A Small Tribute
When people have asked me how I write songs, I always have a hard time answering that. There is no set formula in the songwriting process, at least there is not for me. Sometimes lyrics will pop in my head, followed by the music. Other times the music comes first. The energy and vibe of the music can inspire certain lyrics, as well as the other way around. Whether I am writing words or music, I am sometimes influenced by other people’s songs. There is one song in particular that I would like to share.
I cannot remember where I was the first time I heard the song, “Why,” (performed by Annie Lennox), but I remember the song grabbed me right away. Unlike so many things in life that are acquired tastes, this song struck a nerve with me right from the start. It had all of the right ingredients for an unforgettable song. The melody and instrumentation tastefully supported the message that was being conveyed. The key, in which the song was written, was the perfect pitch for Annie Lennox’s dark, haunting voice. In every line you can hear the pain in her voice, and her vocal phrasing and delivery tug at your heart strings throughout the entire song. Although the first two thirds of the song is amazing to listen to, it wasn’t until towards the end where I felt almost paralyzed. To this day, I cannot listen to the ending of this song without getting goosebumps. Throughout the song, we hear her sing beautiful melodies, all of which lead up to a finale filled with such honesty and confidence. What I found most interesting was her vocal delivery in the last part of the song. It was a cross between singing and speaking, as she pleads out of sheer frustration. The emotion that comes across is so genuine that you can’t help but get pulled in. Below are the words she sings during the part I am speaking of. If you have heard the song before, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you haven’t heard the song…you need to.
Click on the link to view the song on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG7I4oniOyA&ob=av2n
Why – by Annie Lennox
(the ending)
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I’ll never tread
These are the dreams I’ll dream instead
This is the joy that’s seldom spread
These are the tears, the tears we shed
This is the fear, this is the dread, these are the contents of my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel
Cause I don’t think you know how I feel
I don’t think you know what I feel
I don’t think you know what I feel
You don’t know what I feel
After hearing this, I always wanted to have a part like that in one of my own songs. My song “Stay” (originally titled Endure) was the perfect song for such a part. The song is a rollercoaster of uncertainty…an assessment of one’s own relationship. The song is about giving chances. It talks about finding the strength to leave a bad situation behind, only to find yourself staying as a victim of persuasion and guilt. It is not until the end of the song that the person finds the strength to confront their fears and tell their significant other to “fuck off,” so to speak. When writing this part, all I could think of was the song, “Why,” and how badly I wanted my song to resolve in the same sort of way. Although, I don’t think anything will ever be as strong as Annie Lennox’s song, I moved forward with a combination of spoken words and singing, in what I consider to be my small tribute to “Why” – one of the best songs ever written. Below is the ending of my song, “Stay” (Endure).
Click here to listen to the full song
Stay (Endure) – by Josh Holmes
(the ending)
How can you look me in my face
And tell me nothing ever did take place
Like this all was just some crazy dream
Like you did not ever do a thing
What about the times you put me down
Pushed me aside while you ran all around
You always got the best of me before
But not anymore