David:
I'm feeling a bit of imposter syndrome having someone as absurdly talented as Hannah sing BVs for me. But hey, this is FAWM, where dreams really do come true! Also, did I mention she sent me a real life accordion solo?! Thank you, Hannah, for elevating this song miles above what I thought it could be :)
Hannah:
I was thrilled when David invited me to contribute some vocals/accordion for this tune he had written, as I've admired his work on FAWM for some time now! This song immediately struck me as infectiously catchy and timeless, with a courageously honest and vulnerable lyric.
David initially suggested that I sing harmony parts through much of the song, which was a great call. Upon first listen, I also started imagining a whole choir of voices in certain parts, so I laid 9 vocal tracks down for the middle "And I sing for my children" sections. (I think in later edits, it might be fun to have that become almost a gospel choir of many different voice timbres, not just 9 Hannahs.) :)
Also, thanks David for an excuse to finally bust out the old accordion this FAWM! What could be more rock 'n roll than an accordion solo?!
Lately I’ve been thinking
‘Bout the present and the past
How every generation
Claims its better than the last
When we're just really
Trying to find someone to blame
Are we just making the same mistakes
Over and over again
When we were children
We’d see the liars and the cheats
Declaim their inaction
Go marching in the streets
But now we’re the parents
And I swear we should be ashamed
Cos we keep making the same mistakes
Over and over again
And I sing for my children
But since when was singing enough?
Our parents made beautiful music
Our parents had a summer of love
I wish I was better
I wish I would take a stand
Instead of telling myself
That I’m doing the best I can
When really I’m fiddling
While the world goes up in flames
Am I just making the same mistakes
Over and over again
And I sing for my children
But since when was singing enough?
Our parents made beautiful music
Our parents had a summer of love
So gather round children
It’s time to say goodnight
I wish I could tell you
It’s all gonna be alright
But maybe I’m jaded
And it doesn’t have to be that way
So don't keep making the same mistakes
Over and over again
@brisk Mar 2022
Your voices sound incredible together. The lyrics are wonderful. Basically I like everything about this, and felt like it could have gone all Freebird at the end for another four minutes and I wouldn't have minded because I was along for the ride.
@leepat Mar 2022
wonderful folk rock vibe
and an astute mashup of the wheel of time and the inadequacy of the artist in all current affairs.
still, there’s something to be said about make love not war -
at least those mistakes give life instead of taking it away.
great songwriting and collab!
@nancycunning Mar 2022
Oh, I love this from those first lines. What a spectacular duet. And I love the topic and the accordion. And oh, oh, oh, this is just the greatest way to make me examine my own life by letting me watch you question your own. This is just so good.
@serene123 Mar 2022
It's an instant classic!! Love this feel good folk rock you guys and your voices together are heavenly.. love Hannah's descending backing vox on gather round children. Stellar job and so professional!!
@radiobenedetto Mar 2022
What a treat to hear two of my favorite fawmers together on one track! @hbusse your backing vocals add a lushness that really fills this one out and gives it color and brightness. Great to hear the accordion make an appearance too! David, once again you've captured a feeling and turned it into a catchy earworm. The change at "And I sing for my Children" is terrific. This line really caught me: " When really I’m fiddling. While the world goes up in flames" It's a tough time to be doing fawm. This thought occurred to me as well. The topic of Ukraine came up in conversation recently and normally I would have something half-way informed to say about it but I realized that I haven't even kept up because I was busy writing songs. It's an astute observation. I donated to a relief fund but beyond that . . . your line captures this sentiment perfectly and I'm sure it resonated with a lot of people here. Thank you both . . .well done!
@karlsburg25 Mar 2022
ooo now this had me smiling from ear to ear. Once again David am so glad i managed to get into your music this year, as i can totally feel we have very similar melodic brains. I would kill to be able to express like you do with your vocal. And BOOM hannah's bombastic vocals really take this feel good song to all sorts of highs. Such quality production. Massive congrats all round
@fonte Mar 2022
I mean what else to say. The accordion really adds something. Love the organs too. Harmonies are just gorgeous. All round production is really really good, again has that lovely balance between crisp and clear but not too clean, has a nice grit to it without being too lo-fi. How are you doing that? I want detailed notes!
@danvaillancourt Mar 2022
I showed up for the real accordion solo and Hannah's backing vocal choir and of course in addition to that... it ended being another awesome song and production also. ;) Poignant lyric and wonderfully performed and arranged. Wow. Great collab.
@celineellis Mar 2022
seriously David - i would buy a ticket to your show right now to hear this all night. and OMG those BVs just teleport this out of the stratosphere. The arrangement and vocal phrasing are spot on, melody lifts perfectly with those BVs pushing it that little bit further. and then back down to the next verse seemlessly
@crisp1 Feb 2022
I started out thinking, "ooh, it's like The Band" and then there were echoes of Dylan himself to my ears. Well, whatever its influences, it's pure musical awesomeness. Wonderful vocals, background vocals, accordion -- the whole works. What fun!
