The Infinite Everything (Happiness)

[matt_rawlings]

The Infinite Everything (Happiness)


Tiny tap of my feet, the surrealist mystique of a thankless chore
A hunched over hermit whose purpose permits what he’s slouching for
And there’s nothing else but everything
Between the copper pot and the kitchen sink
Now I’m staggering, sober and over the pills in the drawer

But I can’t let that be my day, lest my nights remain unchanged
Could skies still blur with colour that collides with empty space?
Or would each awkward silence occupy the air between us
Whilst I get carried away?

Subtle strut of the street, the quiet eclipse of the underground
Sewed shut little seam, pull my arm by the sleeve through this tragic town
For every broken bus and burning plane
There’s a ticket to a perfect place
And I ache for the change, but my name is never down


Lay my fears against a tree
Anchor each one with a leaf
From green to golden brown
The yellow in betweens
Taking it in isn’t enough
I’ll carry it with me from here on out
Each branch is a bridge to me
Towards shelter and safer ground

But I can’t let that be my day, lest my nights remain unchanged
Could skies still blur with colour that collides with empty space?
Or would each awkward silence occupy the air between us
Whilst I get carried away?
I hope you know I get carried away

[mattybobviously]

This is beautiful, honestly, that's all I've got to say. You should be making a living off lyrics like these.

[matt_rawlings]

This is beautiful, honestly, that's all I've got to say. You should be making a living off lyrics like these.

Thanks alot dude, thats awesome

[TK]

Wow, what can I say?:shrug: Very few words describe how good this is. I feel bad for bumping my stuff above this, you're a astounding lyricalist, and this is incredible, a 10/10.

Does your band plan on having a cd out anytime soon?

[OveriseFan]

Matt Rawlings is the father of my children.

(I wish.)

[ArTkY_]

This is amazing, darling. We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much.

[OveriseFan]

Does your band plan on having a cd out anytime soon?

As the Little Drawings Street Team Leader I can tell you: No.

But, they're starting practicing again, and working on fleshing out (painfully slowly) new songs.

[matt_rawlings]

This is amazing, darling. We love you very, very, very, very, very, very, very much.


I would have been much more impressed had you quoted anything from "Digital Ash In A Digital Urn" baby

[vandalsandquinn]

I have nothing witty to say, I am probably dead to you Matthew.

good job mayng

[matt_rawlings]

Matt Rawlings is the father of my children.

(I wish.)



I don't know how that would work...I mean biologically.

Not to mention the very fact that I am straight, you live on the other side of the world and are significantly younger than me.

But other than that...babies away

[ArTkY_]

I would have been much more impressed had you quoted anything from "Digital Ash In A Digital Urn" baby
Aw man. I never cared much for Digital Ash. Fevers, I'm Wide Awake, and Letting Off the Happiness are where it's at.

[matt_rawlings]

Aw man. I never cared much for Digital Ash. Fevers, I'm Wide Awake, and Letting Off the Happiness are where it's at.

Awwww..."Digital Ash" is like, my second favourite (F&M and Lifted are tied)

[ArTkY_]

Awwww..."Digital Ash" is like, my second favourite (F&M and Lifted are tied)
I'm sorry! Fevers is my favorite.

[matt_rawlings]

I have nothing witty to say, I am probably dead to you Matthew.

good job mayng

Why would you be dead to me my little tedhead?

[matt_rawlings]

As the Little Drawings Street Team Leader I can tell you: No.

But, they're starting practicing again, and working on fleshing out (painfully slowly) new songs.

Wait...I thought Brigid was head of the street team? I am out of the loop...

Also, this information is correct, we are being very slow in taking the songs full band, but that can only be a good thing.

Considering we all have jobs as well as university coursework to do, we are pretty much practicing once a week now.
We are taking it slowly purely because we want the songs to be untouchably perfect and tight as a drum before we go near a recording studio. Not to mention the longer we take, the more money we save up and the better the recording will sound

[lew_1987]

For every broken bus and burning plane
There’s a ticket to a perfect place
And I ache for the change, but my name is never down
i really love what you're trying to say there, but i don't really like the way in which you've said it. maybe its just the last bit "my name is never down". i love the bit about the tree, but overall it is pretty damn good.

