WOW, you Irish folk know how to write with maximum effect. This is a truly great piece, short, concise, yet descriptive and to the point, with a twist in the tale.
10/10
Phill
4,052 2010-02-03 16:31:44
Re: Did you have tea with Mussolini ? (5 replies, posted in Poems)
how would history have changed if she'd hit the right place?
another great piece lena, transferring fact to poetry...your a wizard.
phill
4,053 2010-02-02 09:16:48
Re: Old Blue Songs. (16 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Hi folks
this song can now be found on MySpace, click the link to your left.
hope you like it
Phill
PS.
For those who might find the chords difficult to play, I used a capo on the 2nd fret, so I play a "C" shape chord for each "D". or you can play it using the table below;
for D- Bm- A- G- F#m
play C- Am- G- F- Em.
if I'm asked I can re-post it with the transposed chords. 
4,054 2010-01-31 22:51:26
Re: "I Have You To Thank" (25 replies, posted in Songwriting)
hello jody,
nice song, i see you've graced us with one or two others, i'll get around to looking at them in time.
with all this writing i dare say it would be a full time job recording them all, having read this one i'd like to hear it...let us know when and where we can hear it. as russ says, i also like the twist at the end
phill
4,055 2010-01-31 22:45:59
Re: "Drifting Away" (11 replies, posted in Songwriting)
hi jeff, welcome back
what a sad little lament, yes i suppose we've all been there, so it's all the better when you find one that wants to be with you.
nice one, keep em coming
phill
4,056 2010-01-31 22:41:19
Topic: Old Blue Songs. (16 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I began writing this song some months ago, I tried putting it to music and failed, so I found it under a stack of papers on my desk today, just words, so I put some music to it and added a few extra lines and here we are. Because it mentions "love" I thought it was about my wife, but after reading it I can see it's about my mother, who loved nature and could name all the birds in the garden! And she gave me my love of music, as she used to sing to me all the time when I was a kid, my brother and sisters don't sing or play any instruments.
As I've said before, I don't know where this stuff comes from, and I don't ask
Old Blue Songs Tonight.Undefined
[D] She walks down the street like she's riding through the countryside.
[Bm] Head to one side her [A] face full of smiles.
She [D] looks at all things like she's seen it for the first time.
She [Bm] smiles at the wind as it [A] messes-up her hair.
[G] Old blue [A] songs [D] tonight.
[D] She walks through the door trying to be invisible.
[Bm] Like she's not really there, not [A] looking for the fame.
She [D] sits by the window looking at the garden birds.
[Bm] Dreaming of the pasture lands, [A] wishing she was there.
[G] Old blue [A] songs [D] tonight.
(CHORUS)
[Bm] Sing your [A] songs with [D] light, with [Bm] light.
[G] Don't be [A] fooled by the [D] one who talks with [Bm] spite.
[G] Old blue [A] songs [F#m] tonight, [Bm] tonight.
[G] Old blue [A] songs, [D] tonight.
[D] In her mind she will wonder over rolling hills and forrests.
[Bm] Bounding mountain streams and [A] watching birds in flight.
She [D] lays in the sun, daisies all around her.
[Bm] Savour every moment as [A] day turns into night.
[G] Old blue [A] songs [D] tonight.
(REPEAT CHORUS)
[D] She walks in my room with a smile of contentment.
[Bm] Glad for this day, will there [A] be many more?
I [D] look in her eyes and I know why I love her.
As [Bm] each day goes by, I love [A] her some more.
[G] Blue [A] songs [F#m] tonight, [Bm] tonight.
[G] Blue [A] songs [D] tonight, [Bm] tonight.
[G] Blue [A] songs [D] tonight.
the recording will be along soon.
