FAWM: "Parlor Song"

Parlor Song

Liner Notes

#family #folk #indie #indiefolk

I wrote this about my grandmother on my dad's side. She lived with us for a long time when I was a kid. She passed away awhile ago but I was reminiscing recently and I'll never ever forget the fact that she made an 11 year old me promise to play a song I had never heard of at the time but came to love eventually. I can't really play it anymore though for obvious reasons.

The mix is quick and dirty. Recorded the drums at home. It was a lot of fun to arrange.

Lyrics

From the very first time my grandmother saw me play the guitar she told me I had to play "blue eyes cryin in the rain"

at her funeral. And I did. And it hurt. And it was hard. And I was crying almost the entire time. Or I wasn't. And I held it together long enough to get through it.

But I don't remember. But I remember it exactly. And I'm glad I did it. And she was great. And she would have absolutely adored my daughter.

Comments

@mbmusic 6d

This has a really nice sound and energy to it! I really like the buildup at the end. I'll have to look up the song you referenced next. Well done!

@danieldeshon 2w

This is amazing. The music is so interesting and of course the lyrics are so honest and bare. The contradictions really make it for me, as some of my most powerful memories are like that.

@namey 2w

I love this. I love the way the lines carry on into the next verse, so you have to wait. And the contradictions. Ooh.

@gleamingmoonlight 2w

T_T
im not crying, you're crying (im totally crying)
this is beautiful. that ending is sooooo good

@resonut123 2w

Very nice and poignant song.
Nice reminiscence about your Grandmother.
I think I hear a Banjo in there... sounds good. Enjoyed the listen.

@boz 2w

A Great song! Perfect arrangement for the song! I wish I would have wrote this one. Great job.

@bradbrubaker 2w

A lovely tribute. Cool how it is narrated like a book instead of a song.

@jacobeverettwallace 3w

Ooh this is lovely sir. Love the bigger instrumental sections against contrasted against the sparser verses. Great way to start!

@skylermf 3w

I love the stream-of-consciousness style of the writing, like how the lyrics are essentially sentences the way someone might think through this, jumping from thought to thought. I love the contradictions

@jaxmuzak 3w

I love the way you told this story... a great example of using music to create the kind of expectation/resolution that I too often force onto rhyme. And it allows you to share so simply and directly. Really lovely.

@wynia 3w

Awe I'm sorry about the loss of your grandmother. This is a sweet song. Totally love the fullness of the arrangement in the "ooh ooh" sections

@atam94 3w

aw, what a sweet arrangement for the story you tell in this song. I love how it feels more conversational and works its way from Point A to B. Very nicely done!

@youraveragejoe 3w

This is incredibly sweet, absolutely great storytelling and I'm sure she would have also adored this song. Excellent work, well done!

@davi3blu3 3w

This is so moving. The arrangement is lush and pretty, it really carries a dreamy wistful feel. Wow, great job!
P.S. I played "Amazing Grace" at my grandmothers funeral.