Made It Through

Episode #112: Made It Through   (Song starts at 7:31) This song caught my eye to feature in this week’s episode.  Each week when it comes time to record another episode, I enjoy just going with the flow. I leap in there and see what happens. The threads appear as I go along and we just sort of see where chatting about the song takes us each week. It's always a fun and there are always pleasant surprises.  Sometimes my songs are based on reality, sometimes they're sort of ‘made up’.  The lyrics of today's song just started out as a mystery. There was just a feeling I had..a bit of an Autumn/sad feeling. Once I'd sung a couple of verses of things that sprung to mind (about an imaginary person who (apparently) was going through a rough time, with a relationship), a musical interlude gave me time to reflect on my relationship with my now wife and I thought how bad it would feel if we sailed into (imaginary) troubled waters...and it lead me to the title... Made It Through. As I record this episode, a bit of weather kicks in and you can hear it on the microphone. Most recording sessions would be cancelled as I have a tin roof and it's not a soundproof room. But what the heck. I kept the tape rolling. And I'm glad I did. We made it through. This song #623, started with a nice piano riff that came through my fingers one autumn afternoon, as I sat at the piano, waiting to teach an adult student.  It really pays to write these things down. Not rocket science, but then... I've learned through experience. I've composed something and then a week later, I've looked blankly at a page of nonsensical minimal squiggles that meant absolutely nothing to me. As a songwriter, I’ve been prolific over the years - just because I really love the process of writing a song - and I've been good at writing them down too.  It's nice to be introducing some songs here....sharing them in a very raw form, with a backstory and lots of other chat.  Tonight I had the idea I'd record albums of songs from this podcast. Piano/vocal versions. That'd be fun. And produce the sheet music, etc... I love how creative projects can lead on unexpectedly to another one.  That's how songs like 'Made It Through' happen. Each section leads to another that wouldn't have came to be, if it hadn't been for the first bit.  Once I had the riff together, and sat with it.. Words started to come through. So sang and wrote them down and sang some more, and so on…  It's a fascinating process.  Want to join me for more? Like to hear the piano/vocal version of this song, sung live in the studio?  Here we go... By the way you can read the lyrics in this week's blog post, and see the podcast episode art, if it doesn't appear on the platform where you listen to your podcasts.  www.petepascoe.wordpress.com.  Also I mention my paintings. You can view lots of seascapes here: www.petepascoe.com. I have an exhibition coming up later this year. So I'm painting flat out, presently. I put my brush down to record this episode. I'm glad I did.  It's always very much a pleasure to record episodes for this podcast. It's been a very positive addition to weekly proceedings for me, I hope it is for you, too. I hope you're enjoying tuning in each week.

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.