Y9 W7 "it's not the destination that's important - it's the journey."
So this is a journey of one person, through the time span of one year. For people in 12 step programs the song probably won't need explanation. In these groups, members often receive "chips" to signify the first day of recovery, 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months and years.
I wrote this song for a friend that celebrated one year of recovery and picked up his anniversary chip on Tuesday. A little extra editing and it's ready to post today
It is dedicated to Sister Ignatia. Sister lgnatia, the nun who helped Dr. Bob get the hospitalization program started at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron was the first person to use medallions in Alcoholics Anonymous
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10012338
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1121624
(C) Day one. Please help me through this (G) moment
(D) I'm scared. How did I get (G) here?
(C)I'm new, I haven't got the (G) power
(D) How the Hell do people make a (G) year
(C) I crawled in though those doors (G) Defeated and dismayed
(D ) I didn't have a hope (G) Seems I've always been this way
( C ) They said “keep coming back†(G) They opened up their hearts
(D) They showed me the 12 steps (G) And said that's where to start
(C) One Month. Is it really 30 (G)days?
(D) I'm sober, but my thoughts aren't very (G)clear
(C) A new guy asked how I made it this (G)far
(D) How the Hell do people make a (G)year?
(C) I read the book they gave me. (G)A lot there to digest
(D) A speaker told his story, (G)I truly was impressed
(C) God had helped this guy, (G)I suddenly had hope
(D) Stress had always ruled me. (G) I now had tools to cope
(C) 60 Days. It seems I'm full of (G)anger
(D) When I'm not yelling my eyes are full of (G)tears
(C) Sponsor says it's time to turn it (G)over
(D) How the Hell do people make a (G)year?
(C) I'm asked to do some service(G) after closing prayers
(D) Cleaning off the tables and (G)picking up the chairs
(C) I call my sponsor daily, (G)he says to read the book
(D) There are new words in there (G)every time I look
(C) 3 months. Now I'm on the fourth (G)step
(D) If you read it you wouldn't want me(G) here
(C) Next thing is that I have to (G)share it
(D) How the Hell do people make a (G)year?
(C) Told God, myself, and (G)another human being
(D) The nature of my wrongs, I (G)found that this was freeing.
(C) A great weight was removed, (G)felt 100 pounds lighter
(D) Archway to a future that (G)promised to be brighter
(C) Month 6. Pray to lose these (G)defects
(D) Making amends I slowly lose my(G) fears
(C) Daily review then prayer and (G)meditation
(D) How the Hell do people make a (G)year?
(C) I crawled in though those doors (G) Defeated and dismayed
(D ) I didn't have a hope (G) Seems I've always been this way
( C ) They said “keep coming back†(G) They opened up their hearts
(D) They showed me the 12 steps (G) And said that's where to start
(C) Anniversary day is just like any (G)other
(D) Feel as though my thoughts are getting(G) clear
(C) Each morning I pray for another (G)reprieve
(D) One day at a time is how to get a (G)year
First, congratulations to your friend. Touching song. He is lucky to have you.
(C) I crawled in though those doors (G) Defeated and dismayed
(D ) I didn't have a hope (G) Seems I've always been this way
( C ) They said “keep coming back†(G) They opened up their hearts
(D) They showed me the 12 steps (G) And said that's where to start
I think the words "Seems I've always been this way" in the second line might read better as "Seemed I'd always been that
way ". He has been at it for 6 months and has definitely changed so he is not "this way" anymore and he is referring to how he felt when he started....It is a small thing but would jibe better with the "I crawled in through these doors" (on day one) and "I didn't have a hope" phrases.
Nice work.
Ernie
"All battles are first won or lost in the mind." - Joan of Arc
"It took me about 20 years to figure out how to write without inspiration. Thankfully, I got there." - Leon Russell
Hi Mr. E
Definitely agree with Ernie on the second line of the chorus, as well as his suggestion.
And while it's a little thing, I'm not sure the "make a year" phrase works. I understand what you want to say but I had the benefit of your introduction as well as having the entire lyric in front of me. If I was simply in an audience, though, the very first time the phrase came up it might be a bit confusing.
It might need some tweaking, but using "get through" instead of make, at least in the initial verse, might help:
Day one. Please help me through this moment
I'm scared. How did I get here?
I'm new, I haven't got the power
How the Hell do people get through a year
"Get through" would also make the last verse easier for the audience as well:
Anniversary day is just like any other
Feel as though my thoughts are getting clear
Each morning I pray for another reprieve
One day at a time is how to get through a year
Also, as far as titles go, "Day One" is interesting but very misleading. Esoteric titles are great fun but are quite often ineffective for making your song memorable to listeners after the song is over. Just a thought.
Good work and looking forward to more.
Peace
Thanks for your comments.
Hi MrEWorm,
Nice job trying to tackle such a large amount of information. :D
I'll second on Dave's comment about the title needing some tweaking as well the possibility of needing to combine some ideas for time's sake; depending on what the song clocks in on when played.
Thanks for sharing.
James
I decided to record it on my laptop. The full length came in at 3:50 so I didn't feel the need to cut lyrics. My first take was about 3:35 but I decided to slow down the tempo. I with a simple constant strum on a uke to try to keep the accompaniment to a minimum.
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10012338
Thanks for sharing the mp3. :D
Musically, it's a bit too repetitive for my taste.
Suggestions:
#1
Extend the main melody line to fit over two verses at a time instead of one.
This reminds me of a song I wrote that had no variation between the sections.
http://forums.guitarnoise.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=43274
Here was Vic's comment and suggestion to me at the time....
"......it's very cleverly put together, but for me there's just too much repetition, musically. That's the only quibble.
#2 (Vic's suggestion)
I don't know if you've ever tried any open tunings - it strikes me this might work well in DADGAD, where you could introduce a little variation in the verse form. Then again, I think you've already got the right musical backing - it just lacks variation."
Here is the song if you want a musical example of what I mean:
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=7298550
#3
Another suggestion would be to mix in some minor chords as all major keeps it sounding "cheery"; which doesn't quite fit the mood for much of the song.
Example
(Fm) I crawled in though those doors (C) Defeated and dismayed
I (Gm) didn't have a (F) hope Seems I've (Fm or C) always been this way
They (Gm) said “keep coming back†They (F) opened up their hearts
They (Gsus4) showed me the 12 steps And (G) said that's where to start
Thanks for your comments. The comments I have received off line, from people involved in 12 step programs are quite different. They occasionally hold conventions with skits. That's what this song is for.
Minor chords and a lament style melody would not be needed.They are for the most part, very happy people. A typical in-joke is "I'm allergic to **********, every time I use it I break out windows and doors"
If it is ever performed puclicly, each set of two verses (they are in pairs if you hadn't noticed) will be sung by a different person. The effect is that one person is singing about being new, the next one about the experience at 30 days ets. The final chorus should be sung by the ensemble.
I selected the simple constant strumming of the uke with no fills just to keep the key and tempo constant. The lyrics are the song in this case.
The comments I have received off line, from people involved in 12 step programs are quite different. They occasionally hold conventions with skits. That's what this song is for.
That's where knowing your audience comes in :wink: The other things you mentioned about a duet format then ensemble would probably come across quite different than it does on the mp3.
Thanks for sharing the insights :D
