This is a classic song. Growing up I had peripherally heard the original sung by Stevie Nicks, but it wasn’t until I heard The Smashing Pumpkins cover on Siamese Dream that made me check this song out. And of course like any good cover it made me appreciate the original in a way that a punk rock kid never would have. Now nothing beats the original but I hope you enjoy my take on this incredible classic. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you liked or didn’t like. I’d love to hear from you what covers you would like me to do next. Get a few that more than one person wants to hear and I will do my best.
This is an incredible song. I can remember spinning August and Everything after for the first time. I was in the 6th grade and I had signed up for one of those CD houses that send you CDs monthly. The album opens with this song and its the song that defined Counting Crows as a band IMO. They may have better songs, but this one is definitive. Its actually a song that Adam wrote with his band The Himalayans before the Crows existed. Its a funny incarnation because the Himalayans were really rock styled versus the Crows folk sound. You can check out that original version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFQ4CeKBWnM
This is the last song of the goal I made to write a song on Monday,
track on Tuesday and release via Youtube on Wednesday for the first 8 weeks on 2013.
I really wanted to share these with you. I can tell you that it was a difficult goal.
It was difficult to force myself to finish a thought and record it decently enough for other people
to listen. Shoot a video, all in 3 days. I am writing a blog or two on the process and songwriting.
So more on that later.
this song is a painting and a metaphor. Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. I can’t explain why I have
the emotional response I do to his work, but I love it. I had the idea to write this song as if I was
a painter. And in some ways this song is my 3 day audio attempt of something like his Cafe at Night.
as cliche as it sounds….I think People spend thier whole life looking for love. and we like to chase after strange
half loves. As you get older shit can pile up on you. That can leave you feeling like real
love is far off and settling for the temporary. But I dont think real love is ever far off.
The heart of God is for people to be living freely and powerfully which won’t happen until they know the real love that burns like a fire. and The fire still burns…..
HUGE DEBT of Gratitude to Mike Murray who helped by offering sweet ideas and playing the best chair I have ever heard. Go buy his CD!!
the video features none other than the Australian Workout Instructor – Overton Smiggles
check out his myspace and friend him here: http://www.myspace.com/195165781
FIREWATER REVELATION
a pilgrim in the alley
a prophet on the street
signs and wonders follow
all those who believe
sometimes you feel like David
who danced before the Lord
sometimes you find a lover
and you pass out on her floor
the neon sign blinks her eyes
and calls in all her converts
travelling hearts become baptized
here your free to wander
Firewater Revelation
In the temple of temptation
the fire still burns
but not so big and bright
Used to be young in another life
the drama and the beauty queens
are taking offers for their company
the bar rats seem to take their shot
as if it might be the last one they got
the invitation always stands
as the weary hearted pile in
the jukebox cancels out the pain
until tomorrow you’re unrestrained
grace faith sex and love
underneath the midnight sun
any virtue you might want
until tomorrow comes
but the fire still burns……..
Firewater Revelation
looking for some sweet salvation
the fire still burns but not so big and bright
Used to be young in another life
Firewater Revelation
Looking for some sweet salvation
the fire still burns but not so big and bright
used to have love in another life
This is a song about heaven. This song came about after years of hearing preachers talk about heaven as some far off place in the distance, in the by and by. Honestly, I don’t know exactly what it’s going to be or look like when I die but any ideas that encourage me to focus my life solely on the day when I check out; misses the point IMO. So rather than saying we are almost there and one day everything will be better or even looking at the world as being one misstep from damnation, I wanted to say something about how we are here, right now – and that means the opportunity for heaven to be here, right now exists too.
My name is Luke Dowler and each Monday I write a song on Tuesday I record it and on Wednesday I slap together a video and tweak a mix. This is week 7′s effort.Thanks for paying attention. There is a lot of music these days so it means alot to me that you have included mine on your menu. It would help so much if you would SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel, or SHARE it on your facebook page. The more love you guys show, the further we can take this thing, and the less Macaroni we have to eat.
