Challenge #26 The Crossing

[jamestoffee]

The Crossing

 

Listen here  http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12660251

=====Revised Version=====

The crossing’s where the bargaining starts
How much silver fills an empty heart
The crossing’s where the deal is made
With a bitten lip and lowered gaze

The crossing’s where the wrong scene’s right
A kiss in the garden in the middle of the night
The crossing’s where a man’s betrayed
The innocent die; the guilty paid

Chorus 1
Where will the crossing lead?
Where will the crossing lead?
Where will it take you and me?
Where will the crossing lead?

The crossing’s where your collar feels tight
You give back the money, you give up the fight
The crossing’s where you hang from a tree
But crossing over won’t set you free

Chorus 2
Where did the crossing lead?
Where did the crossing lead?
Where did it take you and me?
Where did the crossing lead?

repeat chorus 2

 

=====Original Version=====

The Crossing (The Ballad of Judas)

The crossing’s where the bargaining starts
How much silver fills an empty heart
The crossing’s where a deal is made
With a bitten lip and lowered gaze

The crossing’s where the wrong seems right
A kiss in the garden in the middle of the night
The crossing’s where a man’s betrayed
The innocent die; the guilty paid

Chorus
Where will the crossing lead?
Where will the crossing lead?
Where will it take you and me?
Where will the crossing lead?

The crossing’s where your collar feels tight
You give back the money, you give up the fight
The crossing’s where you hang from a tree
But crossing over won’t mean you’re free

chorus

Edited January 27, 2014 by jamestoffee

[goldylocks]

Hey James, I missed you. I really like your song, but I don't think it relates well to the Challenge of a retired Heavy Metal singer. But I might be wrong, it's all in the i of the beholder. That been said, it's well written! Maybe you could write I've come to the crossing where it all began. Putting your character in the song. Just a thought, and welcome back!

 

 

Goldy    

[Kel]

Hi James,

 

I think the subtitle moves away from the challenge parameters myself, but I'm anti anything remotely religious anyway. I think there is power there, and like it a lot.

 

Would Bobby like it? I think he might.

 

Cheers,

Kel

[jamestoffee]

Hi Goldy,

 

Thanks for the warm welcome back!

 

>I don't think it relates well to the Challenge of a retired Heavy Metal singer.

 

I was fitting in the genre listed of folk/blues fusion.  If interested, you should take a listen to the kind of songs Robert Plant has worked on in recent years; not really heavy metal elements, but then there is also a debate to be had of labeling heavy metal vs. hard rock/classic rock.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezFPV12TJdQ

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Xi5gvZ7Kk

 

 

Hi Kel,

 

>Would Bobby like it? I think he might.

 

Maybe, he did sing "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down"

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSaYpgjy-94

 

Thanks for the listens and posts, 

 

James

[MikeRobinson]

Looking (for simplicity) just at the original lyric ... and "never mind the Heavy Metal Rubber-Man" ... I very much like this treatment of the concept of "The Crossing."

 

... and betrayal ... and all the "for the good" (sic) rationalizations that All Of Usâ„¢ tend to come up with for it ...

 

... yeah, "religion or not, Here We Are."  And this lyric nails it.  

 

The sound-clip seems to convey the idea in a variety of ways ... a "surprise" bit of orchestration, good backing-vocal action ... but I'll be frank in saying that "the present sound clip" is, properly (I think anyway) "a very good(!) scratch."  Take this good lyric, take these good arrangement-ideas and vocal-ideas also, and ... revisit them.  "Put the spit-shine on 'em."

Edited February 10, 2014 by MikeRobinson

[jamestoffee]

Hi Mike,

 

Thanks for the feedback on the lyrics and production. 

 

You are spot on as far as calling this a scratch recording. 

 

I am trying to develop my recording skills, but it is still at the amateur level of experience and equipment.

 

Songwriter, musician, singer, recording engineer definitely have some overlap points, but each needs equal time and attention to develop. 

 

At some point, I hope to put together a cd of some of my better songs, but I don't mind spending my time developing my songwriting skills for this season first....and I'd most likely go to a "real studio" when it's time to add the spit-shine

 

 

Thanks again.

 

James