Rob Davies original songs

[Preston Platform]

Next up from todays farewell session another new tune

youll see



Lyrics-

Sitting pretty under crimson skies,
That's where she'll be.
Or on the run but taking no disguise,
In search of sanctuary.

And she won't be waiting,
She'll be celebrating.
Not wary or suspect,
Her timing will be perfect...

You'll see.

You used to hope your love was here to stay,
But you could never be- more than a shadow of the man she craved,
You stood precariously...

And she won't feel guilty,
She has no reason to be.
Not wary or suspect,
Her timing will be perfect...

You'll see.

(And she'll say)

Come with me.
And you will see.
A world enriched.
By memory.
Take my hand.
A clear command.
And you will see.
A world of make-believe.

If you come with me

[Preston Platform]

Next up from this impromptu session for the Tull board another new tune / fun piece

'Take your Pick'



Lyrics-

Well you were flicking through a novel you'd been reading for a long long long long time,
When you raised your head in the library and your eyes connected with mine,
But then you sank back down to your literature (where you remained for ages),
But I could tell that your mind was far removed, from the prose upon its pages.

Glance around,
What do you see?
There's a boy overwhelmed by curiousity,
At the girl who is sitting reading so contentedly.
Potted plants, nice furniture.
An encyclopedia entry that's designed for her.
Essential that our pathways somehow merge...

So we'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Take your pick,
I'll study it all night.

So I sauntered over to the section that was aptly entitled romance,
In the hope that I might encounter some (though I had absolutely no chance),
For every time you looked I looked away,
And everytime I did, you did the same,
In your paperback edition you were thoroughly engaged.

Glance around,
What do you see?
There's a boy overwhelmed by curiousity,
At the girl who is sitting reading so contentedly.
Potted plants, nice furniture.
An encyclopedia entry that's designed for her.
Essential that our pathways somehow merge...

So we'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Take your pick,
I'll study it all night.

You are quite the mystery.
Your thoughts unknown to me.
Your storyline's so intricate.
I suppose I'll have to wait and see.

So we'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Take your pick,
I'll study it all.

We'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Meet me in the library,
Tonight

[Preston Platform]

The final song from this session

Melt the ice



Lyrics-

Looked in through the window,
Uncertain what you would find,
You found me, found me frozen,
Decided to melt the ice.

A member of the generation,
The generation time forgot,
Self-centred and so disillusioned,
We're cynics in a melting pot.

But it didn't have to be this way,
We're all victims of the digital age.

Looked in through the window,
Uncertain what you would find,
You found me, found me frozen,
What a way to live a life.

Decided to melt the ice.

[Preston Platform]

I hope that people enjoyed Robs live session from yesterday. Any feedback very much appreciated.
I have really begun to enjoy these new songs.

[Nonfatman]

I'm looking forward to listening to these, Preston, hopefully in the next few days, and reading the lyrics. I've been quite busy and feeling very tired lately, but I'll be back soon.

Jeff

[Preston Platform]

Thanks Jeff
I am really looking forward to your feedback and views on these new songs.

[Nonfatman]

Jan 14, 2011 19:04:02 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

The final song from this session

Melt the ice



Lyrics-

Looked in through the window,
Uncertain what you would find,
You found me, found me frozen,
Decided to melt the ice.

A member of the generation,
The generation time forgot,
Self-centred and so disillusioned,
We're cynics in a melting pot.

But it didn't have to be this way,
We're all victims of the digital age.

Looked in through the window,
Uncertain what you would find,
You found me, found me frozen,
What a way to live a life.

Decided to melt the ice.

I like that one a lot, because it's nice to see Rob doing some finger-picking, not just strumming. I think it adds some texture and feeling and it just "feels right" for this song.

