FAWM: "The Star"

The Star

2025 by @deadhead

Liner Notes

Sooo... yeah. Kind of rushed this one out. It's rough in spots. A ton of lyrics I'd like to swap out, transitions between sections need a lot more room to breath, and dunno if there's enough diversity between the different sections.

...and I should've taken the time to setup a click track. Would've saved me so much pain while recording this. Oh well.

I've been stuck on this since the start of FAWM. Wanting to do a fairy tale type song like my previous "The Setting Sun". The theme this time is one of deception / a life lesson in trusting strangers. But I couldn't think of a story to tell. Where did the stars come from? Dunno, I was probably looking up at them one night. Can't remember.

Then after getting the initial idea in place, it took me a while to figure out the ending. How morbid did I want to be? I thought at one point the boy would be fuel for the ship to make the traveler a star but that felt like too much 😬. I think I'm happy where it is, the lyrics just need some refining.

I recorded the final solo as a separate song a week ago, just to get something out there. I kind of like it as its own thing but I think it also fits in well here.

#fairy-tale #rock

Lyrics

[The boy's dreams] G D/f# Dm/f C/e Cm/eb D

G - ascending riff x4

G Cadd9 Asus7 Dsus -> D

A boy wants to live among the stars To shine bright and long Look out over the world at night

The power of a constellation To guide travelers Mark the start of seasons to grow

C Am

And give inspiration to those below

G - ascending riffs C Asus Dsus

He has no way how

[The traveler's lies]

G - ascending riff transition to D

D Daug Bm Bb add4

Along comes a traveler Says dreams come true Sells stories and promises To kids with no clue

A promise of a magic ship That can blast to the stars Form constellations With you as the guiding star

G7 - ascending riff D x2 Gm7 - ascending riff D x2

No you can't go

[The boy joins the traveler]

G - ascending riff transition to C

C Bb

He ran away To the camp outside the town He ran away To follow dreams, star ward bound He ran away They packed up, left right away He ran away With promises that he will soon soar high

[The ship is prepared]

G - ascending riff to Aaug

Aaug / C#aug -> Dm Ebmaj7 C#dim7 Bb -> Caug

Aaug / C#aug -> Dm Ebmaj7 C#dim7 Fm -> Ddim7 Ebadd9 -> Eb Ebm -> Cdim Fm7 -> Fb9 Bbm9

Excitement builds as they arrive Sees the ship that will take the skies Ignores the signs of other ships before

Sees his dreams coming true Sees the ship that will take him through In that small seat just for one

Magic words said quietly Then strapped down to the tiny seat Excitement for the traveler As he finishes his constellation

[The boy becomes a star]

A Bbdim7

Then he's blasting off

...ya know the solo

The ship flies through the sky To a constellation waiting Lights reaching out To lock him into place

The boy became a star One of many Sent to the traveler's constellation

Comments

@headfirstonlyMod 2025

The influence on this that's belied by your handle is coming through loud and clear. That noodling guitar is channelling Jerry nicely. What a pity Robert Hunter is no longer around to help with the lyrical polishing...