Halfway
I know the outcome
I got it outrun
I saw the spilled blood and
oh my God.
I ran to the top floor
give me something new born, unworn
oh my God
but I can’t walk around in handcuffs, eyelids stapled half shut
waiting for the end to come
with all that we have tasted, how could we just waste it
Like oh my God.
CHORUS:
only halfway
we’re only halfway here
V2. look into the future
cell phones and computers
everybody wants the voice of God
looking for prescription
cigarettes and aspirin
everybody wants the hand of God
you ask existential questions, like how to get to heaven
you’re chasing down the technique
but spinning on this axis, everyone still asking
if heaven was here, if heaven is here, heaven is here
My name is Luke Dowler and each Monday I write a song on Tuesday I record it and on Wednesday I slap together a video and tweak a mix. This is week 6′s effort.
First of all, thanks so much to those of you who have been watching weekly. Thanks for paying attention. There is a lot of music these days so it means alot to me that you have included mine on your menu. It would help so much if you would SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel, or SHARE it on your facebook page. The more love you guys show, the further we can take this thing, and the less Macaroni we have to eat.
I was only able to make this video because of my friends Dave and Phil who thought my spur of the moment desicion to film this weeks grainy video for an electropop acoustic song in a club might work. Thanks to them, we are coming at you from somewhere other than my studio. p.s. I stayed up until 5 am finishing the lyrics and the mix on Monday night.
I really like this song. I wrote it with Missoula and Bozeman Montana in mind, but it’s also metaphorical. I love hanging in those towns when I can, and we love playing at colleges when we our on tour. A saturday night in a college town can be electric. Street corner prophets, pilgrims, temples filled up with people looking for the grace of god. Generally speaking, The next morning home is the only place that anyone wants to be.
I hope that you enjoy iy as much as I did making it.
My name is Luke Dowler and each Monday I write a song on Tuesday I record it and on Wednesday I slap together a video and tweak a mix. This is week 5′s effort.
Week 4 is feeling a bit left out, you should pay him a visit.
Hold Up the Sky is a ballad. Its acoustic. And its an early Valentines Day song for my wife. too sappy? oh well.
the idea is simple. A man will try to hold the sky up for a woman who keeps him in suspense.
Commitment and mystery, failure and risk, faith and hope all wrapped into the mudane everyday stuff of earth. That’s love. Sometimes you look at it and wonder how the heck does this thing even survive and it becomes even more beautiful.
Maybe you can slow dance to it on your 100th wedding anniverssary:)
HOLD UP THE SKY
Some people want everything explained someone to tell em what to think They’re so scared to make a mistake They never do a damn thing
I need a mystery, give me some suspense A balcony with a Capulet If we take a risk and we make a mess that’s all right
CH: I don’t know why you stayed But here we are I’ll hold up the sky you keep me in suspense
V2 Most people want the best things in life but they don’t want to watch em grow But all the good things in life take time The best things come gradual I need discovery, a new frontier I have both of them with you right here I’ll be your peasant or a prince, I don’t really care
BR: Those people who got all the pictures to prove it they always have their angles right but in the pictures, they never show you what they’re hiding in real life baby we ain’t gonna hide no we ain’t gonna hide
So this is a departure from the usual. That is really all I can say about that.
. and since I have a huge production budget from all the records that EVERYONE is buying I put the band back together for this one and shot in full HD. We spent all of last weekend rehearsing the dance routine. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did dancing it.
I hope you enjoy.
Andrew suggested a theme of summer and the ocean….I didnt write a bridge so I just sang one.
I’ve been listeing to too much frank ocean probably.
Lyrically its more simplified and poppy, but I challenged myself to try to stay in that realm on this song.
Let me know what you like or don’t like about this one.