I think the melody and singing is very strong, but what I like most are the lyrics. It's got that simplicity and good sense of rhyme, which makes it effective, and it's one of those songs that says a lot in few words. (Like the song "A Time for Everything") And the statement it makes, about youth today in the age of technology and computers, is spot on. But it's more than that because it is also, I believe, a love song. It's kind of like the songs Dot Com, AWOL or User Friendly, in a way, not exactly....but he does makes the connection between technology and love, in a somewhat similar way that Ian does.

Rob is definitely maturing as a songwriter.

Jeff

[Nonfatman]

Jan 14, 2011 18:38:27 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

This one is for you Jeff. I remembered how much you liked Robs demo 'Hand reaching out through the glass'

Rob had sort of given up on his songs but after a few beers with me before his return to university tomorrow he decided to play some of his latest songs which included a reworked 'Hand reaching out through the glass'
aka 'The Trail'.

I hope that Tull fans enjoy these latest songs recorded for fun this evening any comments and feedback very welcome.

First up 'The Trail'

Lyrics-

Well I was born in Winter,
But Summer came so fast,
And when I opened my eyes,
Twenty years had past.

Looking over your shoulder,
Staring across the field,
'The grass is always greener- on the other side',
That's how I used to feel.

Staring out of my window,
Hand reaching out through the glass.
Start looking to the future,
I knew I should- stop dwelling on what had past.

But I'm meandering.
Forever floundering.
On the windy trail of my life.
Find it frightening.
But it's enlightening.

On the windy trail of my life.

I never thought the path that-
I would choose to take,
Would leave me with a sense that-
My efforts were half-baked.

Looking over your shoulder,
Staring across the field,
'The grass is always greener- on the other side',
That's how I used to feel.

Staring out of my window,
Hand reaching out through the glass.
Start looking to the future,
I knew I should- stop dwelling on what had past.

But I'm meandering.
Forever floundering.
On the windy trail of my life.
Find it frightening.
But it's enlightening.

On the windy trail of my life

Yes, I remember this one, Preston, and I think I like this finished version even better. His guitar has a nice ringing sound that compliments the words.

Lyrically, the song reminds me a bit of A Time for Everything, concerning regrets over the passage of time, but it's more optimistic than that, because there is a sense of having to move on, move forward rather than "living in the past." I like the phrase "the windy trail of my life" a lot because it's got a sort of universal application to all of our lives.

The one thing, in my opinion, that should be avoided (generally speaking, although there are exceptions) is the rhyming of multi-syllabic words such as frightening and enlightening. Rob does not do this often, he usually keeps his rhymes simple, and I think he also understands that rhymes don't always have to be exact. He's a very good songwriter.

Jeff

[Nonfatman]

Jan 14, 2011 18:51:49 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

Second up a newly written song
Sailed Away



Lyrics-

Although I never knew you...
I was moved close to tears.
When I learned of your fate, your misfortune.
Yes I was struck with fear.

You didn't listen to her then
(And you still don't)
Instead you drove her round the bend,
And scraped upon each others bones.
Do you recall the scent she left upon your cheek.
She said that she would stay....

But she sailed away.

It's clear that you miss her,
It's evident you crave her voice.
There's not a thousand like her,
And my boy she's made her choice.

You didn't listen to her then
(And you still don't)
Instead you drove her round the bend,
And scraped upon each others bones.
Do you recall the scent she left upon your cheek.
She said that she would stay....

But she sailed away.

A very nice new song, and Rob uses an interesting lyrical device, similar (whether he knows it or not) to the approach that Ian employs on Witches' Promise. That is to say, the narrator is an observer, kind of a Greek chorus, who is giving an admonishing lecture to one of the parties to a breakup.

In Witches' Promise, the lecture is directed at both the male and female, but more so, I would say at the female who wrecked the relationship, whereas in Rob's song the observer's commentary is directed only against the male whose actions caused the termination of the relationship, but I still see a similarity there.

I can definitely see that Rob is influenced by Ian's songs.

Jeff

[Nonfatman]

Jan 14, 2011 18:54:39 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

Next up from todays farewell session another new tune

youll see



Lyrics-

Sitting pretty under crimson skies,
That's where she'll be.
Or on the run but taking no disguise,
In search of sanctuary.

