Help Me Be Good

Here's a new one... don't have a recording of it yet, but I'll put up a link as soon as I am able. Looks like the last tune I wrote was Nothin' All Day back in January, so this is a welcome addition. I'm truly amazed and impressed with you all and the songs you've been writing! Keep up the great passion!

Short commentary/introduction:

We're all affected by bad decisions and/or mistakes. The person who makes the mistake suffers, but also the folks in their circle of influence sometimes pay a price. This song thinks a bit about those on both sides...

Thanks for taking the time,
John
p.s. Thanks for all you do with the site, bro...

Help Me Be Good
words and music by John Natiw

He woke up on Sunday and made one last mark on the wall
The last time he lived as a free man he couldn't recall
Since then it's been nothin' but dodgin' these big iron doors
Tryin' to stay out of trouble and settlin' scores

They gave him his old clothes and said 'don't you ever come back'
The rest of his life and a Bible tucked into a sack
Twenty one years to forget all the things that he'd done
He walked through the front gate, his face turned up into the sun

And he said...

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin' is help me be good

The day that they took him away she was too young to know
Why a man that she wanted to stay said he still had to go
In the years that have past pain and anger have come home to live
In the place of a man who just didn't have nothin' to give

She thought to herself more than once 'he can go straight to hell'
Then a voice from the front room said 'momma, can I get the bell'
Twenty one long years of thinkin' 'bout what might have been
She turned to her son and said 'go let your grandaddy in'

And she said...

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin' is help me be good

[instrumental verse]

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin'... is...

Help me to be just a little less angry and misunderstood
I don't want to waste my whole life sayin' 'you know that I would if I could'
Give me the strength, Lord, to do all the things that I should
I guess what I'm sayin'
All that I'm sayin'
Please hear me sayin'...
Help me be good

Learning Your Own Songs So That You Can Play Them Again

Sounds like one of those "chicken and egg" scenarios doesn't it?

I wrote a song in the month of February that I called "As They Please". It was one of those "gift" songs that comes all at once with not much conscious effort on my part. I learned a new tuning and BAM! Out comes a new song.

That said, in February I was writing about .75 songs a day, so I didn't revisit this song until last night. I'm glad that I recorded a little instruction of the chord shapes and tuning on the origninal demo of this song.

I decided to make myself a video diary of HOW to play this song, first for myself, but also for anyone wanting to learn a few new chords in a new tuning. DADGAD. Gotta love that tuning.

Nothin' All Day

Been a bit since I wrote a song. Since starting Arlington Station a few months ago, I've been concentrating on the shows we have scheduled. In terms of writing, I've not been in a hurry. It's been a wonderful process of learning what our abilities as musicians are as well as exploring the sonic pallette that we all create together. I was hoping that my next song would take advantage of our strengths as a band, but this one is more of a singer/songwriter/folk tune. Lisa and Dave got involved with the lyric end of the writing process. First time we've written together. Hopefully we'll continue to do that!

Here's the latest. It's called Nothin' All Day.
John

Nothin' All Day - mp3

Nothin' All Day
lyrics by John Natiw, Lisa Chambers & Dave Chambers (Arlington Station)
music by John Natiw

5am and the rain won't stop
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
I need to sleep, but on second thought
I'm gonna think about nothin' today

Newspaper said that the war's still on
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
I'll just leave it to the Pentagon
I'm gonna think about nothin' all day

CHORUS
I'M GONNA THINK ABOUT NOTHIN' ALL DAY
AND WHILE AWAY SOME TIME
IT DON'T MATTER WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY
I KNOW THE SUN WILL SHINE
TOMORROW I'LL SEE IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY
BUT FOR NOW I'M THINKIN' 'BOUT NOTHIN' TODAY

Bank man said that the money's all gone
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
Preacher man told me I'm doing wrong
I'm gonna think about nothin' today

Postman brought unhappy news
I'm gonna think about nothin' today
It ain't nothin' but bills and blues
I'm gonna think about nothin' today

[CHORUS]

My friends all tell me that I've lost my mind
cause I'm gonna think about nothin' today
24 hours and I'll be fine
But, I'm gonna think about nothin' all day

Now don't go thinkin' that I don't care
I'm just gonna think about nothin' today
Some folks say that life ain't fair
I'm gonna think about nothin' all day

[CHORUS]

It's the Rest of Your Life

photo courtesy of the city of Pittsburgh,
the sun and my daughters - 2007

This one started to form on October 14th. A couple verses, which did not make the cut, came out very quickly. The chorus idea came shortly after... It's the Rest of Your Life. There have been a lot of things happening in and around my life of late that probably helped bring this song out. I've tried to keep it as "open" as possible. Hoping that many people can relate to the simple idea of "beginning anew". The music is deliberately simple in this one. I struggle a bit with lyric writing and melody (not a good thing for a songwriter), so I decided to use only two chords and try to vary the melodies and focus intensely on the lyrics. I can't remember ever putting more work into lyrics than I have these. Hopefully it'll pay off.

