Yes, I did listen to an Elliot Smith record recently. Why do you ask?
The way I usually handle MM3AM songs is, I work on an idea (usually multiple ideas) on Monday evening, I think about the idea(s) all day Tuesday, then have a songwriting session Tuesday evening. Most times, I'll have a two or three song ideas competing with one another all day Wednesday, then by Wednesday evening, I'll have picked my favourite and I'll finish it up that night. This gives me Thursday to learn the song, settle on a key and tempo, and think about arrangements. Friday and Saturday, I'll track, but I can only do this for a couple of hours at night. Then on Sunday, I'll do vocals and mix and stuff and post.
Occasionally, I'll finish a song really quick in one sitting and also have lots of spare time to get it recorded and posted quick. This is a supremely rare event.
This week:
I committed myself to a ridiculous and unnecessary (and stupid), clever(?) little lyric motif (motifs, actually – how many can you spot?) that I insisted on maintaining (did I mention that it's stupid)* which means, I finished writing my song Saturday evening and crammed all the rest of the work in Sunday evening. So if it sounds kinda thrown together, that's because it is. I really didn't think I was gonna make it this week.
Sadly, I may be unable to finish the round because we're (kinda/sorta) suddenly moving (this is a good thing). Fingers crossed.
*One of which I totally failed at.
The second lines of each verse were meant to end: Shape, (a)Round, & Square, but when I got to the third verse, I just couldn't figure out how to write it (without messing up the other motifs I was juggling) and had to give up – after having rhymed the B line and everything. So, Square became Air and ruined my shapes motif – which kinda ruins the whole song. I'm still thinking about that line and I'm sure I'll solve this at some point. Fingers, again, crossed.
lyrics
I
There is a darkness on the rise
I sense the formless taking shape
You have a violence in your eyes
This is a fate we can’t escape
And
I feel so much better than I have in my whole life
I fear I’m a stranger to myself
God help us now
II
There is a stillness in the night
I note the omens all around
You have a flaw that blinds your sight
This is the way that we are bound
And
I feel so much better than I have in my whole life
I hear I’m a danger to my health
God help us now
III
There is a dullness to the light
I tally movements in the air
You have a vision burning bright
This is the burden we must share
And
I feel so much better than I have in my whole life
I hear I’m a stranger to myself
But
I feel so much better than I have in my whole life
I fear I’m a danger to my health
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