And she won't be waiting,
She'll be celebrating.
Not wary or suspect,
Her timing will be perfect...

You'll see.

You used to hope your love was here to stay,
But you could never be- more than a shadow of the man she craved,
You stood precariously...

And she won't feel guilty,
She has no reason to be.
Not wary or suspect,
Her timing will be perfect...

You'll see.

(And she'll say)

Come with me.
And you will see.
A world enriched.
By memory.
Take my hand.
A clear command.
And you will see.
A world of make-believe.

If you come with me

Another very nice song by Rob, I think his singing is very strong here and I like his use of minor seventh and minor ninth songs; the guitar sounds really good. I have noticed that he is not afraid to deviate from typical chord patterns, and very often the song goes in a little different direction that one might expect, but still pleasing, and pleasing, perhaps, because it does just that.

Lyrically, it's excellent too, the meaning is not overly apparent, which is a good thing, because it makes you think.

All of this is, of course, only my perception as a listener. I don't purport to be an expert on songwriting, but what I can do -- and try to do -- is to give you my gut feelings about a song.

Jeff

P.S. I just listened to it a second time, and I liked it even better than the first time. I have to say -- it really is a nice piece!

[Nonfatman]

Jan 14, 2011 18:59:49 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

Next up from this impromptu session for the Tull board another new tune / fun piece

'Take your Pick'



Lyrics-

Well you were flicking through a novel you'd been reading for a long long long long time,
When you raised your head in the library and your eyes connected with mine,
But then you sank back down to your literature (where you remained for ages),
But I could tell that your mind was far removed, from the prose upon its pages.

Glance around,
What do you see?
There's a boy overwhelmed by curiousity,
At the girl who is sitting reading so contentedly.
Potted plants, nice furniture.
An encyclopedia entry that's designed for her.
Essential that our pathways somehow merge...

So we'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Take your pick,
I'll study it all night.

So I sauntered over to the section that was aptly entitled romance,
In the hope that I might encounter some (though I had absolutely no chance),
For every time you looked I looked away,
And everytime I did, you did the same,
In your paperback edition you were thoroughly engaged.

Glance around,
What do you see?
There's a boy overwhelmed by curiousity,
At the girl who is sitting reading so contentedly.
Potted plants, nice furniture.
An encyclopedia entry that's designed for her.
Essential that our pathways somehow merge...

So we'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Take your pick,
I'll study it all night.

You are quite the mystery.
Your thoughts unknown to me.
Your storyline's so intricate.
I suppose I'll have to wait and see.

So we'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Take your pick,
I'll study it all.

We'll meet in your favourite novel,
I'll play any character you like,
Any era, author, genre,
Meet me in the library,
Tonight

Now that is a very jaunty and fun one, Preston, which I'll admit I was prepared not to like before hearing it because the lyrics looked so....wordy.

And it is very wordy, but the verbosity works in its favor, and I just love the theme of the song about male hesitancy to approach a female over the fear of rejection. The part where he says "although I had no chance" and the theme in general remind me a little of A Hand of Thumbs, or perhaps Said She was a Dancer, where the woman is such a mystery. And I like the ending where he apparently decides against approaching her, at least for the time being, and says "we'll meet in your favorite novel, I'll play any character you like....so meet me in the library tonight." That is some seriously good songwriting!

Musically, it's very adventurous, too, he tries to do something different and succeeds. I like this one a lot!

Jeff

[TM]

Jan 29, 2011 14:14:46 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

Jan 14, 2011 18:54:39 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

Next up from todays farewell session another new tune

youll see



Lyrics-

Sitting pretty under crimson skies,
That's where she'll be.
Or on the run but taking no disguise,
In search of sanctuary.

And she won't be waiting,
She'll be celebrating.
Not wary or suspect,
Her timing will be perfect...

