FAWM: "If You'll Be There"

If You'll Be There

6 days ago by @hamiltonpoolhall

If You'll Be There

hamiltonpoolhall

00:00

Liner Notes

#acousticonetake #blues #fingerpicking #fingerstyle #one-mic

It was actually Frangelico, not amaretto, and more like 13 grams than 13 ounces. But that's not as funny, and doesn't scan as well.

Santa Cruz OO18 in drop D tuning.

Lyrics

Thirteen ways to think about winter Twenty-six Fahrenheit at the gate Fourteen songs and twenty-eight mornings One black dog that’ll have to wait

I’m only in the kitchen To count the silverware But I’ll change my plans If you’ll be there

Thirteen ounces of amaretto Twenty-six makers of single malt Fourteen stories in twenty-eight minutes One ride home that wasn’t my fault

I’m only half awake In this folding chair But I’ll change my plans If you’ll be there

Thirteen sheriffs who dream about Chaucer Twenty-six poets with law degrees Fourteen stanzas and twenty-eight aspirin One musician in the people’s key

I’m only hibernating Like a grizzly bear But I’ll change my plans If you’ll be there

Comments

@namey 1d

It's so great to listen to songs that inspire me to write better songs. This is so casually clever...

@liamlieblein 1d

The repeated numbers at the top of every other stanza and the repeated phrases in the other stanzas help give the lyrics the analogue of a hook without actually repeating lines, allowing it to constantly evolve. That combined with the vocal execution and the truly excellent guitar work adds up to one excellent bluesy song, nice work!

@catmisgivings 2d

Really liked that guitar part, and of course the knowing nod to FAWM-

It's kind of easy to burrow in for the winter when you might prefer to be drawn out instead -- or at least I feel that way.

@crisp1 2d

What a joy this is! Wonderful lyrics, terrific vocals, and amazing guitar work. Stoked I dropped in.

@leepat 4d

yeah, fun from start to finish, and I love the potential for mischief in the tagline, which suggests that for all the math in the verses, the only thing that really counts (and counts as real) is if you'll be there. and isn't that a nice way to sum up why we are here?!

@kpollock 4d

love the playing. got me from the start. awesome singing. love the lyrics. "I’m only in the kitchen To count the silverware" :-). Tapping my foot and snapping my fingers

@dani312 4d

If there were ever a song to sum up the FAWM experience....this would be the one! So fun! Love the guitar work!

@cmharwood89 5d

YES! I swear I spend 11 months a year just waiting till I get to hear more your licks. I love this so much. The numeric lead in to each line is great, and the "chorus" injects a delightfully weird element (I’m only in the kitchen / To count the silverware is easily my favorite).

@john_p 5d

As a fellow fingerstyle player, you inspire me. Great guitar work! And witty lyrics. I'm looking forward to hearing more!

@metalfoot 5d

Great gritty bluesy write! And oh my goodness, in awe of the guitar pickin'. Two thumbs up!

@fantex 6d

Loved it! Killer pickin' as always, the lyrics are great... good start for the month.

@pearsechristopher 6d

What a blast, as always.... I just love your whole take, the immaculate picking and the wonderful lyrics... yu had me smiling and bopping.... you still da bomb bro...

@jacobeverettwallace 6d

Nobody plays this style like you do, so good man! This lyric is a real treat as well! Great storytelling. So much excellent imagery. Always a fun trip to the Hamilton Pool Hall!

@richaaaay 6d

Made my day...Listening puts me in happy place. Big smile on my face. Love the last verse, but just a little bit more than how much I love the rest of it. So great to hear your creativity unfold on this awesome platform...

@davidtaro 6d

Argh, why are you so bloody goooood!! This is phenomenal, I'm grooving in my chair, you've got a whole big bands' worth of swing in your fingers. All those numbers are slightly scrambling my head, which I guess is the point. I LOVE "Thirteen sheriffs who dream about Chaucer". And that effortlessly cool ending... you are very much The Man.

@ductapeguyMod 6d

That is how to tell a story with the blues. Good to have you back.

@pabrizzer 6d

man - your playing is BRILL i'm lyrically wondering but i'm obtuse and the words sound right so good

@philnorman 6d

Yessir! Toe-tapping geetar from the get go, and every line a zinger. I'm confident I've told you this before, but I love the voodoo you do. Like the effects of too much drink, there's something charming to the just-written one-take demo here in the way each chorus gets more confident.

@bethdesombre 6d

You're my favorite part of FAWM. Love how these seemingly random observations make a story. (but, boy, thirteen ounces of Amaretto is a lot . . .) I love "one ride home that wasn't my fault" not to mention the sheriffs and poets -- That stanza slays.

@hamiltonpoolhall 6d

B) That's why it's fiction, thank goodness A) Awww...

@oldlostjohn 6d

Nobody writes lyrics like you, and hardly anybody can get that toe-tapping cool beat with one guitar. Awesome lead lines. Love it.

@mikeskliar 6d

Love it! of course, the guitar playing (and that great tone and recording you get) is off the charts goodness, as is the always wry vocal delivery. I love those elliptical references to thirteen x (favorite one of those, as it sorta describes me- 'twenty six poets with law degrees'!) and that sort of half told fragmented 'counting the silverware' and a mysterious ride home. And you did that old Freewheelin trick (I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours) with 'i'll change my plans if you'll be there!

great to have ya back! consider my plans changed!

@hamiltonpoolhall 6d

I do love that Dylan line, though I only ran parallel to it completely by accident :-).