Concede A Smile

[matt_rawlings]

Here is an mp3 of the song (http://sharebee.com/98ebf7dc)



Concede a smile, defy the grey
Recall the days when I just made the bed around you
I daren’t have moved you from that place
A tangled mess of hair and whispers through the pillow
All tuckered out and trembling
Your nightstand filled with sympathies and lovely letters
Denying truths you couldn’t change
My chiming spark caught in the fray

Speak up and tell me your fine
Pursed lips utter out an “okay”
Oh well
Okay

Concede a smile, defy the grey
Lift your lungs from shallow breaths to something more familiar
The wolves won’t come around the bend
Lay my patience as a trap to catch them when they’re creeping
Let’s patter past nostalgic nods
Filtered coffee and a fort built from your mattress
Pale fingers float across my face
Amidst these trials, you just rub your eyelids
And you concede to smile and defy the grey

Come on; hush up all that self defeating
“I know, and I need you to keep me reminded”
If circumstance dictates the cause
And reason loosens our ideals
This spinning world won’t stop and stay

Give me the darkness you create
Bound up by yawns and selotape
Concede a smile, defy the grey

[TK]

I'm too tired to read this, so I'll check this out tomorrow.
Here's a friendly bump!

[OveriseFan]

Wow. This is so, so different from most of your writing, that I'm going to need to look closer into this. I also really need to hear this one, because I can not criticize your writing before I hear the melody behind it. I have too much faith in you to believe that it wouldn't work. Haha.

Bring back Live From the Laptop! Seriously, I love those five songs. Record this and the last one you posted.

[nikaidoh]

Why so serious? Lets put a smile on that face!

[matt_rawlings]

Wow. This is so, so different from most of your writing, that I'm going to need to look closer into this. I also really need to hear this one, because I can not criticize your writing before I hear the melody behind it. I have too much faith in you to believe that it wouldn't work. Haha.

Bring back Live From the Laptop! Seriously, I love those five songs. Record this and the last one you posted.

Does that mean you didn't like the lyrics, but you want to hear it before you judge it...or does it mean you like the lyrics or what...

I don't understand

[OveriseFan]

Does that mean you didn't like the lyrics, but you want to hear it before you judge it...or does it mean you like the lyrics or what...

I don't understand

Hah. I only read it once, honestly. I'm going to need to spend some more time with it - reading-wise. I at least like it, it was just very surprising, because it's not what I've come to expect from you. I'll go more in-depth later. Sorry. As for the note about hearing it - I need to hear it because on initial reading, I didn't think that the flow was that great, but I know that it will undoubtedly work.

[matt_rawlings]

Hah. I only read it once, honestly. I'm going to need to spend some more time with it - reading-wise. I at least like it, it was just very surprising, because it's not what I've come to expect from you. I'll go more in-depth later. Sorry. As for the note about hearing it - I need to hear it because on initial reading, I didn't think that the flow was that great, but I know that it will undoubtedly work.

As far as flow goes, it all works perfectly, otherwise I wouldn't post it..which is why I understand why you need to hear it. That's one of the most consistent things I hear about the stuff I post, buts its fine because that all stops once people hear the tune.

And the song is very different from the sort of stuff I tend to write. It's actually really personal. Long story short, I have always seemed to find myself emotionally attatched and in relationships with girls who can't see how great they are, and I always try and bring that out (this theme is discussed more playfully in "Yes, I Mean No" and in "We Go On Forever").
This is an amalgamation of several events, mainly when I visited a girl only to find her unable to move from her bed because she was so upset. All her friends had sent her these lovely cards and showered her with praise and love but she just couldn't snap out of it, and that in turn frustrated the hell out of me because I also took it as a reflection on myself because I couldn't make her happy.

The first part of the song is all about that, the second part is about me trying to coax her out of this wreck by making wide eyed and idealistic promises that never really ammount to much unless a person is willing to meet you half way.
There is alot of desperation and almost a pleading nature to the song, because that is essentially what comes to mind when I think of all the times I nearly tore my hair out trying to convince the only girl I have ever loved that she deserves to be loved.