You'll see.

You used to hope your love was here to stay,
But you could never be- more than a shadow of the man she craved,
You stood precariously...

And she won't feel guilty,
She has no reason to be.
Not wary or suspect,
Her timing will be perfect...

You'll see.

(And she'll say)

Come with me.
And you will see.
A world enriched.
By memory.
Take my hand.
A clear command.
And you will see.
A world of make-believe.

If you come with me

Another very nice song by Rob, I think his singing is very strong here and I like his use of minor seventh and minor ninth songs; the guitar sounds really good. I have noticed that he is not afraid to deviate from typical chord patterns, and very often the song goes in a little different direction that one might expect, but still pleasing, and pleasing, perhaps, because it does just that.

Lyrically, it's excellent too, the meaning is not overly apparent, which is a good thing, because it makes you think.

All of this is, of course, only my perception as a listener. I don't purport to be an expert on songwriting, but what I can do -- and try to do -- is to give you my gut feelings about a song.

Jeff

P.S. I just listened to it a second time, and I liked it even better than the first time. I have to say -- it really is a nice piece!

+1

I like it! It's kind of...snappy in a swingin kinda way. Nice job Rob!

[Deleted]

Rob,

I should add my tu-pemnorth to say thanks to you for posting the clips and to rob for making them. I'm not great at analysing and dissecting songs and their meanings and I'm certainly not competent enough a musician to offer advice, buit I know what I like and Rob's work is great and refreshing to hear.

Tell him not to ditch anything, it's nice to hear his work.

[Preston Platform]

Thanks for all of the constructive comments. I am so pleased that people have enjoyed these tunes. Rob is made up.Rob does admit that Ian has been an influence on his song writing. Jeff I loved your comparison to witches promise. I had not considered it before but you were right. Thanks Quizz and TM for your input

[Preston Platform]

Here again is the first take demo of
Come home For Tea

with some draft lyrics provided for Jeff

As explained before this is very much an unfinished work in progress song and was written for his band and not for solo performance.

It may well get cut down to a shorter version with different words , but at the moment it is a seven minute epic ..inspired so Rob says by glam rock of the 70s ,TOTRNR , MITG era TUll and Ian leaving Blackpool to travel down to Luton in 1967



He’s not the boy you had anticipated
He’s ludicrously coy and fearful of loutish behaviour
So he fled the football pitch and went down to a nearby ditch
And he laid himself down
And he waited there in the vain hope that the girl of his dreams
Would come, but she never came

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars
With aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighed in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves


He’s not the boy she had always imagined
A dance in her dreams that infiltrate her thoughts in the night time
But as she cycles in the dark
He swiftly passes by
She wonders if he will ever dare to look her in the eye
But he never does, he never does

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars with aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighs in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy really could not care

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

Keep it to themselves

So they hang their heads in shame conceal their true disdain
But Instead of confrontation they just turn and walk away

But they hang their heads in shame, like flowers in the rain
But Instead of confrontation they will repeat this tired refrain

Singing

WHY CANT YOU JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

[Preston Platform]

What did you notice
This is very much an unfinished work in progress song.
It may well get cut down to a shorter version with different words


I was wondering
I was wavering
You did not know a thing about me

You approached me with a diplomatic look in your eye
Yu must have seen something in me

You were whispering
I was wending
In the hope that your affection would be pending

I was standing
With an enigmatic look in my eye
You must have noticed it in me
Saw it as a quality

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for
Waiting for

I was loitering
I was lingering
Stood on the sidelines like I all too often do
I was distant with my collar of my jacket turned up so high
But my pretension did not faze you
Perhaps it served to entertain you

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I Was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for
Waiting for


I lay my heart for all to see
A trait that’s none to wise in me
A sense the words which leave your lips
A tender touch his Finger tips

But when you wane without a sign
A rising tide invades my mind

The thoughts that tumble in the storm
When you depart I am
Left forlorn

[Preston Platform]

I thought that I would tidy up this thread and remove some of Robs demo and binned tunes so that it is more representative of songs that he has not totally disowned. If I remove anything that people actually like or would like to hear again.just let me know and I will repost them. Similarly if anybody would like free audio copies of any or all of Robs songs just pm me and I would be glad to send them on to you.

