This one is getting close to that amazing spot where I can get it done.
Another hot as hell day here in Portland - I think the sun is closer in orbit than when I was a kid. I was in my basement, which hardly ever gets over 70 degrees, and even though I shave my head, my headphones were sliding off from the sweat. Sheesh!
It takes me some time but I finally pump out the last lyric for this song. Its one of those things that have been banging around in my head for weeks, but I was able to ignore it until the music got done. It was the final stumbling block, but that was going away, thankfully.
One thing I have noticed over the years is that what looks good on paper doesn't always work. I came up with the gem of this idea while I was coming home from work - like always, it just pops in.
I write it down and loop the phrase. I think I have it right. I listen again, and no its not quite there. You know this is a love song, and for years I just didn't write stuff like that, since it seemed that it would be a)redundant after the 8 billion other songs about love that have been written or b)that I woulnd't be able to strike the balance between the personal and the general - after all I want this stuff to stick and peoples heads and have them plug their own life into what I am writing about. It can't just be about me.
I also am quite obviously fascinated by words. Case in point: this verse started to come together when I combined the words 'best believe' together. This is entirely different in my mind than something like 'you should believe' or 'you'd better believe'. Its a question of context and the things you imply with your words - I wanted this song to be intimate and wanted to convey the feeling that I was spinging right at the person in the room with me.
Some 10 or 15 takes later this bit of verse is finally sung like I wanted it to sound, or at least a close approximation of that. By now its 11:30 at night, and homeboy gotta get to bed.
And now all I have to do is mix it...................