Forever - AndyR Original (Remastered)

[AndyR]

(Remastered 22/10/2021)

Okies. I finally got the Broom Cupboard to do something sensible.

Nearly five years

By the end, it had been this one, or the wait for this one, that had been blocking it all up.

There were other reasons:
I gave up smoking... and the Broom Cupboard was the last place/situation I had a problem with over that. It just didn't feel very homely anymore... I was so used to chain-smoking in here. Do a take, have a fag... let's try a mix, have a fag... etc... etc... I'd turn the machine on, tune something up, look glumly at it all, turn it all off and go back downstairs and tell Mrs R "not yet".
Then I was having back trouble, suffering from arthritis, it was uncomfortable playing guitar... etc... etc...
So we had half my colon removed (about three years back, I think) and everything's peachy again!

But really, the big gap all comes down to my muse died in 2016, and I had to figure out how to come to terms with and acknowledge that.
I'm a songwriter, that's what I ought to do... so we wrote songs and decided they weren't the definitive thing I was waiting for.

It's not all been doom and gloom and wotnot... I've been having a fab time buying guitars and playing them. Got me a new piano (after the old one couldn't cope with interference from the new smart meters... )

I've been really enjoying myself. I just couldn't be arsed to create any recordings because I didn't have anything I wanted to say or reach for. And I really didn't miss it.

Then I wrote this song last September.

We knew it was the "the one" the moment we heard it. The one we were waiting for (we being me and my wife, the "last girl" in this song).
I've got some others but this one is all that needs to be said really. I wasn't even intending to record it.

Then last weekend I turned the machine back on and found that it still worked.
I created a rock thing first, called Me Too (which I might link here later too),
I did Me Too in under two days.
So, when that was done, I thought I might give this thing a go after all.

Forever

Words & Music AndyR
Recorded on a BR1600
--------------------------------

I can see you on your rocking horse now
The one that turned around and kicked you in the teeth
He thought you'd always live forever

Well Merlin waited in the mist to kiss you
Surprised to find how you got hurt
So much blood
Still he thought you'd live forever

It doesn't matter how we cannot hold on
We still don't know how much to try
We still don't know how long to wait
Forever

I hear you're drinking at the chocolate fountain
You pulled the handle off the door
But they won't mind
They'll be mending it forever

They won't mind
They'll be mending it forever

Are you watching now across this table
It's not a table that you knew
But it would do
If you have to watch forever

My heart was broken when the last girl found it
But she is equal to the task
She sends her love
And says your memory lives forever

She does not mind
That your memory lives forever

It doesn't matter how we cannot hold on
We still don't know how much to try
We still don't know how long to wait
Forever

It doesn't matter that we cannot let go
We still don't know how much to cry
We still don't know how long to wait
To say goodbye
Forever

(Allison Jane Sixsmith 1965-2016)

Copyright (C) 2020 A A J Russe. All Rights Reserved.

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[Flash Harry]

Hi Andy - Nice to hear from you. Sorry to hear of the troubles, though giving up the fags is a good move.


This is a lovely song, I like the way you introduce a growng collection of instruments as it builds from a voice and acoustic to drum and electrics and bass - I almost missed the first transition, you snuck a guitar in with the drum.

Really well controlled and beautifully played. The recording is clear and nicely EQ'd, I don't know how you make everything so even, I guess its skilful playing as much as anything, the broom cupboard is delivering its goodies.

Classy stuff.

Hope you're surviving the lockdown.

[Ferryman_1957]

I have been a bit too busy to be on here for a few days but I happened to see that Andy had posted again and I just had to put the headphones on and listen to this. Andy, it's great to hear music from you again and I'm sorry you've been through some tough times. But you're always welcome here.

And as to the music, well wow. Just wow. It's unique, quirky and very poignant. It's so cleverly put together, with subtle and well thought-out instrumental parts that intrigue and beguile. The parts all fit together so well and the way you add the different layers is very clever and well executed. I love the bass sound and playing, and the instrumental section at 1:45 is superb. The vocals are brilliantly handled and the production is crystal-clear and beautifully balanced.

A real aural delight. Would love to hear more from the old broom cupboard..... 

[Oldrottenhead]

Hi Andy is great hear you are back up on the saddle. i had the privilege of hearing "Me Too" last week over at Alonetone.
This one is off the scale in production, performance and writing. Lost for words my friend. Beautiful. Take care.

[Redler]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, too. It's nice to see you're back!

To me your song sounds like a classic song from the 60's. It has similar vibes... Very fine vocal melody, a bit melanchol, but catchy.

So well performed and produced - works nicely to me! On the second listening...

[Greeny]

Ooh... it's flipping gorgeous. I knew it would be good, but this one has something special about it. I can see why it tempted you out of songcrafting retirement. You are an amazing vocalist, but there's something about the almost 30's Berlin jazz strut of the rhythm that I really, really like. Lyrically it's a moving, emotional powerhouse too.

So sorry to hear about your loss and hard times, but very happy to hear you creating again.

What an amazing song.

[Greeny]

p.s. No smoking will pay for all the new gear!

[chapperz66]

I listened to this quietly on my phone in bed last night but decided to wait until I could listen again on better speakers before commenting.  I just have.  Stunning stuff.  Worth waiting 5 years for - but hopefully it won't be another 5 years for the next.

It is very likely that I will listen to this again.

Paul

[Hook]

5 years seems a bit too long...dont let it happen again brother. This is too damn good brother. Stunning mixing/production, I dig.
Rock on!

[AndyR]

Cheers folks

It hasn't felt too much like "troubles", though - just life doing its thing.

The last x years have actually been filled with much joy etc etc. Just didn't feel like having to share any music. And my motto has always been "if you don't feel like doing it, don't be a slave to it" (after being a slave to music many years ago!)

Wanting to write a fitting ending to what passed between Ally and I over the years did become a bit of stumbling block. But this song did it back in September... and this time, because of what I'd written in the lyrics, the "I wonder what Ally will make of this" thing when I do something musical, if it even crops up now, sort of has an answer... In fact, I just realised, the table in the song is the coffee table I'm leaning on right now.

p.s. No smoking will pay for all the new gear!

That's what paid for the guitars on this track! (And some others!)

The acoustic is a Martin 00L-17 in Black Smoke - loving this geetar
The electric is a Gibson ES330 - the guitar that the more famous Epiphone Casino was a copy of.