Steemit Open Mic Week 62 | UNOFFICIAL: Hopes and Dreams (Original)

When it comes to making music, one might say that I’m somewhat of a “Jack of all Trades” however, it is abundantly obvious that I am clearly the master of none – nothing more than a mere half-assed “handyman” if you will.

As such, I rely upon my well-known antics, inherent passion, and a multitude of my own pre-recorded tracks to add what I hope is a meaningful level of entertainment value to the community.

The balance of this post explains everything you need to know about my latest “Amateur-Hour” contribution to the Open-Mic venue.

This particular “Song from the Attic” was dusted off and re-written because of a comment thread beneath @melavie's entry for week #59.

The last line in the first verse in my song that triggered my inspiration was “Was it just an illusion – or the power of well-tested time? ” So yeah, thanks for reminding me of this old piece of dusty attic-trash @melavie! I sure hope it cleans up well.

I used to call the song “Tell Me” but I’ve decided to re-title it “Hopes and Dreams” instead. To give you an idea of just how much of an amateur I am – it took me over two-weeks to re-write a song I had already written 25-years ago. Now compare that level of composition skills to our current field of “Songwriters” who are knocking out brilliant songs and melodies in a matter of days, and sometimes hours – and you can totally get where I’m coming from.

Yeah, so in this song, I play all of the recorded instruments. There’s a bass track, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, electric guitar, tambourines, shakers, vocals, and a drum track. The song forks into a kind of free-form jam at the end – and I had a great deal of difficulty with my timing amid this transition from the first part of the song.

I simply didn’t have the luxury of time to do more than one or two takes for each track. In fact, most all of the recorded tracks were single takes, and I believe therein lies all of the timing problems strewn throughout the song – especially at the end.

Insofar as the video goes, it’s really somewhat of a “sing-a-long” with my original pre-recorded tracks – and I’m more or less just using the acoustic guitar as a prop. In the past, I would labor through videotaping myself playing each instrument and then edit all the parts together to create my infamous “one-man-band” theatricals. Ha-ha…

As it was, I had to spend several extra hours just editing out all of my cuss words! Ha-ha! Yeah, I know it’s been somewhat of a trademark-antic of mine – but sometimes it just gets too out of hand. I don’t know what it is… Mix some rock and roll with a few glasses of wine and bingo – my vocabulary goes full “Andrew-Dice-Clay” retard – or at the very least, various shades of a Quentin Tarantino film or Soprano-esk if you will.

When I woke up today, I thought, gee, you know, kids might be nearby when someone hits that play button, or I may just really be offending someone without any intention to do so.

With that, I rolled up my sleeves and did my best to edit out most all of my cussing. I’m sure a few gems still remain here and there - so just know that - or make believe you’re watching an R-rated film with some cussing parts. Ha!

The result of all that editing is evident in spots – so please excuse those portions of video transitions that do not make any sense. I will do my best in the future in refraining from using such language as I cannot afford the time it would take to constantly edit them all out. So – sorry for that.

 ...
Let me tell you about a time when it used to be.
- When you were saved a place – safe, honored, and free…
 You knew your own place, - and order in line. 
- Was it just an illusion, - or the power - of well-tested time, yeah.
…

...
Hopes and Dreams, yeah, tell me the things.
- How the things you believed in – were somehow in reach.
As much as you live for, - as much as you learned - 
- As much as you’d die for, - as such you would teach.
...

…
You had one true friend, at your left -
And one true lover, at your right -
Marking time like true heroes, -  
You shared the glory - and you shared the light, yeah.  
 Whatcha say - Whatcha say -  Whatcha say...
…

...
But something happened along the way.
- Said you wanna talk about it.
Uh, said you got somethin’ -
- You said - you got somethin’ to say, yeah.
…

…
We’re wrecking ourselves - can’t you see it?
We’re bleeding ourselves, can’t you see?
We built a machine, and it’s turning our race - 
Into a place that’s no place to be – oh, nope, nope, no.
…

...
Uhh – ain’t no place to be…

Tell me what I got to live for.
- Tell me what I’m proud to be.

Tell me what it is that I’m gonna get,
- Tell me bout the Merican – bout the Merican dream.

Yeah, bout the Merican dream…
...

...
Tell me how I’m gonna make it.
- Tell me bout my ticket to ride.

Yeah, bout my ticket to ride…

Tell me you don’t really believe this – 
Tell me just another   -   Uhh

Just another   -   

 Uhh   - Just another lie…  Just another lie… Just another lie…
...