[Nonfatman]

Hi, Preston,

I had actually listened to all four of Rob's unfinished demos (cannot recall the names right now, as I just wanted to add this quick post and don't have time to go back and look), and I was going to comment basically that I felt they were all good, but I liked the two that Rob was more certain of more than the two he was dissatisfied with. Those two (the ones he wants to keep) were excellent. I'll go back and comment in more detail soon, as I am assuming that you left those up.

Jeff

[Preston Platform]

Hi Jeff ,
Thanks I really look forward to your comments on his two recent songs that have been left up. I know that he values your views
Best
Preston

[Preston Platform]

Here is a revised version of 'What did you notice'.

Rob would welcome any feedback about this tune in general or specifically about which version if any is worth pursuing

This is still very much a work in progress song and who knows what it will eventually turn out like.


I was wondering
I was wavering
You did not know a thing about me

When you approached me
I discerned a certain glint in your eye
You must have seen something in me

You were whispering
I was wending
In the hope that your affection would be pending

I was standing
With a sycophantic look in my eye
You must have seen something in me
Unlocked a hidden quality

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You won’t believe me
My mind deceives me
And each time I reawaken
I am sure
That my knowledge of your outline
Is resultant of nothing more
Than imagination

I was loitering
Idly lingering
Stood on the sidelines like I all too often do
I was distant as the crescent moon that hung in the sky
But my pretension did not faze you
Maybe it served to entertain you

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You won’t believe me
My mind deceives me
And each time I reawaken
I am sure
That my knowledge of your outline
Is resultant of nothing more
Than imagination


I lay my heart for all to see
A trait that’s none to wise in me
I sense the words which leave your lips
A tender touch his finger tips

But when you wane without a sign
A rising tide invades my mind

The thoughts that tumble in the storm
When you depart I am
Left forlorn


For comparison here is the original version




was wondering
I was wavering
You did not know a thing about me

You approached me with a diplomatic look in your eye
Yu must have seen something in me

You were whispering
I was wending
In the hope that your affection would be pending

I was standing
With an enigmatic look in my eye
You must have noticed it in me
Saw it as a quality

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for
Waiting for

I was loitering
I was lingering
Stood on the sidelines like I all too often do
I was distant with my collar of my jacket turned up so high
But my pretension did not faze you
Perhaps it served to entertain you

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I Was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for
Waiting for


I lay my heart for all to see
A trait that’s none to wise in me
A sense the words which leave your lips
A tender touch his Finger tips

But when you wane without a sign
A rising tide invades my mind

The thoughts that tumble in the storm
When you depart I am
Left forlorn

[Preston Platform]

Here is a shortened and more up tempo reworked rough version of
'Come home for Tea'
This was played on Robs old Yamaha guitar which is in desperate need of restringing and flows in and out of tune like nothing else.... was played to me just to show his current thinking with this song.
,so with that in mind here is a live ,raw version of this work in progress tune



He’s not the boy they had anticipated
He’s ludicrously coy and fearful of loutish behaviour
So he fled the football pitch and ran down to a nearby ditch
Where he laid himself down
And he waited there in the vain hope that the girl of his dreams
Would come, but she never came

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dare

And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves


He’s not the boy she had always imagined
A dance in her dreams that infiltrate her thoughts in the night time
But as he cycles in the dark
He swiftly passes by
She wonders if he will ever dare to look her in the eye
But he never does, he never does

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dare
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

Keep it to themselves

So they hang their heads in shame conceal their true disdain
But Instead of confrontation they just turn and walk away

But they hang their heads in shame, like flowers in the rain
But Instead of confrontation they will repeat this tired refrain

