Butterfly Stuck On Barbed Wire

Ray Brookes · March 03, 2022, 07:48:14 PM

Unusual for me – one shot, one take, no editing or click track just me plonking around on the ivories (aka plastics) and warbling away. So, warts and all with the odd funny note or two hopefully 'hidden' by the reverb.

Your face a blank page and the hood hides your blond hair
Trapped by your own angst like a dolphin in a drift-net snared
And later I stare at your window my burning senses on fire
And I realize why you remind me of a butterfly stuck on barbed wire

In your diaphanous dress at the dinner party that night
All smiles and elegance; four syllable words yet ready for a fight
And I looking so grim like the stereotypical dumb gun for hire
But you still reminded me of a butterfly stuck on barbed wire

All that mischief; those tricks and stunts
It's like you're casting two shadows at once
Those shrinks examined you and wrote their thesis
A jigsaw puzzle with too many pieces

Now the chemicals hollow you out; your skin pocked and mottled
Standing naked and shot to hell like lightning in a bottle
Maybe one day I could seize your demons and put them to the fire
Then you would not look like a butterfly stuck on barbed wire
But until then you'll always be a butterfly stuck on barbed wire.

Zoltan · March 04, 2022, 03:45:52 AM

Great song and a performance. I don't think there are any "warts" in this one. It sounds perfect as is. There's warmth to it and the performance sounds completely natural and flowing.

I really like the lyrics, the vocals and the "plonking around on the ivories"

This sounds so much more than a one take performance. Bravo!

TPB · March 04, 2022, 05:49:07 AM

Great song Ray sometimes simple is best and as I know songs mean different things to listeners I find these lyrics especially poignant and address the loss through addiction of some souls at least that was my feeling of the lyrics
Anyway love it
Tim

AndyR · March 04, 2022, 07:45:56 AM

Awwww .... LOVE this.

I can see/understand what you mean about the warts and all - I've been learning how to accept this in my own stuff recently. I haven't found it too easy!! I've been telling myself they're "just songwriting demos I'm prepared to share with like-minded souls" to get over it somehow.
I've just about got it to the point where I can post without having to get Mrs R to reassure me first with a "no that doesn't stop me enjoying it" or a "no, that just makes it more real"!!

Some of mine take 20-30 goes before I can actually get through from the start of the song to the finish (I can do it EASILY if I haven't pressed record, but the moment record is hit, chords go wrong, voice waivers while I'm trying to remember what's next, etc, etc).

Personally I haven't found the reverb that helpful in hiding the bits I don't like! (And it highlights some stuff that wasn't a problem until I switched it on!)

But I have found that, at least for acoustic guitar + vocal on a mono track, you can do AMAZING things with audio editing to improve the capture of the performance

Anyway, hearing this one as a punter... it sounds and feels FABULOUS to me...
and it's helped me to understand now what people are saying to me about liking the stripped down version of me...

I've hit play on this 3, no 4, times now - it is SO much to my taste. I love it.
Many thanks for posting it.

kenny mac · March 04, 2022, 08:22:23 AM

This is fantastic.
I could listen to your voice all night.
A great performance and incredible lyrics as well I have to say.
Its really put me in the mood to do a few songs like this.
I downloaded it and had it on my car on repeat.
This will go into my songcrafter folder of chilled song.
Excellent.

Greeny · March 04, 2022, 09:28:16 AM

Sublime, sensitive playing and beautiful lyrical imagery. Just great words and delivery. This is proper, classic songwriting that belongs in the 1970's golden age. Some of those chord changes - oooh! Got a Harry Chapin feel to your vocal on this. It's bloody lovely.

Farrell Jackson · March 04, 2022, 03:32:52 PM

The piano opening is beautiful and your melancholy vocal and delivery just adds to the appeal of the song. Great lyics Ray...very expressive and very well done. What warts?

Farrell

StephenM · March 04, 2022, 03:48:16 PM

interesting lyrics and the music is just melancholic greatness.... a couple of drinks and I'd be crying into the cup.... it's a lovely, lovely piece of work. fabulous singing.