[X4StringDrive]

The poem before the song...

Staring at the flickering screen
my eyes begin to numb
I go and grab some more caffeine
what have I now done
an office chair at home so plush
tucked in a corner space
just sitting here when came a rush
brought a smile right to my face
its 1 AM this days been long
its time I go to bed
I'll close this out with a new song
that just popped in my head


Our University song
By X4 Kenny

Vs1
Finger picking killer slide
hybrid playing too
gear reviews and improv help
all stuff you never knew

Vs2
Guitar techs and guru mods
featured members radio
backing tracks all kind of facts
even on home studios

Chorus
G F B&B
the only place you need to be
you'll be the best with your degree
from Lorange & Mullins University

Vs3
Guitar news and polling booths
great troubleshooting threads
get feedback on your playing
and showcase your best shreds

Vs4
Collaborations archive files
a music lounge to rest
Teachers, Idols, Specialist
this forum is the best

Chorus
G F B&B
the only place you need to be
you'll be the best with your degree
from Lorange & Mullins University

[carol m]

I'm happy to see that our students came back
From travels and work, and from this and from that
My life takes a dive, when there's no rhyme in sight
On this thread with its news, and its timing real tight.

It's easy to bury the creative muse
In the mounds of emails I've had to peruse
My brain has gone soggy, so I ask for some help
Some rhymes to inspire me, to smile and to melt
Away all of the worries, that happen each day
And to kick-start some lyrics, I'm sure that's the way.

It's all in the mind, and you have to do practice
Not lie in your bed, and cry in your mattress
I feel better already, just at the thought
Of coming each day, to laugh and retort
At all of your rhymings, and match them as well
If I can - and that somehow, casts its own spell-
My brain starts to rhyme, and then out of the blue
There are ideas and lyrics, and its all down to you.

I plan to make time, somewhere each day
To practice guitar, and to write and to play
With words and ideas, and to see how it goes
And not hang my head, and look at my toes
And complain, there are not enough hours in the day
I will never 'find' time, that is never the way
I have to 'make' time, of that I am certain
'Cos I'm not ready yet, to bring down the curtain.

If this thread is a bus, then the wheels are in spin
Already I feel, the hint of something, well, lyrics at least...
And here is a title - 'The Runaway Girl', don't rush to your pens
It's mine, and its copyright, of course I do jest!
Why not try and use that, as an idea to start
In a battle of lyrics we could all have a part
We could see how we go, in a friendly contest
To see what we make, if we give it our best
Or if some other title, or idea springs to mind
You could float it right here - we could all try to find
How we go with our efforts, and then we could see
How our different approaches could set us all free
As we stay up all night with the muse of our choice
And let out our worries, and find our own voice?

(Q.Do 14 lines always make a sonnet? A.Obviously not!)

Here's an idea, and it happened just now!
All the above could be turned into Rap!
Just give it a beat, and a bit of a trim
So, there you go guys, why not give it a spin?

[starsailor]

Don't know about you
But I can't rap
Tried it once
I'm really bad
Which kind of makes me
Really sad
As rapping seems
A cool technique
Rhyming to beats
As you speak
Pray tell though
It is not to be
No Kanye West
Or even Jayzee
No Will Smith
Or Jazzy Jeff
Just plain old me
Bereft of bling
Best let them rap
I'll try to sing

It's good to see you
Back here chaps
It seemed the thread
Was near collapse
Turns out it
Was just a relapse
Could make a song
With Runaway girl
Worth giving it a whirl
Runaways more dark
Than lightness
So in what style
Should we write this
Carol you choose
Then we'll start
Point the way
I'm keen to row in
This topic may suit
Leonard Cohen
Did you know
I'm not too sure
That the great man
Is out on tour
He might be
Heading out your way
I know you'd love
To see him play
Anyway I have digressed
Lets do a song
Well try our best

Best Wishes to all of you

Chris

[eddiez152]

Not crazy about the rapping
I could say thats only me
Pointing fingers and the slapping
Has little melody

Seldom shows the beauty
When someone's barking in your face
Might be good for dancing
Its got its time and place

It sure is not a Cohan
A Dylan so sublime
Not John Prine or a Guthrie
The mentors of my time

But then just getting older
And maybe in a rut
The times they keep a changing
I got their music in my gut

Somewhere deep with in you
As you see the written word
There is a tune just playing
And waiting to be heard

Plenty of rhyme to spark
The thoughts inside our head
Just a point blank sheet of paper
That may go by unread

Now that would be a shame
To see the curtain coming down
Much too long a journey
To be sad and bear a frown

[Aunt Doty]

Carol, my dear
start this song
You want to hear.
We'll all add
a line or two.
It won't be bad
if we add a few.
I can wrap with the best
but, I can't rap
surely ye jest!

