I wrote this song¹ in 2018 or 2019 and kind of let it sit ever since. We did fool around with it with a couple of friends, but I figured I'd try my hand at recording another version just to see if I learn anything in the process.

For once it didn't take ages: only 3 days. So that's a record set.²

There are some rough edges, but those don't make my ears bleed like they usually do. I'm sure I could spend some more time to polish the arrangement, but I kinda like the quick demo vibe, so here goes:

I got on it last sunday with no clear idea of what I wanted, structure and arrangement wise. The song is pretty simple and would work just fine with just guitar and voice, which was my initial plan, but I figured that since I was gonna record things separately anyway, I might as well see if I could use the opportunity to fit more stuff in there.

So I started recording scratch tracks and figured things out as I went along. By the end of the day I had the bass and guitar done as well drafts of the banjo and mandolin tracks and a general idea of what each one should be doing.

Monday was spent refining those parts and recording them, and I got on the vocals in the evening. Tuesday (aka today) was mixing time, as well as redoing a few things I decided.I didn't like anymore

As usual, I kinda hate the mix (even thopugh it is getting better) and miss the energy a full band would bring, but I'm pretty happy at how easy doing the takes was this time. It took a bunch of tries, of course, but I was surprised at how little tension cropped up, even on the less familiar instruments.³ So let's fool myself into thinking I'm getting the hang of it until everything comes crashing down on my next project.

Here are the lyrics in case you'd like to sing along but can't make out what I'm mumbling. Fun stuff, as usual.

They tell me there's a place, something, or somebody
A little further down the line, waiting for me
Light will end the night, have faith and keep on smiling
Tomorow will come and bring along the spring

Well I ain't saying they're wrong, but I did some lookin 'round
I've seen a few good landings, but many just hit the ground
I didn't say nothing, I did as I was told
But I wonder how long the dam is gonna hold

Someday, you'll see,
The wind is gonna turn
And the sun will shine
So bright it just might burn
Someday you'll understand
That life don't need no sense -
Well I'm sorry but sometimes it seems like someday never comes

Yes, I can see the highway running straight ahead of me
But I ain't so sure it goes somewhere pretty
And I can't keep from glancing at the old abandoned road
Where bushes and weeds grow thick with hopes and dreams

Maybe I'm just a fool, maybe I just don't get it
Maybe I should let my feet focus on the beat
I ain't asking for much, just a quick, gentle touch
Before I get home and crash down on the couch

Someday, you'll see,
The wheel is gonna turn
And the sun will shine
So bright it's gonna burn
Someday you'll understand
That life don't make no sense -
Well I'm sorry but sometimes it seems like someday never comes

Still have ideas for a few more, which means I'll probably get started on the next one in two months. In the meantime, I'm thinking of setting up a dedicated page on the site to feature all my recordings in one place. Hopefully this will be done much sooner.

Thanks for listening, and see ya in the meantime.