[black rose]

Matt, you are so good at what you do. The only part I have to be constructive about is the "tragic town" line. That's the only one that strikes me as not so good. But other than that, the rhyme scheme is beautiful. You really have a knack at this.

[a speedo model]

:appl: This is why I still love this forum.

[ArTkY_]

:appl: This is why I still love this forum.
Matt likes thick cocks.

[matt_rawlings]

Wow, what can I say?:shrug: Very few words describe how good this is. I feel bad for bumping my stuff above this, you're a astounding lyricalist, and this is incredible, a 10/10.

Does your band plan on having a cd out anytime soon?


Thanks alot for your very kind sentiments.

As for the cd...I am not going to put a date on it because every time I do that I make a royal ass of myself by exceeding the date with nothing to show for it, due to the motherfucker that is circumstance.

Little Drawings has pretty much always been a really challenging band. First of all we were a three piece that wasn't really happy. Our songs were pretty much all pop-rock with very little lyrical substance because I kept falling into the trap of writting songs to meet the tastes of the other two band members who didn't really like the alternative side of things or the darker, more eclectic sounds.

Last christmas we went out seperate ways, which destroyed my confidence in song writting up until about mid way through the year.

Now, I have two new members on board who are both more indie/alternative guys anyway, but like myself they also love great pop/rock music as well so it leaves I wide area for us to explore.

Hopefully we can push forward and make something great.

So as to keep the quality up to a high standard, both in terms of songs and recording, we will probably only put 4...maybe 5 songs on an EP that we release, whenever it is that takes place.

This song will no doubt be on it, as we began working on the music for it last Thursday and it is increadibly up beat and cool to play.

[black rose]

Well, Matt, I'm very excited to hear this song and the EP. You have to make sure you tell AP when it's finished.:-)

[a speedo model]

Matt likes thick cocks.
Well, who doesn't these days?

[ArTkY_]

Well, who doesn't these days?
This is true.

[vandalsandquinn]

Why would you be dead to me my little tedhead?
because nothing witty to say had I. have you listened to ted leo thoroughly yet?

[as_we_learn]

Damn Matt this piece is amazing and the flow was as well. I love everything esp. the part with the trees. Amazing job as always.

[OveriseFan]

I don't know how that would work...I mean biologically.

Not to mention the very fact that I am straight, you live on the other side of the world and are significantly younger than me.

But other than that...babies away

No, no, it was a metaphor...

Yeah...

[vandalsandquinn]

WHAT? James you idiot I am the head of the street team!!!

[matt_rawlings]

For every broken bus and burning plane
There’s a ticket to a perfect place
And I ache for the change, but my name is never down
i really love what you're trying to say there, but i don't really like the way in which you've said it. maybe its just the last bit "my name is never down". i love the bit about the tree, but overall it is pretty damn good.

Thanks for the feedback, however I'm not sure I'd know how to change it without completely losing what I was trying to say. Not to mention James loves that part.

[lew_1987]

Thanks for the feedback, however I'm not sure I'd know how to change it without completely losing what I was trying to say. Not to mention James loves that part.

heh, ok. i wasn't too sure either, just something bugged me about it slightly and i couldn't figure out what. its nothing to lose sleep over, don't worry.

[OveriseFan]

WHAT? James you idiot I am the head of the street team!!!

I usurped it.

I don't know if I used usurp correctly.

[OveriseFan]

WHAT? James you idiot I am the head of the street team!!!

I usurped it.

I don't know if I used usurp correctly.

[ArTkY_]

Yes, that's a fine usage.

[de la sympathie]

Very, very, very nicely done.

[matt_rawlings]

Matt likes thick cocks.

How do you know...I might like a nice a slender tube in my anus

[matt_rawlings]

No, no, it was a metaphor...

Yeah...

You mean "I want you to have my babies" is a metaphor for "I want you to have my sex"?

[kait.]

perfect place for me to interject myself...

um, wow. trying to critique this is making my head spin. i love the way you use internal rhyme. just love it. the only bits i didn't like (as much as the rest) were the line about the hermit - the development of that idea felt like it dragged just a little - and the "tragic town" / "my name is never down". other than that, this is amazing.
Lay my fears against a tree
Anchor each one with a leaf
From green to golden brown
The yellow in betweens
Taking it in isn’t enough
I’ll carry it with me from here on out
Each branch is a bridge to me
Towards shelter and safer ground
and that ^ is the best thing i've read in a while. just incredible writing.

