This post will be updated as I modify the song during it’s development. You will be able to see the progression of the songwriting process as I work out problems in the lyrics, the structure, the arrangement and the recording. I will add a date to the new entries so you will see somewhat of the time frame as the development continues.

I’ve places a link to the finished version here, but earlier versions are listed throughout this post, including changes in lyrics as I made decisions during development.
Wake Up (take 4)

February 28, 2012
My thinking was to create a song that would get the character Luff started on his journey. When I come up with songs, sometimes I’ll catch myself humming a tune or singing a phrase that catches my attention. In this case I sat down with my guitar and tried variations of chords, fingering positions and picking notes. I ran into the opening guitar phrase of this song and it reminded me of a fast ticking clock. I liked the tone and thought an alarm clock might be a good way to wake up the character. Next I needed to give the character some type of personality.

I began thinking of fears that I have faced myself and from hearing others talk. Having confidence when it comes to performing in public is difficult, so having Luff deal with staying hidden and being afraid to go out was one place to start. Also, going back to school makes me look forward to things I want to do and at past things I haven’t done.  I decided to have the character looking at the same thing. I put in a bit of whining and hiding and other things that fear might cause. At that point I start singing out lyrics to see how they sounded and tried various melodies that I feel work with the progression of the song. The melody came quickly, but needs refinement. It’s a start. The tempo and structure will most likely go through some changes and the lyrics will need revision. Here is the first rough version and the lyrics that I recorded to keep some ideas from getting lost.

Wake Up (take 1)

I can see ahead of me
All the things I should to be
Stretching out behind me are
All the things I didn’t see
Wrapped up in anxiety
Blame fear of society
and only give a part of me
That I don’t mind, if they see

If I could get a leg up
Then I could hold my head up
I think I need a shake up
So that I could wake up

Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up

Sneaking past the dancing bears
Shy away from curtain calls
Look into the corner wall
Acting like I don’t care
Self protection kicking in
Make everybody laugh again
Wonder if they really know
Sit back and watch it snow

If I could get a leg up
Then I could hold my head up
I think I need a shake up
So that I could wake up

Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up

March 8, 2012
In this version I added some background elements, water dripping to create a cavern or cave, a ticking clock to create a sense of the passage of time and alarm clock sounds at the end. The cave drips I created in the studio with a bowl of water and used some reverb effects. The alarm clock sounds were part of Logic’s library. I want to capture these sounds myself for the final version of the song, if I choose to keep that idea. The lyrics have some changes to them, but I have not finished modifying them yet. I would like to pull part of them out and create a bridge or break somewhere in the song. Keep in mind this song is in progress. I will post the finished version later in a specific post.

Wake Up (take 2)

I can see ahead of me
All the things I should to be
Looking out behind me
Are all the things I didn’t see

Wrapped up in anxiety
Blame fear of society
I only give the part of me
That I don’t mind, if they see

If I could pick myself up
Then I could hold my head up
I think I need a shake up
So that I can wake up

Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up

I’m getting tired of sitting here
But still afraid to walk outside
I know I’m holding back, but
At least I won’t have to fight

Wrapped up in security
It’s a way of being free
Ill just ignore what’s out there
so what I see won’t hurt me

There’s no chance of things getting in
Everyone is asleep again
Could it be, they have given in
They just lie there and wait for snow

If I could help I think I would
If I could pull back the curtain wall
Why can’t they see it’s killing them
Doesn’t anybody care at all

April 1, 2012
After doing some more recording and working on lyrics this is the next rendition. It is now getting closer to a completed song. I have added bass, acoustic guitar, drums, and lead vocals. I am not completely satisfied with the vocals and I am feeling a little unsure about the timing of the bass in places. I want the song to have a bit of an uneasy feeling and with regard to some elements like the bass, but I also want it to feel somewhat safe. I merged the clock ticking and drips, but I am not completely satisfied with it. I want to work on it more. The alarm clock sounds at the end of the song are going to be changed, but I am still looking for the right sound to make that work properly. Once I get the rest of the parts together I will do more with the mix.

I updated the lyrics again trying to give the first verse a more inward view, the second verse the sense of looking at nearby surrounding conditions and the bridge an outward view at a personal perspective of others. The pre-chorus is a personal call to get moving and do something.

Wake Up (take 3)   Wake Up (take 4)

I can see ahead of me
All the things I should to be
Stretching out behind me
Are all the things I didn’t see

Wrapped up in anxiety
Blame fear of society
I only give the part of me
That I don’t mind, if they see

If I could pick myself up
Then I could hold my head up
I think I need a shake up
So that I can wake up

Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up

Wrapped up in security
It’s a way of being free
Just ignore what’s out there
What I see won’t hurt me

Here behind this curtain wall
I don’t have to fight at all
I don’t like just sitting here
But I’m too afraid to go
Pretty things
Distract them
Asleep again
They wait for snow
Can’t we pull
Back the curtain
See behind the show
See the real show
Look behind the show

All Rights Reserved. © Copyright 2012 Greg Johnson