NOTES:
Another song that was born a very long time ago and had been recorded a couple of times only to not make the grade. It started life as an acoustic song kinda white boy acoustic soul. It was recorded that way and then my producer at the time Steve Durkee and I just went to town on it and made everything as weird and sonic as possible. This was met with looks of confusion by my band at the time. Not that they were wrong but not that Steve and I were either. So, soul meets weird. Again, Radiohead’s minimalism and the Good, The Bad, The Queens angular analogue stepped in to form my direction. It was a modern, angular, minimal, soul song. The final piece was from Thievery Corporation (also a big influence on these tracks). I loved the DC Lounge vibe and the use of horns – it was modern and yet warm. Cool chill stuff even rockers could love. The song had a few different lyrics for most of its existence. I got a note from a friend after a particular disaster that was in the news saying he needed this song. It really made me think about a larger window, a more universal lyric. I had been listening to a bunch of Otis Reading and the simple, clear lyric. Not that my vocals are even in the same galaxy but something about those crystal simple lyrics. Marvin Gaye had his finger on it too. One can forget the lyric when a voice is that good but What’s Goin On is also a masterpiece lyrically. Simple, honest, clear and vastly emotionally complex. It plays to the tenor of the music which uplifts you while it talks about strife. That’s how the world changes, you’re right Marvin. We just wanted in on the conversation. There are bits of the recording I did with Steve that we sampled and used on this version. The song still wasn’t there. It didn’t define the soul well enough. It needed horns to bring that part back into focus. I talked and played some ideas for Jay Davidson and what you hear is what he told the horn section to play when he went back in front of the mics. Finally, it was born.
LYRICS:
I’ve been waiting here so long
Tears all fall and then they’re gone
Have I been loving you too long
Has my light gone out
Chorus:
Listen, listen,
There’s something wrong with me now
Listen to me
I’ve been all around this town
I’ve been wondering where you are
Try to reach but then you gone
It’s my word that will stand true
It’s my heart that doubts.
(Chorus)
Just pick me up or let me go down
Either way I’m sure I’ll be found
Just pick me up or tear me down
(Chorus) (FIN)
