Feb 2022 alternate-tuning songfight ghost-story ghosts alternatetuning acoustic-guitar fingerpicking
I figured I'd try to get something in for the latest Songfight prompt ("Strike Me Down," optional prompt: ghost story). I spent all day noodling around and being unsatisfied with how my harmonics were coming out but in the end I had to just get it recorded so I could do some other stuff, like eat and shower.
Edit: I realized from the comments that maybe not everyone is a big Egyptian mythology nerd, so just in case, here’s a description of the ancient Egyptian weighing of the heart ceremony, where the jackal-headed god Anubis weighs each dead person’s heart against a feather:
https://carnegiemnh.org/sarcophagus-image-carnegie-museum-of-natural/
alternate tuning: E Ab Db Ab B Db
I'm in the hall for the baggage claim
Scanning the bags for the one with the tag with my name
What they said was a slight delay
Turned into eternity trapped in my seat on the plane
But I've got to make it home by Sunday
And if I don't, please tell my daughter I'm sorry
I'm sorry
"Promise me you'll be home for my birthday
You missed last year when your company sent you away"
"God strike me down if I tell a lie
I promise you that I'll be home with plenty of time"
Took off at night
Turbulent flight
Watching the lightning strike
We plunged through the clouds
The noise was so loud
But we came out alright
I just don't remember the landing
The man beside me picks up his suitcase
And the woman in yellow finds her cello at last
Finally my bag slides down the carousel
It's heavier than I remember it back when I packed
The customs form asks me to list the times that I've hurt someone
They've changed it a bit, I guess, since the last time I flew
They weigh my bag on the scales against the feather
And the man with the head of a jackal waves me on through
But I tell them I can't go on through the door that they're showing me
I tell them I can't go on
I tell them I can't go on
Because I've got to make it home by Sunday
And if I don't, please tell my daughter I'm sorry
I'm sorry
@radiobenedetto Mar 2022
Love the Db minor tuning. The fact that the 7th is thrown in there puts this tuning in Gb minor and Gb is one my favorite keys. The harmonies are beautiful on "God strike me down . . ." The Egyptian mythology take on a kind of day of reckoning at the gates of the afterlife is enigmatic and clever. It totally works. Enjoyed this one a lot and I may have to try that tuning!
@toms Mar 2022
@elainedimasi told me to listen to this. How gorgeous!!!! This is just glorious. Totally evocative. Love the guitar playing, too!
@elainedimasi Mar 2022
Astounding, gorgeous. Oh how I love seeing the objects - yellow, cello, the scales, a feather. Your line about the customs forms - well, I'm in awe of this whole song. The music is perfect.
@balancelost Mar 2022
Wow that is a dark twist this takes. Glad you persevered with the the harmonies cos these are beautiful. It's a kind of a warm pastoral feel, but the melancholic edge gives it a hint of moonlight.
@ayehahmur Feb 2022
Oh man alive. This has a full spectrum seventies mystical folk vibe that I really adore. The guitars sound wonderful (to me!) and the alt tuning you've gone for allows your vocal harmonies to be amaaaaaaaazing.
Great story in the lyric too. I'd kinda guessed where it was going, but I loved the scales and feather detail when it popped up.
@sapient Feb 2022
Oh, oh, oh... this is gorgeous.
That tuning and the fingerpicking reminds me of very old English folk music, which I have something of a weakness for.
I love a good story song, and this is just perfectly complete. That point, 6 lines from the end, when our narrator begins to realise what's going on hits HARD.
Ah. I love this song.
@mikedebenham Feb 2022
I don't think I've heard you go the full folk before. Suits your voice well. This is great. Lovely bed of fingerpicking, and those harmonics are an excellent touch. And the lyrics: haunting and melancholy, but the narrator's obliviousness leaving room for sly humour. 'Changed it a bit, I guess' - ha, nice!
@jennakole Feb 2022
Oh man. Love this. Giving me those delicious suzanne vega vibes that I’m always gonna be here for.
@cabinmonster Feb 2022
This blew my mind. I was happy listening and enjoying it, then it got to the part about the customs form and the bag on the scales and its like a like bulb goes off and everything falls into place. Fantastic lyrics and lovely harmonies. Your voice just suits this style so much.
@tageule Feb 2022
Oooh, this sent shivers down my spine. Great lyrics and such beautiful singing and guitar picking. (I must admit that I only knew the story about the feather from American Gods. But you see, putting old gods in a modern setting is straight up my alley...)
