Original: West of History

[Jer1400]

Okay, so I haven't been on the boards in a while, and this is one of the things I've been working on -- the first to get completed, the fourth to start. I wrote the words quite a while ago, and composed the music over the past couple of days. I actually wrote the whole outroduction in about an hour today. O.o Having said that, I really don't see anything but minor, only-I'll-notice-them changes to come with this one, and that's why I'm posting for some C&C. :)

When I composed this I was listening with Creative SBPCI Soundblaster, so if you have a different driver the volume will probably be off on some tracks. I listened on another one (Microsoft GS or something) and the samples were not only drastically different volumes, but they -- to be frank -- sounded crappy (especially the piano and fiddle). Still, it shouldn't take too much away from it as a whole...or not. I mean, a few even have a drop-off point significantly higher than zero on GS. O.o I recommend getting it as it's the best thing short of real sound samples (i.e. GPO), plus you'll hear it as I do. If you want, you can find it here: http://www.soundcard-drivers.com/compan ... &bng=7&o=4 I don't have a soundcard that can record what it's outputting, so I can't make an MP3, nor do I have any recording equipment whatsoever (or cash). >_< (Anyone care to donate an unused mic.?)

Lyrics:

On these fading fingertips
My, my love, she sits
I'm floating back with the ghosts
Passing by again
I'm running 'round through my mind
Falling down again

'Cause if I ever got a chance
I'd learn to dance
And if I never laughed again
I'd learn to grin
Without you without me
Together we'll be
In the blackest place
West of History

Breathing shadows know only lies
Remember when I lost myself in your eyes
In my final fantasy
It came to me
It touches her softly
Then runs right through me

'Cause if I ever got a chance
I'd learn to dance
And if I never laughed again
Well, I'd learn to grin
Without you without me
Together we'll be
In the blackest place
West of History

Spoiler:

What takes place in this song is, there are two lovers who, after making love on their honeymoon in the late evening as the sky was tinted with splashes of pink and orange and falling asleep -- she on top of he --, are shot and killed by the same shining bullet from the gun of a thief of the worst kind (life and possession) who happens to intrude upon the young couple in their private, ocean-side honeymoon paradise as warm breezes made their way in past the fluttering curtains.

It's [obviously] told from the man's perspective because uh, frankly I don't think it would have worked as well as it did had it have been the other way around. It's a sad song; it's a about death and being forgotten, even with closure. It's a happy and hopeful song; it's about the fun part of love. But ultimately it's about balance: that peculiar, definitive balance between that of good and bad which seems to resonate within most of our lives, and with a little creative vision, all of our lives.

And finally, song:

http://www.flatface.net/~jer1400/West_of_History.mid

You know the drill: FF.net is down sort of often, so if the link doesn't work.... If you can't see the shiny green thing in my sig., try again another time. :)

If you have any questions about the actually meanings of specific lines, feel free to ask. The classical guitar is the voice track (screw all you tenors j/k), and... C&C appreciated.

Cheers,
Jer

[gregplaysguitar]

It sounds like an interesting idea, and I like the would be guitar, but the midi dosen't do justitice to your idea. Figure out a way to get a real recording and repost. The composition is excelent, I really like the chords you are using and the over all sound of the composition will be really cool with real instruments. MIDI is great for some stuff, but it just dosen't do your comp justice here.

Nice comp though.

-g-