Song Journal: Will Phalen

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Semester 7. Week 6. Original. Quicksand.

This is the kind of work I had planned on spending this semester making. Of course, it took me till the last week to sit down and do it.  This instrumental still needs some work, but it was fun laying down tracks with my new Fender Rhodes Mark II. See you soon for Semester 8!

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Semester 7. Week 5. Original collaboration. Elephant Calf.

For what it’s worth, I don’t do much “co-writing” with other people. I’ve just never been good at it, probably because I’m not good at sharing and I’m too much of a control freak. But I’m trying to get better. And the song league has actually been good for that, because faced with a weekly deadline to compose a song, I find myself writing music that I can’t always see myself actually singing or performing as an artist. Case in point: this week’s submission. I wrote the guitar part, and while I liked it a lot, I knew I couldn’t sing a song like this. However, with it’s French pop feel, I thought my friend Julie Meckler might be the perfect person to come up with some melody and lyrics.

I recorded the guitar for her. We agreed on a rough sketch of the structure (intro, A section two times, B section two times, etc, etc.) and she took it from there. I’m really pleased with the results and it makes me excited to do more of this. We might need to go back and revise our structure but I think Julie is off to a great start here. The whistling is the best!

I also love how it’s about an elephant calf because I met a cute little elephant calf when I was in Thailand. That’s him in the photo above!

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Semester 7. Week 4. Production Piece. Queenshead (Julie Meckler).

In lieu of an original composition this week, I decided to devote my energies to exploring some production possibilities for a song I’m about to start recording in the studio with Julie Meckler.  We’re about half way done making Julie’s first full length album, and in a week we return to Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio studio to hopefully come close to completing the album. Julie’s song, Queenshead, is one of her best, in my opinion, but she hasn’t found the right groove or instrumental arrangement to complement the feeling she conveys with the lyrics and spirit of the song.  We’ve tried at least two or three arrangements so far, but neither one has given her what she seeks. Her latest idea was to try some electronic experimentation. Here I am trying to get the ball rolling with that concept. This is totally rough. I (sloppily) played a guitar line to mimic her vocal melody. It’s all very far from anything complete, but it’s a place to start and we’ll see where it goes from here…

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Semester 7. Week 3. Original. To the Lost and Found.
I’m sick and congested, so this is a one-take throw-away in terms of recording. I think the song might be a keeper though. I just wish I could have presented it here in a better light.  It came to me last night just spilling out.

Lyrics
when the halos fade
and the circles around our heads
turn into grey

and the river runs dry
and the lakes
have all been drained

and the residue of images
that flash through our minds
goes blank

to the lost and found
to the lost and found
we will go
to collect our things
and go traipsing back out through the snow

when our names have changed
and the wounds of our youth
have all been healed away

and my grandfather’s walking again
but he’s not walking this way

and a single blade of sunlight
can leave you blind and afraid

to the lost and found
to the lost and found
we will go
to the lost and found
to the lost and found
we will go
to collect our things
and go traipsing back out through the snow

if I ever change
may I change into something
that doesn’t have to be explained

and if I can’t find my way
if I can’t find my way

then to the lost and found
to the lost and found
we will go
to the lost and found
to the lost and found
we will go
to collect our things
and go traipsing back out through the snow

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Semester 7. Week 2. Original. Chimney Smoke.
A nifty guitar part but I need to spend some more time on the lyrics I think.
Lyrics
chimney smoke fills my lungs
as I wait until the summer comes
to get my house back to what it once was

seven months until that sun
gonna shine on my chimney, shine on my front lawn
seven months until my baby comes

‘cause when they’re gone they’re gone
and they stay gone for so long
and when they leave they leave
leave you feeling so weak
so weak and in need

chimney smoke rises above
up from my chimney above my home
that’s my heart leaving me once more

and when it’s gone it’s gone
she’s been gone for so long
and it leaves it leaves
leaves you feeling so weak
so weak and in need

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Semester 7. Week 1. Original. I’ll Find A Way.
It’s good to be back.  Here’s a brand new tune, still in need of some love and attention, but on the right track.
Lyrics
I’ll find a way
I’ll find a way
to make it back home
One of these days
I’ll find a way

And we’ll turn back the clocks
and lift up the shades
I’ll find a way
I’ll find a way
to make it back home
One of these days

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Semester 6. Week 8. Original. How Much I Want to Be.
I’ve struggled to put lyrics to this chord progression for at least a year now. Tonight I forced myself to write something and it turns out I was trying way too hard. Here’s a love song. Sing a simple song. Song League Semester 6 over and out.

Lyrics

when you started waving your hands
spinning round like a cyclone for my eyes
in the darkness, in the light
in the shadows, in my mind

I understand that you’ve got some things to do tonight
I’ll wait around till you come walking through my door, it’s alright

i’d like to hear you ringing your bells
every morning when I  wake
but you’re always walking away
and I’m always uptight

I understand that you’ve got some things to do tonight
I’ll wait around till you come walking through my door, I don’t mind
I wish you knew how much I want to be
how much i want to be
how much I want to be
with you

because everything is better with you

I wish you knew how much I want to be with you

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Semester Six. Week Seven. Cover. Mexico (by Sarah Holtschlag).
My “friend cover song” submission for the semester is by Sarah Holtschlag of Chicago, via Michigan. I recently had the pleasure to work with Sarah a bunch on Musikanto’s forthcoming album, Sky of Dresses, to which she lent some sublime vocal harmonies. 

This song killed me the first time I heard it. She has an amazing a capella version up here, featuring her magical, singing saw. Her version is obviously way cooler than mine, but it was a fun one to play and if just one new person hears Sarah’s music because of it, I’ll be glad. That person will be glad too, I know.

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Semester 6. Week 6. Original. Swimming Around.

Just the beginning of an experiment I’m working on. I hope to spend some more time on this one before the end of the semester.

Lyrics

I’ve been swimming around in your head
I’ve been swimming around in your head
sometimes I wonder what it’s like to be dead
I’ve been swimming around in your head

lately,
I’ve been hanging around in your bed
I’ve been hanging around in your bed
changing the sheets and putting your babies to bed
I’ve been hanging around in your bed