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Description
Backstory
After New Zealand and 'A Cave of Stars' we headed to Australia, where we spent ten weeks. Although the outline of the song and the first verse was written in and was about Kauai the rest was completed in Australia. It was December, and we were in the 'red centre': Alice Springs and Ulhuru - the hottest place on earth. One thing you hear a lot of, throughout Australia, is how potentially dangerous it is - whether it's being swept away by a torrent of red earth in a flash flood, or being eaten by box jellyfish in the ocean, or just simply getting lost in the desert without any water and shrivelling up in the sun. Never mind the spiders, snakes and various other creepy crawlies that can kill you there. So this is the first of three songs written in, and about Australia (two more will follow soon) and is about how dangerous it is! Even though it's actually a very nice place, of course:-))
Production
This is the song where I really wanted a proper orchestra/brass section backing me rather than a computer. In my mind this is massive - but for the time being we'll just have to make do. Although pretty much everything else was recorded in Oz, I re-recorded the vocals here in India, as the original was way out of time. Unfortunately the rickshaws out on the street made it onto the vocal track and I've spent an eternity trying to edit them out - still a bit hissy, but that's what you get recording directly into a laptop. What wouldn't I give for a decent mic and quiet room!
All comments appreciated - good or bad!Thanks,
Phil
After New Zealand and 'A Cave of Stars' we headed to Australia, where we spent ten weeks. Although the outline of the song and the first verse was written in and was about Kauai the rest was completed in Australia. It was December, and we were in the 'red centre': Alice Springs and Ulhuru - the hottest place on earth. One thing you hear a lot of, throughout Australia, is how potentially dangerous it is - whether it's being swept away by a torrent of red earth in a flash flood, or being eaten by box jellyfish in the ocean, or just simply getting lost in the desert without any water and shrivelling up in the sun. Never mind the spiders, snakes and various other creepy crawlies that can kill you there. So this is the first of three songs written in, and about Australia (two more will follow soon) and is about how dangerous it is! Even though it's actually a very nice place, of course:-))
Production
This is the song where I really wanted a proper orchestra/brass section backing me rather than a computer. In my mind this is massive - but for the time being we'll just have to make do. Although pretty much everything else was recorded in Oz, I re-recorded the vocals here in India, as the original was way out of time. Unfortunately the rickshaws out on the street made it onto the vocal track and I've spent an eternity trying to edit them out - still a bit hissy, but that's what you get recording directly into a laptop. What wouldn't I give for a decent mic and quiet room!
All comments appreciated - good or bad!Thanks,
Phil
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Lyrics
Red Dirt
(by Phil Dolby ©2007)
I will never turn my back on the red dirt
I will never turn my back on the red dirt
Red dirt’s gonna flow with rain
Red dirt’s gonna mark and stain
I will never walk away from the red dirt
Red dirt’s gonna mark my days
Red dirt’s gonna turn me to clay
Never more to walk away from the red dirt
I will never turn my back on the ocean
I will never turn my back on the ocean
Ocean’s come to dance in waves
Ocean tide will take me away
I will never float away on the ocean
Ocean’s rip will pull under waves
Ocean's now a watery grave
I will never float away on the ocean
I will never turn my back on the desert
I will never turn my back on the desert
Desert sun will burn in flames
Strip my skin and heat my veins
I will never walk my way through the desert
Desert sun will burn and rage
Dry my lips and steal my shade
I will never walk away from the desert
(by Phil Dolby ©2007)
I will never turn my back on the red dirt
I will never turn my back on the red dirt
Red dirt’s gonna flow with rain
Red dirt’s gonna mark and stain
I will never walk away from the red dirt
Red dirt’s gonna mark my days
Red dirt’s gonna turn me to clay
Never more to walk away from the red dirt
I will never turn my back on the ocean
I will never turn my back on the ocean
Ocean’s come to dance in waves
Ocean tide will take me away
I will never float away on the ocean
Ocean’s rip will pull under waves
Ocean's now a watery grave
I will never float away on the ocean
I will never turn my back on the desert
I will never turn my back on the desert
Desert sun will burn in flames
Strip my skin and heat my veins
I will never walk my way through the desert
Desert sun will burn and rage
Dry my lips and steal my shade
I will never walk away from the desert
echoroom
Jeez Phil, sounds like you've got an orchestra here to me. This is ace - lovely big drum sound, the horns give this a really nice lush feel, and your voice is the best it's been - pure and warm. Personally, I can't hear the rickshaws, but it wouldn't matter if I could (give it a bit of realism!). The only bit I'm not keen on is one of the keyborad soundsm which is a bit too synthy for my liking, but a minor quibble. Love the drop out , with just vocal and guitar.
Best track you've posted - really excellent work.
Steve