What If?

[StephenM]

I felt myself getting swept away in the quicksand to nowhere.  Killing my soul and losing my goodwill toward man.  What if the storm that ravaged the neighborhood actually started in me?   Are the fires of hatred that rage in the souls of the population?  The crazy climate swings are a reflection of the crazy emotion swings in humanity?  What if droughts that occur are a symptom of the thirsty souls of man?  thirsty souls of man?  thirsty souls of man? 
What if?  We treat each other with decency and respect?  Would the weather and the climate follow suit?  What if what we see externally are the results of what exists internally?  My world is a reflection of my soul?  My world is a reflection of my soul?  What if?  My world is a reflection of my soul? 
What if your world is a reflection of your soul?  What if your world is a reflection of your soul?   What if our collective world is a reflection of our collective soul?  '
What if we dwell in peace?  What if I dwell in peace? 
 What if our collective world is a reflection of our collective soul?  'What if our collective soul is a band?

I built this from the bass up... after playing the bass with a 140bpm 4/4 click track i added drums.  I really enjoy building off the bass.  Then I started messing around with keyboards (2 tracks)... then i added 1 rhythm guitar track with the Les Paul and then vocals... I ended up doing some cutting and pasting...  I was able to set up my Alesis drum kit with double bass so I used that here... I am diggin it...
it was like a relentless obsession to keep going... a relentless obsession in the pursuit of imperfection! 

what if?  Lots of questions.... what if everything is exactly as you believe it to be? 

[Zoltan]

What if nobody commented? I saw that there were no comments yet so i thought maybe there's some highly inflammable / confessional stuff happening and nobody wants to take the first bullet. So armed with a tinfoil hat and WHAAT(*

The lyrics are again filled with lots of questions. In a way the song also tries to answer them. The playing is spirited and there's a slight soundtrack -type of feel with some progeish overtones. I think some of the more complex musical influences are pushing thru in many of Stephens songs. The addition of keyboards have been a great thing for these songs imho. They add a lot of color and build great contrast to the guitars. I hear the guitars being used in a different way in this song. They're in a more supportive role although there's a really rocking guitar thing going on in the background. Most of the time the vocal melody is quite refined instead of being pulled under by the constant barrage of words. I know it's often a stylistic choice, but keeping the vocal melody clean and clear makes the songs easier to digest and more catchy.

(* I tried to google info about a magic wand i could add here. What i found was a magic wand vibrator.... WTF? They're on sale btw if someone needs one. I just see myself out...

[Mike_S]

One of the good things about your stuff Steve is they are never boring. This is great, different and thought provoking too. I love the keys and that off the wall melody they do, tied down with some rock solid riffing. Nice and proggy/trippy, one of my favourite genres and the idea and lyrics are great and really do make you think and question why.

Mike

[AndyR]

Oh yes, like this a lot.

I've been drinking a fair amount of wine... but I'm thinking my old sound engineer from the early 80s would dig this big time... we (my outfit) were playing pop/rock blues/rock... but he was always listening to Hawkwind, Inner City Unit, etc... I finally got into Hawkwind a year or so ago... I get the same kick from this.

Cheers! (Hic!)

[WarpCanada]

Stream of consciousness rock.

I think it's a thing.  I like it.

[TPB]

What if you did not record this would the questions still be asked LOL Messing with you brother the keys in the start were a nice touch enjoyed the song
Tim

[Pete C]

I think retirement has certainly brought out your creativity - every time I see one of your posts I wonder what's he going to come up with this time? Another fantastic post !

Pete

[godinqc]

Great song, really liked the lyrics and the playing, also the beat is really good  ..
I agree with WrapCanada, Stream of consciousness rock.
Great work ..

[Ray Brookes]

I've said it before but you always come up with something different, Steve and this is a great piece of prog rock. Cool deep thought provoking lyrics make this a stellar track. Super creativity.

[Farrell Jackson]

Deep lyrical stuff Stephen...what if it all happened? There's never a dull moment with your song creations...well done!