[vandalsandquinn]

Matt, I'm the street team leader. Right? right?

[matt_rawlings]

Brigid is still the street team leader indeed.


Other than that, I am trying to figure which song I am going to record specifically for this comp

[OveriseFan]

This one!

[matt_rawlings]

I don't know...it is a pretty jumpy number that is really going to need drums and some sweet bass to do it justice.

I think I will submit a version of the last song I posted (the "Indigo outlook" one).

A slight change has been made...let me just say that it now has a bridge that is A0Sex

[vandalsandquinn]

you should write a slamming christmas song

[matt_rawlings]

I would write a slamming christmas tune, but that fact of the matter is I have an exam on Friday and Monday, work on Saturday...which means I will have a few hours on Friday to record a song.

Which means I will have zero time to write a new song

[vandalsandquinn]

Ah, boo-urns. Then I suppose use this if it is jumpy and upbeat, either way it will still be good

[matt_rawlings]

I really do not understand the backlash against people who have been on the comps before.

If there isn't a Cowalker or Thomas McCarthy song on this comp I am going to be so pissed

[vandalsandquinn]

Thomas McCarthy for sure, he hasn't been around in forever Thom

[Jumpoff]

Amazing music man. Loving the myspace... I'd actually buy an album if you guys released one.

[XxIronistxX]

love the lyrics. fantastic. honestly.

[OveriseFan]

I really do not understand the backlash against people who have been on the comps before.

If there isn't a Cowalker or Thomas McCarthy song on this comp I am going to be so pissed

You do have all Cowalker's music, right? I have all their stuff, if you want it.

Thom - YES! He is absoultely incredible.

I love Cowalker, and wouldn't mind them being on the comp., but at the moment they're technically not a band (I know he's said they're getting back together, kind of.) and all their music was made readily available, so...

[matt_rawlings]

Could you hook me up with all the Cowalker...that would be amazing

[OveriseFan]

Sure thing.

[mattybobviously]

Damn, I want to hear Cowalker stuff, I think I only have two of their songs.

[OveriseFan]

I hate Cowalker for writing the song "Eurydice".

I was working on a song, with the same title, but they perfectly captured the feel, the emotion that I wanted, so I saw no point in finishing it.

[snowtires]

mwahahaha

there's no way i could possibly finish one of my own songs before next thursday, but i'm going to try and record a cover for it. if i finish it by then, it will be the fastest i've ever finished a song in my life.

[matt_rawlings]

How many songs did you record in the Cowalker sessions for "The Fisher King" and "Sleepers, Awake"?

[snowtires]

just those two, because i'm probably the most unproductive songwriter in the world. sleepers awake was two years old by the time we recorded it and the fisher king took me six months to finish. it was like, three months to write and finish the music, another month to have the rest of the guys learn it and then adjust what was written and then two months to write the lyrics. i have about fifteen ideas now that i'm working on, i'm not really expecting to be finished with any of them until at least this summer. it sucks, i wish i could work faster.

[OveriseFan]

just those two, because i'm probably the most unproductive songwriter in the world. sleepers awake was two years old by the time we recorded it and the fisher king took me six months to finish. it was like, three months to write and finish the music, another month to have the rest of the guys learn it and then adjust what was written and then two months to write the lyrics. i have about fifteen ideas now that i'm working on, i'm not really expecting to be finished with any of them until at least this summer. it sucks, i wish i could work faster.

I can't remember your name, I'm sorry. What is it? And what did you play in Cowalker?

(Is it Justin/guitar? That's what I seem to remember...)

I'm the same way with writing. So many ideas, not enough products.

[snowtires]

I can't remember your name, I'm sorry. What is it? And what did you play in Cowalker?

(Is it Justin/guitar? That's what I seem to remember...)

I'm the same way with writing. So many ideas, not enough products.

close, it's tucker, i sang & played keyboards. justin did play guitar, though, so you got that much right.

[Praetor]

Wow. Just...wow. That was a really well-written piece.

