Feb 2022 feb1112skirmishno4 s021222a straighttalk chronicillness ballad capochallenge
Prompt: Straight Talk
So here's another song about dealing with chronic illness disguised as a break up song. Which wasn't what I intended but here we are once again.
I had this one written in about 15 minutes or so. It's just me, my Squire Strat, AT2020, some delay and a good amount of reverb. I actually side chained the guitar to use an amp sim but keep the original tone of the guitar and have different reverb going on. I decided as an added challenge to write this with the capo on the 7th fret.
More info that you really don't need:
This is a really about one team of doctors ordering tests but also pushing things off on other doctors because no one can figure out why I'm fatigued. It's a lot of finger pointing and ordering tests that have already been done because it makes them feel like they are doing something and then pointing the fingers at other doctors. I've had one doctor out of all the ones I have seen pretty much tell me, "I can find nothing, I'm sorry, I think this might be just your new baseline" although that sucks, I can respect that even though it's disheartening. I don't even mind having tests run it's the time and money to do these tests that these higher up doctors don't really consider when they are ordering that is frustrating.
Capo 7
Verse: D bm em A A7
Chorus: f#m A f#m A A7
Verse:
Don't
Come here with your lies
Don't
Expect me to cry
I've
Seen better than you
There's a lot more
You have to do
Chorus:
Give it to me straight
Don't waste my time
Don't hesitate
Just get to the truth
Maybe there is nothing
We can do
Verse:
Don't
Play pretend
Don't act like hope's
Just around the bend
I've
Been here before
I know how it goes
I've seen the score
Chorus:
Give it to me straight
Don't waste my time
Don't hesitate
Just get to the truth
Maybe there is nothing
We can do
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
Such a beautifully insightful and intimate song. Works for anyone as a break-up song but really powerful and poignant knowing it is about living with a chronic illness and the emotions surrounding that. I really love the gentle guitar and quiet introspective feeling vocals as they convey the sentiment in the lyric.
@ineloquentsd Feb 2022
Oh, this is such a chronic illness mood. I appreciate the directness of the vocal delivery to pair with the directness you’re requesting of doctors. Well done!
@n24 Feb 2022
Wow, really powerful source material… I love the sense in the lyrics of talking straight with your illness and being in charge of the dialogue. The guitar and your voice sound really nice in this recording and a lovely mellow sound which really captures some of that exasperation yet acceptance? Really beautiful lyrics, straight to the point and yet very sensitive. I love ‘just get to the truth, maybe there is nothing we can do’ it’s a really powerful line, melancholy and powerful all at the same time. Loving hearing your stuff , keep it up!
@bachelorb Feb 2022
I almost wish I hadn't read the backstory until after I heard the song.
I had to listen to it twice. The first timeI related to the medical side. The second time, I listened to it as a love story.
This is a GREAT song. I'm a sucker for love (....and lost love....) songs. It is beautiful song about a relationship ending.
On top of that with a little mind shift, this song can mean something totally different.
Probably my favorite FAWM song so far....
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Sounds like not a great situation but I hear you loud and clear…Tell it like it is! So many different situations were I would so appreciate just being told the truth. Nice guitar playing and skirmish.
@nadine Feb 2022
I love the contrast in between these super high strings and your low soulful voice. The harmonies of the chorus are great. And yes, I can relate so much on the lyrics. So many situations where straight talk could have helped.
@lennie Feb 2022
I like the way your voice balances with the guitar sounds. Having the capo so high seems to really transform the sound quality - almost like another instrument. And yes, I think the song works both ways, failed romance or something far heavier. A serious subject that comes over perfectly.
@kristi Feb 2022
It's great that you can put something frustrating into a creative outlet like this song. It's got that authenticity about it and draws us in. The guitar and vocal are moving and leave you wanting to understand.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
Songs often take on their own life and decide where they want to go! Very nice delivery here! Thats a compelling guitar line
@sbs2018 Feb 2022
Beautiful vocals and guitar!
@nicetrip Feb 2022
Great job: your lyrics and vocal are awesome. Also I want to notice your high guitar part, it sounds really light and sweet, almost uke -like. Sweeet.
@carleybaer Feb 2022
I like the simple treatment, it gives the words a lot of weight. Your voice is so gorgeous on this.
@barbara Feb 2022
Gosh! That’s beautiful and powerful, so full of the cleared eyed being that wants the truth. I love the sparse wording that let’s the sweet guitar shine alongside your gorgeous vocals. This song conveys even more equanimity than I was expecting based on your liner notes. I wish you all the best in that struggle.
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@berni1954 Feb 2022
Powerful song, made even more powerful with the "key" to it in your extra info.
I wish you all the best in your battle against an illness and the bureaucracy and ignorance demonstrated in this song. May you find a doctor like that autistic young man in that Netflix hospital series.
@gm7 Feb 2022
I was working in my studio and I had to have a listen asap.
Great melody and the chorus is killer. I hear where you are coming from , as you know. This needs a full production Catherine. Hugs!
@sunfire Feb 2022
Great sounding vocals, lyric and guitar. Enjoyed listening.
@cicpisces Feb 2022
Warm melody. Nice strong lyrics. Good use of the prompt. Enjoyed the vocal tone. It was very emotive.
@andrea Feb 2022
This is very moving. Strong lyrics with a brilliant performance. Can't believe you did this in an hour. I love it!