The Practical Gardener - AndyR Original (Remastered)

[AndyR]

(Remastered 22/10/2021)

And here's another song from 1994, with a sparkling new "Andrew Russe Band" arrangement fresh from the broom-cupboard.

Like most of my songs, it was written with an acoustic guitar, a pen, and an A4 pad. The ones written like this all have some sort of arrangement in my head, some sort of idea how it's meant to affect you (and me, if I were to perform it on a stage).

And that's all this one had until the other week when I was sifting through the papers in the shoe-box, playing the songs on them to Mrs R. I'd actually forgotten this this song even existed, I'd obviously dismissed it last time I was going through the pile - because it wasn't on my list of "1994 possibles" that I compiled some years ago.

The moment I played it, though, we knew this one just had to be recorded.

The piece of paper has "Lament" written on it, but it's obviously meant to be called The Practical Gardener. That made me wonder about the ending, "life finds a way" and all that... So I tried very very hard to change it and give it a hopeful ending... but it simply did not work like that. This one's a "glass completely bluddy empty" lament, and there's no use tinkering with it...

The Practical Gardener

Words & Music AndyR
Recorded on a BR1600
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The days and the nights
That we spent alone together
They seem now a life-time away
When all that I had
Was yours for the taking
All that you took was my heart

The hue and cry was heard for miles
Nobody
Nobody lifted a hand
And still today

Trimmed to the roots
By the practical gardener
Left to grow back in the spring
But spring never came
And after eight years of winter
It's doubtful I'd know it again

Copyright (C) 1994 A A J Russe. All Rights Reserved.

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[hardlock]

Powerful piece - very moving and dynamic! Grabbed me and held me with no escape.

[Frank53]

Yes, powerful, heart-rending song. Excellent recording. Just my imagination, but I heard Floyd-ish music, and Arthur Brown's voice. Both of which are a good thing.

[Greeny]

Love those descending electric piano notes. Love the dynamic shift between quiet, (almost) medieval lament and bombastic, epic rock. Love the drama and delivery of the vocal.

Yes, I can safely say I love it. In fact, it's one of my favourites of yours.

[Oldrottenhead]

loud and quiet it's got everything, braw bro.

[Johnbee]

Haunting and powerful.  Love it!

  John B

[Ferryman_1957]

Bloomin heck, this is beyond awesome! This is such a well written and well produced track, it really is the real deal. The dynamics are so well handled, there are great elements of light and shade here. The way you build from just the piano is brilliant, and you still manage different levels of "oomph" between the hue and cry section and the other verses. Some lovely Gilmour-ish guitar and great vocals as always. 

The arrangement and production is what really takes this to another level for me. Not only did you create all the music, but you turned it into a fabulous piece of recorded music. I am in love with your bass sound in particular, it's sooo wonderful when it comes in but it doesn't overpower anything. I like the "old school" production style here - you keep the dynamics without over-compressing anything.

I have some new monitors coming today, can't wait to listen to this one on them......

[Farrell Jackson]

I have to agree with all that has been said Andy....powerful performance and production indeed!

Farrell

[kenny mac]

Excellent performance, some lovely guitar work there.
Defo getting a floyd vibe.
Bravo

[Redler]

Oh yes, what a powerful song! Got a bit Floydish vibe, but Portishead flavor on places, as well. The performance and production is just top class. So good songwriting!