[OveriseFan]

close, it's tucker, i sang & played keyboards. justin did play guitar, though, so you got that much right.

Ah, damn. haha.

Ok, now I know your name. You've got one hell of a voice by the way.

[snowtires]

cool, thanks. i was actually thinking about maybe sending in a live cowalker song for the comp, but there's a part of every song where that hell of a voice sounds like a pile of shit haha

[OveriseFan]

cool, thanks. i was actually thinking about maybe sending in a live cowalker song for the comp, but there's a part of every song where that hell of a voice sounds like a pile of shit haha

Haha. I'm sure it's all right.

I know how it is though. I practiced a song a few times with these two kids I was playing a song with at an open-mic, and my voice sounded fine, maybe even good. Granted, we should have practiced the song more (we never played it together, technically...) but even so, when we got up there, my voice sounded like shit (it was probably because they weren't on with me at all.)

I had to cut the song off it was so bad (I know you shouldn't, but I had to salvage it a little) and busted out into "Hey Ya".

[bootsydan]

I like this. Quite good.

Except just one thing I would question:

Tiny tap of my feet, the surrealist mystique of a thankless chore
A hunched over hermit whose purpose permits what he’s slouching for

It seems to me like you are trying to hard in this bit. The big (for want of a better word) words seem like you're trying to hard to describe a situation that is a lot simpler than the underlined phrases suggest.

[leezer]

I liked this one, a few lines were close to being really real, if that makes any sense, nice stuff mate.

[OveriseFan]

I like this. Quite good.

Except just one thing I would question:

Tiny tap of my feet, the surrealist mystique of a thankless chore
A hunched over hermit whose purpose permits what he’s slouching for

It seems to me like you are trying to hard in this bit. The big (for want of a better word) words seem like you're trying to hard to describe a situation that is a lot simpler than the underlined phrases suggest.

Oh please. The biggest (and by that, I assume you mean the most esoteric, as some "big" words are quite common.) word in there is probably "surrealist", and if you don't know what surrealism is, well, in all honesty, it doesn't matter.

The second line is completely an image, with a bit of introspection tacked in "whose purpose permits".

I love those two lines, and think they are quite possibly perfect.

[billyboatkid]

We got a modern day shakespeare over her good stuff sir!

[bootsydan]

Oh please. The biggest (and by that, I assume you mean the most esoteric, as some "big" words are quite common.) word in there is probably "surrealist", and if you don't know what surrealism is, well, in all honesty, it doesn't matter.

The second line is completely an image, with a bit of introspection tacked in "whose purpose permits".

I love those two lines, and think they are quite possibly perfect.

Congratulations. You just completely missed the point of my reply.

It's not about what the words mean. Of course everyone knows what the words 'surreal', or 'mystique' mean. It's the way in which they are used.

Cause I read those first two lines and I have no idea what they mean (despite my fantastic understanding of each individual word used in those lines). And you can throw lines at me like 'You're just an idiot then', and you can act superior. Or you can be objective about this.

Tiny tap of my feet, the surrealist mystique of a thankless chore

Are you describing the tiny tap of your feet as a 'surrealist mystique of a thankless chore'? Because 1. How is it a chore? 2. Does anyone really expect any kind of thanks or appreciation for 'the tiny tap of their feet'? 3. I hardly see how something like that has any 'mystique' about it. Unless your talking about your mind state at the time which gave it that mystique quality. In which case 4. Your mind state is obviously surrealist. So then we get that your in this weird mind state, and thats perfectly understandable, but now we want to know why. And I'm quite sure it's not because of the tiny tap of your feet. In which case, the rest of the lyrics in the song are going to set out to explain why your in this mind state. And thats cool.

But then what is the purpose of the words 'tiny tap of my feet'? If it is merely to describe a situation, I don't feel it is a great description. To me it all seems to exist just to fit a melody.

Ok. So assuming the song is then out to explain the 'surrealist mystique' kind of mindset, rather than explain the situation you are in involving the tiny tap of feet, I'll get to the next line.

A hunched over hermit whose purpose permits what he’s slouching for

You are a 'hunched over hermit? Ok we can understand that. 'Whose purpose permits what he's slouching for' - So then what is the purpose?

