[cowparsleyman]

This song was written by chap called Mark Baptist from Lewisham, London.

He made a lasting impression on me as a songwriter and guitarist.

I wen to see his band at a gig near me and was stunned by the skill of his songwriting, I asked him after the gig if he needed a guitarist, he declined my offer, but maybe a year later he invited me to play in that band as a bass player, what a privilege, couldn't beleive my good fortune...

He wrote this song in the early 80's and to me it conjuers up so many vivid images, it's still one of my favourite songs by anyone, famous or not.

This is my arrangement, simple as in the title of the song, no flashy production, no fixing mistakes, no making good the blemishes, just me, my fretless, my guitar and my voice, which is a shed load more than the poor bloke in the song has in his life.


Hope you like it too, let me know.

Lyrics

I've got a job that doesn't pay
It's a crime the hours that I'm away
If I was bright, I'd fight
If I was smart, there'd be bands in my heart

I'm glad I have my simple mind
I'm glad I have my simple mind
I'm glad I have my simple mind

A dull cargo in a council bus,
Awkward hands that couldn't hurt a fly
Your mind's so clean your mean
If your so smart, what's wrong with your heart?


Feel no pain
Don't know why I'm laughing
Inspected
Injected
Rejected
I'm protected
 
Inspected
Injected
Rejected
I'm protected

I'm glad I have my simple mind
I'm glad I have my simple mind
I'm glad I have my simple mind

Don't realise I have no chance
So polite I smile and ask to dance with me.
If your so bright, you'll dance
If your so smart, what's wrong with your heart

I'm glad I have my simple mind
I'm glad I have my simple mind
I'm glad I have my simple mind

[redrhodie]

This really reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on what. But loved your simple rendition. It's exactly what the lyrics call for. Cool song, well played and well sung.

Lynn

[cowparsleyman]

Whato @redrhodie - Thanks for the listen, If you remember what it reminds you of do post it here.

Thanks for the confirmation of the arrangement, we never put it in our Set either, shame really.

btw...

I heard a version of Pilot's 1970's pop song  'January' the other day on SC, and it was clearly recorded on a phone in a park or garden somewhere in Thailand, it's just brilliant, catches the vibe, Well sung, has a few slips and as far away from a cold dank London Winter as you can get. I think the point is that sometimes it's something other than flashy production that delivers the essence of a song. I wonder if Simple Mind would benefit from such a live performance?

I guess it wouldn't be complete without the link....



Thanks again Lynn, much appreciated.

Rich

[Wicked Deeds]

I always enjoy listening to stripped back songs a it allows my mind free reign to envisage possible directions.  The stand out lyric for me is ”I f I was smart, there’d be bands in my heart.”  Several influences are evident in the stripped version, including Ray Davies. 

I enjoyed Listening.

Paul

[cowparsleyman]

@Wicked Deeds - Thanks, yeah there's something so transparent, as if you can see right inside the songwriters mind, my favourite line is "A dull cargo on a Council bus".

Rich

[mikek]

Really cool tune and great vocal performance. I love it.

[cowparsleyman]

Whato @Mikek - Thank you very much for taking a listen, I'm so glad it's being heard. I really felt for those folk that this song is for when I sang it, I wonder how they would feel if they heard it.

Regards

cpm

[Jambrains]

Great stuff! Can't help thinking what it would sound like with drums, bass, a 12-Ric and so on (but then I always do  )
Really nice sound to that guitar, what is it?

[cowparsleyman]

Hi @Jambrains - Thanks very much for the listen and comments.

The guitar is a Custom strat, it's a joy to play, but heavy, quilted maple, on an Ash body, ebony fretboard (Gibson width), Spertzels, Fender Fat 50's....

The fretless bass is a Jaco Pastorious Jazz bass Replica...

cpm

[mickyplankton]

Cool song thanks for sharing. @redrhodie im with you on this.  the opening vocal melody is strikingly similar to a Green Day song. Can't remember which one but it's from the Dookie album I think.
I really like the treatment you have given the material but I can't help feeling like it should have a full electric backing band. It would sound even better with the full Green Day treatment!

[Jamie]

Hi CPM, enjoyed the stripped back rendition which really highlights your voice. Enjoyed it! Some nice unexpected chords too!

Nice one!

Cheers
Jamie

[cowparsleyman]

Hi @mickyplankton - Thanks very much for spending the time to take a listen and writing your review, Green Day that's a compliment, If you remember which song it sounds like please let me know and I'll take a listen.

So glad you like it. It's an unusual subject, but does make one think, always conjures up such vivid imagery.

@Jamie - Also thanks for the listen and the review, I think I find fretless bass  adds a certain 'something' on songs with meaning, don't know what it is.  I also think there shouldn't be too many songs featuring a fretless on an album, as it tends to get on ones pip after a while.

I'll be releasing more of his Songs by and by...

Really appreciate this, and all reviews and comments are most gratefully received and considered.

Rich

[mickyplankton]

The song it reminds me of is Longview which is track 4 from Dookie.

Listening again, it’s not completely obvious but there’s a definite similarity to my ears. I noticed your song predates Longview by 14 years so no ambiguity for the lawyers on that one!

[cowparsleyman]

Hi @mickyplankton - I'll check it out, thanks, I only know that one about September from Green Day....

Regards

CowParsleyHermitMan 

[rightly]

I really like this.
clearly a very written song
It'd be difficult to go wrong with it. lol.
Still a fine performance from yourself.