A FAWM journey:
1) 'Hang on, isn't this the same strumming pattern I used on that Josephine song?'
2) 'Ah, who cares? It's in a different key, it's probably fine.'
3) '...but maybe I should switch the capo to a new fret to be safe.'
4) Record song.
5) Listen to earlier song.
6) Realise that of course you've managed to end up in the same key by accident.
7) Shrug.
The trains are indeed emptier these days, even though we're basically all vaccinated here. Everyone's fled public transport and gone back to their cars. As a general car resenter I find this sad, and not just because of the environmental impact. It feels like the symptom of an unwell city. I hope things bounce back as cases go down, but I worry that two years of caution has, for some people, hardened into a more permanent fear of human contact. On the plus side: easy to get a seat on the train.
None of which is particularly important to the song. I'm just padding out these liner notes because the lyrics aren't very long.
the trains are emptier these days, the cars are choking
there are no footprints to your door, the lines are broken
no change (you've reached the terminus)
the doors are closing, please stand clear
all change, all change, is this the final station?
we've been sowing seeds of light all through the darkness
has something come to term in us? will something come to term?
no change (we've reached the terminus)
all change, all change, we are always changing
we change, all change, is this the final station?
all change, we're small change but we are always changing
@coolparadiso Mar 2022
ha ha just heard josephine then this - it is similar but very good of course
@owl Mar 2022
So lovely and melancholy. A bit of resignation in your delivery that is very moving, and the whole thing is understated but devastating.
@miltz Mar 2022
This is good. One of my favorites of yours from this year's batch.
(Were you at all tempted by the "germ in us" rhyme? If so, well done on resisting.)
@oldlostjohn Mar 2022
Train friend here too, don't drive and never bothered about a license. Bicycling every day, to and from work, at work too. Now, of course this song points beyond the train situation. The final station? Well, we may know about that in a not too distant future.
When I listen to this it strikes me how effective your phrasing is, written and sung. Just as an example, how you follow the first part of the first line with a pause and that short statementlike "cars are choking". So many small things that add so much. And that delicate piano line is the melancholic icing on the cake.
@shortdan Feb 2022
You know I don't think I know which part of Oz you're in? This immediately made me think of my year living out there when I used to commute from Berowra to Chatswood on the train every day. Do they still have those seats where you can move the seat back so you're facing the other way (does that even make sense?!)? Anyhow, none of this is remotely relevant! Another lovely tune which I really enjoyed. Lovely instrumentation and vocal work as always. Harmonies a real highlight here.
@lcad Feb 2022
I wouldn't have noticed the chord reuse without your telling. There's only 12 notes, they're bound to come up again. I really like the vocal arrangements here and the lyrical theme about change and ending is powerful and well delivered throughout.
@psyt Feb 2022
The piano playing really added to the piece, made it lighter, but it'd be lovely even without it. Pretty nice and full thanks to the effects.
@oswlek Feb 2022
Somber. The song feels a bit like a free form ramble the same way your liner notes are! Emptiness and change are definitely emotional subjects, and you packaged them well.
@datsch Feb 2022
I like how 'we've reached the terminus' sort of chugs along like a train. And those little piano lines are very Debenhamesque-plaintive, spot on ... plus extra cleverpoints for 'term in us' and I would say 'we're small change' does sum up beautifully how people feel after being subjected to recent government public health policies.
@paulh1237 Feb 2022
The harmonies are perfect! Especially with the backing vocals on the third line of the verse. The opening line is great, especially ' the cars are choking' as a great piece of imagery. Love the sparse piano/strings in the background too.
@majordanby Feb 2022
Ooh this is really lovely. The simple strum and piano works beautifully. I like your laid back vocal. So much space and I love the day to day things you’ve chosen to play around with in the lyrics. Really great track. Very chilled.
@tinear Feb 2022
This has a lovely resigned melancholy to it. The interspersed piano bits and the other thing that sounds like a plucked piano (though I'm listening on a phone) are lovely.
FWIW - I wouldn't have noticed any similarity with Josephine had you not put the spotlight on it.
As JP Sartre once opined "hell is other people", so I quite like an empty train
@jcameron Feb 2022
Sounds like you don't commute on South Western "things are going back to normal and people are travelling to work in increasing numbers now, let's cut down all the services" railways, then :)
A charming and melancholy song. The style fits the subject matter very well and the guitar and keyboard accompaniment complements the vocals nicely. Anyway, some people have made entire careers in a single key, and besides, it's FAWM, just get it out there!