Well, they paved paradise and they put up a parking lot, with a pink hotel, a boutique and a swingin’ hot spot. They took all the trees, put them in a tree museum, and charged the people a dollar and a half just to see ’em. Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone? Yes, it don’t.
Song
Discussion
CHRIS: This was one of five-or-so songs we recorded in the month before the launch of 52 song project to build up a bit of a buffer. We haven’t released it yet because we’re not happy with it. The chorus is pretty weak, the various instruments aren’t very tight. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is we ran out of other buffer songs and didn’t record any new ones, and then Friday happened.
In other words, I’m starting to feel a bit strained. Songs aren’t coming as easily as they sometimes do, and time is hard to find. So this week I end up releasing a recording I’m not ready to release.
That could be ok, though. I always thought we’d have to release very rough recordings, so it’s amazing we’ve been able to be as polished as we have been so far. Maybe it’s not the end of the world to release some rougher ones. I’ve also always assumed we’d have at least one rough patch, and I think we (or at least I) may be entering that, but that’s to be expected as well.
And don’t worry, it’s still fun! It’s just that some weeks, like this one, when I’m really busy with other stuff and don’t have time to put 5-10 hours into writing and recording a song, it can feel a bit like work.
STEVE: I couldn’t have said it better myself. I have always seen the project as exercising our artistic muscles in the hopes of arriving at some material that we could re-record, re-engineer and perfect in 2012. I’ve been surprised by the level of recordings we have been able to maintain thus far. My one disappointment with this song is that we didn’t have more time with it – it is one of my favourites and has a lot of potential, I hope we can work more with it in the future. But this is also the first week that both of our lives have gotten in the way of a release at precisely the same time – the result being a rougher recording. And I mirror that I was expecting more of these! I do really love this song though, especially the verses.
Lyrics
I could waste time talkin’ bout your eyes
And the way they make me feel, the way they make me come alive
And I could waste time describing all my regrets
And what I wish I knew then, what I really didn’t get
And I could go over, line by line
The number of times I could have picked a different life
But instead I’m stuck singing ‘bout you
instead of talking to you, instead of being with you
But I got blown away
But I got blown away
But I got blown away
I should have loved you when I had the chance
I could do time for these thoughts I’ve been thinkin’
‘bout what I want to do to do, how I wanna make you weak and
I could do time if I thought it meant you back
If I though that you’d respond to an affectionate attack
But I don’t see the path, I’ve lost the way
Don’t know how to be together, don’t know what I’d have to say
And the worst part is I know it’s all my fault
You were always mine to lose, and I lost you by default
But you blew me away
But you blew me away
But you blew me away
I should have loved you when I had the chance
Wise lady once said in the form of song
that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone
Wise lady once said in the form of song
that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone
Wise lady once said in the form of song
that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone
Wise lady once said in the form of song
that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone
I should have loved you when I had the chance
Credits
Chris Tindal: Guitar, vocals
Steve Salt: Programmed bass and keys
Words and music: Chris Tindal
Illustration: Claire Salloum
My problem with the band the Beautiful Girls is that they’ve always sounded too tight to me, good songs ruined with overproduction and the feeling that they are driven by a metronome and not by a rhythm.
More times than less, less is more. This release is a prime example of that. 8/10 well done boys.
Now im spending the day finding out where you stole that progression from before it drives me mad.
The chords remind me very much of parts of the BNL song “Who Needs Sleep”: http://youtu.be/BP67E0AfhAI
May or may not be a match, I can’t read a note (or chord) of music myself. The 3rd chord in the progression may be altered or augmented somewhat from the basic version in the pre-chorus of the BNL song.
BNL are great guys to grab from, of course, and local to the 52 songwriters.
I like reading the writer commentary, I’m planning to write a newspaper column (& blog) about this project, as soon as I have a free week to slot it into.
(I’m involved in something similar, except in my case I’m writing a weekly column for the local paper. Similar need for topics and the time to make sure I have the write info and angle for each story by deadline.)
That’s great, thanks Erich! Just let us know if you want to chat.
I love it. Don’t think it needs a lot more production. The simplicity and catchy rhythm totally work for me (is someone without rhythm allowed to comment on rhythm? Also, why is rhythm so hard to spell?)
Funny, you guys lament not being able to come up with songs fast enough, and I find it tough just to keep up with your weekly releases!! So good fellas.Keep rocking. So appreciated. And I will keep listening when I have the chance!