Gone Gone Gone

For the April "two chords" Challenge. The two 3-note chords even share a note in common, so we're talking a total of five notes serving as harmonic accompaniment for this song. Played on the strumstick. There's a hoop drum, too, of indeterminate pitch. I posted a lo-fi, live version of this song to YouTube as well, direct from my 6-mat tatami room at home. You can see it here.

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by flapjax at midnite (12 comments total)

lyrics...


GONE GONE GONE

that train's pulled out
and my woman's gone too
now i'm another day older
don't know what can i do
i can't believe she's gone
her love was powerful stuff
like a moth around a light bulb
i just couldn't get enough

but she's gone gone gone

is she coming back again
ain't no way to know
i'm watching the paint peel
it's coming down slow
it's just day after day
and night after night
nothing fits together
nothing seems right

cause she's gone gone gone

the rabbit's in the hole
and the eagle's in the nest
sun rises in the east
it sets in the west
everything in it's place
but i can't play my part
with this crazy dagger
that she stuck in my heart

she's gone gone gone

Copyright 2009 Samm Bennett all rights reserved
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:30 AM on April 29

Very happy to see the strumstick getting some love.
posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 3:41 AM on April 29

So awesome. This song grabbed me pretty much from the first second.
posted by Effigy2000 at 2:58 PM on April 29

Great one, flapjax. I can't believe the cleanliness of the sound you always get.

This challenge was a rabid success, aye? Sixteen songs so far, and we might still get some more tomorrow.
posted by micayetoca at 5:23 PM on April 29

This challenge was a rabid success, aye?

Indeed, and thanks to the Cortexian One for coming up with it. And stay tuned for the May Challenges, coming right up!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:39 PM on April 29

Hey man, you're really putting that strumstick to good use! I think I might have been a skeptic when you first spoke of it, like...just pick up a guitar man!, but it sounds great and is really does a fine job accompanying you voice. Good show!

youtube! I'm really diggin that your posting there too. It's great stuff and I wish more folks (mefi folks) would do it.
posted by snsranch at 8:06 PM on April 29

just pick up a guitar man

I would, sns, but they're just so... bulky!

And yeah, more folks here at MeFiMu linking to YT music clips would be cool. The video I've got there for this tune (and several others) was just shot using the video setting on my still camera (a mid-priced Sony, nothing special), and the audio is just from the camera's mic. No biggie! Easy peasy Japanese-y!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:26 PM on April 29

Very nice. Great use of your voice/vocal range. And I didn't even know what a strumstick was 'til I looked it up just now; this song proved to be both a musical and educational treat!
posted by lovermont at 9:05 PM on April 29

Badass. That strumstick sounds great. I've got a solid-body electric mountain dulcimer that sounds a little similar; I'll have to dig it out soon. This is supercool.

When you say hoop drum, is it like a bodrahn? What are you playing it with?

I like that dropout around 2:45, too.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 4:07 AM on April 30

Yes, karlos, it is a bodhran, one of those REMO jobbies. I just don't usually call it a bodhran, because I don't play it in the Irish style. I love the Irish style, but I just don't have those chops, and since it is also a hoop drum, I just use that more generic and less genre-specific name for the instrument. I'm playing it with two hands, holding it between my knees, and I've got it sort of muffled with a patch of cloth and some tape and stuff.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:28 AM on April 30

The strumstick sounds awesome. I really like that sound. A little bit pricey, but if I ever see one being sold second hand somewhere I will have to consider picking it up. Would you recommend it? The part where you sing 'gone' is just terrific.
posted by Corduroy at 10:43 PM on April 30

Thanks, Corduroy. You really think the strumstick is all that pricey? I dunno, doesn't seem all that steep to me. It's quite well-made. Anyway, yeah, I recommend 'em, I'm having fun with mine.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:09 AM on May 1