Song #6 – Cupid’s Reflection
Song #6 for FAWM 2009 is an out of time instrumental. Sort of a “round” off an initial theme. Instruments are the Koto, Banjo, Sitar and Acoustic Guitar (all are played on keyboard with the exception of the guitar). Title is a nod to the day it was written and recorded, Valentine’s Day, as well as the reflective “round” style. Almost halfway to the goal of 14 songs in 28 days!
Song #5 – I Wanna Pet a Porcupine
Ok, so this is getting a little weird. Fun… but weird. Came up with the idea “pet a porcupine” at work today, came home, picked up the guitar and nothing really came. Then I grabbed the mando and things began to flow. Pretty soon a list of “mom-isms” began to flow.
As silly as this song seems (and it IS), there is a larger message behind it. This is the second song I’ve written for FAWM 2009 that seems to have my mother’s influence in it. She never actually warned me about petting a porcupine, but if there was one near, I’m sure I would’ve wanted to pet it… and she would’ve said “Don’t go pettin’ that porcupine! Boy, have you lost your mind???”
I Wanna Pet a Porcupine c2009
words and music by John Natiw
I wanna pet a porcupine…
Just once before I die
Gonna jump off a bridge cause my friends said to…
Just once before I die
I wanna cross my eyes till they freeze that way…
Just once before I die
Gonna have a mess of kids that are just like me…
Just a once before I die
I wanna run with scissors and put out my eye…
Just once before I die
Gonna wear dirty underwear and get in a wreck…
Just once before I die
Truth is that I’m tellin’ lies
And very much to my surprise
All I really want today
is to hear my momma say…
Don’t go pettin’ that porcupine
Don’t go pettin’ that porcupine
Don’t go pettin’ that porcupine
Boy have you lost your mind?
Don’t go pettin’ that porcupine
Don’t go pettin’ that porcupine
Don’t go pettin’ that porcupine
Boy have you lost your mind?
Song #4 – Turning Nothing into Something
Ok so here’s another one that I’ll likely never get to play out live. But it was fun!
Steve did something really cool the other day that I never thought I’d try. He did a song in one take with no planning. He had a thought going through his head all day and came home and pushed record. It was inspiring.
Today I decided to try it. What’s the worst that could happen, right? Don’t answer that. After playing a few chords on the guitar and thinking about my inspiration, I let loose. The lyrics were so simple and so was the music. But I kept it.
A little later I played it again and began to fiddle with the sound a bit. Then a bit more… Pretty soon I was having some real fun. And now this song gets me caught up a bit in the challenge that is writing 14 songs in 28 days. Woop!
I’m not posting lyrics because I really don’t remember what I sang!
We’ll Go (Looking for Eden)
Song #3 for FAWM 2009. Think this one is a keeper…
We’ll Go (Looking for Eden).mp3
We’ll Go (Looking for Eden) – John Natiw ©2009
I’m barely breathing
Under this ocean
With all the commotion
Of waves crashing down
You’re hardly moving
Against this strong river
Starting to shiver
Refusing to drown
So we’ll go… together
Through the deep valleys
Across walls and canyons
That stand in our way
So we’ll go…
And still we will struggle
Against fate and fortune
The dark of the new moon
And wolves drawing near
But if we are faithful
And trust in each other
Dear sisters and brothers
We’ve nothing to fear
So we’ll go… together
Through the deep valleys
Across walls and canyons
That stand in our way
Yes we’ll go… together
Looking for Eden
In spite of the demons
That lead us astray
So we’ll go…
And someday it ends
This journey we’ve taken
There’ll be no mistaking
The end of our road
We’ll stand in that moment
Covered in gold dust
The blue sky above us
And gravel below below
And we’ll go… together
Through the deep valleys
Across walls and canyons
That stand in our way
Yes we’ll go… together
Looking for Eden
In spite of the demons
That lead us astray
So we’ll go…
So we’ll go…
Thanks for listening,
John
February 6, 2009
Peanut Butter Jelly
Two days of FAWM 2009…
Two VERY different songs.
Here’s the latest:
Peanut Butter Jelly – John Natiw ©2009
In my fifth year of life I found the perfect food
One that filled my belly and improved my mood
It wasn’t popcorn, taffy or pixie sticks
No, it was peanut butter jelly that gave me my fix
When I turned fifteen I came to understand
What a boy had to do to become a man
Wasn’t girlie books, or rock n roll songs
It was peanut butter jelly, that made me strong
THERE’S ONLY ONE FOOD THAT CAN FILL MY BELLY
IT’S WHEN MOMMA MAKES ME SOME OF HER PEANUT BUTTER JELLY
TWO SLICES OF BREAD – A LITTLE LOVE BETWEEN
IT’S LIKE OIL TO MY ENGINE, IT’S MY GASOLINE
IT DON’T REALLY MATTER JUST HOW IT’S MADE
COULD BE GRAPE, STRAWBERRY OR MARMALADE
CAUSE BOLOGNA DON’T LOOK RIGHT AND TUNA’S JUST SMELLY
GOTTA GIVE ME SOME OF MOMMA’S PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY
One day a girl asked me to the homecoming dance
Stuffed a fresh made sandwich in the pocket of my pants
She took one whiff of my sweet, sweet smell
Yeah it was peanut butter jelly, put her under my spell
Well I married that girl, got some kids of our own
We got some jelly on the counter, peanut butter on the phone
Yeah, it might be messy from time to time
But it’s peanut butter jelly, come rain or come shine
CHORUS
Now that I’m much older I ain’t changed a bit
I’m still eatin’ them sandwiches lickety split
People ask me now “what’s your favorite thing?”
I tell ‘em peanut butter & jelly, then I start to sing…
CHORUS
A Song About Dying Lives Again
Back in 2005 I wrote a song called One Cut Too Deep. For the longer version of this story, see the post One Cut Too Deep on the Songwriting Apples blog from 2007. Although I was happy with the lyrics and some of the music, I never played it out or even in the basement much after ‘05. In 2007 I took another crack at it, but was still not happy with the result. With a few cool shows coming up soon, I’ve been messing around with it pretty regularly over the past few weeks. After almost four years, I think it may be finished.
The lyrics have changed very little (a few lines are omitted and some others are repeated due to arrangement). Also, there is not a short portion at the end with spoken word (a few selected lines from the verses spoken over the music). The music is completely different though. When I originally wrote it I played a very slow and somber finger picked part. The melody was very simple and repetitive. Also, the chorus lacked any kind of punch, in my opinion. Last night I sat down with my guitar capo’d at 5 and began to play different chords in a much quicker and rhythmic manner. As I began to sing the lyrics to see if they would fit, they came out very easily. After recording a few takes I listened back and liked what I heard.
Today I listened again to the rough recording and decided to record it for my first FAWM 2009 entry. One Cut Too Deep may finally find an audience. Hope it was worth the wait.
John
February 1, 2009
