FAWM: "Life Is for the Living"

Life Is for the Living

1 week ago by @alyxanderjames · @nwhosings

Life Is for the Living

alyxanderjames +1

00:00

Liner Notes

Lyrics by @nwhosings, music by @alyxanderjames

From Alyx: I just adore Nyxie's writing, so I was thrilled when they reached out to ask if I'd like to swap lyrics with them! As soon as I sat down with their lyrics I had a pretty strong sense of the melody, but it took me a while to figure out what the guitar was doing. Once I settled into it being a waltz, it came together, and I'm pretty please with the results.

From Nyxie: I've loved Alyx's sense of honesty and vulnerability in songwriting and music writing since their first FAWM, so when I was thinking about people I might want to swap lyrics with, they were at the top of my list! Once they said they wanted to participate, these lyrics about generational healing and walking liminal paths through life burst out. I'm so pleased with the result!

#Folk #SingerSongwriter #PersonWithGuitar #AcousticOneTake #Waltz

Lyrics

My feet find paths no one can see Long and full of rambling No result immediately But life is for the living

Ghosts and specters keep me close They know the paths I walk the most Step by step we pave a road Back through time to heal the whole Cause life is for the living

My hands find knots tied fast in hearts Deeply buried under scars Untangling hurts, it's hard to start But life is for the living

Ghosts and specters keep me close They know the paths I walk the most Step by step we pave a road Back through time to heal the whole Cause life is for the living

Hedgerows grow In lines I know Horizon skies I claim as mine Branching wide Shade's respite Gold and glowing Joy is showing

Ghosts and specters keep me close They know the paths I walk the most Step by step we pave a road Back through time to heal the whole Cause life is for the living

Comments

@nadine 11h

This is somber in a wonderful way. Good idea to use a waltz!

@fb2studios 12h

Really cool collaboration. The picking really works against the lyrics. Nicely done both

@philkmills 2d

I like the sound of this and the mood. There's an interesting ambiguity in the title phrase, whether it's to be synonymous with "life is intended to never lived" or to be contrasted with ghosts and others that aren't living. It seems to work either way...or both at once.

@shingleton 6d

The minor key waltz is heart-wrenchingly somber. A very specific scene was called to mind. I see you in a graveyard, sitting under a tree and playing the guitar in the autumn when the leaves have almost completely fallen. The sun almost set and there's a blue-green tint over everything like a camera filter. Singing to spirits that probably aren't there but there's a strong presence either way. All of this to say I love the song. Effective in every way.

@stevenwesleyguiles 1w

This is so simple and beautiful and your voice is so perfectly emoting. That last line hits so perfectly, both melodically and lyrically. Great collab!

@coolparadisoMod 1w

Waltz really suits you takes you into Elliott Smith territory musically and vocaly (not lyrically) lyrics have the hope he never had - very fine lyric and all round delivery