[Ellenback1]

Ok, so here is the story - my Da wrote a song, one of many, but this one is so close to my heart that I don't want to muck it up for him. He wrote about my Mum, who passed when I was a child, leaving him with 6 kids to raise on his own, and I think he wants to tell her something, now that he's 77 years of age. Mainly, that he loved her, even though they went through hell, together, and that he still misses her. See, Mum was an alcoholic, which is what killed her, and my Da was angry for a long, long time. He wrote this song that just makes me cry, and I would love to get some help on the chords for it, so I can play it for him, but after the first few notes, I'm not going anywhere. Eventually, I can picture playing at the pub with him singing it, so it has to be straightforward, and since you already know what a fabulous guitarist I am (NOT!) the chords have to be fairly simply as well - nothing TOO exotic! (little hands, BIG guitar!)

I started with Cadd9, went to (maybe) a Dm, then perhaps an Em, just not sure where to take it...It has to be wistful, sad, reminiscent, but it will need to go to a dominant at some point. I'd love some input on the music behind these lyrics (he'll KILL me if I change a word! LOL) So if anything seizes you, let me know? And remember, he's as Irish as the night is black, so a Celtic feel would be great...See, I can hear the melody, or at least the start of one, but can't seem to find my way through the chords without using the exact same ones that I've already done in my own songs, and I don't want to use them, so perhaps fresh minds, like yours, would help me find my way through the murk?

I Remember Your Name

It means nothing to remember your name
With feelings of rancor and blame
It does nothing to think of the past
In bitterness, anger and pain

If I could recall all the times that we danced
The nights that we walked in the rain
T'would be better to remember that way
Than blame you for things as they are

It means nothing to think of those days
With hard eyed anger or pain
It does nothing to leave you the blame
For a life that went wrong many ways

And now I remember the nights and the days
The laughter, the tears and the pains
I remember you loving and caring for me
My working and caring for you

A life that's half lived can never be true
The memories buried in pain
I wake from my bed, my sleeping half done
And now I remember your name.

Elle's Da

[si16]

That's a touching story Elle, he sounds like quite a man. You say you want it 'wistful, sad, reminiscent'. Perhaps it would be better if you wrote it in a minor key, which would better suggest all these qualities than C major. Perhaps change to a major key for the last two verses as the lyrics there seem to become more upbeat.

[starsailor]

That song sent tingles up my spine, your Father is a Tower of Strength, I could never do a song this close to your heart justice, it's one for the big guys Ellen, I think one of the Members will come up with a wonderful tune for this that will do your father proud, you're some lady Ellen, I wish you and your Father well and good luck with the song.

Best Wishes

Chris

[Ellenback1]

Great idea, Simon, I did kind of keep going back to the minor keys in it, but I just love the sound of that particular C chord! I may try a Cm, though, and see if that works better! Thank you!

Elle

[Ellenback1]

Thank you, Starsailor, you're a gentleman, and good looking too, in that avatar...

And you're right - for a tiny guy, my Da is the tallest Tower in MY world...

Elle

[si16]

If you decide to keep it major then perhaps try some major 7ths which have a melancholy feel about them. Cmaj7 -> FMaj7 is a change I'm very fond of (God bless Arthur Lee) and it is very easy to play into the bargain.

[allthumbs]

Try a CMaj7. Chords with natural 7s have a very mellow haunting sound that would fit this tune very well.
Decide on a Key. It will help to give some structure rather than guessing what will work and what won't.
You could go from a CMaj as a parallel minor in the Key of A, then go to an AMaj7 to a DMaj7 with an Emaj7/A for the turn around. At the end of the song go back to the Cmaj7 then resolve to The regular A chord for the finish.
The Amaj7 uses 3 fingers while the rest use 2 or one finger so it is pretty simple to play and it will sound good with any picking pattern.
Nothing above the fourth fret.

[Ellenback1]

Thank you, allthumbs, I will give that a try, just a quick run through and it did present me with a good feel on it. He does sing in the key of A, so that works well, for both of us.

[Hilch]

WOW Elle

What powerful lyrics and your prelude really tells a story . I wish I could play better and come up with some beautiful music for for darling but I am just starting to find timing myself ..

Hopefully someone will help you

I only wish I could
Trev

[knight46]

Elle,
Great words with great feeling. I like si16 and AT's take on the Maj7ths and would love to hear the song when completed.

[Andy S]

Originally Posted by Ellenback1

Thank you, Starsailor, you're a gentleman, and good looking too, in that avatar...

Elle

Hay Starsailor, the women always go for a guy in uniform!!
heh heh

On s serious note,

Elle,

Very haunting lyrics. Make sure you let us hear what it sounds like once you get the basics chords down.

[starsailor]

Originally Posted by Ellenback1

Thank you, Starsailor, you're a gentleman, and good looking too, in that avatar...

And you're right - for a tiny guy, my Da is the tallest Tower in MY world...

Elle

Originally Posted by Andy S

Hay Starsailor, the women always go for a guy in uniform!!
heh heh

On s serious note,

Elle,

Very haunting lyrics. Make sure you let us hear what it sounds like once you get the basics chords down.

Thanks Ellen the face lift went well and I thought I scrubbed up quite well too.

True Andy, the only problem for me is that they tend to go in the other direction and the guitar clashes with the uniform which doesn't help

Good to see you're making progress Elle and best wishes

[eddiez152]

Elle,
Nice lyric, hopefully a tune sometime.

[Aunt Doty]

Touching lyrics! Anxious to hear the final rendition.

[pbee]

Hi Ellen,
this is a lovely song, I think it should definitely be put to a minor key to bring out that mood. I had a play around with some minor chords and and a muted strumming pattern, this song has a really nice flow to it, well done . If your interested I played the verses in Bm,C,G,Bm and the chorus in Dm,G,Bm.

cheers
Paul