This demo is now available on my myspace page.
It's the last song on the player - at present the site is not allowing users to tinker with the order of their song lists.
The picture is of a tram in the Kingsway underpass. It's number 31. Close enough.
www.myspace.com/judecowan
Showing posts with label Kingsway tram underpass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kingsway tram underpass. Show all posts
Monday, 12 July 2010
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Tramcar 41
Ah, the final lyrical piece has arrived this morning and the secret of the song is suddenly revealed.
Where are they going,
where were they from,
passengers electrified
on tramcar 41?
How to punctuate these lines causes me a bit of a dilemma - the above version makes the most grammatical sense - but the below makes more song sense:-
Where are they going,
where were they from?
Passengers electrified
on tramcar 41.
Anyone got any thoughts on punctuation when writing out lyrics as opposed to poetry?
Where are they going,
where were they from,
passengers electrified
on tramcar 41?
How to punctuate these lines causes me a bit of a dilemma - the above version makes the most grammatical sense - but the below makes more song sense:-
Where are they going,
where were they from?
Passengers electrified
on tramcar 41.
Anyone got any thoughts on punctuation when writing out lyrics as opposed to poetry?
Tramcar 41 (full lyrics)
First draft of the full lyrics - I was going to go deeper, but when I sung it, it didn't seem necessary. I will see how it feels in rehearsal with Andy G on Thursday.
I've been listening to Lhasa de Sela and now the song has slowed down and is rather influenced by her delivery.
Tramcar 41
Peer through the railings
at a strip of cobbles
leading into the dark
of a square-mouthed tunnel
Can you see, can you hear,
can you feel it come,
electrified along the track,
tram 41?
Clicks and murmurs echo
off cold stone in the dank.
The scent of an incident
lingers down the track.
Can you smell it, like thunder,
hearts that race as one,
electrified in unison
on tram 41?
A woman holds her purse tight,
staring into space
ignoring flirty chit chat
from an alcoholic face.
An orange drops from a bag
and rolls along the deck.
A boy kicks the fruit,
it bounces down the steps.
Where are they going,
where were they from,
the passengers who rattle by
on tramcar 41?
I've been listening to Lhasa de Sela and now the song has slowed down and is rather influenced by her delivery.
Tramcar 41
Peer through the railings
at a strip of cobbles
leading into the dark
of a square-mouthed tunnel
Can you see, can you hear,
can you feel it come,
electrified along the track,
tram 41?
Clicks and murmurs echo
off cold stone in the dank.
The scent of an incident
lingers down the track.
Can you smell it, like thunder,
hearts that race as one,
electrified in unison
on tram 41?
A woman holds her purse tight,
staring into space
ignoring flirty chit chat
from an alcoholic face.
An orange drops from a bag
and rolls along the deck.
A boy kicks the fruit,
it bounces down the steps.
Where are they going,
where were they from,
the passengers who rattle by
on tramcar 41?
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Number 41 (part two)
The Number 41 is coming along nicely ...
It just needs to be taken to the bridge. Years ago I did a songwriting class with Ray Davies (The Kinks) and he emphasised the importance of the bridge. Now it isn't always necessary but this song would benefit from one I think ...
I have verses about the passengers on the tram. And there's has been an incident of some sort that involved and linked all of them, although exactly what is not clear. I am adding symbols to increase the sense of mystery, and to emphasise the daily life of being on a tram or bus. So far I have an orange and an alcoholic.
It just needs to be taken to the bridge. Years ago I did a songwriting class with Ray Davies (The Kinks) and he emphasised the importance of the bridge. Now it isn't always necessary but this song would benefit from one I think ...
I have verses about the passengers on the tram. And there's has been an incident of some sort that involved and linked all of them, although exactly what is not clear. I am adding symbols to increase the sense of mystery, and to emphasise the daily life of being on a tram or bus. So far I have an orange and an alcoholic.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Number 41
I missed a rehearsal with Andy Gordon on Thursday due to a last-minute change of plan, but luckily I managed to use the time to write the ghosty song about subterranean London I had been promising to make for some weeks. I haven't finished it but the main verse and chorus and hook are established, as are the narrative voice and set up. It's very atmospheric and should work very well for us. Here's the first verse and chorus:
Number 41
Peer through the railings
At a strip of cobbles
Leading into the dark
Of a square mouthed tunnel
Can you see, can you hear
Can you feel it come?
Electrified along the track
The number 41
There is, of course, no such vehicle as the number 41, this number popped into my head from the internal incubator where songs are bred. The story is inspired by the old tram underpass at Holborn. The tunnel entrance still exists but the tram system was disbanded in the 1950s. Apparently the last train left Kingsway tunnel on 5 July 1952.
Here's the link which tells about the Kingsway tram underpass: http://underground-history.co.uk/kwupass.php
Number 41
Peer through the railings
At a strip of cobbles
Leading into the dark
Of a square mouthed tunnel
Can you see, can you hear
Can you feel it come?
Electrified along the track
The number 41
There is, of course, no such vehicle as the number 41, this number popped into my head from the internal incubator where songs are bred. The story is inspired by the old tram underpass at Holborn. The tunnel entrance still exists but the tram system was disbanded in the 1950s. Apparently the last train left Kingsway tunnel on 5 July 1952.
Here's the link which tells about the Kingsway tram underpass: http://underground-history.co.uk/kwupass.php
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