The Place Where I Begin

by @dr_griff

The Place Where I Begin
dr_griff
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Liner Notes

#filk #folk #singersongwriter

So between 50/90 2024 and FAWM 2025, I wrote a song called "Trav'lin' Man." That guy was following his father, to find out who he was. (You can hear the song on my YouTube channel.) But tonight, this song just came to me, and I think it's the same guy. Now he knows where he's going, even if he's not sure where it is yet.

Lyrics

Capo 1
Verse 1
D G D
Well, I’m going down the valley and I’m going up the hill
D A A7
I will go to where my heart has lately cried
D G D
I am going to the water and I’m going to the mill
D A D
I am going to the well I have inside
D G D
I am going to the mountains and I’m going to the sea
D A A7
I will go to where my soul has lately flown
D G D
I am going to the river and I’m going to the quay
D A D
I am going to the fields that I have sown

CHORUS
G D
And I know there isn’t much there, waiting for me
G A
But still I go to know where I have been
D G D
I am going to the prairies and I’m going to the skies
D A D
I am going to the place where I begin.

Verse 2
It is hard to find a hidey-hole, it’s hard to find a cave
It is hard to find a place I can be free
It is hard to find my freedom in the land that doesn’t save
A stone or rock or log where I can be

It may be a lot to ask for but I’m certain I will find
The place that I can finally call my own
It may sound as if I’m wishing, it may seem as if I’m blind
But I know it’s there, I know I’ll find it soon

CHORUS

Verse 3
So I am going down the valley and I’m going up the hill
I will go to where my heart has lately known
I am going to the water and I’m going to the mill
I am going to the place where I am known

I am going to the mountains and I’m going to the sea
I will go to where I know my people roam
I am going to the river and I’m going to the quay
I am going to the place that I call home

CHORUS

Comments

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Love this storyline and that it is connected to your other song. I love it when creativity leads you to these intersections. Catchy melody and chorus. I can imagine a whole crowd singing along.
[avatar]
Well placed in it's genre. I like the repetition, it doesn't get old and feels very cozy. I think the structure really allows that, so great placement of each section. Love the water/mill/well lines. My mind is still reeling that quay start with a k. Really every twist of words on the first two verses are fantastic, "i am going to the fields i have sown". As mentioned before cozy, i could really see incorporating old timey instruments into this one and it would sound good.
[avatar]
Catchy sing-along. Feels like a happy place to be and a happy place to go. Thanks for the uplift. :)
[avatar]
This the type of song I could hear on movie like " brother where art thou?"
[avatar]
The chorus will be a singalong in a circle partway thru the first time sung! The kind of song many folkies wish they had written.
[avatar]
A very long-time wanderer, that at first he doesn’t realize what he’s looking for. Makes me wonder if he ever had a place that felt safe and home to him. But he’s open to the yearning, and starting to imagine a different future, one where he doesn’t have to travel endlessly, one where he can choose whether to wander and where he will have a home to return to if he does. I like it. Maybe we’ll get a bit more of his story, eventually?
[avatar]
Great lyrics and melody and nicely sung! Was singing harmony while it played! Wonderful start to the FAWM!
[avatar]
"It is hard to find my freedom in the land that doesn’t save
A stone or rock or log where I can be"

subtle, but powerful. simple, but profound. this is a damn good folk song, my friend 💙
[avatar]
I was just bopping along to the nice sound of this until you got to "go to where I know my people roam". At that point it retroactively became a much deeper song with the idea that "my people" are scattered throughout all these places and can be found in any of them. Good job!
[avatar]
Great rhythm for a traveling song! I agree, verse 2 is particular good lyrically. Very easy to listen to, both the guitar and vocal. And yeah, it's neat when songs kind of connect with each other.
[avatar]
This one has a very "Arlo Guthrie" feel to it.
[avatar]
I was swaying along about 20 seconds in! Well done.
verse two is a standout for me! Your vocals are excellent
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I love the back story to this, and I love a character reprise in a song. It’s definitely a singalong one this. I was hoping for more choruses to sing with if im honest - its very catchy!
[FAWM]