FAWM: "Ghosts of the Track"

Ghosts of the Track

Liner Notes

My talented FAWMling colleague from the Muse Songwriters forum, Andrew (@fabkebab), wrote a version of these nice lyrics a couple of years ago, but we never got around to musicating them until now. I'd done a pretty crude live one-take for my first song this FAWM, so after sketching out some music for this one similarly yesterday, I decided to break out some of the BIAB instrumentation guns today and have some fun doing a full production in GarageBand.

For those who may not know, BIAB is NOT generative AI--you have to compose the music yourself and build it track by track. You can even manipulate it at the measure by measure level for each track.

Lyrics

Music - Jeff Walker; Lyrics - Andrew Richardson

We were just young, out on the edge we went Speed, oil, the lap times were all that life meant Foot to the floor, the engines and the thrill But the ghosts of the track haunt me still

Tyres on asphalt, red hot exhaust The limits of tread, danger the cost Ready to pay with our lives to show our skill But the ghosts of the track haunt me still

Chorus: The ghosts of the track Hunted down by the pack The ghosts of the track Rearview mirror there at my back The ghosts of the track

The flags mean nothing to me any more We were eager recruits, angry, hungry and raw Gladiators and lions, crowds baying for the kill But the ghosts of the track Haunt me still

Repeat Chorus

Room full of trophies Regret unexpected Cold metal trinkets Like scars I’ve collected

But the ghosts of the track The ghosts of the track Haunt me still The ghosts of the track

Comments

@cleanshoes 15h

Such a great topic and lyrics to match. The gladiator imagery in the third verse is particularly apt. The 80s soft rock vibe was well chosen; I love the subtle organ track especially! Excellent collaboration!

@sven_irgens 5d

Absolutely wonderful!

@billwhite51 1w

wow. this is my favorite of your so far this year. ghosts of the track is a strong, poetic lyric. i love the way you break down each phrase, honoring every word and bringing out the feeling and meaning through subtle shifts in tonality.

@jeff9 5d

Much appreciated, Bill. Andrew is a fine lyric writer but also a fine musician himself and hopefully we'll get to hear some of his work done on his own.

@nancycunning 1w

Jeff and Andy - The sound of the racetrack permeates my hometown every Saturday night. You get so many textures into the song. I like how we can see the singer seeing the horrors without actually seeing them ourselves. They are layered inside the smells and the other sense memories. Great collaboration.

@jeff9 6d

Thank you, Nancy!

@crisp1 1w

The music definitely conjures up a reflective feeling as the former race driver looks back. A nicely done lyric nicely brought to musical life here, gentlemen.

@jeff9 6d

Thanks, Doug!

@sdcpaman 1w

Really nice imagery and so tastefully moody. Great listen. I have some free time this year, I will need to check out band in a box!

@jeff9 1w

It's a great tool when you don't have a band or only play one or two instruments. Thank you!

@greengrassgirl 1w

Oooh.. You had me on that great musical intro. Good vibe all the way through on this one. I like the story, and how you bring it to life. Nice to see you two doing a collab.

@jeff9 1w

Merci beaucoup, Ms. Patty.

@andygetch 1w

A solid delivery and lyric that brings back memories from when I was a kid and my dad and uncle tried their hand with a '58 Chevy they fixed up to run on the local dirt track.

@jeff9 1w

Thanks, Andy.

@wobbiewobbit 1w

this evokes that motor sport atmosphere so well, i imagine grainy 70s footage from the track. I was also a huge Barry Sheene fan in the 70-80s - world champion 500cc motorcycle grand prix in '76 and '77, who notoriously had an awful accident (--- in Daytona, my inner 10yearold Barry Fan, helpfully reminds me,) and was lucky he wasn't a ghost of the track. i love the way the lines sort of tumble out loosely, gives it a real easy going feel. Nice collab both!

@jeff9 1w

You are too kind, Wobbie. Thank you.

@fabkebab 1w

Barry Sheene - i remember him well!

@newukenewyork 1w

These lyrics feel classic and timeless, and I don't need to care about car races/NASCAR/whatever to appreciate the message and the moodiness. Loving this line especially "The flags mean nothing to me any more" as a turning point in a person's life.

@jeff9 1w

Bless you, Jenny, and thanks for checking out this piece.

@mikehex 1w

Really nice work here, the orchestration you've created is perfect for these lyrics.

@jeff9 1w

Wow, thanks, man. Appreciate the listen.

@phylo 1w

I love this production. I tried BIAB once and found it too complicated for me. I'm impressed, this is very good. The lyrics are well written as well. Good one.

@jeff9 1w

Appreciate the kind words. I've been fiddling with it for a few years off and on so I know a few tricks but there's tons it will do that I haven't even tried to explore. Baby steps.

@mikeb 1w

Another solid song from you! Has a haunting wistful feeling to it. As a racing fan, I really appreciate the images!

@jeff9 1w

Thanks, Mike. Andrew really captured the whole racing vibe there.

@williamjames 1w

This song makes me want to take a drive. Flows really nicely. There is a somber quality to the vocal melody and the lyrics. There is a hint of something akin to nostalgia hanging in these soundscapes.

@jeff9 1w

Thanks very much for having a listen and the kind words.

@mctown 1w

Jeff...enjoyed the listen.... and I liked the lyric as well... enjoyable overall...David

@jeff9 1w

Much appreciated, David. Hope we get around to doing a couple, too.

@james10 1w

Very nice! Definitely brings back some memories, good and bad, out on the oval track. Thanks Jeff and Andrew🙂

@sbs 1w

I read the lyrics first - brilliant! Haunting vocals perfect for the song. Nice production, Jeff!

@jeff9 1w

Big thanks to you, K. Appreciate the listen.

@farrister 1w

So nice to hear an upbeat track from you both and the lyrics are fab-kebab. Super atmosphere. It gives me a French 80s rock vibe. Super colab.

@jeff9 1w

Mighty kind of you. Thanks for the listen.

@cindyrella 1w

This is incredible! (Hi Andrew!) Such great atmosphere and a wonderful performance!

@jeff9 1w

Thank you, Ms Cindy, and happy FAWM to you.

@dirkdiamond 1w

Sounds good! I like the arrangement, and the song. Lambchop sprang to mind for a moment, in a good way, if you know them, something in the voice, in addition to the feel. Quite laid back, while singing about difficult stuff in this case, at least, as it seemed to me!

@jeff9 1w

Thanks very much for such kind comments. I've heard of and heard Lambchop I'm sure, but I can't remember what they sound like, so thanks for the tip--a new idea for something to check out.