LD
Summer Sun
V1. Sailing on to summer, an endless july
when we’re together everything is alright
cuz good love is hard to find
harder to leave in the summertime
We can throw our worries out into the ocean
watch the sun set like a golden explosion
blue water, is where we both belong
I’ll bring my guitar and sing you Katy Perry songs
Hi. I’m Luke. This is the third week in my 8 songs in 8 weeks. I have been writing a song on Monday, tracking it on Tuesday and releasing it on Wednesday. This song is the 3rd of the self-imposed 8in8 challenge. To listen into the first two weeks, click here:
Good Enough is a song that came together in one day (one very long day) and with the help of my friend Mike Murray. He asked me to come to his studio space and track this week’s installment. I showed up on Tuesday without having really worked on anything since I have been immersed in writing dance pop tunes. No I really have been. And he engineered and offered some cool ideas that turned out really well on this song.
I think most people have had a time when they feel like they were giving the very best of themselves but still unable to please someone else. Lyrically I wrote the song within the context of a relationship because I wanted to put a face on trying to please everyone all the time. I think the fear of letting someone down or simply not liking you can hijack your life. So the chorus starts off as a question almost apologetically, but ends the song in a giant rhetorical exit scene.
My favorite part is the bidge and the last chorus. Mike had the idea that I push my vocals on the bridge rather than only falcetto. and the end chorus turned out really cool.
As for the video.. I wish I had a camera and a little more time, but this is what you get when you have a flip cam with a piece of tape over it for a lens and tour driving footage. One day hopefully I will get ahold of something to do the 8in8 videos justice.
Thanks for listening in and I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, and if you like it – please share! You all are the main way these songs can get out there.
Well this one was laborous. I couldn’t get the lyric, I couldn’t get the take, I couldn’t get the mix. I wrote the chorus first and then struggled to find the verse, but when I found it I decided the verse didn’t vibe with the chorus. oh well. and the video may make some of you queasy with its movement… this is my desired effect. I want you to equate the feeling of nausea with my music. just kidding.
In Montana the days are pretty short through-out December and January. As I was thinking about the winter season, I started thinking about current events and the hovering and impending shadow of “dark days” that some people spend so much time talking about.
And then I thought about two lovers seperated for a time. And what the one would say to the other as the day approached when they would be brought together.
So this song is sort of a love letter..
the second chorus has a little vibe..not perfect, but I like where it could go. It’s not finished in my mind, but regardless here is the second song in my 8in8 challenge.
DARKER DAYS
V. 1 The days are getting darker
It’s getting hard to see
The wolves outside your window
Keep asking you to bleed
They’ll stone your til you’re broken
And then hate you like a stray
But you can’t make everyone love you
Baby you’ll die out that way
CH. In darker days
Don’t have a reason To play it safe
So light up the dark honey and shine away
You’re so beautiful in darker days, darker days
In darker days
Don’t have a reason for heartbreak
So start the clock honey and make the change
You’re so beautiful in these darker days, darker days
I wrote this song on Monday and tracked it on Tuesday. Today is wednesday and…wait a minute, we may have ourselves a new Rebecca Black song…but I digress. I realized just howlittle time that is this first week. With all of the stuff in life…creating something and putting it in a listenable format because I know I am going to share in two days is a lot of pressure. And then I have to make it video, because Youtube is where you people go to find new music:) So here are my thoughts on this song..I would love to hear yours.
well Its not a happy song. and its a horrible 8in8title screen, but you can either be good at one thing or mediocre at a bunch of things. so in 2 days, to create a title screen, video, write and track a song – the title screen suffered the most.
I wrote this song about addiction. My favorite part is the chorus…so you have to at least listen until the first one. The chorus sings the regret of ever opening up the thing in the first place along with the regret of what was missed out on up to that point of life. In the bridge there is this question of, can what started out as ‘relief’ can be let go of completely in the future.
I was going to title this song repentance, but the word has been so overly defined that it would have only served to stereotype the song and what I wanted to write about. Listening back I will probably change lyrics in a number of places, but this is the 8 in 8 song challenge and I have one day to write lyrics so here she is. Hope you enjoy. lukedowler.com