Singing

WHY CANT YOU JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

And for comparison here is the longer ,certainly more reflective and perhaps better original



He’s not the boy you had anticipated
He’s ludicrously coy and fearful of loutish behaviour
So he fled the football pitch and went down to a nearby ditch
And he laid himself down
And he waited there in the vain hope that the girl of his dreams
Would come, but she never came

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars
With aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighed in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves


He’s not the boy she had always imagined
A dance in her dreams that infiltrate her thoughts in the night time
But as she cycles in the dark
He swiftly passes by
She wonders if he will ever dare to look her in the eye
But he never does, he never does

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars with aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighs in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy really could not care

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

Keep it to themselves

So they hang their heads in shame conceal their true disdain
But Instead of confrontation they just turn and walk away

But they hang their heads in shame, like flowers in the rain
But Instead of confrontation they will repeat this tired refrain

Singing

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

[Preston Platform]

Some totally live rough and ready practice footage featuring two songs from the set for a forthcoming gig .


Melt the Ice



Youll see

[Nonfatman]

Feb 9, 2011 17:10:24 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

Here again is the first take demo of
Come home For Tea

with some draft lyrics provided for Jeff

As explained before this is very much an unfinished work in progress song and was written for his band and not for solo performance.

It may well get cut down to a shorter version with different words , but at the moment it is a seven minute epic ..inspired so Rob says by glam rock of the 70s ,TOTRNR , MITG era TUll and Ian leaving Blackpool to travel down to Luton in 1967



He’s not the boy you had anticipated
He’s ludicrously coy and fearful of loutish behaviour
So he fled the football pitch and went down to a nearby ditch
And he laid himself down
And he waited there in the vain hope that the girl of his dreams
Would come, but she never came

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars
With aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighed in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves


He’s not the boy she had always imagined
A dance in her dreams that infiltrate her thoughts in the night time
But as she cycles in the dark
He swiftly passes by
She wonders if he will ever dare to look her in the eye
But he never does, he never does

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars with aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighs in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy really could not care

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

Keep it to themselves

So they hang their heads in shame conceal their true disdain
But Instead of confrontation they just turn and walk away

But they hang their heads in shame, like flowers in the rain
But Instead of confrontation they will repeat this tired refrain

Singing

WHY CANT YOU JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

This is another really nice one, Preston, very well sung by Rob, and I think the richness of his voice is what stands out here.

Lyrically, it reminds me of a cross between For a Thousand Mothers and Alive and Well and Living In, since it's not just about teen angst and the failure of parents to understand a teenager's decision to pursue music as a career, as in Ian's case with For a Thousand Mothers. There's also a love song woven into the teen angst, in the same vein as Alive and Well and Living In. That's what makes it a more interesting song.

Two questions: 1) Is it autobiographical? I can't really see that since you are so supportive in his musical endeavors.
2) Did Rob have any of Ian's teen angst songs in mind when he wrote this?

I'll go take a look at the newer version of this that you just posted.

Jeff

[Nonfatman]

Mar 4, 2011 14:15:18 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

Here is a shortened and more up tempo reworked rough version of
'Come home for Tea'
This was played on Robs old Yamaha guitar which is in desperate need of restringing and flows in and out of tune like nothing else.... was played to me just to show his current thinking with this song.
,so with that in mind here is a live ,raw version of this work in progress tune



He’s not the boy they had anticipated
He’s ludicrously coy and fearful of loutish behaviour
So he fled the football pitch and ran down to a nearby ditch
Where he laid himself down
And he waited there in the vain hope that the girl of his dreams
Would come, but she never came

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dare

And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves


He’s not the boy she had always imagined
A dance in her dreams that infiltrate her thoughts in the night time
But as he cycles in the dark
He swiftly passes by
She wonders if he will ever dare to look her in the eye
But he never does, he never does

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dare
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