@jibbidy34 Feb 2022
Yeah… feel good music with a universal message. I agree it sounds like it could be a 70’s cover of an old classic. I’m digging those harmonies. DT you really are smashing this FAWM!!!!
@phylo Feb 2022
Wow, this sounds like an established great 70's rock anthem. Very Dead like. Well written and performed. Watchlisted!
@drewhottmann Feb 2022
Sometimes a song sounds like it has existed all along. They are timeless and make me want to sing along the first time I hear it. Sounds to me like Bob Dylan singing a Paul Simon song with The Band.
The melody, instrumentation and production are all so well done. The accordion and soulful vocals were the perfect addition.
Really well done!
@andrea Feb 2022
I love the flow of the music and the happy good vibes. I enjoyed these fine lyrics, and your voices sound amazing together. I love this song. Great collab!
@sbs2018 Feb 2022
You should never feel Imposter Syndrome but I suppose we all do. Love your vocals. So emotive! Clever lyrics!
@ayehahmur Feb 2022
This would be a terrific listen at an open air festival on a warm summer's evening. It's already a terrific song, with a wonderful, singable, clapalong chorus, but the BVs really do elevate it to something special. Hey, a break down with only choir and handclaps would have been amazing, but you can keep that for the festival circuit. This deserves to be heard on those kind of stages.
@jayjay Feb 2022
The song Bon Jovi never sang :) I really could hear this as country rock sing too.
This collaborative work is just pure gold. #tit4tat
@geoff61 Feb 2022
great harmonies, this is cool
@panch Feb 2022
Absolute quality all the way through, writing, lyrics, performance, production and the harmonies take it to another level.
Definite gospel vibe to the chorus and for me, a Band, Dylan vibe throughout the song.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
humble Taro but we know better! fine singers find each other. they are excellent backing vocals i must say! it adds so much! very cool song
@oswlek Feb 2022
Nice! Outstanding lyric, I've had many of these same thoughts, right down to the summer of love. The music is great, again it's got just the right elements. David seems capable of wielding every imaginable genre.
Hannah's backing vocal arrangement reminds me of the blues/rock/gospel stylings of John Melancamp. Great singing, great tone. The whole thing just feels pro caliber. And who doesn't love an accordion solo? :)
@mikewpb725 Feb 2022
Wow! The 9 Hannahs sound beautiful! Plus accordian! Nice contribution, Hannah.
And David, as always, super cool, super pro. And what a great move, inviting Hannah on board.
@kristi Feb 2022
Very thoughtful lyric and the lines are so singable! I like how it opens up at "And I sing for my children". Beautiful message that makes you think ("But since when is singing enough"). Wonderful harmonies and vocals. That accordion is cool and everything just fits in a meaningful way!
@n24 Feb 2022
Lovely production values on this. The accordion and the male/female vocal harmonies are a lovely touch. Such a sweet sound that combo. Really emotive lyrics, very heartfelt and poignant beneath that very catchy, poppy melody. Love the collab, really touching track both.
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
This is excellent -- love the production (and the accordion!). I love the title line in the context of the song, and how you flesh that out throughout the song. (I especially like "When really I’m fiddling/While the world goes up in flames")
@katestantonsings Feb 2022
I'm in love with these lyrics! You two delivered a powerful message in a beautiful way. Gorgeous harmonies. Solid songwriting. Extra points for Hannah making an accordion sound so cool <3 I only thought Weird Al could do that. jk. A brilliant collab you two.
@nadine Feb 2022
There is so much talent in this song. This duett is so awesome (you both harmonize well) and all these layers of background vocals. I love the drum programming. Somebody alrady said that the chorus is catchy and classy?! And a real accordeon? How cool is that! Like Rich, I'd listen to this over and over again. And it's no mistake.
What is more rock n roll than an accordion solo? An accordion solo on heavy metal. @davidtaro unterstands my pun ;-))))
@tseaver Feb 2022
Another great collab! Lays out the parents' heartache perfectly, and the BGVs are marvelous. Love the accordion and organ together.
@richaaaay Feb 2022
Oh my goooooodness!!! I'll tell you what, I'm gonna listen to this over and over again and that AIN't gonna be no mistake! Love this. The composition, instrumentation (the accordion is the perfect addition for this song) and vocals. Did I mention the vocals...SO GOOD! But more than that, I love the lyrics. So relatable and just darn perfect...Thanks you two for making this wonderful song.
Oh, and lucky me...I got to bust your Zong!
@eas3637 Feb 2022
Where to begin? (Well, the accordion solo of course - YES!) That chorus is KILLER! And such great lyrics that tell such a clear story (I love "And I sing for my children/But since when was singing enough?"), and the walkdown in that second line is awesome. And gorgeous vocals both of you!