Knights of the Gum Tree
Liner Notes
This was going to be a collaboration, but it seemed doubtful my lyricist was going to make the end of (Australian) February. So I wrote some lyrics over breakfast and recorded a quick demo.
Lyrics
i remembered you in a dream and we were way back when running through the gum trees broken sticks for swords hunting for the dragon's den
when i saw you for the last time you said: i'm on the mend some days let the light in and some are best ignored but still it's good to see a friend
when did you lay down your sword? who'll slay the beast, leave the kingdom restored?
we were once as big as our dreams and all of this was new running through the gum trees we're off to save the world and that's how i'll remember you
Comments
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Gosh, this is pretty. I was quite moved listening to it. The lyrics are so perfectly crafted.
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Its always so fun to listen to odd signatures that just feel normal and flow well. But it has to do so much with the main lead delivery. Well done!
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A song to youth, sweetly remembered. Wonderful and effective harmonies add to the gentle melancholy. Very nice.
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I feel like the 5 time gives this song an extra bit of nostalgic mystery. Concise, warm and poignant.
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There's so much meaning packed in this short song. Beautifully performed, and makes you think. Practically a perfect song.
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2023/13882.png){kind=avatar}
Incredibly sweet. Beautiful lyric, thanks for sharing it
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What a lovely sad lyric, and written so quickly. Wow! I really like this sad but still light melody and gentle guitar. Beautiful song!
![[avatar]](https://fawm-avatars.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/fawm2024/7d13c4e8-3205-47fb-9aef-30ba0e917757.png){kind=avatar}
Great to be let into the space between you and your friend, in such an unlikely place (to us non-Aussie ears)
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Hi, I'm lyricist, and I couldn't be happier about my own tardiness. This is absolutely lovely and just what the song called for. Congratulations on hitting 14! May we all recover our swords along the way; the beast is toothier than ever.
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I kept trying to figure out the time signature (5/4? 5/8?), which to me reinforced the feeling of a dream. Your songs are always so wistful and poignant. The lyrics were lovely and I love how you framed the image of childhood. Way to finish FAWM and congrats on 14!
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Wow, what a beautifully gentle elegy. This really brought a lump to the throat. @davidtaro put it perfectly - this is quietly devastating.
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Assuming I’ve got the right end of the stick/sword in that middle verse, this is quietly devastating. When you start to lose contemporaries, you think about shared memories when you were much younger, and that makes you think about the passing of time. All a bit melancholy, but what I also love here is that the skipping almost-waltziness of it keeps the mood gentle and light. Love this one, congrats on 14!
![[FAWM]](/static/img/demoduck.svg)
I always love how your written structure is just a guide to singing it and it rises and falls when it feels like it. it's such a lovely touching lyric and so thoughtfully delivered.