Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2013 15:59:40 GMT -5
Here's one I've written for the new record. I was waking up last Monday and while in that half-awake, half-asleep state, the line, "in the shadow of the sweet refrain" came to me. I have no idea what it means, but looking online, "sweet refrain" seems to have some religious connotations.
I immediately grabbed a notebook and wrote the line down and the three verses came out in about 10 minutes (for better or worse) and then I went back to bed. Later, on my lunch hour, I came up with the chorus.
The song will be part of the "madam transcript" album project I've spoken about here before. I had gotten 10 songs written for the record and thought I was done. But I kept wanting to do a song about a guy the madam spent a few pages talking about named George Washington "Sody" Harris, who was a really talented singer and orator who worked in some of the houses of ill repute, but was also a "dope fiend," as she called him. The woman said she asked Harris why he didn't give up the dope, noting that it was killing him. She said he replied that if he couldn't use, he'd rather die. I wanted to get him in a song somehow.
I was concerned about the song's seemingly unconnected thoughts, but in going back and listening to John Prine, he has some songs that seem that way, too. So I can live with it, and all three verses have connections to the transcript. It is an up-tempo song and I'm thinking it could wind up to be the title cut or at least the lead-off song on the album.
So here it is and, as always, it is copyright 2013 by David Hanners
IN THE SHADOW OF THE SWEET REFRAIN
Whistle on a midnight train can drive a man insane
Or send the righteous to drink
This town is way too crass, that river’s way too fast
In that current you either swim or sink
chorus
In the shadow of the sweet refrain there is a list of names
The accounts are as sad as can be
In the shadow of the sweet refrain, you can wash away the stain
Oh, sing that sweet refrain for me
Saw Sody Harris down the street, got somewhere he has to be
Sneaks around same time ev’ry day
I said, “Sody, won’t you give it up, that stuff’ll kill you sure enough”
He just tipped his hat and went about his way
chorus
A woman I used to know could put on quite a show
Men come for miles just to see
One day I asked her why and with a twinkle in her eye
She said nothing she gave away was free
chorus and end
I immediately grabbed a notebook and wrote the line down and the three verses came out in about 10 minutes (for better or worse) and then I went back to bed. Later, on my lunch hour, I came up with the chorus.
The song will be part of the "madam transcript" album project I've spoken about here before. I had gotten 10 songs written for the record and thought I was done. But I kept wanting to do a song about a guy the madam spent a few pages talking about named George Washington "Sody" Harris, who was a really talented singer and orator who worked in some of the houses of ill repute, but was also a "dope fiend," as she called him. The woman said she asked Harris why he didn't give up the dope, noting that it was killing him. She said he replied that if he couldn't use, he'd rather die. I wanted to get him in a song somehow.
I was concerned about the song's seemingly unconnected thoughts, but in going back and listening to John Prine, he has some songs that seem that way, too. So I can live with it, and all three verses have connections to the transcript. It is an up-tempo song and I'm thinking it could wind up to be the title cut or at least the lead-off song on the album.
So here it is and, as always, it is copyright 2013 by David Hanners
IN THE SHADOW OF THE SWEET REFRAIN
Whistle on a midnight train can drive a man insane
Or send the righteous to drink
This town is way too crass, that river’s way too fast
In that current you either swim or sink
chorus
In the shadow of the sweet refrain there is a list of names
The accounts are as sad as can be
In the shadow of the sweet refrain, you can wash away the stain
Oh, sing that sweet refrain for me
Saw Sody Harris down the street, got somewhere he has to be
Sneaks around same time ev’ry day
I said, “Sody, won’t you give it up, that stuff’ll kill you sure enough”
He just tipped his hat and went about his way
chorus
A woman I used to know could put on quite a show
Men come for miles just to see
One day I asked her why and with a twinkle in her eye
She said nothing she gave away was free
chorus and end