4,057 2010-01-21 19:03:33
Re: Apocalyptic Debris. Helena Donovan. (2 replies, posted in Poems)
hi lena,
as soon as i heard about this terrible disaster i knew there would be trouble there!
a wonderful humanitarian piece, which makes the reader feel your despair, and i think we all know you have a great empathy for such things...more than i, i'm afraid...shame on me.
so that's you and simon cowel that have [or are] doing something about it.
phill
4,058 2010-01-18 21:15:16
Re: "Daddies Love Their Little Girls" (17 replies, posted in Songwriting)
hi jody,
this is all so true, it also works on granddaughters, i've got 5 so take my word for it, only 1 daughter though and 3 sons, must also mention the 4 grandsons, love them all to bits too.
phill
4,059 2010-01-18 21:11:46
Re: Pretty Baby (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
Thanks for the feedback...the desired effect. I was expecting a general consensus that it might have been too fast! different strokes for different folks I guess.
thanks again
Phill
4,060 2010-01-15 10:59:18
Re: Pretty Baby (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
hi ark,
yeah it is reminiscent of johhny b goode, but then aren't all 12 bar songs?
hi daddy,
i have done a slower version which i've retitled "slow pretty baby", it's a little more bluesy with the same riffs and it's on myspace, and i am inviting comments, i would like to hear every one's views on whether it's better slow?
the guitar work, by the way, was part of what i woke-up with, and was just a case of learning the riffs.
i dont actually like the subject matter, as i hate what it's talking about. i detest violence, but i do believe murderers should be executed...i'm strange that way!
phill
4,061 2010-01-12 19:49:42
Re: Shot To Hell (5 replies, posted in Poems)
hi stransongs,
got to say i had an enjoyable read here. gives the impression of a deeper, longer story.
as far as the last verse goes; i like what you've done and what lena suggested, but who am i?
phill
4,062 2010-01-12 19:42:40
Re: Pretty Baby (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
hi guys,
funnily enough i thought the same, but this is how it came out, i dont know where the songs come from, so i dont think i should interfere with how they come....silly but there you go!
thanks for the feedback
phill
4,063 2010-01-11 22:18:20
Re: Pretty Baby (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
info; this is posted on myspace if you'd like to hear it...click the web button.
ta
phill
4,064 2010-01-11 22:15:22
Topic: Pretty Baby (12 replies, posted in Songwriting)
I woke up Saturday morning with this in my head, almost complete. So I ran down stairs to my studio and wrote it down, I even had the chords down. WARNING... it's not about love, it's about a serial killer, I'd been watching "Medium" before going to bed!
Pretty Baby.Undefined
[E] There was a story in the papers just the other day.
A girl from Alabama called Lucy Mae.
She was [A] cute she was sassy, she was all those things.
She was [E] walking through the mall with a few of her friends.
When she [B] met an older guy, he was [A] moody and weird.
When they [E] looked for Lucy Mae, the [B] girl had disappeared.
(CHORUS).
Oh [E] no, where's my pretty baby, come home.
I miss my pretty baby. She's [A] gone.
I'm nearly going crazy. It's [E] so long.
Where's my pretty baby?
Her [B] mamma's going crazy, and her [A] papa's getting mad.
The [E] news from Alabama has [B] never been so bad.
(SOLO)
(SAME CHORDS FOR EACH VERSE AND CHORUS)
Did you hear it on the radio; a girl called Mary-Sue?
She lived in Mississippi when she went to buy some shoes.
She was fourteen, she was pretty, she was dressed up all in white.
A car pulled up and she got in, she didn't make a fight.
They searched all through the neighbourhood.
They searched all through the town.
Their searching every single place, I don't think she'll be found.
Oh no, where's my pretty baby, come home.
I miss my pretty baby, she's gone.
I'm nearly going crazy, it's so long.
Where's my pretty baby.
Her mamma's going crazy.
Her dad is getting mad.
The news from Mississippi has never been so bad.
Somebody saw a picture on a CCTV screen.
They called the FBI and now their searching for a man.
He was tall over forty and he wore a baseball cap.
They chased him down the freeway but his car was total crap.
So they caught him in Missouri and they threw him into jail.
But they never found the bodies of those pretty little girls.
Oh no, he's never gonna tell them, they're gone.
The pretty little babies no more.
This guy is truly crazy. No go.
Where's the pretty babies?
Their mamma's going crazy, the papa's getting mad.
They're gonna get a rope and take the law into their hands.
(REP 1st & 2nd CHORUS) >SOLO)
Words & Music by Phill Williams. 9th January 2010.
