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Busker Blues (Covers Encouraged) Bad language

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Martinswede

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« on: June 26, 2017, 06:41:16 PM »
Hi!

I regard this song as a social comment.
Not as a way of making fun of street musicians.
(Or mental illness).

(I have a feeling the chorus is not so original).

https://soundcloud.com/martin-jarnevi/busker-blues

Any forum member(s) may post a cover of it.
Just include a reference so others can find the original song.

Lyrics /w chords:
          
[G]Armed with a banjo [Em]or a pawn shop guitar.
He [D]looks like he's homeless but he [C]doesn't sleep in a car.

Today he's rich an famous 'cause he has forgotten to take his pills.
His mother gave him a jacket, that was nice coz the cold wind chills.
                                            
If I could [G]believe you, I'd believe in [Em]love.
I'd believe a [C]stranger could raise me [G]up.

He ain't here for the money or a tear in your eye.
He's just guarding his spot from the seagulls in the sky.

So don't give him your sorrow or your hard earned sympathy.
Just let him do his shit. Let the poor busker be.

Words/music by Martin Järnevi 2017
« Last Edit: June 26, 2017, 07:13:54 PM by Martinswede »

PaulyX

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« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2017, 09:44:43 PM »
Hey Martin, good clean recording.  Like the opening chord a lot.  The whole thing is nice and simple, minimal production and I guess that fits the subject matter of the song well.  I like the ambivalence of the lyrics especially in the line "If I could believe you, I'd believe in love..." - impossible to tell if that's an optimistic line or if it's really saying "I can't believe you so I can't believe in love..."; I like the puzzle of that.  Some good vibrato in your voice and I liked the appearance of the harmonica.  Maybe the chord pattern is a bit 'tried and tested' but again, that's the kind of thing you hear a lot of buskers playing.
PS By the way I listened to Jeff Tweedy's new album today because of your influence.  Nice stuff!
It's all too beautiful.

Martinswede

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« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2017, 09:39:56 AM »
Hi PaulyX!

The song is more of a concept than a piece of music to me. I wrote it in a moment of inspiration thinking about a movie I had seen. I would not have posted it if it wasn't for nursing this covers-idea that has started to gain support in The Bar. http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=13352.0 Almost any beginner can play the chords and the melody is just screaming for creative
interpretation.

I didn't know J. Tweedy had a new record out. Thanks!

The S

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« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2017, 10:26:21 AM »
I like it. I sounds sincere and authentic but I think it needs a few more takes, just to get that "one" take down.

I really like the lyrics, but personally I'd shy away from the cursing. There's always a better route you can take and it doesn't really add anything to the overall lyric. IMHO.

Not surprisingly, I love the harmonica in the end.

Good stuff!

Peter

Martinswede

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« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2017, 08:16:27 PM »
Thank you S!

My intention was to capture some kind of instinct rather than to start thinking.
Just some cheerful anarchy. The in-your-face attitude of a three year old so
to speak. From writing the first words to pressing stop on the recording took about
45 min. This song holds no merit except being a bit ugly.

Cursing should Imo not be used just because one can use it. On the other hand
a writer should in no way avoid it when doing so makes a dialog/lyrics appear forced.
I agree that in this case thing could be used instead of the bad word but it would
greatly take away the subjects masked disregard for the said busker.

I'd say the best about the harmonica is that it enters at the last four bars of the recording. :)

IronKnee

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« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2017, 07:43:51 AM »
Hey there Martin......I like the sound, and the lyrics are fine. I agree with steering clear of cussing; unless, it is used to effectively drive home a point (but, that's rather rare, and is usually done inefficiently  ;))
Anyways......Good concept. I would like to think that you are developing this further  8)
Good stuff!
                                     -Tom
"I know the truth, by my struggle against it"
                                                          -IronKnee