Co-writing on Relationships

Week 3: Songwriters Association of Canada
Summer 2016 4×4 Challenge
Co-writing on the theme of relationships

The Love that Once Lived Here
Here is the Soundcloud Link: https://soundcloud.com/scottanthonyandrews/loveoncelivedhere-scottanthonyandrews-briansmythmp3

• I was pleased to co-write a song with Brian, who has been a welcoming (and reliable) member of the Regina RWG of SAC. I’m the co-chair of the Regina group with Wanda Gronhovd.
• Brain is a lyricist, and I certainly appreciated his idea of a return to a house, and the visual lyrics in verse 2 in particular
• I know our song, “The Love that Once Lived Here” is still in the formative stages; Brian wrote some of the lyrics and I wrote the melody and some lyrics
• I think his idea was of a slightly happier tone than the song turned out. I changed some of the lyrics to express a more questioning, unsure and uncertain feeling of the narrator. To an extent then, I think it is a compromise for both of us; hopefully for the better.
• Part of my lyrical interpretation was determined my love of minor chords; they seem easier to play on guitar; however, I did not want to write inside on the piano (with such awesome prairie weather)
• I think the song has hints of both themes, and that is not completely gelled
• I cannot say that I have any deep revelations re co-writing
• It seemed the biggest challenge was finding time to meet, but we did find time
• I remain open to the idea of co-writing

The Love that Once Lived Here
Music: Scott Anthony Andrews
Words: Brian Smyth and Scott Anthony Andrews

Amin                                        G
Feet fumbled and fell to a stop
Amin                                        Emin
Looked up to see my old haunting
G                                              C
A window on the second floor
G                                              C
Do I dare knock on the door?
D                                                          G
Knowing the love that once lived here

 Chorus:
C                                              Amin
Come back, come back, come in
Emin                G                      C
The smiling home recalls me
C                                              Amin
Come back, come back, come in
Emin                G                                  C
The well-worn steps seem to call me

Amin                                        G
The window wind whispers amore
Amin                                        Emin
The dancing curtains start telling stories
G                                  C
And point to the open door
G                                              C
Walked through many times before
D                                                          G
Knowing the love that once lived here

Amin                                        G
I froze in the valley of the doorway
Amin                                        Emin
The staircase was sweeping before me
G                                  C
As the banister slowly rose
G                                  C
Were you real or just a repose?
D                                  G
Was there a love that once lived here?