✵ Didn't Work Out

2 weeks ago by @max

Liner Notes

https://studio273.bandcamp.com/track/didnt-work-out
Over 20 years of participating in February Album Writing Month (FAWM), I’ve developed a workflow that allows me to quickly create a decent recording of a freshly written song. My process always starts with guitar chords and humming a melody. Once a few words come to mind the songcrafting starts.
Despite all the digital possibilities out there, I prefer to keep things pure by using real instruments. I print the lyrics in large text, hang them above a camera, and play the song several times in a row. Usually, the fourth or fifth take is good enough. Thanks to FAWM, I’ve learned not to dwell too long on whether something is "perfect."

Next, I separate the one-take audio track from the video and load it into a mixing program. Most of the effects I use are already preset. Then I record additional vocal tracks and layer in more instruments like guitar, banjo, piano, and keyboard. Once the mix sounds decent, I sync it back with the video footage. Each year, I choose a different color theme for my two-tone videos.

If a song is recorded this way during FAWM, it’s done. After FAWM, I usually end up with three or four keepers, which I test live on stage. Songs often grow and evolve during live performances, but I never rerecord them. Around 90% of the songs I’ve written over the past 20 years were created during FAWM—simple and effective.

These days, I use ChatGPT to check my lyrics for grammar and spelling mistakes and to give suggestions. In the past, I relied on native-speaking FAWMers for this.
The audio mix I upload to Bandcamp is the same as the one in the videos. My style is defined by one-take, single-mic recordings with additional vocals and instruments.
#three-chord #guywithguitar #single-mic

Lyrics

It didn’t work out the way I wanted
It didn’t work out the way I had it in mind

The choices made
pulling at my mind
don’t know what went wrong
I’m trying to rewind
The harder I try
The less I understand
With every step I take
I’m sinking deeper in the sand

It didn’t work out the way I wanted
It didn’t work out the way I had it in mind
It didn’t work out the way I wanted
It didn’t work out the way I had it in mind

Is it pride or fear
that kept me in the blind
Maybe the deeds I did
The thoughts I left behind
Is it all bad luck
is it something out of hand
I’m caught in the middle
of a broken plan

It didn’t work out the way I wanted
It didn’t work out the way I had it in mind
It didn’t work out the way I wanted
It didn’t work out the way I had it in mind

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© Max Vanremmerden / vanremmerdenmusic 2025.
fawm.org/@max

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