Feb 2022 collab ukulele guy-with-ukulele fuc acoustic-one-take
Ken: I've gotten to know @coolparadiso over the past year and have been so impressed by his knowledge and expertise, so when FAWM came around I asked if we could do a collab, and he gave me these great lyrics that I did my best to do musical justice to.
John
After we talked about collaborating I told Ken I would write something maybe a little outside his normal zone. So he took up the challenge and he certainly was up to it as you can hear!
Truth
Lyrics © 2022 John Nicholson (coolparadiso music)
Music ©2022 Ken Mattsson (BeaconBeats Music)
Like a [Am] ravaged running River
I've [Em7] satanized my soul
Quick[F]silver raised to 100
[Em7] blood let in the bowl
Like [Am] siamese twins on Thursday
[Em7] Double trouble rules
[F] Merchants selling artifacts
[E7] Watched by abject fools
Chorus
[Am] Skimming stones on water
[Dm] Ripples rolling by
I [E7] guess you can never win
Unless you really try
Un[Dm]less you [E7] really [Am] try
[Am] Conscious pricked by memory
The [Em7] white shade turns to gray
The [F] logs roll down the hillside
My [Em7] life in disarray
But [Am] remember I’m just passing by
I'm [Em7] so far past my youth
You [F] can believe what I say
Or [E7] someone else’s truth
Chorus
Bridge
[F] As it was before me
Will [Em] be when I have gone
It’s [C] you that make decisions
On [G7] what is right or wrong
Chorus x 2
@danvaillancourt Mar 2022
Another fun collab. I like how the picking gives way to a gypsy-jazz-ish strum on the uke. Lots of interesting imagery in the lyrics.
@sheilerk Mar 2022
I love how the chorus lifts so nicely, and the vocal dynamic from early to later in the song brings it home nicely, it all blends together make a really good song!
@nadine Feb 2022
What an awesome collab. I love the lyrics and Kens voice is just the right one for this. Pure drama! Abd I am so happy to hear a uke that is not completely happy.I
@burrsettles Feb 2022
i'm amazed how well so many of these collabs work out, where lyrics and music are composed more or less independently. meaning, they feel like go together so well it's hard to imagine them not being written together. lots of great imagery and changes that steer the story forward!
@eargoggle Feb 2022
What good collar, really like your uke playing here, and these lyrics are great, "merchants selling artifacts watched by abject fools", somehow I like that one
@gm7 Feb 2022
I thing this is a great. A wonderful flow to the song and Ken your vocals are PERFECT fit for this....well done guys.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
These lyrics are really great. So many creative references. I love the first two lines of the chorus. Ken, really nice job with the music. The finger picking of your ukulele sounds great. Nice vocal delivery too.
@andrea Feb 2022
Wow, I love everything about this song. The lyrics are so good, the melodies fun, and music and vocals wonderful. Bravo!
@adnama17 Feb 2022
Have I mentioned lately how much I love your voice? By the by, I LOVE your voice. The melody on the chorus just draws me in. And lovely uke playing!
Aren't John's lyrics the BEST?!
@tseaver Feb 2022
Good collab. This is a nice setting for a challenging lyric, and dips into some great folk traditions (fado dance, do I hear?)
@crisp1 Feb 2022
Lots of great lines in the lyrics and Ken has done an excellent job of turning this into a great song. The melody has more than a tinge of sadness to it, which suits the resignation of the words. A masterful collab!
@timfatchen Feb 2022
I'm so far past my youth
You can believe what I say
Or someone else’s truth. Now that counsel of despair sums up just how I feel. The uke gives this an almost despairing lonely feel, I think because the lyric and melody are so down that the contrast with the usually bright uke just emphasises that...
@mikeskliar Feb 2022
very interesting and captivating collab, both of you- nice work!
@gwyn1234 Feb 2022
Fantastic lyrics by @coolparadiso realised in a perfect way by @kenmattsson...brilliant song!
@guatecoop Feb 2022
What a collab! I know you both pretty well and just couldn't imagine what that would sound like. Well, this is really great--both in terms of the musical song and the words. They seem to be a perfect fit. There's almost a Latin sound to the progression. I could easily see this being sung in Spanish! Great work to the both of you!
@roddy Feb 2022
A very good collaboration. The lyrics are strong and very wise. The vocal is great and the ukulele serves the song very well indeed.
@headfirstonly Feb 2022
Thought-provoking lyrics, some lovely wordplay, and great delivery. Nicely done, chaps.
@oldlostjohn Feb 2022
So many interesting lines in John's lyrics. And they look good , and they sound good. Ken's straightforward and unadorned delivery brings it all home.
@karlsburg25 Feb 2022
oooo brilliant collab guys. And i love you've got the chords in the lyrics as well for us all to jam along to. The musical interpretation of some rather brilliant lyrics is perfect. Really enjoyed this guys
@jtsteam Feb 2022
Great collaboration and a wonderful rendition! I particularly like the chorus and the way the pace really picks up as it goes into the first chorus.
@blindkiwi Feb 2022
Interesting lyrics, I read through before listening and was thinking prog rock epic but hey, ukulele works well too :D Nicely done both of you.
@liz561 Feb 2022
Great job Ken- I like the chord progression and I can see why the lyrics appealed-. I like the strum. Nice job @coolparadiso on the lyrics!
@tageule Feb 2022
Great collab! Words and music like a small river that makes its way through a changing landscape, with a lot of bends... (Hope that makes sense - it's how I feel it. It means I like it.)
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
@coolparadiso never ceases to amaze me with his "prolificity". He churns out songs like crazy AND lyrics that are always good like these. I'm starting now to appreciate his arranging/mixing skills.
But you? Wow, what a voice!! Great job and great collaboration, guys!
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
Ken's lovely tenor vocals and uke make this a sonic treat! I particularly like the lines questioning what truth even is? Mine or yours to believe--inspired by the bard himself it seems! Nice collab!
@mikeb Feb 2022
Lyrically its a little obscure for me, but the music and performance makes this a really solid collab!
@mandolinda Feb 2022
Wonderful lyrics with positive message. I always love to read your lyrics John, down to earth and thoughtful. Very nice playing and singing Ken. I love the chord progressions you play. I am going to have to give them a try.They seem upbeat and somewhat happy.
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
Wow! This is an absolutely brilliant collaboration! I love the insight and message in the lyrics. The musical delivery is just perfect! I love your melodic flow and the gorgeous vocals. The energy in the chorus works perfectly and is a nice contrast with the bridge.
@sadloaf Feb 2022
I just watched The Tragedy of Macbeth and this felt a lot like a song that the witches would sing (I assume on purpose given the "double trouble" line)? Gives it a uniquely personal and topical air to me.
@owl Feb 2022
Lovely! The uke sounds sweet and harp-like and I love all the vivid images in the lyrics.
@cindyrella Feb 2022
I hope you do more collabs if they are anything like this! I so enjoyed it!
@elesimo Feb 2022
Lovely collab! Fantastic lyrics from John and amazing rendition from Ken.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Ken has done a great job interpreting my lyrics. I think we both played to our strengths.
@sjbatavia Feb 2022
Great job of interpreting the lyrics. Nice job.