Step by Step
Originally inspired by a poem I wrote called "This Forlorn Path", however, I ended up changing the story a bit to make it have a happier ending. Musically it's a bit of an odd mishmash of styles, as it started out as a melancholy mid-tempo song, then I somehow ended up adding a bunch of doo-wop harmonies. Let me know if y'all think it's too weird :p
https://on.soundcloud.com/Ay0iZanXMPqfEK17kg
Music and lyrics by Tommy L. Day and the Runaways
(v1)
This path of loneliness was all I knew
I’d spent my whole life through
Never asking why
(v2)
You came upon me and held out your hand
Turned hardened pillars into sand
So one more time, I’ll try
(Chorus)
And step by step I go, where it ends, I don’t know
But wherever these trails unwind, I’m ready for what we’ll find
Step by step with you
(Bridge)
Ah the days and years that I’ve been squandering
But now with you, there’s no more need for wandering, baby
(Instrumental verse)
(v3)
Once I was lost, but now my path was clear
Your love has led me here
To a place where our hearts can fly
(Chorus)
(Outro)
Step by step by step by step...
Comments
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@BeatlesFan64 very lovely tune through and through. My favorite line: "Turned hardened pillars into sand " and is that what I've been doing alone all these years, "squandering years". Dang. Never saw it quite that way. I'd better get a move on, hey?
Renee 💌
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“and is that what I've been doing alone all these years, "squandering years". Dang. Never saw it quite that way. I'd better get a move on, hey?“
Nah, you’re good Renee :p. There’s a time for everyone, at least that’s what I’m hoping. With my luck, though…well, we’ll see haha. Thanks for listening!0 -
@BeatlesFan64 - probably no surprise, but I see that line as a cliche. there were so many interesting directions to take, to experiment with and you chose the obvious. what i write is weird, this isn't weird. the melody, just lays there. the other issue is the style, it's not really current. it had it's time in the 60's. my opinion for whatever it's worth
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Thanks for stopping by, bhengen. I know it’s not gonna work for everyone, but I’m at peace with that, and I’m not really interested in writing current tbh. I respect those who find fulfillment in that style, but it’s not for me, so I leave the experimentation and everything else to you and others. Me, I guess I’m just a simple guy. But someone has to fill that role :p. So again, thank you for the detailed comment, I appreciate it.0
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We are essentially in the same boat :)
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This one gives me an early Beatles vibe. Love the chord progressions.
Really enjoyed this one Tommy!
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This one is really cool, though the style does kind of date it a bit, but I think there's room to make give it a more contemporary-vintage vibe.
I think maybe it would be cool to mix styles for different parts of the song. I liked the vintage beach vibes for the verses, but at the chorus, I kept kind of wishing it would lighten up a bit with a more doo-wop "Come Go With Me" Del Vikings type vibe with the "step by step" or if staying with the more vintage-tropical vibe maybe more of a romantic "Wouldn't It Be Nice" Beach Boys type-sound.
The lyrics are great. I can really relate to them when I think back to the time before I had met my wife.
It's great as is, but it is kind of funky and weird. Which I like, but it's just not the most commercial sound, and I think from the lyrics & melody there is a lot of potential for more.
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Hi Tommy- I grew up in the 70's but my dad was a musician that sang and played multiple instruments. I grew up on R&B, but I appreciate all genres as long as it sounds good. I like your song and love the vibe it gives me. I feel it's well written and your songs always have great harmonies. I have an appreciate for your style; it is priceless classics.
Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing!
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@RainyDayMan Thanks RDM. You know, I did get a kind of 62-63 vibe from this, almost more like a song the Beatles would’ve covered on an early album, or even for a live at the BBC performance. I don’t know why, but it just gives me that vibe. Glad you liked it!
@schmalex Hey, thanks for the detailed and thoughtful comment! Very much appreciated :) That’s an interesting thought of just going full doo-wop in the chorus. Like I said in my intro, I originally didn’t even plan to include the doo-wop harms, so that’s why I felt like it was a strange mishmash of styles and maybe not my most cohesive song. At the same time though, maybe I should just lean into the doo-wop even though the chord progression isn’t very typical for that style. Thanks for that insight, I’ll have to keep it in mind 🙂
@TammyB Hi Tammy, thanks for listening and leaving your thoughts! That’s really cool about your dad, he must’ve been really talented. Funnily enough, I’m the only musical one in my family, and I grew up in the late 90s and 2000s, so go figure that I end up playing all this classic stuff haha. Well anyway, to me the greatest compliment I can get is people who say my music gives them that nostalgic vibe, so I’m glad it did that for you :)1 -
Thats funny you were raised in the 90 ties , but your music reflects from the Beatles era
Thats unusual , pretty song man , a fine recording
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Sweet song!
Bravo!
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Agreed. Unless someone instilled the Beatles into @BeatlesFan64 at a young age.
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Thanks @ElvisNash and @guyetrep, glad y’all liked it :)
@TammyB My dad was a big fan of the Beatles and doo-wop, some of my earliest musical memories are hearing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in his car when he would pick me up from pre-K. I fell in love instantly. There was just something magical about it to my 3-4 year old self. I thought that’s what all current music sounded like. I wish haha.1 -
Harkens back to the late 50's and early 60's. Oh, they must have been the days.
Lovely tune, Tom!
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Nice story. And thank you for sharing those priceless memories. I love Ole school music, too. :-)
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You do a great job of capturing the style of the era. Ignore all those banging on about it not being contemporary - they're missing the point of what you do, and do well.
I'm not sure about the chorus. The second line shifts in a direction that the ear doesn't expect. On the one hand, this makes it interesting, and I like it. On the other hand, it makes it harder to sing along to.
I found myself in a school classroom in Spain a few weeks ago, where my daughter was teaching the kids about music from the 60s and 70s. Two boys knew every Rolling Stones song practically off by heart. There is hope for this generation LOL.
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A wonderful period piece which is what you do so well. A good song with some interesting shifts and great vocals. I like that simple guitar solo too. Proves that you don't have to play at a million notes a second to make it count. Lovely chord to end on too. I'll get my guitar out later and work out what it is!
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Really like the refrain - the "step by step - and a lovely heartfelt song it is.
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As you know Tommy, I'm a big fan of your work and look forward to all your postings.
This however is a bit of an outlier when it comes to your previous works.
I think schmalex captured the essence of how I feel on this one.
I sensed a lack of direction and purpose in this one, as I said an outlier.
Thanks for posting.
Sid
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Howdy, Stranger!