This song was written for the challenge "Write a song in a minor key". THe opening line was borrowed from internet humour I read years ago, which intern inspired the development of the story in the lyrics.

Kinda Funny

Lyrics inspired by stream of consciousness writing. It's about activities we've each been involved in over a long period and coming to the realisation it's not working.

Spinning Wheel

A song about taking on another thing and overcommitting. The germ of this song originated approximately 10 years ago and sat on the back burner for a while. I recorded it and shortened it in the process, and added the guitar solo instead of a repeated first verse, which adds more variety.

In the 2nd verse, the use of the word ‘thongs’ should be interpreted with Australian meaning i.e. summer footwear - flip-flops.

One shirt short

Written in 2001, it's taken me 22 years to record this song. My 2023 addition are the lyrics to the bridge, with the usual arrangement embellishments occurring during recording, such as the bridge staccato piano and bass, and the 'hmmms' in the outro.
The song is about reflective, melancholy episodes, but while assuring the listener "don't worry about me". There's a slight turn of phrase in the final verse, acknowledging the positive effect that others can have.

While My Coffee Goes Cold

A song written to the challenge 'Write something in swing or shuffle style'. The theme is about aging. The initial chord progression F - Bm - E7 - Am whas inspired by a songwriting tip (from analysis of The Beatles 'Yesterday') to move from a diatonic root chord, to borrowed chord, then resolve to a minor chord associated with the diatonic. The F - Bm move at first sounds jarring but becomes familiar over time (no pun intended).

It's Never Too Late

Written in 2016 and recorded and arranged in August 2023, about standing up to life's challenges, in spite of feeling inadequate and like your 'faking it'.

You Stand Tall

Originally written and recorded in 2006 (or maybe earlier than that?), I had previously uploaded a recording that was backed by midi, and was really starting to age. This recording is October 2023 and is slightly faster than the original, with enhanced vocal and instrument arrangements.

In Paradise When You Smile

Written in 2016, this is a song about breaking free from something I'd done for 40 years (work). If I recall correctly, the music came first, but the lyrics quickly after and relatively pain-free, which is not always the case for me.
All guitars, bass and vocals are mine, with drums generated by Band-In-A-Box. The bass line in the first two bars of the chorus is reminiscent of animal noises, which was intended.

Antelope

This is my response to the songwriting challenge to have a chorus with a repeating lyric line. For someone whose mantra is 'The words are just the vehicle for the music', I found this quite challenging - I couldn't come up with an idea despite hearing plenty of songs with a repeating lyric. So in the end, I produced 'I don't wanna ...' and contrived the verse lyrics to feed into three scenarios, thus becoming just the 'vehicle for the music'.
Musically, I played bass, all guitars and all vocals - only the drums are generated. For the electric guitar, I have never used tremolo effect before but had toyed with the idea.
So far as the video goes, the (dare I say) dance routine came to me one night while trying to get to sleep, so I set out to have three of me dancing to the chorus.

I don't wanna

This one's been patiently waiting since 2005, and only existed in midi form for 17 years. So I've finally recorded it after a few false starts and a key change. I can't say I'm overwhelmed with the outcome. Is it too slow? The pace is pedestrian so I guess it suits the topic. Are the words too negative? I've had a go at making them more positive, with mixed results.

Musically, the chugging guitars go throughout, other than the bridge. There's a nod to reggae in the solo and final verse. All guitars are mine; as well as bass and vocals. Drums and organ are not. The organ is reminiscent of 'Better be home soon' and supports the isolationist outlook.

I walk a lonely road

Written pre-2004 and originally 'You can't (be my baby)', replaced with new lyrics to become 'The lost sock' in 2024 and finally recorded in March 2025.

The lost sock

Written way back in April 2001, this song has sat dormant patiently awaiting my attention. Recently, I chose to use it as a project in which the accompaniment, recording and mixing was completely done in Band-in-a-Box. The flute solo is a special highlight for me, and one could never have imagined a cowbell could be so problematic.

Love's a danger

One of my very oldies - my records are unclear, but the verse melody and chords were written somewhere in 1981 - 82. I ditched the original lyrics because they were 'naff' - obviously meaningful to me at the time, but now upon reflection, trivial in the scheme of things. However, this song evoked a sentimental melancholy when I rediscovered it, so I have chosen to use this theme (looking back on my past) to inform the new lyrics. Besides the words, the section containing the title is new, as is the arrangement.

Lyrically, the title ('March from early November') assumes a lifetime is expressed in calendar months, and I wrote 'looking back on March' (late teens/early twenties) from my current position in early November (my sixties). 

