When my songwriting friend Colin Macduff (find his beautiful debut album 'The Past and the Sky" here: https://www.birnamcdshop.com/product/colin-macduff/) shared his poem 'The Rope', I asked if he'd mind if I tried to put a melody to it.

I did. This is the demo version which I'm hoping to record in a studio soon. There's an accompanying video created with footage from my phone: https://studio.youtube.com/video/yhxZxWGo0wY/edit


The Rope

Coiled, crossed, entangled in a corner
Old and wise and silent, silent as a snake
Left aside beside the new, unwanted
You dream of hands, the touch, their grip, their shape

Once you ran the span and moored our vessels
Safe between the capstan, the capstan and the quay
Once you were the rope that held us steady
Once you were the rope that cast us free

The push the pull, the swing, lasso and ladder
The tug of war when we were in our teens
The give, the take, that bound us all together
The start, the end, the knot, the way and means

Life line, last line, frayed and poorly
In my hand your strands so soft, soft and slack
In my dreams you’re running on beside me
With me all the long way – the long way out and back
With me all the long way – the long way out and back

© C Macduff & S Barr 2023

The Rope - Demo

They're only little " rock 'n roll " songs. Hope you like them 🙏

I'm just a self-taught musician and piano player who tries to express his mind and thoughts through the black and white keys.

Hi, I’m Axel.
After a longer musical hibernation, I started making music again about three years ago – and honestly, it feels amazing! I’ve been hanging around on SoundCloud for about two years now, and I’m constantly blown away by the creativity, variety, and real talent to be found here.

Music is just a hobby for me – which is exactly why I have zero ambitions to make money with it. I’m here simply because it’s fun. So, a small request: Dear annoying promoters with your shady offers – please save us both the trouble, I’m not your guy. I’m not chasing follower counts, click records, or streaming millions. Sure, I’m happy when people listen – but what I value most is connecting with a few honest musicians who feel the same way I do. Quality over quantity, you know?

I play keyboards and have already had the pleasure of creating songs together with some wonderful musicians I met right here on SoundCloud – something I’d love to keep doing. For me, collaboration and exchange are a huge part of what makes music so exciting.

Tech corner, anyone? All my tracks are produced in Cubase 13 Pro. Over time, more and more VST instruments have snuck into my setup – from Spitfire and Native Instruments to Spectrasonics and more. My go-to drum sounds usually come from Toontrack, which have become the rhythmic backbone of many of my tracks. I’ll admit it: I’ve caught a bit of a collecting bug here. Sadly, it’s eating both my wallet and my hard drive space. Will it ever stop? Probably not. 🙄

Style-wise, I love exploring different genres with no limits. For me, the goal is simple: have fun, stay inspired, and keep growing creatively. And every time I stumble upon a track here on SoundCloud that really moves me – the kind of song you’d probably never hear on the radio – it feels like discovering a hidden treasure.

I’m really glad you found my channel – and I hope my music brings you as much joy as it brings me when I create it.

Visit me also on Youtube:
 https://youtube.com/@axelmenningen?si=c01MyCiAEs39qZPZ

On Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/axel_menningen_music/




Welcome to my dusty and flyblown corner of SoundCloud! What a wonderful thing it is that SC provides a home for my roughs...These are originals on a battered ol Yamaha guitar...and a ZOOM H4N recorder! Be warned...only very rough! 

I record songs stripped down to the bones...in the vague hope that a really good song will still come across that way. Thank you everyone who comes to my channel and listens...even just for a little while.

Shirley Barr may be late to the table, but her recently discovered passion for compelling songwriting and performance shows she’s earned her place. Quirky, insightful, and sumptuously layered, she melds beautiful melodies with novel lyrics to create soundscapes that leave you wanting more. Summer 2024 will see the release of her debut EP, Begin Began Begun.

Vegas Nerve, the improbable band. We love songwriting, performing, experimenting with music and having people dance at our gigs. And we're really looking forward to whatever comes next!

ALL THE SONGS ARE MINE.
email: jrlguimar@gmail.com