[carol m]

If anyone feels they could give it a stab
Perhaps some loop rhythm, from some techy lab (about 95bpm!)
‘Coz in rapping, the beat’s, more important than bling -
And it kind of attracts me, ‘coz I don’t have to sing
I’d need to adopt, an American drawl
Up to now, all my rap, has been done with a shawl
I’ll have to learn first, how to make a long loop -
Then down a few quick ones, and maybe a scoop
Of ice-cream or two – you have to stay ‘cool’
And not drip on your shirt-front, or stammer and drool
I think that with rap, being ‘cool’ is the tool
But there’s no guarantee, I won’t sound like a fool.

Our American cousins, have a definite edge
When it comes to cool lingo, and placing a wedge
On a lyric that’s in need of a cool manly voice
But for me, I’m afraid, I am left with no choice

Was there ever a rapper who wasn’t a male?
I’m totally ignorant, in fact I turn pale
When it comes to the art of rapping a song
But sometimes I listen, and taggle along.

---------
Aunt Dot! you have joined us, it's been a bit lonely
All the students are off on some travel baloney - (a rhyming thing)
You have the advantage of a real Southern drawl
I may have to grovel, and tempt you and crawl
Even bribe you with promises of fame ever-after
If you'd rap a few lyrics, I'll promise - no laughter
Though that could be a promise that's quite hard to keep
It could maybe keep students away from their sleep
But I know you are game (in the best sort of way)
To challenge the boundaries and brighten our days!

[starsailor]

Hello chaps, it's me again
Here's an idea bluezy rap
If you like it, don't think it's crap
I'll open it for machinations
And put it on collaborations
I've gone deeper than before
But it is me not perfect in tune
It though can be improved

[carol m]

Chris you're a genius, was that really you?!!
I'm really impressed but I have a request
Can you post us the beat track
So we can play with it too?

I've constructed a track of my own from the web
I'll admit I'm excited, it's quite gone to my head
The lyrics are down, and that was quite easy
Now there's only the vocals - that'll make you all queasy!
But I don't seem to care, but I don't want to scare
So no promises yet, I will have to compare
The reaction of family and friends to my song
And if they survive it, I'll post it before long.

Here's my intro which I may (or may not) use:

For rapping and clapping and doing your thing
No need to have rings, and a necklace of bling
It’s all in the beat, and the stamping of feet
If you seek it, and greet it, and keep to the beat
You can say in a song, all the things that are wrong
In the world, in your life, or in your own street
You can say how you feel, and you don’t have to kneel
You can tell your own story, and maybe find glory -
If you keep to the beat, it’ll turn out real sweet.

The world is a place, that will get in your face
So you need all your brothers, and sisters to trace
Out your story, by singing, and adding some grace
To the anger and fear, of the whole human race
As the street tries to kill you, or (to) bring you disgrace.

(not copyright!! Have a go if you like as a practice piece or as an intro to your own lyrics).

[starsailor]

Hey Carol, that was honestly me just lower than I normally go, did it on the spur of the moment after I read you're post. Just made up the lyrics and recorded a seperate vocal track (little bit out of tune on the second verse)

I'll play around with your lyrics, they're cool, and see what it sounds like recorded.
Here's the beat track, if you need it longer no problem this just gives room to play around before mixing, you can loop the track and make it as long as you want, might put a guitar in. The beat track is Hip Hop with a bit of beatbox

Sorry I failed to rhyme
Please don't punish
Me for this crime
I promise I will rhyme
Next time I'm here

Best Wishes

Chris

[starsailor]

Hey Carol
A ps for you
Could you send
Me your track too
Bt swapping's
Good fun to do
If you want mine
Changed at all
Just drop a line

[eddiez152]

starsailor,

Great BT, now thats making music. I thought punishment stopped here days ago. Now keep up the good work. No crimes committed.
The bluesy tune was supper, great mix. So what is everyone scared about ? Hip Hop is good stuff.

[starsailor]

Thanks Eddiez, Hip hop has quite a good beat it's surprising what you can put with it, rappings quite hard when you try it, I was doing it at home kept the family entertained don't think I've quite got the hang of it yet but it keeps the family amused

Best Wishes

Chris

[knight46]

The Sailor has beat
I can't compete
My bling it tarnished
My rep has vanished
I've hit the wall
That's all

[eddiez152]

starsailor,

Your use of the words in the tune were stunningly American.
Accents and all.

[carol m]

Thanks for the track Chris
My own is not ready-
Still some tweaks, and then bliss
Then the vocals, oh my
Don't know how I'll sound
But I'll give it a try.

[starsailor]

Originally Posted by eddiez152

starsailor,

Your use of the words in the tune were stunningly American.
Accents and all.

Thanks Eddiez, I tried singing low in my normal voice and it didn't work at all, so I had a go with an Accent and changed the words and it was a lot better, if it sounded near it that's cool, I can do a few accents, I haven't really lived in one place much so I haven't got a regional accent, I haven't quite got the hang of Cornish yet though

Best Wishes

Chris