[montydog]

Hello people,

Here's another new one. This is a bit different from my usual style but I hope you think it works OK. Any and all feedback is welcome.

Many thanks

M

https://soundcloud.com/alan-walker-4/if-i-only-had-an-hour-1

If I only had an hour
What would I do?
I could burn these funeral flowers
And send the ashes to you
Or I could take a year
And be long over due
While the long days devour
All that I held true

You know I'd climb an ivory tower
Just to shine your silver shoes
If I had a magic power
I 'd blow away those blues
But I'm a simple man
With nothing left to lose
But my breath is getting shorter
And I'm running out of clues

There's a pain an ancient stain
I can see it in your eyes
But there's no shame, no bitter blame
For every love that dies

I've lived a hundred lifetimes
Walked a thousand avenues
Seen too many lonely people
Kneel in rows of empty pews
I could have made your words rhyme
From your first cry to the tomb
It took a hundred lifetimes
And I still couldn't choose

I've asked the willow if he knows
What it takes to make you stay
A whispered prayer on the morning air
But still you slipped away

My days are passing slower
Feel I'm just drifting through
And today I heard a rumour
That you were leaving soon
Why can't you wait a minute
And recall the sweet perfume
Of the fresh bloom I picked you
On that golden afternoon

[Wicked Deeds]

Hi Alan, I'm at work, taking my. break. had a few minutes to read through your lyrics. They flow ever so well. I love the line 'I could have made your words rhyme, from the first cry, to the tomb' It was worth logging on to the forum for that alone. I will listen to your song as soon as I am able.

Paul

[Skub]

Hey Alan.

Lyrically sublime,this one. After reading the words,it would have taken something dramatic to turn me against the song. The whole piece has a Leonard Cohen feel to it and that's not entirely down to the timbre of your voice,but also the beautiful flow of the words. One could meditate upon them and the hypnotic quality of the track encourages contemplation.

If I were to change anything,it would be to manage the volume of the repeating keyboard,as sometimes it challenges the vocals.

Wonderful stuff mister W. 

[adamfarr]

I do like a naked vocal like this (I mean uncluttered by instruments, as the vocal mixing is great). The harmonica really complements it well.

The harmonica sections also bring out the melody which is really strong here.

I wasn't so keen on the praying voice which I thought distracted from the main vocal sometimes - I'd use it a bit more sparingly I think. Also maybe "blow away those blues" is not as 100% original as the excellence of the remaining lyrics.

There is some real art in them, I'd say many could take away something different and eqaully powerful which I think is exactly the way it should be.

[Bill Saunders]

Hi Alan

Just stunning.

I was swept up from the moment your vocal started, and your song held me captive throughout. For me, I could imagine this fitting in very well into Dave Gilmour's last album. The instrumentation is spot on to my ears.

I'd be really interested to know about the vocal recording technique here, I.e.the mic, distance from it when you recorded, reverb and other settings, and also about acoustic treatment in the room it was recorded. It sounds sublime. Only if you want to share, of course.

Brilliant stuff.

Bill

[Jamie]

Hi Allan, liking the new direction in arrangement and instrumentation! I too thought of Leonard Cohen when I listened. The lyric had a melancholy feel and the phrasing and flow is really good.Well produced, nice one!
Cheers
Jamie

[pompeyjazz]

Hi Alan. Good to hear you experimenting and pushing some boundaries as it's all too easy to stay in comfort zones. The chanting freaked me out though. I could smell the incense. Keep up that experimentation man

[jamesh]

I was captivated right from the start, with the minimal accompaniment allowing the vocals to really shine through. The melody of each verse has a beginning, middle and end with an unexpected chord (for me) on "send the ashes to you" leading nicely onto the next part of the melody.

The lyrics are haunting, and though I wasn't necessarily sure what each line was really referring to, the overall theme of love and loss is perfectly matched with the melody and production.


Having said all that, I feel there would be nothing wrong it bringing in more instruments later on in the song just to add some variation but then I guess it may take the song to a different place.

A fine example of melody, lyrics and production working together to create a great song.


James

[shadowfax]

Lyrics are super but the song didn't do it for me...kept waiting for it to get going..
great work but just not my kinda song I'm afraid..
much respect for moving away from your normal style though my friend..

[Martinswede]

Good work. If it was work. It sounds like it just flowed naturally.
The whispers are a bit creepy but its nothing wrong with it. Maybe they
could be better placed in the mix cause I cant really hear whats been said.
I'd like some very sparse drums or percussion with a lot of reverb
to give it even more of an atmospheric sound.

All the best,

- Martin

[LAquila]

That's achingly beautiful, Alan. Your voice is haunting and the harmonica really works well. The weird whispering is a bit spooky but effective.

Bill mentioned Dave Gilmour but I think this is actually more like Roger Waters at his most morbid. That's a compliment

cheers,
L

[Paulski]

Hi montydog

Beautiful piece IMHO.
One of yer best. Sounded like Cohen with Neil Young on the harp.
Good call fending the drummer off - works fine w/o him.
I could listen to a whole CD of this kind of stuff if they made CD's anymore

Paul

[Jambrains]

Great lyrics! Seems all of my comments have already been brought forward by others so let me just say that it is great to see you trying out new directions and doing it so well. And at the same time you are still distictively you. Kudos!

[Steng]

I'm thinking Pink Floyd. And the song starts building and like a balloon being inflated, it gets a bit bigger and then the harmonica comes in and it's bigger and the bass and it's bigger and the strange backing talking and it's bigger and I'm waiting for a big 'effin explosion of rampant electric guitars and drums to burst the balloon and erm ....they...never...come    But still brilliant! Nice one.

[Binladeda]

 Monty 

 Just love it my friend.....

 Beautiful, sensitive stuff. Impressive
 Your work is really taking off, just love
 the journey you're on. 

 I 'get' the Cohen references that have
 been made, but it's all Monty to me

 Great song....can't wait for the next