I wanted to follow a final-response-line structure for this one, a la "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." My plan was to write an ABAB rhyme scheme for the verse, and to keep it tight, with a title line ending every verse, and then to bring back that title line in the chorus. I also wanted to follow an 8'/5' meter in the verse.
Strangely, after a conversation with Mitchell about how I never seem to get much out of the auto-writing sessions, the ENTIRE lyric for the verses of this song came from two-day's auto-writing session. So, basically, this is complete stream-of-consciousness. By the end, of course, I actually found a theme, and I think that in a second draft, I could prune what I've written here and build upon it.
The music was all written in about 4 minutes, but I think it's suitably Dylanesque.
Given the parameters of this round, my goal is to keep the production sparse. This was a one-mic, one-take demo.
lyrics
I’ve set the town alight again and foiled the fates of fools
I’ve once again forgot my evening prayer
I’ve blessed the damned and raised the dregs, reversed the law of rules
But I guess that’s neither here, nor is it there
I could’ve sworn the stone would roll, the dead would rise again
the intertwined become the twisted pair
but you have aged alone, my dear, and time’s a safety pin
and I guess that’s neither here, nor is it there
I guess that’s neither here nor is it there, and so it goes
the worst that you could say, the church bell’s chimed
but you and I we know there come a counting, heaven knows
so hold me one more time
You once in time were holy text, I hung on every word
I claimed the tower for my nom de guerre
but temples fall and evening fades, a flight for every bird
but I guess that’s neither here, nor is it there
The dusk sets in, the gloom surrounds the dying dreams of men
So here begins the end of the affair
and I, for one, have held my word, though faithless, now and then
but I guess that’s neither here, nor is it there
I guess that’s neither here nor is it there, and so it goes
the worst that you could say, the church bell’s chimed
but you and I we know there come a counting, heaven knows
so hold me one more time
And when you come to rest your wearied legs above the fire
and read your vesper verses, mouthed, with care
oh, will the sins of your omissions pass for what transpired
but I guess that’s neither here, nor is it there
And did I see you take your place, when sun sets on the ridge
where traitors trace great castles in the air
down beneath the shadows of the battered begger’s bridge
but I guess that’s neither here, nor is it there
I guess that’s neither here nor is it there, and so it goes
the worst that you could say, the church bell’s chimed
but you and I we know there come a counting, heaven knows
so hold me one more time
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