Give us a song...
When people learn that I write song lyrics, specifically
people from certain specific cultural backgrounds, there is a tendency to say,
at maybe specific times of the evening, Give us a song...
Whilst there are no theological objections to this, you
do need to know...
I am a good lyricist.
I am a not a good singer. I am a
terrible musician.
It is true that I have attended singing lessons, for some
years now - but that has mostly been about acquiring knowledge rather than
acquiring skill.
The singing lessons are certainly good for my health, and
my complex respiratory problems.
But mostly I use the lessons to explore song and lyric - my
own work, of course. But also, when I
want to understand a Dowland song, I study and sing a Dowland song. Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, the same. When I want to understand Brecht, I study and
sing a Brecht/Weill song - and usually I have to tidy up the English language
version of the Brecht lyric.
And, also, of course, I am learning how to talk to and
listen to musicians. And better
understand their needs.
In turn, if you are asking me to Give us a song, you must
understand my needs.
First of all, with my delicate nature, I need a properly
structured warm up. You cannot expect me
to just launch into song, like a wild bird.
Then I will need some sort of instrumental intro - this
vastly increases the chances of me starting on the right note.
But I will also need some sort of counting-in guy - I
might start on the right note, but will I start on the right beat?
Musicians - I do need musicians, someone or something to
keep me on track, something to help me with the melody... I do tend to drift off, and dangerously find
comfort in some generalised folkloric drone.
Ideally there should be a backing singer or maybe more
than one backing singer, one for harmony, one for melody. My friend Stephanie Hladowski is very good at
this. She finds a harmony or some sort
of structure to whatever I happen to be singing, and almost makes it sound as
if I know what am I doing.
Remember, musicians, that if you take some sort of
instrumental break - whilst the singers stand around looking appreciative - I
am going to need the counting-in guy again.
Do not let the counting-in guy think his job is done. If it was hard to start on the right beat at
the beginning, it is even more difficult to hit that beat in the welter of
noise.
Now, all this musicians will understand, but be puzzled by
- for are all these things not second nature?
No, dears, they are not second nature to me - I had to learn.
So, I am not saying that I will never Give us a
song. But you do need to know that when
you ask me to Give us a song you are asking for something complex, difficult,
needing forethought and planning.
Also, I am very shy.
