For this week’s episode, I break apart a brand new song I just recorded called “Flawed,” which will be on my new album coming out later this year.
This is song I started writing a couple years ago. The chords and melody came pretty quick and I had the words for chorus and bridge down but had a hard time getting anything solid for the verses. So, it sat on the shelf for a while until I finally finished the words for the verses about a week ago.
The songs about coming to terms with being human and making mistakes. It’s understanding that we’re all here to learn and to try to be the best person we can be.
For the recording, I started the song with vocals and acoustic guitar. I added a slap back style reverb to my vocals similar to the effect Elvis used to use on his voice.
For the drums, I played what I call a train beat, which is sort of a steady rolling on the snare with brushes that sort of resembles the chugging on a train.
The next several parts for me were really about adding texture to the sound.
- First, the mandolin, which basically doubles the guitar part.
- Next, an organ with I played on my keyboard and using midi, I ran it through the DB-33 plugin set to the gospel fast vibrato setting.
- I felt like it could use a little extra twang so I added this slide part played on the acoustic.
- Next, a piano playing to chords to the song, which I played on a real upright piano. I think it has a really cool tone.
I felt between the verses it needed some sort of lead melody line, so I added another piano part. This time, I actually used the midi keyboard instead of the real piano because some of the higher notes were out of tune. I added a glockenspiel sound to help it pop and give it a little more of an upbeat element to sound.
I felt like the song was just about there but it could use a little something else to make it unique. Last Christmas, my wife bought me a musical saw so I ended up giving that a try. It’s played with a violin bow and It’s actually really to get it to sound good. I’m still just barely able to play a few notes but it was enough to have it in the right key and sort of act like a pad for the lead line. I added heavy reverb and I think it adds sort of a ghostly quality to the sound.
Lyrics:
I’ve never been the best at words but
it keeps running through my head that
I should try and make amends but I keep
Following the devil’s trap
I got this itching in my bones to leave this place I call my home and yet I
Couldn’t take a single step
She would never understand the way I’m
Filled with these demands
Because I’m flawed from the start
And it’s keeping me apart
From the ones I love and adore
They expected so much more
I’m a better man and it seems
That I’m living in the dream you know
The devil gets the best of us
And I ain’t gonna rest because I’m flawed
Could have lost my only chance and never
Admit that I was wrong
And yet I knew it all along you know it
It doesn’t have to be this way
I tried to keep it to myself
And yet I know I needed help and now
Its hard to put it on the line
You know that something wasn’t clear
And now I’ve gotta end it here
Because I’m flawed from the start
And it’s keeping me apart
From the ones I love and adore
They expected so much more
I’m a better man and it seems
That I’m living in the dream you know
The devil gets the best of us
And I ain’t gonna rest because I’m flawed
Lonely as it seems this moment’s insignificant in the grand scheme of things
Take me for my word,
I’m trying to harder everyday
To shed the weaker man way
Because a man is only as good as his word
Because I’m flawed from the start
And it’s keeping me apart
From the ones I love and adore
They expected so much more
I’m a better man and it seems
That I’m living in the dream you know
The devil gets the best of us
And I ain’t gonna rest because I’m flawed
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