Songwriting Master

New podcast

Graham English — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 03:23:17 +0000

I’m podcasting ALL my audio podcasts at the Graham English Official Site Audio.

The Graham English Podcast

Graham English — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 01:29:30 +0000

I’m podcasting my original music at the Graham English Official Site. You can subscribe to the feed here: TheGrahamEnglishPodcast

I’m not sure what’s going to happen with SongwritingMaster.com. Maybe you have something to contribute? If so, comment on this blog and I’ll podcast your tunes

Friday Night

Graham English — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 16:15:00 +0000

A little “Thank God It’s Friday” tune
I remember what you said
You said a quarter past nine…

I remember what you said
You said a quarter past nine
Well I might be mad
‘Cause it’s half past 10
But you look so fine

The called me on the phone
They said they’re waiting on us
So get your things
Let’s hit the road
Don’t wanna miss the bus

Chorus:
Well it’s Friday night
I’m gonna explode
Just like dynomite
So let’s hit the road
Download: Friday Night

A little sumthin’ sumthin’

Graham English — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 02:16:28 +0000

A little sumthin’ sumthin’ for all you soul lovers out there…

Put this jam on at your next party when you people to get it on

Peace & Love
Click Here: Peace & Love

How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore

Graham English — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 08:03:55 +0000

This is a Prince tune that I recorded for fun. Of course I sing it an octave lower

How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore

Download: How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore

Now That You’ve Gone Away

Graham English — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 07:53:48 +0000

This was a blues exercise for my Berklee Songwriting Workshop class. It’s more gospel than blues, but you just can’t separate the two.

The lyrics are dummy lyrics. Here’s what my teacher had to say:

This is a great example of blues melody and harmony working beautifully to express a lyrical sentiment. Nice job there. Looks like you’ve got two verses here. Because the harmony resolves at the end of the second verse, it doesn’t suggest proceeding into a chorus. And that’s exactly what you do, moving into an instrumental section rather than a chorus that sums up the song. My question is, if this is a verse/refrain then, or verse verse/refrain, what is your hook or title? That title should sit right at the end of that second verse. As you’ve got it, ‘I guess my chance with you is blown’ is the title. However, I think you can do better. What you’re looking for is a line that knocks us over because of it’s ability to sum up the rest of the song. The other option is, of course, moving into a chorus by keeping that last harmonic movement open…G-7….F/A….Bb…C7sus…C7.
Great job on this assignment,
Andrea

As you can tell, she’s damn good in her critique!

Now that you’ve gone gone away
My days are grey
I have so much to say
But I’ll never get the chance
To show you a fine romance

So now I lay here all alone
Calling your cell phone
All I get is your dial tone
I guess my chance with you is blown
Download: Gone Away

True Home

Graham English — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 07:39:11 +0000

True Home is a break from conventional songwriting form.

Fearless mystic lifting the veil
Crying echo pierced with a nail…

I was dreaming when I wrote this. Forgive me if it goes astray…

Actually, I woke up from a dream with the chorus completely finished. The verse groove came from the dream state too but the melody and lyrics came later. True Home is an experiment with form and the rational mind. I was reading a lot of Zen poetry and my idea was to not be limited by the rational mind but to transmit a transrational realization. Thus the Zen koan, “I have arrived. I have not moved. This is my True Home.”

I took this idea further by stretching the metaphors – crying echo/bleeding footprint. The verse is actually 3 separate melodies – each moving towards the realization “This is my True Home.” And the chorus pointing to the ever-present Love that exists in that transcended/included space.

