FAWM: "Solo"

Solo

1 day ago by @brisk

Liner Notes

#Sex, #death, partnership, vaguely #incestuous and/or #masterbatory overtones.

This is probably my favourite song so far this FAWM, but then every song is my favourite song when I finish it. I'm heavily endebted to Radiohead's House of Cards and Sufjan Stevens' Videogames here, and I'm accepting of the possibility that anything that's good about them may be borrowed wholesale from the original.

I couldn't play the main guitar part sufficiently well so there's a lot of stretching, cutting, prinking etc... and that's just the verse. The chorus I didn't even attempt the guitar, because I approached writing it by taking the verse part and cutting, pasting, shifting and pitch-shifting until I liked it.

I tried doing those two low notes in the bridge with pitch shifting as I can't reach that low F very convincingly, but then I decided to keep me straining as I thought it sounded ... I don't know, more in keeping.

I know I do false endings on just about every song to the point that it diminishes the impact somewhat, but I like this one and it seemed thematically in line (and a bit funny - that's the sound of a man REALLY running out of air).

#indiepop

Lyrics

Hold me in your hand
Pass me to a runner
Life's a relay where
You take it from your mother

I'm your lonely man
your lonely little brother
So press me to your thigh
like I am a cuban cigar

I won't wear a halo
If I have to do this solo

Roll me round your tongue
Like a hungry tiger
Bit between its teeth
Then he swallows up inside her

I won't wear a halo
If I have to do this solo
I won't wear a halo
If I have to do this solo

Our time is all time
So take time to sing
This time is our time
So let time take wing-

Grip me in your hand
Grip me like a rudder
Coming up for air
Down in Davey Jones's Locker

Hide me in your fist
Till I start to smother
I'm a little lamb
with a lifetime to discover

I won't wear a halo
If I have to do this solo
I won't wear a halo
If I have to do this solo

Halo

[dies]

Comments

@davidtaro 1d

My only quibble would be the use of the word ‘vaguely’ in the liner notes. Once I’d contained the immature smirking part of me, I was able to appreciate some genuinely beautiful melodic work, great harmonies… and then back to the lyrics for more artful filth. Love that recorder-like sound, and the blippy synths. This is quirky, playful and utterly you, nice one!

@richaaaay 1d

Love when I hear you playing a real guitar, squeaks and all. That staccato keyboard notes you hit just bring me so much joy. Not sure exactly why but they make me laugh and giggle. I'm a fan of the halo chorus. Glad you didn't alter your singing of the low F.

@coolparadisoMod 1d

Like a hungry tiger, that’s steaming all right! Love all the little touches throughout and the light touch percussion works well. Nice one.

@thedutchwidows 1d

Firstly, nice hashtag work! Will click on them shortly and see who else has used them, but my money's on not many... The song is as good as the hashtags, better even. No, definitely better, sorry hashtags. The melodies are lovely, singing's great low notes and all, and the instruments are bang on. I think there are double entendres that may be fairly singular, or possibly triple, whichever makes them more in your face. The high vocal on the 'grip me in your hand' part is sublime, all the more so because of the contrast with the lower parts. Excellent stuff. Probably my favourite of yours this year. No smolo, though?