't know where to start. What subject to write about. All I have been writing about over the last few years are songs about mental disorders, dreams and other subject matter like this. The songs have been largely dark and disturbing. However, I have been considering moving away from this theme, and writing and recording a more easy to listen to range of songs. So to get ideas, I looked up dictionary.com.
I use to do that all the time to get inspiration to write lyrics. Where better to try and get the best use out of the english language than to refer to a dictionary, or thesaurus. So I looked up sad words and happy words; used the thesaurus and found words I liked. I made a list and began thinking of emotions that the words evoked. In the middle of the list I put the title 'The Lovers'. I had during the night felt compled to look at the Rene Magritte painting 'The Lovers'. To me personally, the painting is very powerful and beautiful. Quite dark and haunting, but intimate. So out of all the titles to use, I started with that.
I stared at the painting that I have as my mobile phone background, and let it tell me a story. I began typing lyrics on a word document. I began writing about something I had never written about before, people making love. The intmacy and passion involved. For me, this is unknown songwriting territory.
The Lovers
With warm embrace they stop,
Beat by beat, each thrust,
The silk gently peels lips shut,
Like an umbilical cord around two necks,
The Lovers
The angled curves are alive,
Each breath, one’s deep desires,
Skins texture glistens in the pale moonlight,
Dance, the intertwine, as bodies caress,
The Lovers,
Written 28th of September 2010
I felt good after writing the lyrics. A new subject matter, dealt with in a delicate and real way. I glanced at the titles on the page again, and the title 'At Rest' stood out to me. I thought about it, and then came up with the idea of writing about someone dying and funerals. I didn't want this to be a dark depressing song. I wanted it to be almost light hearted. I didn't just want to write about the sadness involved in funerals, but also the happiness at remembering the individual and celebrating their live.
At Rest
Colours run, from the orchids on the windowsill,
A tiny cloud, over head follows you around,
Colours run, from the skin, making you a greyish ill,
A box, that rots, eventually, in the ground,
And I hope in the end,
You were at peace, at rest, with love, the best, from all, my friend,
You were remembered as,
The player, the preacher, the cynic, wise teacher, we joke, you see,
Colourless, the laughter awakens the bitter brew,
A tiny sun, orange glow follows you around,
Colours run, from the memories, when they were senseless,
A box, that grows, forever, making you all proud,
And I hope in the end,
You were at peace, at rest, with love, the best, from all, my friend,
You were remembered as,
The player, the preacher, the cynic, wise teacher, we joke, you see,
Written 28th of September 2010
I glanced over both sets of lyrics, thinking 'Are these awful really?'. I didn't think so. I continued to look over the titles after I had finished 'At Rest'. What title now? I looked over them and just above 'At Rest' was 'Paralysed'. It made me think of someone who was paralysed by their past. Who couldn't get away, even when they wanted to. From the memories.
Paralysed
Not all scars show,
And not all wounds heal,
The past oh bittersweet,
All the thoughts I feel,
Like watching someone else’s life on repeat,
A broken vinyl, as old and cracked,
I am paralysed as I keep wondering back,
A cassette tape, unravelled and snapped,
I am paralysed; please don’t take me back,
Photographs stain the walls,
Hold back hidden tears,
Running scared from the self,
All the thoughts I fear,
Like watching someone else’s life on repeat,
A broken vinyl, as old and cracked,
I am paralysed as I keep wondering back,
A cassette tape, unravelled and snapped,
I am paralysed; please don’t take me back,
Like watching someone else’s life on repeat,
Written 28th September 2010
By the time I finished 'Paralysed' it was nearly 3am. I didn't even feel that tired. Probably due to the excitment of writing 3 new sets of lyrics. Normally I tend to have pretty bad writers block, so to get three sets was great. I have the early hours of the morning, my tired state, and Stuart to thank for the inspiration to write some new lyrics. Thanks.
I woke at 6am, and at about 10am, I was sitting thinking of more lyrics to write. I looked over the list again, and ‘Blue Funk’ jumped out at me. I wanted to write a song about people who are, or always appear to be, sad. Always feel that their life is bad, when it might not be. The lyrics are quite chirpy and maybe almost sarcastic.
Blue Funk
Can you feel that icy cold, dancing down your spine?
All painted in a funky blue,
Bob your head, feel upset, spirited away,
Lost your cool, lost your smooth, lost on you,
The blues they sometimes get me down,
They call it a blue funk
When I’m trampled over by commuters in town,
I feel down on my luck,
Why so funky and blue they say?
They call me the blue funk
I curse, and swallow, and swear the day
That they call me the blue funk
Feel waves of happiness hit you,
But so blue, so funky, so down,
You see everyone have their fun,
But you’re all painted in Funky blue,
Written 28th of September 2010
More lyrics will hopefully be written on the next few days.
Watch this space,
Wullae
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