@sailingmagpie Feb 2022
Well, this is right up my street (spooky folky ghost story? Obviously I'm gonna be all in!). Beautiful melodies and the fingerpicking is superb. What an amazing line "The customs form asks me to list the times that I've hurt someone" is and the comparison between weighing the luggage and the weighing of the heart is inspired.
This track reminds me of an album I loved a lot last year - Heart-Shaped Scars by Dot Allison.
@frenchcricket Feb 2022
Dammit my WIP collab uses the weight of the feather and it will look like I’m copying you! The guitars are cool and kinda Nico-esque but i think maybe this is the kind of material the Brontë’s would be making if they were alive. A very compelling listen. I really enjoyed it
@majordanby Feb 2022
Wow, very pretty indeed. The guitars really pop out and the harmonics work so well. The song is lovely, really unique writing that pulls the listener in. You’ve got a great sound here that really suits your voice. Very much my cup of tea. :-)
@thelowestbitter Feb 2022
that fingerpicking is lovely, and there's some great harmonies in this as always with your stuff. Especially like the harmony on "God strike me down if I tell a lie / I promise you that I'll be home with plenty of time". Really enjoyed this
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
Such a well-written lyric - I love how the narrator doesn't understand. The 'they've changed a bit' line is brilliantly underplayed - such a clever line. The harmonics are superb. I don't know why I'd single out harmonics - the whole song is superb.
@rubberbandage Feb 2022
I just love it. Pairing a modern setting with Egyptian gods is remarkable and so eerie. I’ve been a tremendous admirer of your ability to craft these otherworldly tableaus infused with pathos ever since the first song I heard of yours, Alien Linguistics.
@tseaver Feb 2022
Nice write! Fun to weave the baggage claim hall together with the Judgement of Anubis. The tempo shifts tell the listener right away that something eerie / otherworldly is happening, along with the modal guitar.
@seemanski Feb 2022
Nicely done, I can't over those harmonics on the guitar, love your harmonies. This is such a pretty little song
@dvdshnsmth Feb 2022
This sounds beautiful
@shortdan Feb 2022
That guitar sounds magical - getting some really 70s vibes from it. Loving the dark narrative (if I’m understanding it correctly?!). Beautiful vocal work as always.
@adforperu Feb 2022
Ooo, that tuning is giving real folky vibes; I'm going to assume Jimmy Page used this one a lot without me actually checking. Between the vocal, finger-picking, the droney root note, and the harmonics, it's all interweaving loveliness. Trying to remember if you've ever done something like this before? Alas, it's superb.
@vomvorton Feb 2022
Wonderful guitar work, I love the darker, almost Slint-y part on "got to make it home" before it rolls back into the drony, harmonic-y spooky prettiness. The story is so good, especially that second verse!
@geoff61 Feb 2022
lovely arrangement and vocal, interesting lyric.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
You do these story songs so well. I could happily sit with the lyrics for a good while. So many well observed, sharp details - but I think the 'man with the head of a jackal waves me through' has stuck most with me. Those harmonics are ace - I still can't pull those off and I've been playing for 30 years! Well done.
@paulh1237 Feb 2022
The longer second line in the verse is so rhythmic, I dig that. The story goes from what just seems a dig at airports to a something entirely different, but I love how the tone remains sort of calm and aloof aha.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Very nice guitar and those different speed lyrics, very tricky. Great story beautifully delivered.
@silvermediapro Feb 2022
oooh the finger picking on this is really pretty! love your voice too, very soothing! :D
@guatecoop Feb 2022
That guitar playing and tuning is great!! Wow. The harmonics really add a lot. Now on to the wonderful vocals and lyrics! So compelling! Your story had me completely attentive. Beautiful singing, melody and harmonies. That’s a keeper for sure!
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Wow...that was delightful. That's the way to tell a story in an interesting way to the backdrop of beautiful guitar, harmonics and all. Wonderful vocal phrasing and harmonies.
@sheslin Feb 2022
Wow this was a great listen! Loved the guitar and that tuning. Your gorgeous vocals singing the haunting melody totally grabbed me. They just floated above the gorgeous guitar sounds below. Really interesting story, great rhythm in your lyrics. You have a great sound and style.
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
What a compelling story! Lovely vocals, and cool placement of the harmonies at certain times for emphasis. Your guitar sounds harplike or like the Finnish kantele. Really good write and performance.