4,065 2010-01-11 21:56:14
Re: "Land Of The Free" (13 replies, posted in Songwriting)
hi wayne,
Loved the guitar pickin' great song too, songs about snow and Christmas are starting to wear a bit now, so this was a welcome break.
phill
4,066 2010-01-10 19:38:51
Re: I'm Not Crying. (4 replies, posted in Poems)
hi lena,
yes i know they're eating blueberries, the evidence is all over my car!
thanks for the kind words
phill
4,067 2010-01-10 19:34:37
Re: New year- Old heartaches. Helena Donovan (12 replies, posted in Poems)
hi lena,
i didnt have time to worry about last year as i was too busy singing the conga, and giving auld lang syne a hammering, now that was a far more worrying prospect!.
a very poignant piece this, deep as ever, i like the inclusion of lang syne [whoever he is?;) ].
here's hoping 2010 gives you lots more inspiration for your beautiful poems and songs..
phill
4,068 2010-01-06 13:23:46
Re: Your Eyes (6 replies, posted in Poems)
hi lieven,
this has to be one of your best (in english that is) the imagery is beautiful, i think it's about a baby?
well done, your getting so much better
phill
4,069 2010-01-05 12:42:47
Topic: I'm Not Crying. (4 replies, posted in Poems)
We had snow over the week-end, so when I took out the trash yesterday morning, I noticed a worm dead on the path, it inspired this. And unlike most other countries in the world, when we get snow in the UK, the whole country comes to a halt...
I'm Not Crying.
Phill Williams. 5th January 2010.
Last night's snow crunches underfoot.
Weak sun can't reach to thaw it.
Blue sky now where last night's sky was grey.
Speckled white as the snow was falling.
The golden beach is frosty white.
Hardly a seagull in the sky.
The chill wind burns my naked eyes.
Make tears to roll, but I'm not crying.
The lawn is hard where frost has laid.
Once green grass now sparkles white with hoar.
A poor misguided worm has died.
While escaping from his frigid home.
So he lays there in the sun.
the white around him now has gone.
A sparrow dines upon his corpse.
Beautiful nature is a cruel host.
Where shadows lie there lies the snow.
Glassy ice makes going slow.
One false move and I'll be down.
Breaking bones on frozen ground.
Starlings there on rooftops high.
Hardly a songbird in the sky.
Crows croaking; sound so haunting.
A sad empty feeling, though I'm not crying.
We watched the snow fall through misted windows.
Heard passing cars crunch as they go.
Drivers eyes straining, ever watchful.
Slowly ploughing through the snow.
In the morning kids are playing.
No school today, the school's are closed.
Snow ball fights, snowmen forming.
I'm not crying, distant memories, that's all.
I cant wait for summer!
4,070 2010-01-05 12:04:54
Re: THE DEVIL'S PLAY (4 replies, posted in Songwriting)
ok lieven, you wanted critique? so here it is, i like rock, and i like the words, so all i can say is....change "learn" to "teach"eg:
i'm gonna teach you to play with a devil's kiss..
not a big change, but it is more grammatical...
phill
4,071 2010-01-05 11:59:48
Re: Red (7 replies, posted in Songwriting)
beautifully crafted words here, you say it's a song, but no chords?
lets hope [having read the words] that it all works out.
phill
4,072 2010-01-01 16:48:04
Re: Thinking of Unknowns. Helena Donovan (5 replies, posted in Poems)
i do hope you apologised to that poor little robin?
when i see a new "old doll" offering posted, i have to look and i expect fine works of art, and you never let me down!
you not only have an expert observational skill, but also the talent to write it down in an original and entertaining way.
kudos
phill
4,073 2010-01-01 16:42:16
Re: Thank You Philip Wiliams (4 replies, posted in Recording)
thanks tony,
but please spare my blushes, you would most likely have worked it out for your-self! had a listen nice choice with chris rea's road to hell, a good job with the recording, only one criticism , it could do with a nice bass line, do you do any original stuff?
look forward to hearing more from you.
phill
4,074 2009-12-30 12:59:32
Re: cerveza (3 replies, posted in Poems)
aint nuthin as sad as a pub with no cerveza
phill
4,075 2009-12-29 15:49:50
Re: 12 string guitar (16 replies, posted in Other string instruments)
hi sammy01,
i once heard that 12 string tuning was done one full tone down; eg the E strings would be tuned to D, the B strings to A, G to F, D to C, A to G. this would have the effect of reducing the strain on the neck, and you must remember that if you play an E chord, your actually playing D!
i don't personally detune, but if it helps...
phill