This recording was done after making numerous work tapes as the song progressed. Just felt like this one needed a little better treatment than just a work tape. And, yes, that's my cell phone going off silently at the end. *doh*

Thanks for listening,
John
10/23/07

UPDATE 10/26/07 - Had the chance to rehearse this one with a couple of my ex-band-mates from Seven Bridges the other night. Not often these days that I get to play music with other folks. Dave did a great job of lending some "bottom" to this one with his bass. Lisa added some nice dynamics with backing vocals as well. Even in places where I had not originally heard them. Looks like the three of us will be debuting this one on November 10th at the Baseline Folk Society open mic. I can't wait.
John

It's the Rest of Your Life.mp3

It's the Rest of Your Life
words and music by John Natiw

Well it's time to go
I see it in your eyes
It's a winding road
It's a big surprise

It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life

And it starts now
You're born again
No goin' back
To where you've been

Maybe find some hope
Or even something more
It's the time to dream
It's an open door

It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life

Maybe see the world
Through different eyes
It's the chance to change
It's a new sunrise

It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life
It's the rest of your life

Oooh, yeah
Oooh, yeah

Well it's time to go
I see it in your eyes
It's a winding road
It's a big surprise

Show Review

Go on over to my myspace page and read the review I've posted there. I tried several song I've posted here, and I think they went pretty well.

Here's the blog entry. If the link doesn't work, just visit the first link above and then view the blogs there.

I Sure Didn't Invent It

Last summer I took a trip to Maui. I had 5 days there which was just enough time to catch up on sleep from all the extra work I did to get ready to take a few days off. But, needless to say, it was still great.

The best part about getting away is the clarity that comes when your mind gets to think about something new.

One of the things that I was thinking about was how the 'hula' started. Each movement is supposed to tell part of a story... Which reminds me of a story... A few years ago I had the priviledge of going to South Africa (stay with me here). One morning the group that I was with got up before dawn to go on a Safari ride through the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park animal reserve (one of the coolest things I think I may ever do).

As I walked behind the group on the way to meet our guide, the sound was incredible. It was so loud. The insects and birds were all busy doing whatever they do and the sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. After a few moments I started to notice all the intricate rhythms and harmonies that were being produced by all these creatures. My theory is that this is why Africa is the birthplace of so much music... That's right. I said it. It's the birds' fault.

Here is a song that I wrote in response to my thoughts on all this in Hawaii last year. It was written for little kids (like kindergarten and under). I sometimes lead singing for the kids at my church and remembered my favorite kids' songs as I wrote this. Not a musical masterpiece, but the kids sure like it.

This is my take on how the rest of creation worships its Creator... And by the way, to answer your question, of course there are hand motions to the whole song. :)

The Birds Taught Me to Sing mp3

I am learning every day, to see things in a brand new way
The Lord has opened up my eyes to see creation's praise

And the birds taught me to sing
The waves taught me to dance
You teach me to love, you teach me to love, love, love

Every creature, everything has a unique song to sing
And we could learn a thing or two by watching what they do

And the birds...

The frogs taught me to hop, hop, hop
And the rooster taught me to crow
And the parrot taught me to share it with everyone I know

The sheep taught me to 'bah' (BAH)
And the monkey taught me to climb a tree
And the crocodile taught me to smile for everyone to see

The birds...

The fish taught me to swim
And the skunk taught me to be proud of who I am
And the puppy taught me I'm lucky to be someone's best friend

And the birds...

... you taught me to love, you taught me to love, love, love

What Are We Waiting For?

What Are We Waiting For.mp3

Crappy days have this one major benefit: sweet creative tension.

It may not be my best song (falsetto soul singer songs) but it came out pretty complete, the chorus first, then a verse, then a not-so-horrible bridge. If I stole it openly from any song you can think of, let me know. It's nagging in the back of my mind...

What Are We Waiting For?
by Steven Wesley Guiles

Was it something I said? Was it something I did?
Well let me take it back.

Was it something I lost? Was it something I hid?
Well let me give it back

What are you waiting for? What are we waiting for?
Get your feet up off the floor?
What am I waiting for? What were we waiting for?
Get on up through the door

Did I leave you in pain, child?
Did I wipe out your sweet smile?
Well that's why I've come back

Here take another tissue
I think I'm gonna need some too
Let's have ourselves a good cry here and now

What are you waiting for? What are we waiting for?
Get your feet up off the floor?
What am I waiting for? What were we waiting for?
Get on up through the door

No, I never thought I'd see your face again
Now I'm comin' around back from where I've been

No, I never thought I'd see your face again
Now I'm comin' around back from where I've been


verse and chorus chords: Em-G-D-A
bridge chords: C-G-D-A 4x


Photo found here. Great pictures!

Leave Letters

I just wrote this in the last hour and recorded it in the last 15 minutes. shazam.

Leave Letters.mp3

Leave Letters
words and music by Liza Swart

Well you don't write songs for me baby
You don't write songs for me
And I don't want "no," I don't want "maybe"
Not when I know how it oughtta be
But we've tried and tried and tried tonight

Well you don't leave me little letters
You don't leave letters for me
Maybe it's time for something better
Time to change this present company
When we've tried and tried and tried all night

It's not giving up, it's not giving in
We both know now we can never win
It's not giving up, it's not giving in
It's just the end
We can begin

Well I don't whisper sweet nothings
I don't whisper them to you
And I for one am tired of all the running
Tired of running from the truth
When we've tried and tried and tried tonight

It's not giving up, it's not giving in
We both know now we can never win
It's not giving up, it's not giving in
It's just the end
We can begin

It's just the end
We can begin

It's just the end
We can begin

Leave Letters.mp3

the toughest part

Ok, so I'm working on this new song, and it feels done, but there's no bridge.

How important are bridges, really? I know sometimes they're fab, but most of the time they feel contrived- the necessary "C" to augment the "A" and "B".

Is it ok to just not mess with them? Simplistic songwriters want to know...