The first verse dwells on some clumsy things I have said over the years that still make me cringe. 'Left it at the railway station' refers to these as unresolved matters. The verse ends with 'choose another line' - referring to a new railway line, but also wanting to avoid putting my foot in my mouth. 

The second verse deals with finding a balance between passions and loves that are sometimes competing for time and attention. In my own life, I was writing songs and playing music in my early years, and I could have allowed this to occupy my time, but I chose to focus on family, work and financial security and push musical interests to one side ('I thought the hill was too hard to climb, so I settled for a lesser view; truth be told my time was running short'). Now in my later years, I have the joy of returning to music ('I rediscovered climbing gear I used to know') while having the joy of family around me and seeing their own lives unfold, but at the cost of my health that impacts on my ability to 'climb'. However, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

This feeds into the third verse/chorus where I express the joy that relationships bring, despite pain, loss and hardships.

Musically, I play bass, guitars and sing, and programmed the strings. The drums and piano have been auto-generated.

March from early November

Somewhere

I have now added a chorus to the song to replace the instrumental motif.

Artefacts (with a chorus)

I wrote this song in May 2025 in response to a songwriting challenge to write a humourous song. The storyline is fictional - just in case anyone is wondering. These circumstances have never happened to me and I doubt they ever will. My hope is that if it did, I would take the same moral stand.

I wrote music and lyrics, with the music backing generated in Band-In-a-Box and recorded, mixed and produced in Cakewalk.

(c) Andrew Davies 2025

Mrs O'Connor

I wrote and did my first recording of this song back in May 2023 - but I wasn't quite happy with it - I have difficulty singing any note longer than a minim without going on tangents, so I decided recently to give my vocal vulnerabilities a few tweaks. The lesson here is you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! Despite this, I enjoyed writing a song with long-held notes which is abnormal for me.

The idea for the song originated with the first line ... 'If I [mumble] [mumble] [mumble], refine me', so the rest of the verses became an exercise in finding words rhyming with 'remind' and overlaying these on melodic variations of the first line. Lastly, because the verses describe external intervention, it became natural to write a chorus recognising the person. The guitar riff (if we call it that) gave some busyness to sit underneath the long notes in the chorus - something I realised a few years back - if one instrument/voice is busy, often another instrument/voice will be less so in order that each has their own space.

Refine me

This song was written to the challenge to use the title 'Use it or you lose it'. I wrote the chord progression, then melody, then added lyrics. The song is about saying 'I love you' to those that matter most, but that we sometimes do not. All backing is generated from Band In A Box, other than all vocals and the solo in the bridge.

Use it or you lose it

Look what's become of me

The earliest date of this song I have on record is 2018, but I wrote it much earlier than that - probably around 2010 or earlier. I still have a paper copy of the chords and lyrics, with original wording edited.
I don't know where the source of the lyrics came from, but I think maybe inspired by the 'americana' feel of the chords and melody, and the fixation on freedom. In any case, it was my thoughts about the demands for freedom, but how true freedom comes from having the choice and deciding to use it for the good of others, rather than self. Oh, how apt that is for today's world!
Musically, I sang, played guitars, bass, while drums and keys were provided by Band-In-A-Box.

Free (DEMO - 2023)

The importance of smiling. Just a small thing, but it can help people who are struggling - letting them know there are others who are for them and not against them.

I've lost track of when I wrote this song exactly, but I think in 2022 or 2023? The chord progression for verses and chorus came first, followed by lyrics, with the bridge chords and lyrics added later. It was a definite attempt lyrically to write a song that takes a positive outlook "to make the whole world smile again". Being a natural pessimist, I've had to work my whole adult life to cultivate some positivity.

The video starts with crowds - smiles - pensive - smiles ... reflecting the mood swings we each can experience.

Musically, I played all instruments except the drums. My keys are still a little elementary. I wrote the verse chord progression specifically using the minor iv chord: the progression goes E - G#m - D - A - F#m - Am. I will often use borrowed chords in my songs. The chorus melody was written an octave higher and quite outside of my limited vocal range. I toyed with idea of singing falsetto but with limited success, so lowered it. I was also tempted to add a vocal harmony to parts but decided against it in the end.

What it takes (DEMO 2024)

This song was my response to the challenge to write a song using the Am - G - F - E chord progression. Lyrics are not my strong point (I've lived a sheltered life) so this was another 'stream of consciousness' writing episode. A good friend of mine suggested it was inspired by a period of working away from home 3 days a week for 6 months - which may be correct. The only instruments on this recording which are not me are the drums and keys.

