5090 by FAWM: "It's Hard to Start a Fire in the Rain"

It's Hard to Start a Fire in the Rain

9 weeks ago by @lbrewington · @stephenwordsmith

Liner Notes

Lyrics by @stephenwordsmith

Wanted to hop on the bandwagon and just give a +1 for the "It's Hard To Start a Fire in the Rain". Details at :
https://fiftyninety.fawm.org/forums/2651

Hop this goes to 50 before 90.

Straight downhill 1 -4 -5 with an 6th thrown in for the sadness of it all.

#itshardtostartafireintherain
#acousticonetake

Lyrics

lyrics by @stephenwordsmith at fawn 50/90 2024

g -c -d

c d em

There's nothing but the nothingness before the silver spark
That summons the illusions to illuminate the dark
The blood is cold, the spirit low, the mind a weathered plain
And it's hard to start a fire in the rain, in the rain
It's hard to start a fire in the rain

No matter how we wend the way, the first step's always trying
So armed with willing sticks of wood and will of well-wrought iron
And versed so well in what it takes to rub without refrain
But it's hard to start a fire in the rain, in the rain
It's hard to start a fire in the rain

The trickle through your fingertips of thoughts that hold too long
The shush of records broken on the promise of a song
The flicker of a line that leaps and falters just as fast
The sputter of a first light that could never hope to last

So once again we set our soul into the sparks that fly
To burden them with bursts of life, to burn alive and die
To help us find the fortitude to fall and rise again
For it's hard to start a fire in the rain, in the rain
It's hard to start a fire in the rain

Comments

@helenseviltwinMod 1d

Ironically, this sounds like the kind of thing I'd expect around a campfire 😀

There's a lovely understated emotion in this, particularly where your voice softens on the repeat if "in the rain" at the end of the verses. Nicely done

@gfandme 4w

Another great take on these outstanding lyrics. I love the coffee shop feel of this, very nice one!

@tjeff 7w

Lovely folky style, I like the slightly uptempo pace and the flow of the melody. Nice emotion in your vocal delivery. I like how the end of the verses resolves to minor.

@misfitgrit 9w

Nice flow with all the rhymes then the catchy refrain part of each verse, really enjoyed it! Great melody and emotion comming through!

@catmisgivings 9w

this melody is truly unique. i like the spare arrangement, too.

@stephenwordsmith 9w

I enjoyed the troubadour aesthetic very much. I can hear the busker of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) performing this one. And it's the sort of performance the producer of a quirky young adult drama series would pay good money for.

The combination of the sublime melody and quavering vocals in the chorus went straight to my heart, and I looked forward to every refrain. Your plaintive vocals are so pregnant with sincerity and authenticity that it's impossible not to care deeply about the narrator and their struggles. Beautiful work.

@trishamason25 9w

I like the passion I hear in your voice, great flow to the layout and I love the bounce I feel listening to your strumming. Nice work!

@newukenewyork 9w

I love that we're up to 14 with music now! I like what you did with the melody here. I agree with Robyn -- very nice, coffeeshop indie angle on the lyrics. Pretty chord progression.

@robynmackenzieMod 9w

I feel like I’m at a cozy coffee shop open mic. Love the soulfulness in your vocal. The simple chord progression lends itself as a solid background for the evocative lyrics. Nicely done!

@beacon 9w

Really like the style, and it feels very summery. The simple arrangement works here.

@tcelliott 9w

There's something in your melody... and vocal, maybe.. that gives me a feeling of quiet resignation devolving into resolve. The simple arrangement brings out the lyric very well, too.

@davidtaro 9w

Feels like the version Springsteen would have done during his more acoustic eras, great little slice of stripped down americana here! Love the introduction of that minor chord on the first ‘in the rain’ of each verse, as you say it just introduces the sadness in the lyrics to play off the hope. Agree with @coolparadiso, your brain is kind of waiting for the harmonica to kick in, but this is great regardless, well done!