Lyrics:
My Cons have worn through and I’m looking for the prose,
To help me get out from under these woes so heavy,
I see the words that could help me.Re-sole my hopes, re-shod my desires that I lost somewhere
After all those crossed wires I’d had with you
Months ago which set me on the road.Driving in circles around this small town
And missing the exits like a tourist in a rental,
Sat on the wrong side, caught out by unfamiliar road signs.All pointing in directions that don’t correlate
To the numbers on the map of the life that I’d sketched out on a napkin
With you, one day, while sat in a caféHaving coffee with you, and we laughed at the plans that we made
Which would never come true, which I guess
We both knew back then.So I walk through this town with my Cons soaking through,
And my feet feeling heavy when I’m thinking on you,
But perhaps it’s just water soaking my socks.And I look at the pros, rushing past on the street
In suits on lunchbreaks in cafés where we once sat down,
But I keep walking.And stop in shop, try on a new pair of shoes,
To keep out the rain, and the water, and you.© eamon brett 2011
About this song
The lyrics were written in a café a few days later, and all came in one go. I don’t think much has been altered at all since that first draft.
Musically, the idea of the song came from wanting to have a looping melody sitting under the vocal, and I scored about 10 different melodies and counter-melodies all against each other one day while sitting in one of my favourite cafés in town. One of the melodies had surfaced on the piano, and had this little music-box kinda feel to it, which I liked. Initially the song was a much bigger sound, but as the music and the lyrics began to sit together, everything got pared down a lot more.
It’s one of my favourite songs to sing live, as there’s just something I really like about the little loops in the accompaniment against the longer melody arcs in the vocal line.
recording the song:
When I was writing the song, I wanted horns or some brass instrument to do the alternate melody against the piano and voice, but since we were getting a cellist in for a load of other tracks, I got him to record that melody line instead, and I really like what he did with the part. Aongus added in some extra cello work into the song too – especially that gorgeous line he added to the last section of the song. It really added some magic to the sound.
Song Credits:
aonghus mac amhlaigh – cello
Demo versions