Written about a recent trip to Italy. I was supposed to travel with a dear friend but he couldn't make it last minute. He is the 'you' I am traveling without at the beginning of the song. Traveling solo was sometimes lonely but also empowering. Like, 'yes, I'm doing this!' This describes my often uncertainty traveling alone. I first felt comfortable while exploring the Boboli Gardens in Florence. I came up with part of the chorus while sitting in the chestnut field there. This was my first ever multi-track instrumental + vocal recording on Garageband. With inspiration and support from my teacher, Bree Gordon.

"Unfamiliar Place" © Emily Feder, 2023
100 bpm, 4/4 Capo ll
D
Train car, travelin’ without you
F#m
Plug in my charger, no one to talk to
G
Green hills from the window, feel the vibration
Em	A
Pull down my backpack, getting close to the station

[Pre-Chorus]
D					Em
It’s stunningly real, The people are here
G
And how do I feel
A
A little anxious, but I will deal
G A
Try to find my confidence
F#m Bm Em A
To make it in an unfamiliar place

[Chorus]
D 	A
Will I find the path to take
D G
Will I know the words to say
G A F#m Bm
Buy my ticket and go
G A
Even if I miss the route
F#m Bm
Keep on going, power through
G A   D
Wa-oh


[Verse 2]
D
Hotel room, filling my pack
F#m
Tickets and money, don’t lose track
G
Make a sandwich from breakfast, cheese and bread
Em A
Get outside for the day ahead

[Pre-chorus]
D					Em
I’m suddenly here, The people are real
G
And how do I feel
A
A little anxious, but I will deal
[Chorus]...

[Bridge]
D A G A
Clementine under the tree
D A F#m Bm
Chestnut field of Boboli
D A G A
Finally, I can release
D A F#m Bm
Afternoon tranquility

Em A
Ay 

[Chorus]
D A
Ba da ba da…
G A
Even if I miss the route
F#m Bm
Keep on going, power through
G A D
Wa-oh

[Ending]
D A G A
Finally, I can release
D A G A
Afternoon tranquility

Unfamiliar Place

The phrases in the first verse were whirling around in my head as I tried to make an ultimately insignificant decision that consumed me for an hour. This song captures that feeling of having so many options but not know which to take.

"Indecision" © Emily Feder, 2023


A			Amaj7
Thoughts colliding and dividing
A7
Head is spinning
D
While I’m on the couch
Dm		A
15 questions, 30 directions
E		A
Such and such and this and that

A 		Amaj7
Just say yes, it’s not a test
A7				D
The consequence is really not so bad
Dm			A
But is it right or black and white
E 				A
Could it cause a fight, or heart attack

[Chorus]
Dmaj7		A
Not good, bad, right or wrong
Dmaj7		A
It shouldn’t take so long
E		E7
Take a breath, hear the song

[Verse]
A			Amaj7
Want to make the perfect day
A7			D
I can look back and have no regrets
Dm			A
Too much pressure, what’s the measure?
E		A
Any choice will be ok

A	     		Amaj7	
What’s the worst, I can reverse
A7 		D
Or go again another time
Dm			A	
That’s what I have, It’s not so bad
E		A
Probably completely fine

[Chorus]

[Full Verse of ba ba da…]
[End with extra:]
Dm A
Ba ba da
E A
Ba ba da

[Bridge x 2]
Asus A Em
I don’t know what I want
Asus A Em
Ba-da-ba
Asus A Em
Indecision
A Em A
Oh Ah Oh

[Chorus x2 w/solo]
[Verse] ba ba da…
[Bridge]

Indecision

This song describes one of my personal rituals. On occasional summer nights I will bike to one of the beaches along Lake Michigan. Two of my favorites are Foster and Hollywood beaches. I will sit by the water, take in the setting sun, feel the sand on my feet, and listen to music. My brain immediately calms from everything that is usually swirling around. When I listen to this song, I feel calmer, and I hope it gives that feeling to other listeners. This recording was done via iPhone voice note. Perhaps I will record another more polished version;  I also love this so much as it is.

"Quiet Night", © Emily Feder, 2023
[Verse 1]
G Em
Midsummer, Friday night
Em C
When I set out on my bike
C D
Wheels turn slowly to the east
D Em				Em Em F#
Nowhere to be, no one to please

G Em
Sleepy waves flow in and out
Em C
Crepe paper sun is floating down
C D
Feet sink cool into the sand
D Em
Tracing patterns with my hand

[Chorus]
Em D G C
Ay ya yay (x2)
Em D G
Everyday, my mind is spinning circles
Em D G
But on a Friday, twilight, I can’t hear it anymore
C D B7 Em C D Em
And I… empty mine, like sand washed from the shore 


[Verse 2]
G Em
Banish yesterday away
Em C
Lead tomorrow astray
C D
All the shoulds I disavow
C Em
Try to be exactly now

G Em
Just an hour left to be
Em C
Golden sun pour into me
C D
Pin a satin bow of light
D Em
Wear into quiet night

[Bridge]
Em   		C
Quiet night, quiet night
G F# Em
The sun bequeathed its light
Em		C
Quiet night, quiet night
G F# Em
Hush you’ll feel alright

Em A
And in the dark
C G
Natural magic plays
C D		   C D
All is possibility, nature seems to say…

[Repeat Bridge] Quiet night, Quiet night…

[Chorus + Final Ending]
C D B7 Em C D G (x2), 2nd Ending: Em
And I… empty mine, like sand washed from the shore 
Ay Ay Ay…
*end on C

Quiet Night (Raw)

[Chorus]
G 			C
It’s not my first time riding these miles
Am			D
But I’m unsure how to start
G			C
The sun hangs in the clear blue sky
Am	     D		G
And I feel a downtick in my heart

[Verse 1]
G  Am
Last week we said
D G
We’d go on a ride
G  Am  
I’d lend you a helmet
 D G
And spend time outside
G C  
Planned for Wednesday, 
D G
Tuesday no reply
G C  
Now I’m riding alone
  D G
Wish I knew why

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]
G Am		D 	G
I’ve been On the other side
G Am 		D G
Be ok, If you apologize
G C  D G
Right now can’t rationalize
G C 		D G
Tears fall from my eyes

[Chorus]

[Bridge 1]
Em C
Why can’t it be a normal day?
D G
The wheels to carry me away
B7  C
But all I see is fog and gray
D G
A heavy weight

[Chorus/Fiddle Solo]

[Bridge 2]
Am		D
Last week had possibility
G		 C
Now the dream has gone to seed
Am 			D
It was warm when we said goodbye
G		C 
Maybe it was the final time
Am 		D
The door was opening to me
G 		Am
Now I can’t even find the key
C
Who will be there
D G
To show me the way

[Chorus]
[Fiddle Interlude]
[Chorus x2, First time end on Em instead of G]

Note: This version contains some midi tracks -- I may eventually replace with real instrumentalists.
Noteflight - String Parts - https://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/d3b1ba7e2d3a87678a74aebca157d61ad660a5ff
© 2024 Emily Feder

Downtick

This is a cover of "The Chain" by Ingrid Michaelson which I recorded in 2018.

Covers

The Chain (Ingrid Michaelson)

I am from Chicago, IL. A full-time software developer, I write music in my free time. I love Jewish music, folk, pop, country, and musical theater. My influences are Brandi Carlile, Billy Joel, Dar Williams, Elton John, Taylor Swift. Many thanks to my teacher Bree Gordon, who gives me inspiration and motivation, and without whom I wouldn't be writing my own music.

Emily Feder

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