5090 by FAWM: "Practicing Dying"

Practicing Dying

Liner Notes

“Practicing Dying” - #fawm 50/90 2024 original song 1

I have a pile of lyrical drafts written around skirmish prompts during last summer’s 50/90, so my goal for this summer is to get through setting the remaining 30 or so to music.

Here, I wrote the verse and chorus melodies in an airport yesterday and finished the bridge this morning. This is also probably a good first song for me to share, as it’s pretty indicative of several common themes of my songwriting (not that I can’t be silly at times).

I tried a lot of different versions of the final line in the chorus because the original line didn’t sit right with me, and I currently like this one best.

All my originals: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6mTUlPL-MmAm45IMVgat1necrh2mGnT6&si=sAdXP581ZNU__9rn

#fuc #acoustic #acousticonetake #ukulele #personwithukulele #onetake #girlwithukulele #singersongwriter #mortality #midemfoke #americanasati

Lyrics

God is a sparrow
The Devil is a storm
We’re learning to be delicate
In the calm before we’re born
I’m born and born and born again
I keep on getting to Begin.

Practicing dying
And failing and trying
Not always believing
But I just keep on living,
Turned inside and outside and through
I’d like to keep practicing dying with you

I am an infant
I am an endless crone
We’re mastering our magic
In the space ‘tween dusk and dawn
Who wound the braid we twist into,
The grass that burns and brews?

CHORUS

BRIDGE
For me, you’re a crash pad of clover and hay
A bed for the night and hammock for day
And it’s not a long journey from cradle to grave
But it’s longer than I’ve ever made

CHORUS

Comments

@chris_buono 1w

Classic "But I just keep on living" weaved within the depths of such a telling chorus so complementing those clever metaphors surrounding the lyric throughout! Nice delicate play on this one, too, in song. Fine, deliberate pauses, and run in perfect strumming time that nicely reveals the birth of this write.

@richaux 6w

The sparrow and storm analogy is rather fine 👏 ... it draws you in nicely to the song. That cadence into the last line of the bridge lifts very neatly too.

Wonderful use of airport time: hope you were sitting in lounge with uke, entertaining! 🙂

@ttg105 9w

Your voice is so clear and pristine, and the melodies really appeal to the heart. Lyrics are clever and funny ... love "endless crone"!

@jamkar 10w

What a unique perspective. We hold the magic to reframe our lives. And your music gives it a real beauty!

@everythingben 10w

Superb. The line "I'd like to keep practicing dying with you" immediately had me hooked.

@philkmills 10w

Lovely melody.

Interesting how the feel of the song is comfortable even while discussing god, the devil, and death. It's as if the singer has enough wisdom to take all things in stride.

@russkeys 10w

Your lyrics capture something beyond. They are haunting and yet comforting. Beautifully sung!

@atam94 10w

that chorus is really something special, I like this a lot!

@tamsnumber4 10w

Great playing and melody! Very original subject. I like the second verse.

@sheslin 10w

Beautiful melody, vocals and lyrics - and your bright uke is lovely. Really cool song concept, well constructed with a wonderful message.

@bobjestes 10w

Very nice storytelling. You made me consider things I’ve never considered before. Nicely sung and produced.

@andygetch 11w

From that title I was not expecting a love song and was pleasantly surprised. A lovely melody and an intricate descriptive lyric.

@bunga 11w

I love some metaphysics and spirituality in music. Fantastic work!

@donna 11w

Lovely song. Wonderful, image-rich lyric. The bridge is excellent.

@billwhite51 11w

compelling lyrics,,especialy the second half of the bridge. you have a terrific sense of melody, and continue to surprise on even the most basic chord changes. chorus is excellent. i could listen to it a hundred times without ever once pining it down.

@memeworrywort 11w

Great start to 50/90. The chorus is really catchy. Great job!

@fatboyjamz 11w

I like the chorus. "Practicing dying" is quite catchy. Nice strumming as usual.

@berni1954 11w

Wonderfully idiosyncratic melody and super contrast in the lyrics between the positive love being expressed and the realisation behind the "momento mori" of the title line.