FAWM: "Don’t Touch"

Don’t Touch

Liner Notes

#acoustic #pretty I started writing this pre-FAWM and came up with a nice way to end it so recorded it as a guitar and vocal on one track. It had a nice feel but it lacked something so I added a harmony. Then an electric guitar, then a bass, and then drums. It’s got a dreamy kind of feel to it despite the sad lyrics. Perhaps a little too long but I enjoyed the new bit at the end so I kept going with it.

EDIT- I was reminded in the comments that I totally did rip off that line from Auden’s ‘Funeral Blues’. I often see or read something I like and stick in the notes and then totally forget the reference. 😬 😂

Lyrics

If it wasn’t you, It would’ve been somebody else, Don’t get too close, Don’t touch, Crushed all of your dreams, And broken your spirit, Don’t ring the bell, Just knock at the door, Wait for no answer, Then stagger away. Take my advice, Drinking red wine and listening to sad songs is such a wonderful way to get over her.

The way that she is looking at you, Must mean that you’re somebody who, Brings the stars down at night, and packs them away, Brightens the sky and sets the Sun on its way.

So hold me close… Don’t let me go… And resetting the day, Is such a wonderful way to get over her, Listening to sad songs Is such a wonderful way to get over her..

So, take down the stars, pack them away, brighten the sky, set the Sun on its way. So, take down the stars, pack them away, brighten the sky, set the Sun on its way.

And listening to sad songs Is such a wonderful way to get over her..

Comments

@nancycunning 16h

Wait, really? This one is a FAWM song too. It pairs so well with the Red Shift song. For me this one was a reflection of how part of me likes to issue imperative statements to the rest of me. Do this, don’t do that. Sometimes helpful, sometimes terrible advice. But then the other parts get involved and interpret and wonder, and this listening to sad songs really does become cathartic. Though I suspect the conclusion will be to go for it, rather than pack away those feelings.

@froggymagee 4d

Always such a breath of fresh air, hearing you sing, your well-crafted lyrics. "Is such a wonderful way to get over her..." That lyric really hit me, just love it!

@greengrassgirl 4d

I love the way you interpret even simple lines like, "Ho-o-old me close." This is the kind of song that I want to listen to over and over again. I'm so glad to see you back here.

@celineellis 4d

Stonking opening line! I also now want to write a song about 'Drinking red wine and listening to sad songs' really nicely structured and arranged - very well paced to allow the vocal and lyric to work with the track.

@pumpkinhead 4d

Or not long enough. ❤️

@eas3637 4d

Beautiful song and arrangement. The story drew me in from the first lines ("If it wasn't you/It would've been somebody else"), and the build over the course of the song is really effective - I found the energy shift at the beginning of the "hold me close" section to be really powerful.

@maesparrow 4d

majordanby! i remember you from 6 years ago!! so happy i saw this song popping up, this is absolutely incredible again!!! so beautiful, so heartfelt. I love the harmonies, and then the drums popping up. when you sing hold me close, my heart breaks.

@majordanby 4d

@maesparrow Hey, yes I think I remember you too. Are you from the Netherlands? I remember liking your stuff. I’ll stop by tomorrow and have a listen to a few of your songs. Just off to see Hot Wax in Brighton. 😄

@ayeahmur 4d

Stunning. Really enjoyed the laid back, reflective vibe - especially when the bass and lovely, lazy drums come in. The vocals are stellar. I especially love the "take down the stars" development later in the song. Fantastic imagery, and beautifully performed.

@majordanby 4d

Fanks! ☺️

@davidtaro 4d

Aw, this is incredible! “Drinking red wine and listening to sad songs is such a wonderful way to get over her” 💯 this is such a perfect articulation of how sad songs can be weirdly cathartic and even hopeful. And this song basically does the same thing. Also love the little paraphrasing of Auden’s Funeral Blues at the end. Really enjoyed your description of your process too, it’s intriguing that the extra instrumentation wasn’t planned from the start because that moment when the drums drop in is so utterly perfect, and the whole thing sounds so cohesive. (PS. Your falsetto never fails to amaze). Well done mate.

@majordanby 4d

@davidtaro Haha you are totally right. I forgot I took inspiration from (or ripped off) that poem. I’ve added a note in the liner notes to credit the reference. Thanks for your kind words. ☺️

@davidtaro 4d

Haha, sorry, wasn’t meant as an accusation of plagiarism 😬😆 Don’t think it’s a direct quote anyway - and I also think we’re allowed to be a bit intertextual like that, especially with poetry. Was just a nice echo for me, beautifully done… have a great day mate!

@majordanby 4d

@davidtaro Don’t worry at all. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just glad you rewinded me where I got the idea from! 😄 Have a great one too!