The Long Haul
Episode#129:\xa0 The Long Haul\xa0 \xa0 (Song starts at 5:05)\n\nIt\u2019s been a long time since I wrote the song Secret Lullabies. I use the riff as my theme music for these episodes. That particular song was song number 3. The long haul is song number 614. I wrote it in 2014. Yes, there\u2019s been a few years & a fair bit of water under the bridge. It\u2019s been a long haul.\n\nWhat inspired this song?\u2026 yep, you guessed, it: a feeling. And the feeling was: I\u2019d realised I was in for the long haul for the relationship I found myself in.\n\nI like to add lines of character. \u2018Old dog, new trick\u2019 is, I believe, exactly that - a good way to start a song. Something that catches the ear. Unexpected, perhaps a bit humorous - nothing wrong with that.\n\nSo with a song, you\u2019ve only got about 3mins each word counts. And so it moves on. \u2018You can count on me \u2026.for the weekend\u2026. In about 20 years\u2019. Yes, the songwriter is initially pulling his lovers leg - and then he\u2019s finally admitting it. Ok I\u2019m in for the long haul.\n\nI think it was a nice concept for a song. I felt it needed some of the leg pulling, to come across as real, not gushy, something worth listening to.\n\nAnd it was written with the idea that perhaps someone (like me, back then) who found the words didn\u2019t come easy, might be able to play this song to someone whom they thought might be \u2018the one\u2019.\n\nIt\u2019s a nice feeling, just cruising out, playing an instrumental section of a song you\u2019ve written. There\u2019s time for reflection, it\u2019s good fun\u2026 as a painter, you get to present the painting once, really. With a song, each time you perform it, you might find something else in there to feature. It might be melodic phrase, a particular group of chords that you just feature a bit more.\n\nIt\u2019s also nice to write a song about a subject that you feel so strongly about, but by talking about old dogs, the wind blowing, the dawn, the story can be delivered in a relaxing, yet entertaining manner, without getting too worked up about it all.\n\nThis isn\u2019t a power ballad. I\u2019m not that sort of writer - or singer. I\u2019m more your understated sort of gentle presentation sort of songwriter, generally speaking. Well, there\u2019s a variety check out 14 albums here: www.petepascoe.bandcamp.com - 7 of these albums are streaming on other platforms like Spotify, etc.\n\nIn amongst talking about the song, you\u2019ll get to hear about a old house I lived in; owls, possums, carting a table home with car and no trailer; my cats waking me up way too early, etc. all sorts of things pop into my mind as I talk. It\u2019s all pretty relaxed.\n\nI do like having a yarn and I do like letting the song lead the way as I record each episode. It\u2019s all off the cuff - no notes or prep. So its relaxed and fun.\n\nIt\u2019s also fun for me to read through the lyrics, analyse where they\u2019ve come from, the underlying meaning, what may make the odd line comes across a little stronger than some others, etc.\n\nThe music always amazes me, where it comes from, how it comes through,. At the end of this episode, to demonstrate this, I describe the scene I was part of, fishing at sunset the other night. The feeling that I felt that evening, I talk myself into that state again and allow it to sort of move my fingers on the piano keys and improvise a piano piece - which could easily become a song.\n\nI hope you enjoy this episode, if you do, and you\u2019re new here, there\u2019s plenty more episodes\u2026120 odd waiting for you.\n\nThen there\u2019s the 14 albums ( currently ) online, videos, lots of paintings, cartoons, etc.\nI\u2019d love you to sign up to my email list. You won\u2019t miss a thing that way.\xa0Info@petepascoe.com\n\nThanks for reading. I hope you enjoy this episode.\n\nPete