"Little Lonely" : FAWM

Little Lonely

6 days ago by @davidtaro · @nahlej381

Little Lonely

davidtaro +1

00:00

Liner Notes

Eurgh! Not really sure I'm feeling this sprint as much as the last one (am I allowed to say that?). Everything's feeling a bit like pushing uphill. That said, here's an opening effort for your consideration...

As per the notes on my profile, I'm using what I'm calling the Phil Collins MethodTM, which basically involves jamming and noodling ideas over a drum or percussion loop (kindly provided here by the man, the myth, the legend... @nahlej381), singing whatever random things come into my head, until something resembling a song appears.

My younger son has just started secondary school. All his friends have gone off to different places, so he's feeling lost and sad. These words are pretty ad-libby, just trying to reflect what I've been telling him in real life. It's heart-breaking when you have to just let them find their way. Poor sausage.

Musically, I played a little riff on classical guitar (over the percussion loop) and then overlaid vocals, piano, bass and Rhodes. Pretty rough and ready, really, meaning there are some - ahem - timing issues in the later sections.

#percussion #folk-pop #harmonies #children

Lyrics

Breathe, Little Lonely It won’t be so lonely for long You’ll get on by, you’ll get on by You’ll get on by, you’ll get on by These lonely days will be gone Everybody feels the same way When they’re put in a new location It’s a crazy situation But it's going to be fine, little one

Wait, Little Lonely Give it a season or two Everything changes, everything changes Everything changes, everything changes It’s already happening too Everybody feels the same way All it takes is a little bit of patience and time It’s a crazy situation But it's going to be fine, little one

Ooooh, Little Lonely You’ll find your people You'll find your tribe Ooooh, Little Lonely They’re waiting for you It just takes some time

Look, Little Lonely Look at the world going by Everyone’s scared, everyone’s nervous Everyone’s scared, everyone’s nervous If they say they ain’t, it’s a lie Everybody feels the same way When they have to make these changes each time It’s a crazy situation But it's going to be fine, little one

Comments

@djtjb 2d

Love the sentiment so much. I remember when my daughter was this age, and it's tough on them. She's grown up to be such a rockstar and is getting married at the end of the month, so it will really be fine lol, they just can't see it yet. Beautiful instrumentation, superb vocals, and grooving percussion. What's not to love?

@newukenewyork 3d

Yeah, this feels really solid to me. I love the lyrical choices here, and how your melody dips and rises. The message is terrific and universal, too. Fabulous stuff. Going in my FAWM favorites of this sprint.

@rshakesp 5d

Super tune, really carries great momentum and energy - that alive percussion loop helps to keep us leaning into it - the riffs are delightful and the sound world feels reminiscent of something from the past yet super fresh. My kids are all grown up and left now - they find their way in time…

@davidtaro 4d

You are wise, sir. And yes, too true on the percussion - ace job from @nahlej381.

@jerrypettit 5d

However you guys came up with this...it's GREAT! I just listened the other day on NPR a bit about John Coltrane--I think the interview was with this son--who told about how Coltrane would "ad lib" for a couple of hours, then walk off the stage to go to the dressing room for a brief break and HE WOULD CONTINUE TO AD LIB ON HIS SAXOPHONE all the time he was in the dressing room, until he went back out. Terrific collaboration, you guys! ❤️

@davidtaro 4d

Thanks Jerry! Love that as an anecdote :D

@wynia 5d

Aahhh it’s the time for these changes! My oldest just started high school and there’s a bit of this over here too. I like how this is a bit like a lullaby but also encouraging/inspiring pop...that can apply to a kid or even an adult going through a big change! I dig the harmonies, they lock in so well! And the keys are perfect for the vibe. I hope everything falls into place for the kiddo, and the new start becomes an opportunity to grow in new ways!

@davidtaro 5d

Thanks for the positivity and encouragement here, Sarah! Hope your eldest continues to settle well too :)

@ayeahmur 5d

Sometimes the best lyrics are the ones that come without planning, and this one would have hit home even without the sweet, sad backstory. And honestly? The loose improvisation style to the music really suits it. Reckon this is one you'll come back to and be like that's pretty damn good that is.

@davidtaro 5d

Thanks mate, yes hopefully so! Rediscovering an old write that you’d kind of forgotten about is a lot of fun. (Hope you’re keeping well btw!).

@coolparadisoTEAM 5d

yup an interesting time in fatherhood eh! You captured a feel i remember! I am confident you have given him the best tools you can! and thats all you can do! Lovely song

@kevinemmrich 5d

sounds like something delaney and bonnie would do!! Everything is so wonderful, great singing, instruments and the mix is superb. Just outstanding!

@billwhite51 5d

this is so precious. i wish i could write a song like his for my daughter, who is goign through much the same thing. in the school she goes to, the authorities do every thing they can think of to keep friends seperated. and it girl scouts its the same thing. she only goes to be with her one friend there, but once there, they are seperated and forced to play with oter kids who they are not as fond of. i love the sentiment expressed in the song promising that it will only be a matter of time before he finds his tribe. i hope iit is so. also, the music here is so much fun. ill bet your son loves it.

@gwynjones 6d

I think you can be very proud of this song as a writer, singer, musician but mostly, as a dad! I reckon your son will be fine with the understanding you show in these words. I remember only too well, those first days in a new school for my kids but as you say, "You'll find your people, You'll find your tribe". There's lessons and then there's lessons in life and so it goes...👍

@davidtaro 5d

Cheers Gwyn! This is the sort of heartening affirmation I need to hear (both in terms of my son and my ego 😆). And so it goes indeed…

@val 6d

Really nice track. I like the cool vibe. It's got that, you gotta bounce around to it' type thing. PLus that's a really good piece of wisdom about finding your people in the right time.

On a side note, I did not know to call it the Phil Collins Method, I just thought that's how I've always written. 😀

@davidtaro 5d

It’s essentially a very basic and obvious way to write a song, isn’t it 😂 just sounded vaguely cool and mysterious when I heard Phil talking about it…

@chrisgray 6d

Really good song, and just a wonderful sound. That huge, rich guitar feels like a great wave and love the maracas and the bass runs underneath. Not comparing, but for me, this sound has a bit of the warm complexity of some of the Graceland songs, and even the lyrics have a sort of Simon quality -- all in a good way, not imitative but with a style of their own.

@davidtaro 6d

Compare away! Big Paul Simon fan here :) thanks Chris!

@paul_pedersen 6d

It was getting a little lonely around here without a David Taro song. I can say with confidence that I feel better now. I've never tried starting a song with a drum track. I'm not sure I could do it, but it certainly worked for you, David. Nicely done.

@artie 6d

Holy shnikies that was delightful! Now THAT’S a song. Love love love it.

@ltunes 6d

I absolutely love the upbeat vibe of this song. The lyrics are spot on and reflect the wisdom to be shared with pre-teens. Great job on the collaboration.

@sbs 6d

I also am not feeling it this month but I figured it’s because I’m working on a story album and I only know part of the story. But I always enjoy hearing your vocals - so emotive. This is the kind of song Elvis would sing as the movie opener when the opening credits are coming across the screen. He’s riding a jeep or flying a helicopter over some kind of terrain and we’re wondering what thus movie is going to be about. Okay, so maybe I got carried away - lol!

@davidtaro 5d

Maybe, but now I really REALLY want to watch that movie too 😆