The song itself relies on more simple and common rhyming schemes than I ususally use, because I found that it was more important to cut to the meat and bones of what I was trying to say rather than skirting around it


Man, I do sure get longwinded

[TK]

Concede a smile, defy the grey
Recall the days when I just made the bed around you
I daren’t have moved you from that place
A tangled mess of hair and whispers through the pillow
All tuckered out and trembling
Your nightstand filled with sympathies and lovely letters
Denying truths you couldn’t change
My chiming spark caught in the fray
This isn't of any importance, but with the opening line I was expecting something a lot different.
Anyway, the beginning was okay. I thought the last three lines were the best part of this(this stanza).


Speak up and tell me your fine
Pursed lips utter out an “okay”
Oh well
Okay
I liked the repetition of okay.


Concede a smile, defy the grey
Lift your lungs from shallow breaths to something more familiar
The wolves won’t come around the bend
Lay my patience as a trap to catch them when they’re creeping
Let’s patter past nostalgic nods
Filtered coffee and a fort built from your mattress
Pale fingers float across my face
Amidst these trials, you just rub your eyelids
Concede to smile and defy the grey
I really liked the underlined part. Only criticism I have is that the last line seems abruptly put in there.
Come on; hush up all that self defeating
“I know, and I need you to keep me reminded”
If circumstance dictates the cause
And reason loosens our ideals
This spinning world won’t stop and stay

Give me the darkness you create
Bound up by yawns and selotape
Concede a smile, defy the grey

Beginning line reminded me of "Plea From A Cat Named Virtue".
And again, I really liked the underlined part.

As for the last bit, I thought it ended okay.

[matt_rawlings]

I recorded it last night because I think people will like it alot more having heard it. uploading now

[matt_rawlings]

http://sharebee.com/98ebf7dc



That's the link right there, just adding it to the main post

[matt_rawlings]

This isn't of any importance, but with the opening line I was expecting something a lot different.
Anyway, the beginning was okay. I thought the last three lines were the best part of this(this stanza).



I liked the repetition of okay.

I really liked the underlined part. Only criticism I have is that the last line seems abruptly put in there.


Beginning line reminded me of "Plea From A Cat Named Virtue".
And again, I really liked the underlined part.

As for the last bit, I thought it ended okay.



Thanks for going through it. I'd like to see what you think having heard the song.

[TK]

"God, it's fucking late". Haha, nice beginning to the song.

I thought the first part was sung beautifully(pretty gay, I know). Although I didn't like how the the "speak up and tell me your fine, pursed lips utter out an okay" part was sang, but it didn't ruin the song for me or anything like that. I guess I was just expecting that part to sound different.

I thought it all had a really good flow and sound to it. I loved that you added "And you" to Concede to smile and defy the grey. The lack of 'and' was what made it seem abrupt when reading it.

I liked the song. It's definitely not my favorite, but it's very enjoyable.

[matt_rawlings]

"God, it's fucking late". Haha, nice beginning to the song.

I thought the first part was sung beautifully(pretty gay, I know). Although I didn't like how the the "speak up and tell me your fine, pursed lips utter out an okay" part was sang, but it didn't ruin the song for me or anything like that. I guess I was just expecting that part to sound different.

I thought it all had a really good flow and sound to it. I loved that you added "And you" to Concede to smile and defy the grey. The lack of 'and' was what made it seem abrupt when reading it.

I liked the song. It's definitely not my favorite, but it's very enjoyable.


Hahahaha, yeah I recorded it in one take at 2.30am this morning.

I really shouldnt post lyrics these days without posting an mp3 of the song as well...lest people form preconceptions and then get dissapointed when it doesn't sound the way they had imagined. I know I am very guilty of doing that in the past so I can completely understand and relate to your comments.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It sure is something different and it was a song I needed to write

[OveriseFan]

Hahahaha, yeah I recorded it in one take at 2.30am this morning.

I really shouldnt post lyrics these days without posting an mp3 of the song as well...lest people form preconceptions and then get dissapointed when it doesn't sound the way they had imagined. I know I am very guilty of doing that in the past so I can completely understand and relate to your comments.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. It sure is something different and it was a song I needed to write

Haha. You shouldn't.

Which is why this really through me - it was so conversational in parts, and lacked a distinct melody, but I knew there must be one, with you.

Downloading now. I'll post thoughts soon.

[vandalsandquinn]

I like it, why haven't you hit it big? Geeze

[matt_rawlings]

Haha. You shouldn't.

