Continuing the series finds me looking at a couple of my songs. Both songs are waltzes, one a little darker than the other, mostly for its content, but actually, it gets a dark musical treatment as well, and the other tune is lighter with a hint of heartbreak. And the weirdest part is the songs were written quite a few years apart and the events are more than thirty years apart chronologically, yet they both have the word “tower” in them.

I know the meaning I had in mind when they were penned to the songs, Storm in Paradise and Rubies, but that word for me, means something big, maybe even overly powerful. In the case of Storm in Paradise “towers” are my daughters, in the other song, Rubies, the “tower” is a cafe named the Tower. But, the meaning in the songs for that word is more nebulous than that and means a few different things for me. I’ve had others tell me what they think it all means. None are the same, and none are accurate to my real and secondary meanings. For me, that is awesome! It’s like writing two, three, maybe even five completely different stories. And for me, that is the object when I write a song.

This time I’m going to compare the music of these two songs. Like I said they are both waltzes. And like all of my tunes, they have morphed over the years of playing them with different people, and even with the same people.

Both have key changes, Rubies actually changes keys three times and then ends on another key change. Storm in Paradise changes key and feeling once, and lyrically in that part is a different one verse story. After the key changes back, the story goes back to end the first story. I didn’t really plan that out, but that’s kind of how my stories work. I recall things that cause me to recall other things that are connected somehow, so I use that if it occurs, and it does in most of my songs and stories.

When I’m at the beginning of a new song, most times I start out with a strumming chord progression, (which may be the result of a lead lick I start pickin’), then I find a line that fits, most times it’s spontaneous like I said in Song Writing One. I don’t worry about a hook, I don’t care what the convention says about hooks. If there is one it was put in because it fit and adds to the story. My point in writing songs is because I can, I don’t care if it sells or plays on the radio. I play them, solo, in bands, with friends, at jams, and in the outhouse behind the house. They mean things to me, and a couple of the songs I have depending on my current mood and mindset, even cause me to choke up when I sing them. And both Rubies, my happy tune, and Storm in Paradise, my stormy tune, do that to me.

My chord progressions usually are old country type changes, and I play the circle often. It’s what I grew up listening to, and playing when I started playing. But I like surprises, rhythmically and chordal. Seems more interesting when I include a hitch of some kind. And I do a lot of circles, usually, short progressions that go around the horn one way or another, and a trick I use often is to do a circle of chords, then do it again in a different order, maybe even a few times. I use that in Rubies during the chorus. And if there is a key change, many times the chord progression completely changes as well as the key, like in the bridge in Storm in Paradise.

Anyway, luckily, I have recordings of both songs from a few years ago. They were recorded at Scott Reams place as part of a twelve song C/D Mandolin Avenue Trio did. Brian Burke played guitar, Sophia Ewinghill played bass clarinet, and I played guitar. I’ll link both recordings and post the lyrics. These songs are free to download on my Reverbnation page. I don’t know how the site works now, and if it’s too much a bitch to listen or download send me a message on Facebook or at kensblivet@gmail.com, and I’ll send you an Mp3

Storm in Paradise- https://www.reverbnation.com/mandolinavenue/song/27919255-storm-in-paradise-rubies

Rubies- https://www.reverbnation.com/mandolinavenue/song/4354049-rubies

Lyrics

Storm in Paradise

Changes are what it’s about, say messages straight from the sky,

I hear a change in a stanza, leaving with just a goodbye.

 

Oooh, Oooh, oooh

 

Seven full days make my world, it was farther than I’d gone before

I gazed on the lights for hours, then days, and crashed in a heap on the floor.

 

Oooh, oooh, oooh

 

The Sun Shines stronger down here

Now Joanna whispers my name

But I hear the towers out there

I will climb them next year.

 

Break

 

Think it was your golden hair, or maybe your crystal eyes,

There’s a storm in Paradise, tempest loose, screams goodbye

 

Oooh, oooh, oooh

 

Left it behind across the river, came back for a second goodbye,

Chrome plated mirage, but the love was never a lie

 

Oooh, oooh, oooh

 

Rubies

I saw her in the tower

She had laughing in her eyes

Pulled me into heaven

Beyond the sky.

 

A tilt-a-whirl of heady dreams

Tempered by a soft machine

Taking all I give to her,

And turning it to love

She’s just like rubies

She’s just like rubies

She’s just Like Rubies, In my mind

 

Rubies are so special

Color diamonds with their love

And music is the power

It keeps me close to her

 

Arcade of flashing color

I’m falling deep inside

She sings her song down low

And turns it into love

She’s just like rubies

She’s just like rubies

She’s just Like Rubies, In my mind

 

Break Humming and woo woos

 

Modulate to C

She’s just like rubies,

fillin up my pocket

It’s just like a party

Sittin next to her

When she goes a seekin’

Looking for a tiger

I’ll keep my rubies

In a porcelain jar

 

Back to D

She’s just like a ruby

In a golden frame

Lighting silver velvet

And holdin back the rain

When she finds her tiger

May it be heaven’s rainbow

Guides her back to me,

We can sing a song

 

Sing a song