FAWM: "Heliograph"

Heliograph

2 weeks ago by @elainedimasi

Heliograph

elainedimasi

00:00

Liner Notes

Biiiig thanks to @rickatfulcrum for helping me render this Gerry-Rafferty-inspired, #CurrentlyDigging #70s song I wanted to write. Rick on EP and drums and kibitzing (his word).

Lyrics

can a man trap himself
when his arms open too wide
he's in the entrance and he can't get out,
want to stop this lopsided pirouette inside

furnishings fall failed to the floor
bare walls don't blink
nothing's hidden but it's only when your soul
joins your body at the brink, do you find - out!

did an ocean wash your goodness right off the strand
bare, bleached, driftwood knuckles
rattle and grasp at what they can
head up: find another way
find another way to think about it
think back, back along the track
a mirror winks there
don't doubt it

behind the dunes
lost in the grass
you dropped your goodness somewhere on the path
then a good friend helps with the math
insight will flash like a heliograph
insight will flash like a heliograph

behind the dunes
lost in the storm
you've got a good friend trying to bring you home
went to find you back on the path
goodness will flash like a heliograph

behind the dunes
lost in the storm
you've got a good friend trying to bring you home
went to find you back on the path
insight will flash like a heliograph
insight will flash like a heliograph

Comments

@andrea 1d

Fantastic 70's jam. I'm not a musician, so aside from anything technical, I love the music. It has so many pieces that catch my ears. The lyrics are creative and interesting, and the melodies pure fun. Wow all over the place!

@spinhead 1w

first, my beef: why is this not tagged #GerryRafferty ? eh? what's that about, Elaine?

whew. got a little worked up there ;)

this is massive. "bare, bleached, driftwood knuckles"—oh my yes.

knowing this is a *draft*, I am delighted by the arrangement. some of the lyrics are tough to stuff into their space, but you pull it off. and your keys, the solos and the chord patterns, the pads in the background: this is the stuff that keeps me coming back to FAWM year after year.

@russkeys 1w

This is like a time machine - back to the prog rock of my youth. YES could have done something like this. Great production, by the way.
I like the way the lyrics tease images out. Wow.

@heather 1w

This is such a bop!!! And I love the word heliograph, don't think I've ever heard that in a song before.

@jgale 1w

I'll admit it. I danced. Heliograph, yesssssss. Bring me that goodness. This was such a great jam. Loved the vibe, the lyrics, all of it. It just got better as it went.

@squirrelhavenstudios 2w

This one had my head bopping before the vocals even kicked in. This was an excellent production of an excellent song. The keyboards are used to perfection and the vocals are really strong. You've got great little touches sprinkled throughout like the echoed "out" at the end of the 2nd verse. Great job!

@datsch 2w

Love the harmony on “ find another way to think about it” and the way that synth solo comes in at 2:24 is simply divine … plus I totally approve of the low key chugachuga bassline throughout. Great chorus too. I like how it’s not really a typical elaine-o-rick song but it’s own thing, as if dropped in from a parallel universe.

@mikeskliar 2w

wow, this is quite the 1970's trip! really well done production and what a captivating and mysterious lyric- I have no idea what its 'about' (and I had to look up what a heliograph was!) but this has such fun vibes - feels like unexpectedly finding a room that's been untouched since 1977 with all the accoutrements intact (where's that pet rock?) . great work! love it!

@philnorman 2w

This is a jam, your production is awesome -- so simple yet so big. I let it just roll over me, enjoying the sound without paying any attention to the lyrics, which is something I don't do, so take that as a big compliment.

@pumpkinhead 2w

Full power. Wonderful 70's vibe with great production and lyrics full of fantasy and surprise. I dig it!

@billwhite51 2w

this production is so clean and crisp. fabulous lyrics and vocals as well. not just ear candy, but stimulating to the brain and body as well.

@hornesgiftshop 2w

Two things going on here, an amazingly smart 70s pastiche, and a really good song in its own right, with an emotional core that's somewhat buried by the Rafferty chord changes. Anyway I love it.