Work Song

Episode #153: Work Song   (Song starts at 2:24) We are heading back in time on this episode, way back to 1986 when I wrote 'Work Song'. This was song #11. At the time. I was working in a music shop - a short stint, as it turned out. I really wasn’t cut out to do the 9 to 5 thing. 'Work Song' is a statement to that effect. I recorded a version live for this episode. It was nice to sing and play this one, after all these years. It brought back so many memories. I was young then. Determined to take my music somewhere, already committed to living a creative life. In the lyrics there’s a line: ‘If you choose to live by the clock, it gives you no time for love’ . It pretty much summed up the idea that we’ll miss all the special moments &  life will just pass us by if we get lost in some pastime (a job) that we are not passionate about. This thought came to me loud and clear back then. I thought ‘Hey, I think I’ll write a song about this idea, and so the the lyrics took shape. A few Weeks later, I was trying out a brand new keyboard (one of the perks of the job). It was a Korg DW8000. It was a beautiful sounding keyboard, with lots of inspiring sounds. As I pushed the buttons, selecting the preset sounds, I improvised little pieces . One of these riffs struck me as quite strong, so when I got home that night, I sat at my piano, recalled the riff and wrote it down. Then I remembered the lyrics I had written recently. They were sitting on the piano, waiting. As usual, it all came together quickly. Before I knew it another song was born. So I duly wrote into my exercise book. Little did I know one day I’d be recording a podcast episode about it, having now written 800+ songs. The songwriting is driven by passion. Well, it is for me. Songwriting is not something I wonder whether or not I’ll carry on with. It’s part of each week. It sneaks up on me after a few days and a melody comes through my fingers from somewhere. I spent a lot of my life being a piano man at night, and a songwriter in the day time. I don’t regret a minute of it. I wrote my memoirs of my piano man days and I have a work in progress version up on a blog, which I stumbled across today (I mention this on the episode, so, as promised, here’s the link.The Hazy Line - Memoirs of a Piano Man I also mention the songs 'Old Hat in The Sun' and 'Don’t Live Your Life In One Day' (a song completely improvised/composed live a previous episode): Old Hat In The Sun Here’s my weekly blog with the lyrics and the painting of the week too. www.petepascoe.wordpress.com It’s a creative life. It’s a rich life. I really enjoy sitting at my piano, with the mic, talking about the creative process. I love entertaining, it’s what I do. So this podcast is an entertaining weekly look at how it feels, how I go about writing a song - and you get to hear a new song each week. .... like 'Work Song'. Hope you enjoy the episode. Here we go…

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.