Since this line didn't really add any more light to explaining the 'surrealist mystique' and it didn't really set up a situation, we can only assume it existed to say that you are feeling like a hermit with a purpose. In which case the song is about your purpose, not about your surrealist mystique?


Now I'm quite sure the two are related. I'm quite sure your 'surrealist mystique' is related to your 'purpose', in terms of the song. And I'm quite sure the first couple of lines, or first verse, exists to set this up.

My point? I don't think the first couple of lines set up the song properly. I believe the rest of the song is really well written. But the first two lines don't really get across what they should get across.

I mean you probably don't even have to tell us you are in a 'surrealistic mystique' kind of mind state in order for us to understand that.


Sorry to get in to such a long analysis of such a small part of the song. I didn't mean to, and it probably just comes across as ridiculous. But sometimes you have to explain yourself fully on this website for the benefit of some people.

I'm even more sorry if it turns out, in fact, that I'm the one whose missed the point.

And I do like the song. As I said, just the first two lines.

[mattybobviously]

To throw my $.02 in (don't know what the conversion rate is to pounds), those two lines are probably my favorite from the piece.

[nbaontcty]

This poem is absoulutly amazing...

I love the line, "Anchor each one with a leaf"

Wow. This is such a good poem!

[missmatilde]

I really cant say anything cause it's way too great for any comment to be appropriate!

[OveriseFan]

Record this.

[missmatilde]

James give you a perfect idea for a Christmas present for all the board, really. plus that would make my studying-for-the-exams Christmas great! ;-) :-)

[matt_rawlings]

When i get back to Scotland next week I will record a live version for you James. It won't be good but it will give you an idea

[OveriseFan]

I love Matt Rawlings.

Wait - BACK - to Scotland? Does this mean you got out of working and are going home for Christmas?

[matt_rawlings]

Indeedly doodly. Although there is a catch.


I am down in England with my mum/stepdad/grandparents/brother for christmas and am heading back on the 28th.

Thats the good part

The bad part is I will not be seeing my dad/stepmother or any of their side of the family because I don't have time and they only have a few days off work, and it is important that I'm with my grandad for christmas day. The main reason that sucks is because it has now been over a year since I have seen my dad or any of those guys.

Also, the whole time I am down here I am on call to do any and all extra shifts that are available at the branch of Next Retail I am near. That's right. Instead of giving me two shifts off for xmas, my work in Scotland made me transfer down to England for two weeks, then transfer back up again when I'm done

[missmatilde]

Matt, that's so unfair... shouldn't people be good for Christmas?? like you recording, if you have the intention of sharing ;-)
by the way... what's the point in 'transferring' you for two weeks? seems a lot of complications for such a short period, any person that preferred doing that instead of giving you time off is insane :shrug:

[OveriseFan]

Indeedly doodly. Although there is a catch.


I am down in England with my mum/stepdad/grandparents/brother for christmas and am heading back on the 28th.

Thats the good part

The bad part is I will not be seeing my dad/stepmother or any of their side of the family because I don't have time and they only have a few days off work, and it is important that I'm with my grandad for christmas day. The main reason that sucks is because it has now been over a year since I have seen my dad or any of those guys.

Also, the whole time I am down here I am on call to do any and all extra shifts that are available at the branch of Next Retail I am near. That's right. Instead of giving me two shifts off for xmas, my work in Scotland made me transfer down to England for two weeks, then transfer back up again when I'm done

Well at least you'll be with your granddad, that's important.

Your work seems like it's run by douchebags... wow.

[thefirstsingle]

this is awesome, really, props

[White]

Dear Matt Rawlings,

Thanks for making me feel inadequate.

Signed,
:-(

Ps. In all seriousness, you seem to have some sort of gift.

[Ryzenfall]

This is art. Blew me away sir.

[Ryzenfall]

I like this. Quite good.

Except just one thing I would question:

Tiny tap of my feet, the surrealist mystique of a thankless chore
A hunched over hermit whose purpose permits what he’s slouching for

It seems to me like you are trying to hard in this bit. The big (for want of a better word) words seem like you're trying to hard to describe a situation that is a lot simpler than the underlined phrases suggest.

I'm actually a fan of those lines. It's more of a montage effect for me rather than an explanation. And this is poetry not rigid documentation.