Just to think the whole thing up is pretty brilliant, recording niggles aside. I'm curious, do you see it all ahead of you at one go, or do you build it and find your way as you go?
 
Recording wise, I thought the drums' overall volume could come up easily as much as 5db overall, I know it's not the feature here but it sounded to me as if the drummer was in the next apartment. You could bring him or her into your room . . .
 
Ah, I keep getting a Beatles feeling, something Abbey Road-ish the way the parts come in and back out. Actually this one song has probably enough musical motifs in it to make four or five really really good songs, but of course keeping them all in long form here works a treat.
 
As a fan of the musically complicated, or perhaps detailed is a better term, let me say thanks for your wonderful song. This ain't no three chord blues song (although I like those too)
 
cheers,
-Tom
 
 

Hi Laura, this is certainly one of the more interesting tunes I've heard on this forum. Sounds to me like some kind of 1930's cabaret tune but with more twists and turns ; ) Get the recording side sorted and you've got a winner.
 
Rik

Rikkie, thanks very much for those kind words. Wow, 30's cabaret - that's a flattering comparison for sure! :) I'm hoping to improve on the recording side someday soon (I stress hoping!).
 
emeraldsoul, thank you so much for your comments. Much appreciated :)
 
 
To answer your question, I generally get a tune with some chords and usually words (or certain lines of words with a certain rhythmic pattern) showing up and then nagging at the back of my mind. If they nag at me enough, I write them down in a notebook in some form (a real notebook, made of paper, because that works best for me)  and/or sing (and/or play them) into a simple recording app on my iPad. In either case (the notebook or the iPad), I try to date the idea at the beginning of the title, e.g.: "May31 16 Reply to emeraldsoul" . Hey, that wouldn't be a bad title! :)
 
A little later (maybe minutes, maybe months!), a related idea will pop into my head. If some time has passed between the related ideas, the date will come in handy (I'll remember I had the original idea when it was very hot out or that it was snowy, for example). There have been times when a good many months have separated ideas that strike me as compatible, so in this way, I can make a decent guess as to which notebook the earlier idea is probably in. My notebooks are different colours and, on the cover, I write the dates of the time period each encompasses.
 
Once I find the notebook I was filling that season and locate the original idea, I write, for example, on the May 31, 2016 page: "See also Jul20 15, blue notebook and 2 recordings" and on the July 20 15 page: "See also May31 16, butterfly notebook and recording".
 
If many possibly related ideas come on different dates, I just keep adding the dates to refer to on each appropriate page. Often I don't end up combining the ideas after all. It does make a decent old-fashioned cross-referencing system, though.
 
I also note on the page if I made a little recording of that idea on that day. (I do that by underlining the date in the notebook in green. That tells me to check my Dropbox for a recording (really, usually just a snippet or germ of an idea) made on that date). 
 
This all sounds complicated, but once I started doing it a few years ago, it's become second nature. It has kept things really clean and simple and well organized.
 
Sometimes, if I'm lucky, the whole song comes at once, but that's almost as likely as finding a four-leaf clover :)
 
There! Now you know all my secrets, and I bet you're sorry you do 
 
The idea of turning up the drums is a really good one, too. I'll probably take that advice next chance I get.
 
Sheesh, I've gone on way too long here! 
Thanks so much again,
LJ
 
 
 
 

OK, that was fun hearing about your system, and in case there is anyone doubting, you are definitely a songwriter, a condition that afflicts many of us around here, and perhaps you, more so.     The gnomes you employ to maintain all that cross-referencing notebook maintenance must require an expansive lawn all to themselves.  :)
 
keep at it!  
 
-Tom

emeraldsoul
OK, that was fun hearing about your system, and in case there is anyone doubting, you are definitely a songwriter, a condition that afflicts many of us around here, and perhaps you, more so.     The gnomes you employ to maintain all that cross-referencing notebook maintenance must require an expansive lawn all to themselves.  :)
 
keep at it!  
 
-Tom

Yes, Tom, you're right about the gnomes! Two of my most faithful employees are:
The Metro Gnome (gets me to the subway on time), and
The G-Gnome (tunes the third string of my guitar and the first string of my bass)
 
I'm afraid I'm here all night, folks :)
LJ

If Les Claypool had a sister it would be you LJ.

Actually, I am his sister. LJ stands for Les Jr. As the older sibling, I was awarded the "Junior" moniker (our mother was Leslie, obviously). My parents, for some reason lost to the mists of history, nicknamed me "Mor." My brother had to be content just to be "Les."
Very perceptive of you, bapu! 
LJ Claypool

What a beautiful piece of work. This is just so unique. Your voice is so pefectly calming - I think I could listen to you all day. Your song is so creative. I think you've really got some thing here. I love this.

Hi, Mark (MarkusClinus),
Thank you so much for your kind comments. I'm so glad you liked the song. :)
 
 

Hi Laura, well this is another wonderfully evocative song and DEMO.  Since later in the song you have some very nice "wizard of oz" type harmonies, I'll just say to "pay no attention to some of those behind the curtains" when it comes to nit comments about your doing this or that to "better" your demos.  Your demos are great as is. 
 
A good demo is one that gets across the song -- lyrics and melody in a clear musically pleasing way.  Vocals in tune and some interesting musical ideas.  It is not a full production and should not judged as such.  You could spend hours trying to find or create just the right drum fill to satisfy a criticism when you could be spending that time songwriting.
 
Your demos showcase your special voice, melodies, guitar playing and harmonies.  
 
I would wager that -- like me -- you've written more songs than you could possibly self-demo in a lifetime so how could you invest the time/effort it would take to become a recording engineer.  (I never got into music to be an engineer -- all I ever wanted to do was sing/play my original songs. Given that, we're certainly fortunate to have the technology but for me, the focus is always on the songwriting.)
 
You, me and the vast majority on this forum aren't producing "as is" product which is ready to market.  I've seen many people fall down into the hole where they spend more time tweaking recording software than in developing as melody writers, lyric writers (especially), singers etc.  
 
You are a unique songwriter.  You make delightful demos of your delightful songs.  That is more than enough and certainly more than most.