[montydog]

Hi,

Here is a new song from me. It's about someone who has spent their life at sea and despite all the dangers and hardship, when the sailor is old and reflects on his life, it's these times that were the best. I hope you like it and feel inclined to comment.

M

https://soundcloud.com/alan-walker-4/i-have-been-a-sailor

I have been a sailor for many a long year
There's salt water in my veins
Used to be a whaler off the bleached bone shores
Through the freezing Nantucket rain
The freezing Nantucket rain

I have run through storms with waves so high
I thought every breath was my last
With the wind so strong it tore up the sails
And smashed the matchstick mizzen mast
Smashed the matchstick mizzen mast

Still I live for days when the anchor weighs
And the sea whispers low
"If you sail on me I'll set you free
Just a sure as the north winds blow"
Just a sure as the north winds blow"

I have been drunk in bars under the stars
In a town near Abeline
Sat up all night as the Northern lights
Turned the skyways green
They turned the skyways green

I killed a Bristol man with my bare hands
Caught him stealing from the crew
Watched my young man drown
In some harbour town
There was nothing I could do
There was nothing I could do

So if you meet an old man at the sailor's rest
And he's sitting, staring out to sea
Buy him a drink and hear his tales
For that old man might be me
That old man might be me

I still remember days when the anchor weighed
And the sea whispered low
"If you sail on me I'll set you free
Just a sure as the north winds blow"
Just a sure as the north winds blow"

[rightly]

I enjoyed reading the lyrics first, obviously first rate
I wasn't expecting the music and production to be so dynamic, then the solo!
This song has it all. 

Excellent work! 

[Furry61]

It's a nice lyric Alan, reminiscent of GL but the song is a departure from that style which is nice. It is a good job all round for me.

Geoff

[Neil C]

Alan,
You continue to play to your lyrical and vocals strengths and have added top quality arrangement and production. All sounding present and correct.

Lots to like in this tune. From the story, your vocals and the rhythmic playing, to the neat touches of mandolin, accordion and slide solo.
All sounding effortless, like an organic band should.
Did I say I liked it?
Going to have another listen..
:-)
neil
   

[pompeyjazz]

You tell a very good story here Alan. Great imagery conjured up. Super playing and production. I like the effect you've got coming in on the beat in V2 (couldn't work out what it was) A bit of accordion thrown in works well. And a bit of murder thrown in there as well. Ooh - Nice solo as well

[MartynRich]

I really like this Alan. It reminds me of the time I played the folk-rock circuit - there was a lot of this style about. The melody has a very trad feel to it - it reminds me either of a trad tune or structure but I can´t call it to mind right now, not that that´s important in folk at all anyway

The instrumentation is great - a really nicely layered sound and a guitar solo with attitude. Great piece of work.

[PaulyX]

Loved the lyrics, especially the use of lots of place names - cleverly underlines that the narrator has got around. Loved the banjo/mandolin too, and the accordion. It must have been hard not to say “Aaah, Jim-lad” or other pirate-isms at the end. Certainly a salty sea dog top tune this one... very evocative.

[shadowfax]

Your material just gets better and better Alan..super story telling and liked the uke.. (sounded like one to me)

best, Kevin

[PaulAds]

 Very nice indeed.

I like the extra little kick it has about it...it does a great job of conveying some of the grittier elements of a life at sea that the scurvy land-lubbers amongst us can only imagine

Production sounds really excellent too. A great job all round.

[nooms]

fine song alan
enjoying the scenes your painting with that velvet walker vocal
mix is refreshing and light with lots of space and the tempo keeps it rolling
thought for a moment we were going to encounter capn ahab..
the mention of nantucket took me back to my whaling days and moby dick..
mountain's nantucket sleighride and the world in action theme ..
do you see what boxes youve opened..!
great bit of writing

[MonnoDB]

This is lovely @montydog - no surprise I guess that I like the folksiness of it. Really love the rhythm of these lines and when they’re repeated later (with that slight tweak):

‘Still I live for days when the anchor weighs
And the sea whispers low’

Really grabbed me. Great story and very well performed and produced. HUGE thumbs up from me. Loved it!

[dinnerwithgreedo]

It's hard to add to these comments as everyone has said everything. Yes... this is fucking brilliant!
I too loved the lyrics, the melody and that solo... awesome!

The only thing i didn't like was the title! Call it 'North Winds' or something!!!

[adamfarr]

This is just great - really engaging story, perfect tempo, and love the instrumentation and the variety (the killing verse really stands out with the instruments dropping out and the ghost vocal on top).


I think I might have ended it with just the drums leading to a definite ending rather than a fade out. But maybe that’s what happens to old sailors... A really listenable song.

[LostBoy]

Awesome job on this Alan!! Wonderful imagery, great music! I really enjoyed it.🎶👊🏻🎶😁👍🏻

[Wicked Deeds]

@montydog I love the concept that is going on here. It's kinda close to home for me having travelled on an amazing sea-faring journey in recent years.  I've also encountered the rocks of the 'jagged coast' more than I care too have done so.  Anyway, my ship is now safely ashore despite the rough seas!

Seriously, I love the choice of instruments. Especially the accordion and Mandolin/ukelele, married to the slide guitar.  Great story telling, lyrically you've done exceptionally well.  Maybe I'll be tempted to sail off into the sun again one day, in search of calmer seas and a place where new adventures are to be found. 

Quality songwriting my friend.

Paul