Feb 2022 mermaid slow groove minor-key
Last week, my songwriter group's prompts also included a phrase prompt to choose from. It was "Catch your breath" or "Catch my breath." I had really liked it too, so I brainstormed on it yesterday. And then today I recorded the song. It has a bit of vibraphone at the beginning, and then I never saw or heard a need to add any more of that sound. The song is sort of a murdery vengeful mermaid song maybe? I feel like there are other interpretations, but that one seems to be a strong contender.
I actually recorded it before I typed it out of my notebook, and while there is a chord progression it is much more about what I heard the bass line doing. Lyrics follow.
You’ll Go Down With Me
Copyright 2022 by Mary C Crowell
This song uses the phrase prompt “If I could catch your/my breath”
If I could catch your breath
The way you caught mine
I’d tie our souls tight
Until they combine
I’m taking you down,
Down to the sea
I’m taking you down
You’ll go down with me.
The water here is warm,
And the ice is gone.
I came floating on up
And now it’s on.
I’m taking you down,
Down to the sea
I’m taking you down
You’ll go down with me
You shouldn’t walk so close
To the shore
Tales are told of me,
What do you think that lore is for?
It’s too late.
If I could catch your breath
In a plastic net,
I’d show you such things
You’d never forget.
I’m taking you down,
Down to the sea
I’m taking you down
You’ll go down with me.
If I could catch your breath
I doubt you’d survive
While you and I live
Nothing else will thrive.
I’m taking you down,
Down to the sea
I’m taking you down
You’ll go down with me.
You shouldn’t walk so close
To the shore
Tales are told of me,
What do you think that lore is for?
It’s too late.
It’s too late.
@jeff9 Mar 2022
Ooooh, this is so delectable. You've got sort of a quirky Nellie McKay vibe going and your voice is fantastic. Gotta work my way through the rest of your catalogue post haste.
@infilktion Mar 2022
Love it! This one had me harmonizing! Great story and wonderful tune!
@sheslin Feb 2022
Oh wow what a cool jazzy voice - like liquid gold! Really engaging melody, clever lyrics and great story telling. Love the percussive touches throughout. Really great write and enjoyable listen!
I did not know much about the darker side of mermaids until I hear another FAWM song which your song reminds me of. Here is the link to Murder Mermaid Mode:
https://fawm.org/songs/133452/
@janeg Feb 2022
I somehow don’t think she has any plans to make him a king under the sea. “What do you think that lore is for?” Is a wonderful line. So many stories would be dull if people paid attention to the warnings.
@tawny249 Feb 2022
Oh wow, that is delicious and creepy and jazzy all at once. Love the little percussion emphases, they hit the spot. The funky syncopated rhythm of the vocal is really neat, gotta love those dramatic pauses. A genuinely fun listen.
@didge345 Feb 2022
This is so delightful. What a sumptuous vocal! the percussion is a treat, and it all works. It really is a transport back in time. Sultry delight. Yes!
@ericdistad Feb 2022
This is so good! The bass line is great and the oohs and percussion hits It doesn't need anything else to my ears! The sultry ominous lyric... the vocal - it just works so well across the board!
I love it to bits! Fantastic work Mary!
@mikeb Feb 2022
This song transports me to another time and place, a speak-easy, tiffanied lamps dimly lighting the place. Wonderful work!