[adamfarr]

Hi everyone! What's a person to do when they get lots of comments that they might have a very British, 80s, maybe even ska-like sound? Take lemons and try to make lemonade, that's what. 

For this one, I wanted to get away from any deep and complex lyrics and just go with the genre (ha!), which to me should give the impression (at least!) of informality and fun.

When I was a young person I moved countries a lot, which wasn't great for relationships or social life, and that's what this one's about.

As ever, thanks for listening, and for any constructive and specific comments you might have!

Driving Away
https://soundcloud.com/lutehill/driving-away-11-12-2016b

V1:
Here comes frustration, there I go again
The seat by the window only brings me this pain
But what can I do when
My only view
Of you's from a bus or a boat or a plane?

V2:
Here comes separation, I think about us
A plan for a long time but now it's a must
But now comes the day I'm
Driving away
From you on a tram or a train or a bus

CH:
And every time that I just said 'hello' when we met
Comes back now to haunt me and I start to regret
Now you're waving at the station and there's so much to say
The next time will I still be driving away?

V3:
Here comes temptation, to not go so far
And come back and find you wherever you are
But deep down I know that
I've got to go
And I can't stop the plane or the coach or the car

M8 (Instrumental)
RIDICULOUS KEYCHANGE
Final CH

(c) Adam Farr, 2016, all rights reserved

[PaulAds]

loved this adam...i'm very much into my ska

the drums are really great and i love the guitars too

production is excellent...i'm lagging well behind in that department!

excellent fun, quirky number...very much to my taste

[TimCurtis]

Really liked this.  Had not just a ska feel but also sounded a bit folky - not unlike The Levellers or many other bands of a similar ilk.

My only bugbear is the timing of the horns - they seem to be a bit out...? I'm not a fan of strict quantisation but they just felt a little out where they appeared in the intro and the middle.

But a fine track indeed!! 

[pompeyjazz]

Hi Adam, and welcome back mate. We've really missed you  I think this is great, there's nothing wrong with doing stuff that your familiar with. I think it seems to be a sort of fusion between Ska and Flamenco. Your lyrics are always very intricate and clever. Your voice is sounding great. And I love the Hey ! Hey Hey !

[ScottLevi]

Hey Adam,

What's a person to do when they get lots of comments that they might have a very British, 80s, maybe even ska-like sound? Take lemons and try to make lemonade, that's what.  

And damn straight you did! My dad listens to a lot of ska and your song definately rings true to the genre.

Great narrative on the situation, and optomistic message on a sad tale to take each opportunity as you never know how much time you have.

I'm a fan particularly of the way way you end each verse, though I can't help suggest these just to add a little 'easter egg' on the first of the prev being the last on the next, and maintaining that alliteration of the first two vehicles throughout. (Though I may have overlooked a trick to the current ordering)

bus or a boat or a plane
car or a coach or a bus
tram or a train or a car

Cheers,
Scott.

[IronKnee]

Hi Adam........love the fun nature of this! But, what genre is ska
I do like the sound of this........has a cool live and spontaneous appeal to it that would make this a very fun piece to perform on stage.
Good stuff!
                                                    -Tom

[shadowfax]

A folky Ska number..how the heck did you do that??
a really nice surprise this was mate..well done..

[rightly]

bloody lovely
refreshing, mad chord progression.
sounds light but still evokes strong emotions (for me at least)
Time spent with a loved one, waving goodbye when there's a need to say what seems like everything.

very sweet! thanks for posting.

[tina m]

what a sad story Adam... are you still on the move or have you settled diown now?...maybe a lady bus driver is the ideal parner for you
I thought this was a intersting mixture of styles... the percussion was reggae but the bass & guitar werent ,but then the brass probably was...in fact the brass added so much flavour to this!
anyway I realy liked the lyrics & the lots of melody
the brass was a bit loose & I wasnt sure the backing vocals totally worked but the song has a real charm that I enjoyed & it sounded very british which is not what you think when you watch X Factor & think these people talk british  but all sing like theyre from some unidentifiable country?
Wherever it is ,its where all modern popstars come from!

[Jamie]

Hi Adam, unusual and interesting mix of styles, which largely works, though I felt the horns were a bit 'out' of time!? Nicely melodic and your production skills are definitely improving!
Cheers
Jamie

[Skub]

Yo Adam.

It's quite a sad song lyrically and the twisted part of me always appreciates a bit of incongruity.

Reminds me of the Specials a bit. This Town...coming like a ghost Town..

The others have mentioned timing issues with the tootling instruments,that aside it is a very enjoyable song. Introspective and jolly,all in the one box.  

[Oldbutyet]

Theres a touch of madness in this (i mean the band) i can even see you doing the ska dancing around your room when recording this and if you where, I fecking love this song man    but if you weren't, then i just like it.

Make me happy 

[delb0y]

Excellent job. You've really nailed the groove and the instrumentation. Love the lyrics and the melody and phrasing is spot on. I'm not keen on the BVs - but I seem to say that a lot so maybe I'm just not into backing vocals.

There's only one thing I would consider changing lyrically and that's the repeat use of bus and plane:

Of you's from a bus or a boat or a plane?
From you on a tram or a train or a bus
And I can't stop the plane or the coach or the car

I like all the different modes of transport you're choosing which really adds to the theme - so if you could find two more (e.g taxi / cab, ferry) you could avoid the repetition and make the point even sharper.

But very entertaining and fun as it is!

[Yodasdad]

I'm not particularly familiar with the genre so my comments aren't worth much here.

I enjoyed this more as it progressed, it felt a little staccato, awkward and disjointed at first but this could be down to the style.  Soon got into i though.

Your lyrics certainly get the message across.

I liked the instrumental breakdown around the 2:30 mark and there was a little percussive vocal thingy at the start of which I think you could turn into a really nice feature during this section.

Yodasdad

[refusedrevival]

Hi,

Nice ska feel - I'm not the fan of ska but this I enjoyed it greatly.
The drums are really great, the sound and the beat. How did you get that sound?

good tune!

refusedrevival