FAWM: "Ode on a PHQ-9"

Ode on a PHQ-9

Skirmish: TURN OFF ALL THE NOISE (@corinnecurcio)

Liner Notes

Thanks to @corinnecurcio for a great skirmish topic. It got me thinking about those who have helped me with mere presence.

Recorded with a Seagull Merlin half-dulcimer/half-strumstick thing and a touch of reverb.

From the unrealized album "Is My Score Lower than Last Time, Doctor?"

Lyrics

If you're moving oh so slowly that other people could have noticed
Make your slow way out to me
We'll meet in front of the library

And we won't need to speak
We can sit and read for a little while

If you're speaking oh so slowly that other people could have noticed
Make your slow way to the sea
We'll meet just at the bench above the jetty

And we won't need to move
We can sit and watch the boats go
We won't need to speak
We can sit and read for a little while

Comments

@scottmcb 1d

Wow, that riff just draws you in. So beautiful. A lovely song

@mattpierce 2d

Cool Bro! I've been missing you!
Mountain Dulcimer?

@tcelliott 2d

What a lovely moment imagined/captured in a song. I like how this makes me feel.

@miltz 6d

Conjures a gentle picture. A whole story I couldn't recite back to you but felt clearly. Got me thinking about those who have helped ME with mere presence, without whom I would be absent from the world. Thanks for this.

@philnorman 6d

This song is a hug. I would be very glad to sit beside you and read. What a needed sense of peace that image brings. We long to be seen and understood, and sometimes being present and together is all that takes, sometimes even while quietly listening to a song from hundreds of miles away.

I love what the instrument brought out in you. I hope you can sit with it some more and see what you find.

@mikedebenham 6d

The way that twangy riff resolves into a little moment of calm for the choruses is perfect. It's all so fragile a sea breeze could knock it down, or maybe it's so wiry the breeze blows right through. A kind of exhausted, hard-won hope. Beautiful, Scott.

@tspoon 1w

So nice to have u back on the board with this incredible and interesting song. Seagull Merlin half what? Whatever that thing is I like it. It’s got a George Harrison Sitar kind of feel to it. And that is a good thing. I felt transcendent meditation just listening. And I didn’t need to speak. But I had to say welcome back Scott!

@prsongsmith 1w

The instrument sounds fantastic -- and the slow march of your accompaniment feels like a tone-poem illustration of your lyrics. Love how you squeeze so much story out of just a few words, and so much harmonic richness out of just a few strings.

@deena 1w

I’m there!

@raspberry33 1w

What a unique sound from the Seagull-Merlin. I love the melody and the way you deliver it. And those string bends on the dulcimer remind me of the interlude in Buffalo Springfield's "Bluebird". A wonderful take on the skirmish.

@thedutchwidows 1w

I love the sound of the instrument - it immediately just grabbed me and pulled me straight in. I might have to look upon what it looks like, as I've never heard of that before, but it does some super twangy sounds. Your vocal is really strong and lyrics paint a lovely picture. A really top drawer skirmish!

@apersonnamedrose 1w

this might be one of my fave songs i've put my ears on so far, your singing is wonderful over the dulcimer/guitar thing - i think i have a new instrument to put my eyes on when the times comes for it! lyrics are great and vivid and suit the music perfectly. absolutely love this.

@hmstreetteam 1w

I like the way of showing how simple peace is in comparison to other things. Nifty guitar playing.

@hummingbear 1w

Lovely song about presence, not needing much more. Beautiful picture you've drawn here.

@mhorning 1w

You set a wonderful scene and story here.

@ltunes 1w

I love the total opposite take we had on the skirmish prompt! Your soothing plucking and thoughtful lyrics are delightful. Love the notion of not needing to speak. Well done!