The Regular Friday Post

Rando Lyrics: Here's a little ghost for the offering

Jul 05, 2024

Last week’s rando lyrics: The lyric, “Well, when you're sittin' back” is from the song "Dead Flowers”, performed both by The Rolling Stones and as a cover by Townes Van Zandt. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in 1969, it was released as Track 4 on Side 2 of the 1971 album “Sticky Fingers”. Produced by Jimmy Miller.

Credit: Wikipedia Link >Dead Flowers<

From Genius:

““Dead Flowers” is one of the most pessimistic songs ever written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. In it they describe a relationship in the process of breaking apart between a lugubrious man and a woman for whom everything seems to go right, who has become the queen of the underground.

“Maybe this is the first Goth country song,” suggests Rennie Sparks (of The Handsome Family ).

As presented in many a Rolling Stones song, lyrics and instrumentation are juxtaposed in this number: Jagger tells a rather bleak story set to an optimistic country and western sound.

The Stones started recording “Dead Flowers” on December 15, 1969 – less than ten days after the tragedy of Altamont. For this reason, the song can be seen as a kind of exorcism of the preceding decade’s obsession with hedonistic lifestyles.”

Credit: Genius Link: >Rolling Stones Dead Flowers< (Ed. - Note Genius lists “Dead Flowers” as Track 9 on the album, but doesn’t note “sides” - FWIW)

Townes Van Zandt often performed a live version of the song, and it’s Track 2 on the 1994 album “Roadsongs”, produced by Townes Van Zandt. Notably, it is also this version that appears in the ending credits of the film, “The Big Lebowski”.

Credit: Genius Link: >Dead Flowers Townes Van Zandt<

‘The Big Lebowski’ Got to Use a Rolling Stone Song for Free Because They Insulted the Eagles

Link >Big Lebowski Story< (Ed. I make no warranty of the veracity of this story, but it makes me laugh…)

This Week’s Documentary Film Recommendation:

On Amazon Prime via Kino (free trial), “Heartworn Highways” - features TVZ.

Things I Found On Social Media:

Star-Studded Lineup Set to Honor the Late Toby Keith

Credit: American Songwriter Link: >Honoring Toby Keith< - (Ed. I think some folks might be surprised at his philanthropy and the number of trips he made to entertain American service members around the world. Link: >USO honors Mr. Keith<)

Welcome to The Regular Friday post!

For Today:

Today I want to talk a bit about how to cover a song that you like but maybe isn’t in the right key for your voice, or would require a capo to play the original chords but they’re kind of a pain or annoying or whatever….

So, two great versions of the same song, each in pretty easy keys. That’s good because they both follow the same chordal pattern, so we can see which, if either, we want to stay with or transpose to some other key. For me, I’d probably transpose to GMaj or A Maj - I just find those keys a bit easier to sing in. It’s going to be a simple song to play in any of those keys.

Let’s first see the commonalities and differences. The Stones’ version is in 4/4 (common) time, 130 BPM, in the Key of DMajor (note the 2 sharps which match the Key Signature in the Circle of Fifths above, for the key of DMajor), and uses only 3 chords from the key, the I, IV, V chords, which in D are DMaj, GMaj and AMaj. Pretty simple structure, changing from V, IV, I to a V, I then IV, I pattern as the sections change and then back.

The Townes Van Zandt (TVZ) version is a bit slower at 120 BPM, still common time and transposed to the Key of CMaj (no sharps/flats) and looks like it stays with the same patterns using only the I, IV, and V (CMaj, FMaj and GMaj) all the way through.

So a couple of points: Great songs can be 3 chord wonders and still great. Simple chord progressions may demand meaningful lyrics and a soulful delivery, but don’t have to be musically complex to be great. These chord progressions place some responsibility on the rhythm guitarist, who should be paying attention to the drummer, but can free the lead guitar and bass player to have fun with arpeggio licks and improvisations. If it’s just you solo, have fun doing whatever you want. So these are today’s…

…Songs To Play…

Lyrics

(Ed. - There are a couple of very slight lyric differences between the two versions, these are the original Rolling Stones Mick Jagger/Keith Richards lyrics)

[Verse 1]
Well, when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair
Talking to some rich folk that you know
Well, I hope you won't see me in my ragged company
Well, you know I could never be alone

[Chorus]
Take me down, little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave

[Verse 2]
Well, when you're sitting back in your rose pink Cadillac
Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day
I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon
And another girl can take my pain away

[Chorus]
Take me down, little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Hey

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus]
Take me down, little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the U.S. Mail
Say it with dead flowers at my wedding
And I won’t forget to put roses on your grave
No, I won’t forget to put roses on your grave

Credit: Genius Link: >Dead Flowers Lyrics<

The “ME!” Section…..

What I’m Listening2: Spotify Link: >”C” What I Did There?<

Shameless Self Promotion Section:

My song is out! Link: “Long Road Back”click on link for streaming options, then scroll down for links (or just click on these links) to Amazon, Apple, Pandora, iTunes and even Spotify

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This Substack is free, I receive no compensation of any kind from companies or products I mention. Some linked or quoted material may be copyrighted by others, and I credit them. I rely on the “Fair Use” doctrine for educational purposes (Link: Fair Use). *I do not use AI, things I link to might…

-Michael Acoustic

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Some Links For Today

ED. None of these result in compensation to me in any way, and I’m not endorsing any of them, but some of my readers may find them as interesting as I did…

From Acoustic Guitar Magazine:

"Bottleneck" Slide Playing - I have to admit I’ve never attempted anything like this, but now I kinda want to give it a try….

From Carvin Audio:

Playing and Running Sound - Got a gig where you have to run your own sound board while performing? Yeah, I don’t really want to think too much about that, but if I had to, I’d read this first….

From American Songwriter:

Chord Progressions - This is a really good article. I’m not sure if it’s behind a paywall - I have a subscription to their premium service, so it may appear free to me. On the other hand, if you’re an acoustic guitarist looking to learn more good stuff, a subscription to the AS Patreon channel may be a good investment. (Ed. I have no affiliation other than as a subscriber, and receive no compensation from them.)

From Blues Guitar Unleashed:

Easy Acoustic Road Song - A song to work on soloing with…

Bends - A primer on when and how to use bends

From Songtown:

Opening Song Lines - If you’re even thinking about writing, this is a must read. It’s not comprehensive, and there’s some important stuff it doesn’t talk about. One of those things is “Should you lead with the hook?” - some folks will tell you your listeners have to hear that hook every 7 seconds. I was a believer in that (check out my song in the shameless self promotion section - yes, it’s shameless self promotion, but…), but I’ve come to think it’s a way to approach song writing, but maybe not always, or even often, the best way. The song will tell you, and I don’t want to change that song now, but IF I had it to do over again, I might give that further attention. On the other hand, at some point you have to be done, and stop picking at it and fretting over it. FWIW - It’s a good article, definitely worth the read.

From the Disc Makers Blog:

Grant Money? - Did you know there may be grant money available for independent artists? I didn’t - this is interesting…

Musical Strengths - This sounds kinda trite just from the title, but I found myself drawn into it. Bet you will too.

Home Studio Setup - I’m a big believer in a home studio. This is interesting.

From The Verge:

Social Contract Freeware - It’s not what you think. There’s nothing that’s ever really free, but one tremendously wealthy corporation apparently thinks your works might be fair game as “free to them”. Evil.

Thank You To Our New Subscribers and Followers!! This Week’s Conversation With Mika, the Cat:

Mika: “…‘sup?”

Cheers and keep playing!!

Michael Acoustic

“It’s never really final - you just run out of things you can bear to change…”