I really like rocking out to this one

True Home

Fearless mystic
Lifting the veil
Crying echo
Pierced with a nail

Spirit calling every day
Phantom feeling has gone away

I have arrived
I have not moved
This is my TRUE HOME

Chorus:
All we really need to get by
Is the love that we make today
All we really need in this life
Is the love that we’ve thrown away

Sacred shower
Healing the land
Bleeding footprint
Left in the sand

Lightning striking
Eyes ablaze
Burning shadow
And darkness fades

I have arrived
I have not moved
This is my TRUE HOME

Chorus:
All we really need to get by
Is the love that we make today
All we really need in this life
Is the love that we’ve thrown away

I have arrived
I have not moved
This is my TRUE HOME

Chorus:
All we really need to get by
Is the love that we make today
All we really need in this life
Is the love that we’ve thrown away
Download: True Home

Still You Live

Graham English — Tue, 24 May 2005 03:47:50 +0000

There’s a clock on the wall
In the hospital room…

Joan died this morning June 13, 2005.

For Joan and her family.

Still You Live

There’s a clock on the wall
In the hospital room
And the hour hand falls
And I know you’ll be fading soon
Out of sight
To the light
I know you’ve always loved me
And love can go on forever
I’m wishing that time was mine to give
Still you live
Still you live
Download: Still You Live

Move On

Graham English — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 02:48:51 +0000

Move On was a group effort among myself, Brian Sachs, and David Gelfand. It has more emotional appeal than songwriting craft.

The power positions and rhymes are rather weak: behind/inside, mind/pride, goodbye/time, etc.

I like the opening line, “5 o’clock yesterday…” It sets the tone nicely. The chorus contrasts with the verse but it’s not enough of a hook for me. And the line, “acquaintance won’t hinder”, is mis-aligned with the stressed beats which makes it hard to understand.

There’s a nice climax in the bridge which leads into a 3rd verse pretty naturally – normally a bridge connects two choruses. And the final choruses provide some nice emotional content.

So the music is pretty good but misses the mark by not being memorable enough in the chorus. The lyrics could use a heavy dose of rewriting altogether.

Five o’clock yesterday Dreamt of leaving you behind Couldn’t get to sleep Voice too loud inside And nothing’s gonna change my mind Gonna stand proud and fight And I won’t back down Five o’clock yesterday Dreamt of leaving you behind
Chorus: You know when it’s time to MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river My mind like a river
Higher than a kite Waiving to a train, goodbye Couldn’t get off the tracks Couldn’t feel no pain this time And I think she’s gonna blow a mile high Wanna feel some love tonight Hope it won’t slow down Higher than a kite Waiving to a train, goodbye
Chorus: You know when it’s time to MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river My mind like a river
There comes a point at every crossroad The south wind won’t shelter The storm has finally reached it’s hour There’s no denying of its power No false words are spoken here To feel the presence of another
Thought I didn’t understand  Now it’s too late to try Wonder if you realized When you crossed that line There’s no use in asking why I saw all the signs And I won’t be around Thought I didn’t understand  Now it’s too late to try
Chorus: You know when it’s time to MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river My mind like a river MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river MOVE ON Acquaintance won’t hinder MOVE ON Clear my mind like a river My mind like a river
Five o’clock yesterday Dreamt of leaving you behind

Download: Move On

On My Feet Again

Graham English — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:55:45 +0000

This song was written when I was beginning to think that I had some real songwriting skills. Brian Sachs is my co-writer on this one. Jill Stevenson sang this in two takes. Not bad, huh?

There’s many things I’d change now. There isn’t much contrast between the verse and chorus melody. The chord changes in the chorus save the melody from sounding too similar. The power positions have weak words and rhymes – “dim/in” “realized/cry”.

It’s all a learning experience

I have been beat down
My heart left for broken
But I still see the light
When the sunshine is dim
I have swallowed my pride
But my heart has salvation
There will always be shelter
When the storm rolls in

Chorus:
And where there’s life
There will be hope to rise
On My Feet Again
And with this hope
I’ll find the strength to rise
On My Feet Again

The highway to here
Begins in the valley
Of a thousand dreams
That are never realized
Strength is my sword
And silence is mercy
For this dream will come true
Hallelujah I cry

Chorus

Download: On My Feet Again