Vagabond Song

My first song posting to MeFi Music. A song about being down on your luck.

This song's been kicking around in my head for awhile. Last year I recorded it in my living room with on a whim. I've never shared this recording with anyone before. Obviously production-wise it's nothing special but I enjoyed it.

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posted by jnrussell (8 comments total)

This is very nice. I like that string rattle that you do sometimes. You should post the lyrics, I am digging what I can catch.

Welcome to MuFi!
posted by Corduroy at 11:03 AM on February 10, 2011

Yeah, this is reaaaaaal pretty. I think there's something special about one-take recordings like this, and you sound great here.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:49 AM on February 11, 2011

Wow, thanks a lot for the nice remarks! I have a feeling that string rattle is either my inept playing or a sign that my guitar needs servicing, but I'll take the compliment as a happy accident nonetheless.

Here are the lyrics, from memory (some words might be wrong but you'll get the gist)

[VERSE]
Take me down to the county line,
Let them take me on the other side.
"Vagabond, you're not welcome here,"
Said the sheriff as the bus drew near.
Well times are hard, and so am I.
I just need a freind, I'm waiting to die.

[BRIDGE]
One more town, one more day.
How long will I wait to hear somebody say.

[CHORUS]
I will take you to the water.
I will lead you to the shore.
We can wash away our sorrows
Till we remember them no more.

[VERSE]
Dusty road, no end in sight.
All the cars are passing by me
In the fading light.
Lay me down beneath the stars.
Try to dream as I close my eyes.
And I dream of someone
Who will take my hand,
And soothe my soul.

[BRIDGE]
[CHORUS]

[VERSE]
Pickup truck, all rusted through.
And the man inside was rusted too.
Tired hands and tired eyes,
Looked as tired as tired as tired as mine.
He said "Son, I'll pick you up.
"You could use a friend, and so could I."

[BRIDGE]
One more town.
One more day.
You won't have to here me say.
You won't have wait.

[CHORUS]
posted by jnrussell at 9:18 PM on February 11, 2011

Hey, I like this. The lyrics have a lot of familiar phrases and ideas in them, but they mix ballad-style narration with looser, more subjective and reflective parts. I'm a little dubious about the falsetto in the ending, but in the rest of it, you use the different registers of your voice really well, and you have a consistent tone throughout your range that keeps everything sounding easy and natural. I'd be pretty damned happy to be able deliver something like this in one take. If I were going to criticize anything about it, I think you could change up your picking patterns a little more, and use that to help articulate the sections of the song.
posted by Wolfdog at 10:14 AM on July 8, 2011

I just hit this in rotation on the MeMu torrent update. It's really great.
posted by jessamyn at 12:44 PM on February 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Jessamyn just sent me the link to this. I like it too! It's soothing.
posted by not_on_display at 11:00 AM on May 18, 2013

Thanks! I'm really glad you like it.
posted by Doleful Creature at 2:11 PM on May 20, 2013

Every time this comes up on my iTunes it makes me happy. Thanks so much for making this.
posted by jessamyn at 9:07 AM on August 11, 2016 [1 favorite]