I realise that I have put up artwork and lyrics for the new project entitled 'Overzealous Work Ethic' and not elaborated or explained what the new idea is about.
'Overzealous Work Ethic' is a quote I took from the television show 'Lost'. The character Sawyer describes Hurley as having an '...overzealous work ethic...'. The humorous aspect of the expression in the show touched a nerve with me, and I immediately wrote it down wishing to use it later. I thought it would be a good title for an album, but wasn't sure about using it.
So later I am struggling to come up with any new ideas. 'Anonymous' is at an end, and I am absolutely delighted with how it sits as a collection of songs, but I needed something new. Something different. I tried recording an acoustic tune with a dance beat. I thought, that's a cool route to go down, acoustic songs with dance beats. Quite simple. But then I thought it is too similar to Opus. 1 and so would get a little boring. So I pondered over ideas, but still nothing.
My life at the moment isn't in the best shape it could be: putting on weight, needing to look for new work, disputes with people, low financial income, etc, etc. An endless list of negatives. With all this, it has been bringing me down quite a bit. I have ben feeling helpless, frustrated and undermotivated. As a person, I try my hardest to get my standard of living better, but I always feel like I get the shit end of the stick.
I had a set of lyrics sitting entitled 'To Scratch an Itch' written in october time 2010. I had never used them, and read them over. I thought they were actually really good and honest. I put it first to an acoustic tune I had written, but didn't think it worked too well. So I went back to the drawing board, and thought about recording an old piano I had and loved, and adding the lyrics to it. So I did. And it turned out to be a good move.
The day after recording the tune I was in the mood to try and make some art for it, but hand drawn and painted, not graphic. I had an idea of making the art look like a Harry Houdini poster I found on the net when I was considering ideas for new album titles and art. So I took inspiration from this, drew it in ink, coloured with highlighters and permanent pen, and painted. I drew a bowel hat I have, and wrote a French phrase next to it taken from Rene Magritte. The end result made me think of some old French artist or something, and I thought it was perfect for what I wanted to do now, and gave me some direction.
So I started looking at the title 'Overzealous Work Ethic' and what it means to me. The theme behind it will be in regards to those people who try and do their best but always seem to get nowhere. It is a realistic album about pursuing your dreams, and not getting where you want to be. Some of the songs will be about me, from my own thoughts, feelings and experiences, and other songs will be about similar situations or people. I have written two new sets of lyrics in a similar vain, one about being envious and jealous of those with wealth entitled 'Evil Eye' and the other is about the fictional story of a Busker who has been pursuing their dream of getting a record deal his whole life, to eventually die without ever achieving it, entitled 'The Busker'
Evil Eye
I can't get near negotiating with the big bucks
See, I'm neither upper nor middle, I'm the lowest of the low
You rub your notes, with the queens face on,
I rub sticks, fire, and burn my house down,
I hear what you say, there's envious undertones,
But it's how I feel, it's what I see,
It's who I am, and what I'll always be
At the bottom of a ladder
I have my own glass ceiling,
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow,
Well for me anyway
You rub your notes, with the queens face on,
I rub sticks, fire, and burn my house down,
I hear what you say, there's envious undertones,
But it's how I feel, it's what I see,
It's who I am, and what I'll always be
Written June 2011
The Busker
'I want to make it in this world' he proclaimed,
And with that, he left with his life hanging over his shoulder,
Everyday the same routine, counting pennies in his newly purchased cap,
'When will I get my big break?' He would quizz,
Staring into a glass half empty,
The routine depletes, the enthusiasm the same,
And as the aging cap holds together by each hand stitched strand,
Ambition lingers, the pennies wain,
The busker passionately screamed,
He never gave up, but no one understood,
Those songs that were so close to his heart,
He never fulfilled his dreams, and died an empty man,
'I don't understand?' He sadly weeps,
Staring at wrickled hands, with youthful eyes,
His six string companion has seen better days,
The trusted cap which tirelessly remains,
And as he remembers those forgotten days,
And the lyrics that made him feel alive,
He takes his final breath, and his final bow,
Written Monday 26th June 2011 on the bus
I have a piano tune I'm working on and wish to use with Evil Eye, but it is still a work-in-progress. 'To Scratch an Itch' isn't finished yet, as I would like to either try and put some brass behind the piano, or use noises of either an old frenchman talking or the sounds of a French bar or street scene. I think it would create a nice atmopshere behind the music.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.wullaewright.bandcamp.com
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
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