TL:DR – Notes on writing my latest song, which you can stream or download here.
I had a little chord progression that got me thinking…nothing complicated just some interesting inversions on BM7, FM7 Gm7 and C7 that came up on a social media site. Sounded nice, but I ditched the BM7 and the C7 and just oscillated between the other two to sing an ad lib lyric…and then to break away into a chorus based on Dm7 Am, and Gm7.
Thing is, I thought I came up with something neat lyrically, a kind of riposte to The Beatles’ song She’s Leaving Home, whereby we find the protagonist returning to her childhood home after her parents have died, there always was the implication of a less than happy childhood for her, but what if it had been worse, what if it were a miserable childhood, one in which one or both parents were abusive in some way? That was my train of thought when I came up with this little lot…
Ticking Clocks
The key turns in the lock, she shoves the door wide open with her suitcase
It’s a shock, to find herself back here once again.
CHORUS
She locked her secret deep inside
Unanswered prayers her woe betide
Now silent screams, the sound that mocks
Those echoes drowned by ticking clocks
INSTRUMENTAL BREAK
No need to knock, she clutches letters from the floor
She’s taking stock. Of secrets she holds, no time to worry more
CHORUS
She winds the clocks That stopped the day she stepped away
From darning socks and all the hazards that entailed
Finding keys and picking locks. She didn’t need to hurry
There’s always time to worry
CHORUS to fade…
Of course, I couldn’t leave it there, especially seeing as I haven’t even started thinking about recording the actual song, so I thought I’d give ChatGPT a chance to review and revise my lyrics. I prompted the bot by telling it that it is a “world-renowned singer-songwriter with a string of grammy-award winning songs” and asking it to redraft my lyrics to make them award-winning too. This is what it came up with:
She turns the key and pushes open the door
With a suitcase in hand, she’s back once more.
It’s a surprise, to find herself in this place,
Memories flood in, as she sees her old space.
CHORUS:
She locked her emotions deep inside,
Unanswered prayers and broken ties.
Now, silent screams echo in her mind,
As she tries to leave the past behind.
No need to knock, she picks up letters from the ground,
Sifting through the words, that once brought her down.
She takes stock of all the secrets she holds,
No time to dwell, on the stories she’s told.
CHORUS
BRIDGE
She winds the clocks, that stopped the day she left
Leaving behind the mundanity, with no regret.
Finding keys and picking locks, she takes her time,
To leave behind the memories, that once were her crime.
CHORUS
OUTRO
With a new sense of freedom, she steps out the door,
No more looking back, as she’s ready to soar.
She’s finally free from the past and all its weight,
And can embrace a brighter future, with no more hate.
Of course, I won’t use the ChatGPT output as my lyric, but I might redraft my own once more before I record to see if I can make them more evocative…