Which is why this really through me - it was so conversational in parts, and lacked a distinct melody, but I knew there must be one, with you.

Downloading now. I'll post thoughts soon.

Yeah. When I write, if something seems to be following a formula too much I will just scrap it or fuck with it until it works really well, but not because it is subscribing to a silly template.


Hope you liked it

[matt_rawlings]

I like it, why haven't you hit it big? Geeze

Because I am a piece of shit

[matt_rawlings]

Why so serious? Lets put a smile on that face!

And here we go...

[nikaidoh]

yeah, i'm surprised that didn't come earlier

[matt_rawlings]

yeah, i'm surprised that didn't come earlier

I have been away for three days and The Dark Knight only came out in the UK yesturday. I fucking loved it

[nikaidoh]

you and the rest of the world

[matt_rawlings]

Downloading now. I'll post thoughts soon.

did you ever get around to listening to it?

[h0merg0mez]

If you get a feeling next time you see me,
Do me a favor and let me know...
Cuz it's hard to tell, its hard to say
Oh well, okay.

[matt_rawlings]

If you get a feeling next time you see me,
Do me a favor and let me know...
Cuz it's hard to tell, its hard to say
Oh well, okay.

Quoting Elliott Smith is a sure fire way to give me a boner

[as_we_learn]

Haha that quote above me cracked me up.

I downloaded the song and I love the lyrics, although I feel you've written better than this song, it is still good(and in my mp3 player). I can't wait to hear The Peace That Passes Understanding, keep me posted on anything new with House and Home.

[matt_rawlings]

Haha that quote above me cracked me up.

I downloaded the song and I love the lyrics, although I feel you've written better than this song, it is still good(and in my mp3 player). I can't wait to hear The Peace That Passes Understanding, keep me posted on anything new with House and Home.


I would literally stuff my balls into my dads anus to bring back Elliott Smith for one day

Thanks for checking it out man, glad you liked the lyrics/tune. I agree I have written better, both on my own and with House & Home, but I still enjoy this jam as well.

As for H&H...we kind of had a fucking tragedy which has destroyed almost all of our work.

[as_we_learn]

I would literally stuff my balls into my dads anus to bring back Elliott Smith for one day

Thanks for checking it out man, glad you liked the lyrics/tune. I agree I have written better, both on my own and with House & Home, but I still enjoy this jam as well.

As for H&H...we kind of had a fucking tragedy which has destroyed almost all of our work.
Haha yeah that's cool, I've been on an Elliot Smith binge since I haven't heard his music before. I must say I really do like it. I learned how to play Between The Bars, you should cover it haha.

Oh man what happened to House & Home, it can't be that bad?

[matt_rawlings]

Haha yeah that's cool, I've been on an Elliot Smith binge since I haven't heard his music before. I must say I really do like it. I learned how to play Between The Bars, you should cover it haha.

Oh man what happened to House & Home, it can't be that bad?

Elliott Smith is my hero...i genuinely miss him as if I knew they guy.


Frances harddrive crashed, meaning we lost all of the original source files for the songs we were working on making recording them impossible

[OveriseFan]

Frances harddrive crashed, meaning we lost all of the original source files for the songs we were working on making recording them impossible

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

[matt_rawlings]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Yep. Its pretty much a fucking tragedy.

[as_we_learn]

Elliott Smith is my hero...i genuinely miss him as if I knew they guy.


Frances harddrive crashed, meaning we lost all of the original source files for the songs we were working on making recording them impossible
Dude no fucking way, that is a fucking tragedy. Do you have any recordings on your laptop at all?

[matt_rawlings]

Dude no fucking way, that is a fucking tragedy. Do you have any recordings on your laptop at all?

I only have 160kbps instrumental demos of maybe 20 songs...no source files, no individual instrumental tracks...nothing

[TK]

I only have 160kbps instrumental demos of maybe 20 songs...no source files, no individual instrumental tracks...nothing

I have no idea if that's bad or not, but I'm guessing so:-( So how's Little Drawings going, are you planning on recording songs any time soon?

[OveriseFan]

I only have 160kbps instrumental demos of maybe 20 songs...no source files, no individual instrumental tracks...nothing

As shitty as it is, at least the ideas aren't completely lost. You can use those to re-build your material, although you'll probably never get those instrumentals back in their exact form.

[Judge'sDaughter]

This is really good