Keep it to themselves

So they hang their heads in shame conceal their true disdain
But Instead of confrontation they just turn and walk away

But they hang their heads in shame, like flowers in the rain
But Instead of confrontation they will repeat this tired refrain

Singing

WHY CANT YOU JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

And for comparison here is the longer ,certainly more reflective and perhaps better original



He’s not the boy you had anticipated
He’s ludicrously coy and fearful of loutish behaviour
So he fled the football pitch and went down to a nearby ditch
And he laid himself down
And he waited there in the vain hope that the girl of his dreams
Would come, but she never came

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars
With aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighed in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy simply could not care

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspect the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves


He’s not the boy she had always imagined
A dance in her dreams that infiltrate her thoughts in the night time
But as she cycles in the dark
He swiftly passes by
She wonders if he will ever dare to look her in the eye
But he never does, he never does

Meanwhile his family howl in horror
As he pursues his sunlit dream
His mind corrupted by those pop stars with aspirations deemed obscene

And so his mother sighs in disbelief as he refused to cut his hair
And they can dance around indignantly
But this boy really could not care

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

His family suspects the worse
But they have got no way of knowing and no earthly way of showing
So inevitably they are going to keep it to themselves

Keep it to themselves

So they hang their heads in shame conceal their true disdain
But Instead of confrontation they just turn and walk away

But they hang their heads in shame, like flowers in the rain
But Instead of confrontation they will repeat this tired refrain

Singing

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

WHY CANT HE JUST COME HOME FOR TEA !

Having now heard both versions, I definitely prefer the shorter one, for two reasons. First, it is just a more manageable length in general, as teen angst/love song is, I think, more effective as a shorter piece.

Second, I see that in the second version Rob has dropped the dream/obscene rhyme. Wise editing, because that is an uncomfortable lyric and does not really fit what the parents would be feeling about their son's career choice. They might consider such a path misguided, but hardly obscene.

Jeff

[Nonfatman]

Feb 11, 2011 18:42:26 GMT -5 Preston Platform said:

What did you notice
This is very much an unfinished work in progress song.
It may well get cut down to a shorter version with different words


I was wondering
I was wavering
You did not know a thing about me

You approached me with a diplomatic look in your eye
Yu must have seen something in me

You were whispering
I was wending
In the hope that your affection would be pending

I was standing
With an enigmatic look in my eye
You must have noticed it in me
Saw it as a quality

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for
Waiting for

I was loitering
I was lingering
Stood on the sidelines like I all too often do
I was distant with my collar of my jacket turned up so high
But my pretension did not faze you
Perhaps it served to entertain you

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for

You saw it in me
Saw something in me
Which people have seldom noticed before
I Was beginning to wonder who I was waiting for
Waiting for


I lay my heart for all to see
A trait that’s none to wise in me
A sense the words which leave your lips
A tender touch his Finger tips

But when you wane without a sign
A rising tide invades my mind

The thoughts that tumble in the storm
When you depart I am
Left forlorn

Very nice song. It's good to see him incorporating a fingerpicking style rather than only strumming chords. This song has a nice mix of both.

I tend to compare the characters and topics in Rob's songs with Ian's, and this song is no exception. (I think it's because you mentioned previously that Rob has been heavily influenced by Ian's songwriting, and knows all of the Tull catalogue.)

I see the male in this song as resembling, in some ways, the male characters in Bends Like a Willow and Man of Principle. In both of those songs the man is reticent, aloof and perhaps not always very sensitive, but in both of those songs there is an ackowledgment that the woman -- the fully-armed angel in BLAW and the fairground girl in Man of Principle -- can change the man. In both of Ian's songs the man can come around to the woman's way of thinking or "bend" (a word that Ian uses in both songs).

Rob's song is no different, because in the end the male character lays his heart out for all to see, something he was not previously accustomed to doing.

One thing: I don't really love the wending/pending rhyme, but let me take a look now at the revised version to see if he's changed any of the words.

Jeff