February Album Writing Month - FAWM.ORG

Something to Give

John Crossman

Download this MP3 Directly

Tagged As:

folk

Liner Notes:

Hiya, thanks for stopping by.

Anyway, time to get on the board. Sort of made up before a half day off of work today, so the lyrics are iffy, as is the mix (main vocal and guitar were recorded into the same mic) so here it is. It's more about the mood than anything else, but feel free to give constructive feedback.

Kind of a downer even though I feel great!

2/1 edit: slight remix/refix even though I said I wasn't gonna...

Lyrics:

Hey,
I've got something to give
Will it be my final word or is it
What I need to say... to live

Nobody's
Listening anyway
We've forgotten how to see what's going on
Beyond our own faces

The places that we go
Are all the same
Every hour
Of every day

Right again, you're
Right again
And I can't remember when I was so wrong

Okay,
Whatever you say...

(Repeat chorusy part)

(Then repeat 1st verses and chorus again)

Feedback:

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musicsongwriter 2 weeks ago

Came for another listen. Beautiful. Will download now. Wonderful song
Nadia
sueawesome 3 weeks ago

I feel like I have to fill a page to make my stuff get to song-possibility-status....how you deliver a simple message with such restrained delicate vocals, in so few lines is beyond me.
Raw.
Steven Wesley Guiles (formerly Apple_Head) 3 weeks ago

LOVED the warbling harmony/melody on "I was so wroooooong."
I think you nailed the mood in this one. I guess that's how I write too. Except, your harmonies even on your quick stuff sounds amazing.
musicsongwriter 3 weeks ago

Beautiful. Such a wonderful song and performance.
Nadia
Rob Cooke - Boy@Heart 3 weeks ago

Excellent vocals. Perfectly understated guitar too. What's not to love?
Hero 3 weeks ago

I like the way the vocals are featured. The guitar in the background adds to it, but the focus is so on the emotion and sound of your voice. Great.
Stephen Wordsmith 1 month ago

I love the mix of contemplation, pathos, and resignation in the lyrics. There is an inherent honesty in the dynamics of your voice that makes this song particularly powerful.
Valerie Cox 1 month ago

Wow John. You sound so exposed on this. It's really good. I like the lyrics a lot too. You say they're iffy, but I don't know, I like them.
Kim & Justin 1 month ago

Really love your voice. Like how you do the first part in head voice then switch to your chest voice. It was a nice surprise. Really like the song. Nice work!
Kim
kermy 1 month ago

you make me want to be a better songwriter! loved it. period.
lgilbert 1 month ago

Love the lyrics a LOT! Really good song!
1B King 1 month ago

Nice job. This has a sort of a Neil Young / Graham Nash feel to it.
Psy-T 1 month ago

It's almost an accapella with the current mix, and a lovely one at that, but I wish I could hear it with the guitar being less subdued.
J. Oscar Bittinger 1 month ago

Beautiful, well-formed free-form kind of song - great flow!
isaac quatorze 1 month ago

i love the conversational fragment style of your lyrics, very true to life and wistful. wow no kidding on the falsetto break, that was chill-inducing. beautiful, man.
Matt Pierce 1 month ago

Nicely done, John.
The vocal wraps are splendid, but,
you are a fine guitar player too.
The guitar seemed rather quiet to me!
T.C. Elliott 1 month ago

That's a good melody and you did a great job on the vocals. Intimate at times, more powerful at others. VERY good.
The Das Binky Recording Collective 1 month ago

Love the vocal tone here, man. This is a great little tune, you could almost do this a capella, or with organ. Awesome entry.

Incidentally, I have an evil plan in place to abduct you and steal your vocal cords. Consider yourself warned.
AXL 1 month ago

I love the part where your voice breaks into falsetto.
Nancy Rost 1 month ago

Wow, what a great start you're off to. Really appreciate the chance you took with this. Love that vulnerable, moody quality.
Winlock Toledo 1 month ago

You aren't Nick Cave are you? Quick test: Did your half day today entail contact with any Bad Seeds? Another fantastic song - how come I am not paying to hear these?
Billy Sea 1 month ago

John, yes, bit of a downer but I dig downer songs and it is totally captivating.
paulotteson 1 month ago

It's been said.. but that voice is like butter. I also appreciate the thoughtful guitar throughout.. well done.
Scott O. Clamp 1 month ago

Thanks for the "I feel great" disclaimer... I might have been worried, otherwise. This is awesome and affecting. This doesn't sound like early Elliot Smith per se, but it's got the same super-quiet quality that invites you to lean in and enjoy every word. Wonderful start, X-man!
Patrick Madden 1 month ago

Love the vox on this; really mellow vibe. The "beyond our own faces" line is killer.
cts 1 month ago

Man, you're killing me with these vocals. This IS rather moody, but it's insightful. I can't get past these vocals, man...geez. That's it, I'm done.
toms 1 month ago

Killer tune, John! great start!
$Charlie\'s Daily FAWMcast - charliesradioshow$ Charlie's Daily FAWMcast 1 month ago

Holy shit xman. This is really cool.
spider + octopus 1 month ago

great song! vocals tracking rules
Cody Statz 1 month ago

Love the layered vocals. Great first tune!
Kevin Reid 1 month ago

This song is a bold choice as a FAWM opener, which also showcases many of your songwriting and performing strengths. The song is tender and vulnerable, the vocals starting out almost hesitant... very organic, really. The guitar is just as it should be, gentle but effective. The song is almost like a thought forming from something fleeting to something profound by the time you bring in the harder vocal at the end. This song builds from start to end with such control. 9 out of 10 artists would take this over the top, but your restraint is well played. Yeah, it's just the start, but I'm impressed.
Debs 1 month ago

Mmm...like silk. So beautiful. You're wonderful.
Sean_T_Wright 1 month ago

Loving the vocal treatment.performance, John. Top song. Got the Simon and garfunkel about it, which is cool by me!
G Slade 1 month ago

Broody it is then? Ha,,,it's a pretty cool track no matter what other adjectives we apply to it...
StevenTylerPJs 1 month ago

As I always say, the more John Crossmans singing the better. I prefer to think of this song as broody, not a downer.
Ben Carroll 1 month ago

i love this type of vocals. i love the way the different voices overlap, and at times blend, and at times there's space between them. reminds me of a more free-sounding Bon Iver.
pianoman 1 month ago

Very nice contrasts. You could have done the whole song the same way, but you did even better.