Give It Back
b"Episode #142:\\xa0 Give It Back (Song starts at 3:29)\\nWelcome to a very relaxed episode. I was in a mellow mood, the evening I recorded it. I\\u2019d just finished a commissioned painting - predictably, it took me a bit longer than I thought it might. So it was after midnight when I started recording.\\nAs a creative person, something I really keep an eye on is: I like to get things done. Finished. Sooner than later. Then I can move on.\\nThat\\u2019s the creative way. It\\u2019s in the process, where the action happens. Speaking of which\\u2026\\nAs I talk about how I composed \\u2018Give It Back\\u2019, I draw attention to the need to be your own secretary, somehow, & yet remain in the flow.\\nIn these days of phones and recording devices, that\\u2019s a simple matter. Back in 1987, when I wrote 'Give It Back', I was sitting at the piano with the handwritten lyrics, pen in hand.\\nI came up with music for the verse, scrawled a very loose bunch of chords and a hurriedly notated melody (just a few lower case notes -\\xa0letters above the syllable).\\nThe next part of the process is (and was) I\\u2019d re-sing and play the part and aim to flow directly on into the next the next section, and so on.\\nStaying in the mood is crucial. It\\u2019s fascinating that it is possible to start and stop and stay \\u2018in the zone\\u2019. It\\u2019s a necessary skill to develop early on, in any creative activity.\\nI wrote 'Give It Back' for my grandparents. I was lucky to have grown up with 4 grandparents around me.\\nIt struck me then that my grandparents wouldn\\u2019t be around forever, so I thought I\\u2019d write this song for them. I also wrote it to share, in the hope that others might pick up on the idea that at we should make the most of our time with our grandparents while they are around.\\nBefore I composed the music, I wrote the lyrics. The first verse came to me first:\\nThe words \\u2018He\\u2019s sitting alone, in his chair, wondering where all the years have gone. There\\u2019s nothing like a visit from a friend\\u2019.\\nThrough writing this, I found myself way into a possible future, in the shoes of an older version of myself and it really brought home to me how it might feel to be older, reflective - and to be alone.\\nThat gave me 'the feeling\\u2019, so that\\u2019s all I really need. A feeling and a start, and away I go.\\nIt\\u2019s a warm, fuzzy subject, and it became that sort of a song,\\nHope you enjoy having a listen to the song - and the chat again this week. I enjoy playing my piano as I talk. It\\u2019s great for demonstrating what I\\u2019m talking about\\u2026 and it takes me places. It certainly seems to help with the creative flow, which I enjoy so much.\\nThis is my blog which I mention: www.petepascoe.wordpress.com. Each week I write and upload a blog post. I generally include a new seascape, the lyrics to the song featured on the weeks podcast episode. There\\u2019s also s cartoons - and writing, of course\\xa0 - and links to lots more music and art. Enjoy.\\nOK, here we go, come back to 1987 with me - and hear a younger me singing an older demo."