Not going home (DEMO 2024)

Over the last few years, we have all experienced polarisation of views. Where we once could find some common ground, we now find that more of us are towards the extremes and not prepared give a little. I once heard (from where? I can't remember) that most solutions are in the 'messy middle'.
This song was written in November 2022. I've already had one shot at recording and arranging this song, and I'm happier that I've taken a bit of the harshness out of the original and remixed in 2024.
Did I mention I love board games? The artwork theme seems to be a good fit.

Other side (DEMO 2024)

This is another response to a songwriting challenge - to write the penultimate song before one sheds this mortal coil (sorry!). Written in November 2023, the lyrics were written in a 'rather matter-of-fact' style of someone trying to get their house in order - both literal and figurative - with a few important things to be said along the way.

Musically, the feel of the song takes this same pedestrian approach, with the bridge exposing the singer's passion for his hobby (via a key change) which he hopes his family will cherish.

We're left not knowing what will happen to the singer - other than 'going away' - and that leaves it to the listener to decide.

On this recording, I played all guitars, bass and vocals, but drums are auto-generated.

Neatly packed away (DEMO 2023)

While I don't routinely suffer from debilitating, interrupted sleep, I do experience 'one night stands' with it from time to time, which has informed the lyrics of this song. Written in January 2016, I then added the bridge in 2018 which is when I first recorded it. Further arrangement and recording was added in 2022, with a few tweaks here or there in 2023.

I particularly like the 'ooh-aah' dream sequence in the bridge.

Insomnia (DEMO 2023)

With so many young people being unable to afford the basic human right of home ownership, we should do more than offer policies that are tantamount to platitudes.

This is the BIAB mix of this song, containing more of the original BIAB tracks.

LYRICS
INTRO

VERSE 1
You grew your wings, did all the things but you ain’t going nowhere
You practiced your flapping, but with no chance to fly
Though you learned to sing, didn’t mean a thing with no-one to hear you
And here you are without guitar and you’re wondering why?

PRE-CHORUS
You’re turning the handle but the doors are closed
The party’s raging and you’re stuck at home
No-one’s listening and your mind’s about to explode

CHORUS
Sign up today to love             sign up today to kindness
It’s easy to ignore it all, but better to knock down the walls
That hold us back and keep us apart

Sign up today for hope                say goodbye to blindness
You have to seek the best in all, lifting up those prone to fall
Do your best to find the common ground
Sign up today

VERSE 3
You honed your skills through many a drill, but with no chance to use them
You thought you could flourish, but you’re withered and dry
Not all around you are not as affected
You’re tied to the ground, and not able to rise

PRE-CHORUS
You’re saving your money and your balance has grown
There’s many like you so you’re not alone
No-one’s listening and you’re left without a home

CHORUS
Sign up today to love             sign up today to kindness
It’s easy to ignore it all, but better to knock down the walls
That hold us back and keep us apart

Sign up today for hope                say goodbye to blindness
You have to seek the best in all, lifting up those prone to fall
Building bridges and being kind, reaching out without losing your mind
Do your best find the common ground

OUTRO INSTRUMENTAL


Sign up today (BIAB mix)

This song is about opposite viewpoints and a suggestion that we avoid demonising one another. With a world appearing so polarised, it is important that we re-engage in the 'messy middle' and be prepared to reach compromise rather than a zero sum game.

High

This version of Sign Up Today was recorded and mixed by Tilted Halo in late July 2025, and displays her vocals full of empathy and beautiful harmonies. Tilted Halo can be followed on Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/UDmJKoGjRHVeMZeM10

Sign Up Today feat. Tilted Halo

I love reggae (mostly), so the stakes were high, and made even more precarious by a case of lyrics block. Nothing original here to write about writer's block.

Running out of options

Written in 2001 when I started playing guitar again, I finally got around to recording it! This song is about not taking advantage of what is before you - before it disappears.

The river has run dry

A piece of melancholy about being an introvert and needing a certain amount of time to myself. It was written to a songwriting challenge to use ascending or descending lines.

Not guilty

I've been a guitarist since the age of 15 and writing songs since then, albeit more prolifically since 2000. I prefer strong melodies and to borrow chords to move outside of the diatonic. Usually, the song mix contains my vocals, guitars and sometimes bass, with drums, keys and other instruments auto-generated. The tracks uploaded in my Soundcloud are attempts to 'illustrate' the idea and sound I imagined when writing the songs. At best, the quality of recordings are demo quality. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!

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