Open Mic Songwriter's Challenge - Week 5 - Wind-Swept Shore (Original Song)
Here's my song for Week 5 of The Songwriter's Challenge!
How about some words first?
Before this contest even started, I was completely committed. Ask my wife. And now, five weeks in, I'm even more committed than ever. It's not that I think I have a chance of winning a guitar (although I do need one), but I'm starting to become extremely proud of my accomplishments here. Historically, I don't think much of my own stuff, but with the help of this magic Steemian community, my confidence is being healed. I'm excited each week about the new topic, and I've been getting right to work with minimal creative blocks.
As for This Week
I would never write a song about a wind-swept shore of my own accord. I live in the mountains. What do I know about shores, beaches and oceans? Nothing, that's what. So as you can imagine, my first reaction to the topic was not pleasant. The more I thought about it, I realized this was an opportunity to push my boundaries. My strongest artistic background is in acting, so I used my acting skills. I tried to imagine that I was a completely different person in a completely different situation. The song tells the sad story of a person who misses the sea, bogged down in a 60-hour-work-week corporate world.
The character singing the song isn't me, but somehow I can relate to his sadness and desperation. My life is nearly the opposite: I've never been a white-collar office worker. I suppose that's why the idea of a corporate job in a skyscraper is so dreadful to me, especially if you long to be somewhere else. Me, I'm incredibly happy with the unconventional mountain life I've made for myself.
In any case, this song represents a real breakthrough for me as a writer. I learned here that I don't necessarily have to know anything about a topic to be able to write a song with real emotion. I'm pretty sure I'd never even spoken the phrase Wind Swept Shore before I read the topic the other day.
Nonetheless, I have written a song called Wind-Swept Shore. Hope you like it.
Lyrics
I haven’t seen the ocean in a thousand years today.
At least that’s how it feels from where I stand,
I’d second any motion to just take a break and play,
Wishing I was kneeling in the sand.
My mind is lost in meetings.
And my soul crawls ahead,
My body’s always leading me to bed,
But my heart is reaching for a beer
On a beach so far away from here,
As I’m staring at my office door,
I’m thinking about that wind-swept shore.
I wonder if that beach has changed
Too much since I was young,
Is it still the way I see it in my dreams?
The memos and promotions,
All the sad songs I have sung
Are they really just as wasted as they seem?
My mind is going crazy,
And my soul could use a hand,
My body is surrounded by dry land,
But my heart is reaching for a beer
On a beach so far away from here,
Even though I’m rich I’m feeling poor,
Thinking about that wind-swept shore.
Thanks to @meno for sponsoring!
Thanks to @luzcypher for hosting!
Thanks to @passion-ground and @krystle for judging! Good luck, everyone! Three weeks to go!
I believe that's what it takes to be a songwriter, being able to write and feel the emotions of someone else although it is not your own experience. You did great!
That's a really good point. I actually didn't even think of it that way. Makes me feel like less of a bullshitter. ;)
Thanks for reading and listening!
Fantastic lyrics my guy! Is that a baritone uke?
Thanks! Nope, it's a tenor. A little bigger than concert, and with a low wound G string. That's what makes the difference. Makes it sound a little less uke and more guitar.
I'll probably have a baritone for the last two weeks of the challenge. I'm ordering one tonight probably. :)
Baritones are awesome. My roommate has one. It might be the greatest instrument ever invented. I speak with no hyperbole.
They are indeed. I just ordered one from Amazon via purse.io. Have you heard about them yet? They take Amazon orders with BTC. ;)
Anyway, I got a Kala K-AB. Mostly mahogany body, should sound great. Let's hope I get it before the challenge is over!
Whoa that's cool. Definitely gonna start buying from amazon with this.
You made a great song! I think that this song is better than the songs I listen on the radio. Congratulations!
Thanks! There are some great songs coming out of this contest. You can check them out at #openmicsongwriters
Appreciate your support!
vote boss got me yes
Ya mon! I'm glad you're feeling that way about the contest. I have similar feelings & have in the past when I first posted an original song to steemit.
look at me now hahaha ;)
Keep up the fine songwriting. It's funny, i'm noticing that quite a few of us have tapped into similar lyrical rhymes, themes and vibes. Lot's of longing and melancholy moods.
Maybe we are tapping into the Steemit music collective consciousness... ?
I'm a huge believer in that kind of thing. I call it hive mind. It's the only explanation I have for learning to type successfully. The creativity goes round and round.
I'm really glad I decided to go for the Songwriter's Challenge. I ended up finding a great outlet. :)
Thanks for your support, Jay!
Nice one!! Check out ours! Hope you like it too