Category Archives: Songwriting

Songwaiting.

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Songwriting

Inspiration at last. I thought I might never write another note or word ever again until tonight. Well, that might be an exaggeration but I definitely felt I had dried up lately. It may have been my trip to PS1 and The Sculpture Center yesterday, or maybe it was staring at a blank page long enough tonight but I finally began putting words to the music I had written months ago.

Empty Spaces is the first song I ever wrote out fully without music, just lyrics. When the music came it couldn’t carry the words so I had to edit them to the point where I was left only with my original idea. I was happy to get the first verse and chorus down tonight. I managed to sketch out the rest of it but it may be a while before I complete it.

A Better Life (720 Broken Clocks) is a strange one that seemed to come out of nowhere. It was a slow noodle that I found in my demos from over a year ago. Something about it kept bringing me back to it until I re-recorded it on my classical guitar at double the speed. Tah-dah! A song is born. It has some nice chords and melodies but I won’t be sure until it’s fully finished. I got two verses and a chorus down, I’m pretty happy with that.

Give Me The Fight I’m Looking For and Imperfect are two half-written tunes that refuse to finish the crossing line for now. Maybe later in the week I’ll give them a second chance.

So, after a brief spell of all music and no lyrics I’m eventually finding the words. It feels good. It looks like Supersmall may have its next record later this year after all.

As_soon_as_I_find_a_word_that_rhymes_with_Purple_this_song_is_finished___supersmall__songwriting__purple__words__theuniverse

Ward’s Island – Demo

By Posted in Bike, Demo, Music, Songs, Songwriting, Ward's Island 4 Comments

Ward’s Island by C. Dempsey 2009

A few years back I would take my bike on the weekend and cycle to specific areas around New York most people would know little about. I’d take pictures, then write instrumental music a few days later based on my experiences. I done it purely for fun and as a creative experiment. Some songs were good, others were simply weird. This song is my favorite because I find it creepy and eerie every time I play it. Ward’s Island can be this and more even in bright sunshine. For more information on Ward’s Island click on the link below:

Enjoy the music and pictures.



   

Empty Streets – Demo

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Empty Streets – C. Dempsey 2011

Empty streets we wait,
Crawling up the stairs,
Bottle in my hand,
You know my name,
I can walk home,
Eyes closed and alone.

I can taste the air,
A pebbledash estate,
This is not my home,
Like when I was young,
Ocean barley gold,
Unless,
I’m wrong,
And now,
They flood and fill,
This millionaire’s row.

Rip me like a sheet,
Rake me of large stone,
Hang me out to dry,
Bury me six feet,
I know who’s in control,
unless,
I’m wrong,
And now,
They flood and fill,
This millionaire’s row,
Unless, they flood and fill,
Unless, they flood and fill,
Unless, they flood and fill,
This millionaires row.


Blue Sky (The End) – Demo

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Blue Sky (The End) – C.Dempsey 2010


I can’t wait ‘till it’s over
All blue skies and green fields baby
I’d push it off for a cool breeze
I’ll take my chances on my own.

Here’s where it ends
Just make it quick ‘coz I can’t stand blood nor pain.

If this is a blue sky
Drink to stop thinking
Thinking it’s time to stop
If I could change you
Take you and break you and make into something you’re not.

Here’s where it ends
Just make it quick ‘coz I can’t stand blood nor pain.

Here’s where it ends
Here’s where it ends
Here’s where it ends
Just make it quick ‘coz I can’t stand blood nor pain.


Wherever We Are – Demo

By Posted in Demo, Music, Songs, Songwriting, Wherever We Are 2 Comments

Wherever We Are – C. Dempsey 2011

A cool cold embrace
Stars strangled high
A cobblestone road
Can drive you wild
Shaking your bones
‘Till your warm inside
The sharp taste of home
From a whiskey sigh.

Love is a high, love is a low
Blind to misfortune and wide as is long  
Sometimes a stray dog that follows you home,
From here, or wherever we are.

Break like the morning
Melt like the sun
an overhead sleeper
lights our world below
Words are a stranger
in your disco head
harbored from danger
In your granite bed.

Love is a high, love is a low
Blind to misfortune and wide as is long  
Sometimes a stray dog that follows you home,
From here, or wherever we are.

Love is a high, love is a low
Blind to misfortune and wide as is long
Sometimes a stray dog that follows you home…
Love is a high, love is a low
Blind to misfortune and wide as is long
Sometimes a stray dog that follows you home,
from here, or wherever we are


This Other World – Demo

By Posted in Demo, Music, Songs, Songwriting, This Other World 2 Comments
This Other World

Close your eyes, toss a coin, let it dance until it falls
Place the cards upon a table, let them sing it to us all
Fame and fortune’s counting raindrops when you don’t have no shoes on
Stranger days I have had just sleeping with the TV on

Here lays the ghost of what could have been
So, I’ll carve you out of this other world
I’ll carve you out of this other world

All the roads that bleed you empty under stars that always burn
Twist and turn these worn out tires making sure you can’t return
Spinning wheels past the barnstars that lead you to the end
Hoping luck can somehow find you in the words of a friend.      

Here lays the ghost of what could have been
So, I’ll carve you out of this other world
I’ll carve you out of this other world
I’ll carve you out of this other world

Lost & Found Demo

By Posted in Demo, Single White Band, Songs, Songwriting Leave a comment

A new original song (demo) for Single White Band. It won’t end up anything like this when we all work on it along with two other originals by Leslie and Andy which is a good thing. Hopefully it works, sometimes they don’t. It will be interesting to see what the final version ends up like.
Lost and Found by C.Dempsey 2012

Verse 1
B G E
I need you more than a beer on a weekday.  
B G E
I want you more than a bar on the subway.
B G E
I like you better when we get along this way.
B G E
I love you more than all the words I could say.

Chorus:
A E     B
When you’re here I can feel the future.
A     E                 B
See the music float with shape and color.
A E           B
Mix around and you twist my senses.
A E      G F#m B
Gonna get back all the time that we have lost and found.

Verse 2
I need you more than neon lights in the city’s gray.
I want you more a little more than from the last day.    
I like you better when you lose the games you play.
I love you more than all the words I could say.

Chorus:
A E     B
When you’re here I can feel the future.
A     E                 B
See the music float with shape and color.
A E           B
Mix around and you twist my senses.
A E       G F#m E
Gonna get back all the time that we have lost and found.
E/A E/A E/A E/A/B
Lost and found, lost and found, lost and…

Verse 3
I need you more than a beer on a weekday.  
I want you more than a bar on the subway.
I like you better when you get down this way.
I love you more than all the words I could say.

Chorus: x3
When you’re here I can feel the future.
See the music float with shape and color.
Mix around and you twist my senses.
Gonna get back all the time that we have lost and…
When you’re here I can feel the future.
See the music float with shape and color.
Mix around and you twist my senses.
Gonna get back all the time that we’ve lost and…
When you’re here I can feel the future.
See the music float with shape and color.
Mix around and twist my senses.
Gonna get back all the time that we’ve lost and found.