5090 by FAWM: "It's Hard to Start a Fire in the Rain"

It's Hard to Start a Fire in the Rain

9 weeks ago by @headfirstonlyMod · @stephenwordsmith

It's Hard to Start a Fire in the Rain

headfirstonly +1

00:00

Liner Notes

Here I am, shamelessly following the zeitgeist.

I was reading Stephen's lyrics and suddenly realised I was hearing an #oddtimesignature 5/4 cadence in them I could use, so I followed it to see how deep I could take Stephen's lyrics down the prog rabbit hole. Quite a long way, it turns out. With a diversion into 6/8 in the middle, because #prog.

Lyrics

There's nothing but the nothingness before the silver spark
That summons the illusions to illuminate the dark
The blood is cold, the spirit low, the mind a weathered plain
And it's hard to start a fire in the rain, in the rain
It's hard to start a fire in the rain

No matter how we wend the way, the first step's always trying
So armed with willing sticks of wood and will of well-wrought iron
And versed so well in what it takes to rub without refrain
But it's hard to start a fire in the rain, in the rain
It's hard to start a fire in the rain

The trickle through your fingertips of thoughts that hold too long
The shush of records broken on the promise of a song
The flicker of a line that leaps and falters just as fast
The sputter of a first light that could never hope to last

So once again we set our soul into the sparks that fly
To burden them with bursts of life, to burn alive and die
To help us find the fortitude to fall and rise again
For it's hard to start a fire in the rain, in the rain
It's hard to start a fire in the rain

Comments

@helenseviltwinMod 1d

This has a bit of a nine inch nails vibe to it in the verses, going off to a bit of an innuendo-era queen thing in the bridge. Great stuff!

@gfandme 5w

Wow, I love the proggy take on these great lyrics. There needs to be more prog! That guitar solo and the synth solo are outstanding, just fabulous!

@tjeff 7w

Love it! The way your 5/4 really gives the illusion of stretching time on that 5th beat is cool. Pro arrangement sounds so good. Lovin' the fluidity of that killer guitar solo!

@cjk 7w

No idea about the music specifics, but it definitely puts strong emotions into those great lyrics.

@gwynjones 8w

I never imagined that this lyric could reach out in so many disparate directions and yet, it has and this perspective takes it in a wholly different trajectory that sounds as if the words were written solely in conjunction with the approach taken...amazing!

@davidtaro 8w

Another +1 for the guitar solo - tone for days! Great change up for the bridge 😂 and then you just keep dialling it up and up from there, culminating in that frankly orgasmic 80s TV theme ending. I’m very much digging this version, it’s utterly unique and utterly you.

@newukenewyork 9w

Fascinating. I've read the wikipedia page for prog and still don't really understand what makes prog prog, but whatever THIS is, I think it's so cool! I love that you felt it in 5/4. The slightly offkilter lean to the beat makes the lyrics sound fresh and new to me, even after 20+ versions. The vocals feel a little "Bowie as the Goblin King," which I hope you'll know I see as a positive. :)

@sph 9w

Nice to hear that the lyrics get a proper prog treatment!
"Damage" was released 30 years ago - I sense some similar ingredients.

@catmisgivings 9w

YES wah pedals and synth in a rainy soundscape. The time signature choice gives you room to emphasize the words "fire" and "rain" and it shifts the mood. None more prog!

@andygetch 9w

Loving how this prog version frames the lyric and the depths it explores. Makes me feel like I'm in the damp wet woods, digging through soaked rotting logs looking for one that might be dry along with a few twigs to get that flicker going.

@stephenwordsmith 9w

I'm so pleased that prog made an appearance here. Brings back many happy memories of collaborating with Hoopshank. I love the maximalism of it all, in the face of so many sparse demos. All the bold flavours are coming together nicely, thank you. I'm enjoying the wood, as ever, but the trees are particularly interesting this time. It gets better with every listen, and the unpredictability is a big factor, I agree with the below that the guitar at 1:50 is sublime, as is the breakdown at 3:40.

I also appreciate that the lyrics have a very light hand on the tiller. You've found a good home for them here, but you could equally have wrapped this tune around a shopping list and still created an enjoyable experience.

@coolparadisoMod 9w

his highness of proggyfication strikes! love it, ill follow you down this rabbit hole anytime. love the guitar around 1.50 and the change after it. really good.

@beacon 9w

When did I start an acid trip? This music is a perfect companion. Amazing what you've done to give a completely different view of the lyrics.

@aeye 9w

Heck yeah! I was wondering when you were gonna join in on this :). Sounds great and love the time signature choice

@mctown 9w

Good job.

@mikeskliar 9w

wow, wow and more wow! the whole thing is a wild ride, from the 5/4 to the stately and impressive textures of all the instruments to the inventive progginess of it all- love how you change it all up in the bridge, too- excellent choices and I love the whole way the mix holds together. great work! emerson lake and palmer, yes, crimson, jethro tull and genesis move over! :)