Feb 2022 random metaphor wolf pensive
From tunecat:
I love random collabs - or indeed any collabs though it always brings up the anxiety that what o send or do will be not good enough. When I write lyrics I need to ‘just write’ and whatever’s caught up in the net of my subconscious might just end up being expressed in there. Often I have no idea if it’s objectively good or bad. Obviously I’ve written a lot of free verse but I wouldn’t do that to a collaborator so I went for a regular structure with couplets - actually the couplets just grow like weeds and I find myself beating them back. I didn’t really know what this song was about - but it has links to things going on like the use of natural world imagery from haiku (aforementioned workshop) -
I was a bit concerned about the overuse of competing phrases ‘reel in’ from fishing and then stuff about wolves snd hunting . I suppose what I tried to do was accept that mix of metaphors was coming out snd see if I could still make it work.
I’d be glad of honest opinions about whether it has worked or seems to pull in different directions . I said I don’t know what it’s about but I keep returning to a single theme. Oh - you wanted me to spell it out? Well I could but that would spoil the fun wouldn’t it?
From John:
I am counting my blessings for a random collaboration. Massive thanks to tunecat for the lyrics and patience on this one. I have to admit that I had to sit with these lyrics for a while to really figure out where I wanted to take them. I felt that something dark and mysterious would suit them well, as they raised questions within myself that were somewhat complex.
And nothing says "dark and mysterious" like lots of echo. So I used a lot of it. Reverb, some phaser, it's all there.
The driving rhythm of this may be on bass, but it was apt that I used the "Viking Red" Ibanez S Prestige S5470, chosen by tunecat specifically for this track. I love this guitar. I swear I last tuned it about 18 months ago and it was still in tune after bouncing between various locations during that time. Its smooth tremolo came in very handy!
Counting My Blessings
Lyrics by tunecat
Did I mind when I found that I couldn’t compute?
Did you mind when they talked like you had no repute?
Mind? - course I minded but that wasn’t the trick
I need to reel myself in and learn to kick!
Reel yourself in and then throw yourself out
Life’s gotta be caught. It will be - look out.
Load yourself up prepare for the trek
Feed only the wolf that won't go for your neck!
Regardless, the cliches they come thick and fast.
That’s me thinking my best - let it go and race past.
The thing is the movements the nature of this
When you sit and you learn that’s how to reach bliss.
Reel yourself in (and then) throw yourself out
Life’s gotta be caught. It will be - look out.
Load yourself up prepare for the trek
Feed only the wolf that won't go for your neck!
Feed only the wolf that won't go for your neck!
I’m lost no I’ve found it, I’m here in a clearing
I’m with all of the creatures that I oughta be fearing
But my eyes are like theirs and my stance says it all
I belong here the hunter, the hunted in thrall.
My blessings are this -that I blend with the backdrop
(I’m a friend of it all )
I twitch like the rabbits when caught on the wrong hop
(I start at a call. )
My blessings amiss - thought I was different but no
(I’m a clone )
I screech like the owl does when he’s out on the go
(All alone! )
Reel yourself in and then throw yourself out
Life’s gotta be caught. It will be - look out.
Load yourself up prepare for the trek
Feed only the wolf that won't go for your neck!
Feed only the wolf....
If we were different - well some of us are
We’re so disconnected we think we’re apart -
We’d not have the glory the passion the days
Living a life, not caught up in a gaze.
I’m scared and I’m smarting but I shrug it all out
Now I’m here and I’m darting I’m that fish that trout
I’m out there and I’m in here we are one you and me
These are all only words for a single unity
And it goes and it comes and its round and around
A planets momentum it’s simple but profound
It’s gone but not lost it is here but not there
It’s a paradox, is it?
It’s a life and it’s rare.
@conorg Mar 2022
Love the sound of the guitar, and that bit about half way through with the echoey spoken word parts that sound like they are in a church works really well. It's a great feeling when you get stuck on a puzzle of where to take a song and then "solve" the puzzle and it all falls into place!
@elainedimasi Feb 2022
Nicely done for a dark, echoey, Joy Divisiony soundscape that is big enough to hold up this big lyric, is quietly epic and not bombastic.
QUITE a lot of details in the singing/speaking to appreciate here! Really fearlessly done. The time spent working the lyric on tunecat's side and then sitting with it on John's side really shows.
Yeah, this is really really well done.
@nadine Feb 2022
I'm already looking forward to the next random collab next year. There are so many interesting pairings and I always enjoy listening to them. I read @tunecat lyrics first and the song that came into my mind has been grunge fuzz. Knowing some songs from both of you I did not expect such a dark and haunting vibe. And I think that this pairing worked very well! @jlampson, your voice has such a nice sound in this chesty baritone register. You should use it more.
@bachelorb Feb 2022
This could have gone as a very upbeat self assurance type song too. That being said, the music and vocals made this more of a “life beat me up and I’m really guarded now song”
I really liked the groove. This version made me think more about the lyrics than a “happy” version would have. Great moody echoing guitar. Loved it!!
@tunecat Feb 2022
Woke up this morning and this had appeared! Great present! Love the sound of the bass snd the guitars. The lots of reverb is great too. There is a distinct atmosphere which you talk of in the liner notes. Nailed that. Thanks for being my collab partner it’s been lovely!
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
Love that bass intro to the mournful sounding well spaced chords that lead into the wonderful lyric. I like how this song evolves and ebbs and flows. Great vocals that express the introspective and insightful lyrics. Wonderfully poetic and philosophical feel to this song!