I’ve Loved Life

Episode #219:  I’ve Loved Life  (Song starts at 6:52) On this episode, I’ve featured a song which is track number 2 on the album 'River Walking', which I’ve written and recorded with Paul Dredge. The gist of the meaning of I’ve Loved Life is: there’s lots of ups and downs - that’s the way it is. But we’ve got the choice to try to enjoy ourselves along the way. I think we might as well. The rough bits are going be there anyway. The world seems to reflect back what put out there. You take the ups with the downs, the smiles with the frowns. I’ve loved life and it’s loved me... I relate a relate a couple of anecdotes, which I found in an old diary entry, which I’d written around the time I wrote I’ve Loved Life. The ups and downs of being an Artist … I've been so lost.  And still I've found lots of hurt but much love all around I been under the stars, worries run rife There’s what I think is a misconception / misunderstanding that you have to be poor and starving to produce serious art and music. I don’t think you do. I do think you need to live honestly, be true to yourself, etc - but you don’t need to be broke ( I think perhaps that idea has contributed to the idea art and music doesn’t really have financial worth…..streaming, anyone? Anyhow… I’ve had Money and I’ve gone broke I’ve loved life, song #664, was fun to write. The Lyrics came quickly, (I enjoy analysing the lyrics) the music pretty much wrote itself - it’s a very ‘up’ happy country rock song.  I think you can hear this in the finished track, which I’m very pleased about. It sounds like a live band having fun. There’s an art to getting to this point, when you’re starting with piano vocal and click track.. I’ve included a snippet of the demo I sent to Paul (in New Zealand) so you can hear how the arrangement came together: Paul did his thing, sent back drums, bass, guitar and harmonica. I re-recorded the piano, sang it again and there it was, finished in no time. The recording sounds like a live band having fun. Which is great. This was the plan. I’ve performed this song a few times live since it wrote it, this gave me a chance to work on the phrasing of the lyrics, which is a good thing. If you’d like to read more about this song after you’ve listened to this episode, visit www.petepascoe.Wordpress.com (my blog - search  I've Loved Life). I’m going to feature a few songs off the album here. The album 'River Walking' can be found on all the usual platforms (It’s under my artist name Pete Pascoe on Spotify and Bandcamp, Apple music etc..) We are stoked with the album. Released under the folk rock genre, it encompasses country rock, rock - a fair bit of variety… Enjoy! I’ve loved life,. Rollin’!

Om Podcasten

Be entertained with a song and an extended chat, ranging from off the cuff banter/humour to life observations and song analysis. Welcome to Song and a Chat. This is the podcast where you'll have the pleasure of listening to a new song each week - plus, you'll get to step into the shoes of a songwriter : You'll hear about the background of the song, the inspiration, how/ why the song came into being.  After the song finishes, I'll go over the lyrics and finish each episode by looking at the song from a songwriting point of view. If you just want the song and no talk, the time where the song kicks in will be in the title of each episode. Hi, my name is Pete Pascoe. I am a performer and composer - I love lyrics and I love a melody. I play piano and sing. I have a number of albums to my name.  I have written over 800 songs. Of course, not all of these songs I written will make it onto an album. As a songwriter, the first step for a new song is ( or was ) to record a demo. Often you catch something unique in this demo - something that is often not replicated in the studio cut....a certain feeling.  If you're looking to be entertained, like listening to new songs and live recordings, I hope you'll enjoy what's on offer here. I have a stack of demos from which I'm sharing one on a weekly basis. Plus I relate anecdotes about my life as a piano man, from around the time each song was written. I treat each show as a mini intimate concert - with extended chat, which ranges from off the cuff banter/humour to life observations and analysis. The idea is : the song can be listened to for pleasure in its own right, or the listener may choose to also be entertained and informed by the story around the song.  I'm really enjoying recording these podcasts. Each week I look forward to getting behind the mic, setting aside my current musical and artistic projects and casting my mind back in time by focussing on a song I've composed. It's turning out to be a satisfying - and sometimes surprising - time of reflection and discovery for me.  The lyrics and the recordings take me straight back to when the song was written. Gain an insight into songwriting and listen to a series of snapshots of life of a songwriter / performer / artist.  It's a great way for me to archive a song and it's 'back story'. Music is to be shared. What point is there In having five songbooks and piles of demos gathering dust?  I welcome feedback - whether you're tuning in to enjoy music for music's sake, you enjoy finding out about the origins of songs, you're looking for tips on songwriting or perhaps you've got tips for me. Either way, I'll be learning plenty as I go along. Thanks for a having a read. Come on and join me for a listen.