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Madman

Growing up in post-war Britain we had two things; freedom to roam the countryside from an early age, and very little stuff to entertain or distract from the roaming. The most interesting and scariest draws in the woods were vagrants (hobos)passing through,or camping even in winter. We kept our distance as instructed, but their life stories were a good subject for a boy`s imagination.


Style is _BGRKWLZ.STY (Folk Rock in 3/4)

RealTracks in style: 1106:Bass, Acoustic, BluegrassWaltz Ev 140
RealTracks in song: 2214:Bouzouki, Rhythm SlowWaltz Ev 100
RealTracks in style: 863:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockWaltzPulsingA-B Ev 140
RealTracks in style: 866:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopRockWaltzSteadyA-B Ev 140
RealTracks in song: 1144:Fiddle, Background BluegrassWaltz Ev 140 (Outside)
RealTracks in song: 1815:Guitar, Acoustic, Fingerpicking CelticSlowWaltz Ev 110
RealDrums in style: RockModernWaltz^1-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Snare, Ride


Madman

in the last wild wood castle
past the freeway that buried this town
the man who once flew Spitfires
skins a rabbit by the sickle moon
far away as a constellation
city lights the unreachable shore
of a world that watched him falling
blood red sky nineteen forty four

as boys we tracked his shadow
his eye so raven bright
at our voices his body would tremble
like a deer in the headlights
and shouting at him from the turnstile
laughing madly all the way home
we stopped to see him waving
conducting his private storm

he`d fling his black hat
over the wheat field
into the flames see it tumble and spin
the madman`s soul
flies over the wheat field
like a raven with a broken wing

round the snares of his rag and bone outpost
harvest threshers thrum back and forth
cutting golden life in ripples
the cold steel of his unkind thoughts
but he remembers her name was Annie
when the wheat turns the colour of her hair
and he curses the ones who`d harm her
calls her name as a prayer

he flings his black hat
over the wheat field
into the flames see it tumble and spin
the madman`s soul
flies over the wheat field
like a raven with a broken wing

there`s an oak in the wild wood castle
after twenty years of siege
bears scars of the man who flew Spitfires
where the ravens wheel and grieve
among the rust and the rags and the ashes
there`s a name carved in the bone
of a mirror I held for a moment
for looking there turned my blood to stone

now I sing my black song
over the wheat field
into the flames hear it tumble and spin
for the madman`s soul
that flies over the wheat field
and for the raven with a broken wing
for the raven with a broken wing


© Robert Cordrey Feb.1995

Such a great folk tune. Nice imagery and flow to the song.

Enjoyed my listen.

Charlie

Such an interesting narrative, Robert.

A truly beautifully descriptive lyric.

"past the freeway that buried this town"
"city lights the unreachable shore"
"conducting his private storm"
"cutting golden life in ripples"
"when the wheat turns the colour of her hair"
"calls her name as a prayer"

...and many more...

The heart of folk music. Enjoyed.

floyd

Hi!

Wow, what a beautifully written folk song! We're still mesmerized by this song. Such a wonderful story. The backing tracks were made for this song. Your voice, and the song, reminded us of John Denver. I hope you take that as the complement we intended.

Simply wonderful! We can't think of any other way to out it. Thanks for the great listen.

Alan & Di

Robert, There are a lot of great lines in this one. A fine poetic write. A modern folk piece. Nicely done. Tom

Beautiful song Robert. Very cool lyric. Love your folk songs

Thanks for listening,Charlie - glad the images led you through the story.

Robert



Floyd,
This was an early write and its a favourite of mine- brings back the time and place as well as that boy making stories of everything.
Thanks for your very kind comments.

Robert

Robert, I envy your ability to paint such wonderful word pictures with your lyrics! You have produced another fine piece of art here. Thanks, Torrey

Hi Robertkc, Great inspiration for this song! Really well made and superb vocals. Well done!

Alan & Di,
Thank you!
For the backing I was aiming for a Fairport Convention folk rock sound -happy you thought it worked for the song.
I`m only familiar with John Denver`s hits and now you`ve made me curious about his lesser known songs.

Robert




Tom,
Thanks very much for listening and commenting.

Robert



Much appreciated, Scott!

Robert,

Great song - so many vivid images. Love the performance and production as well.

Excellent!

Bob

Yes! Very nicely told story. The "band" was absolutely perfect. Love the finger-picked guitar and fiddle. Your vocal is as good as I've heard from you (or almost anyone else). Really excellent work!! Take care. Greg

That is a superb write and performance Robert. There are literally too many wonderful lines to pick out a favorite. Janice and I both were captured and taken back to your world.

What a gift to be able to remember in such rich imagery and then have the skills to reduce it to pure poetry. My childhood years are a blur with occasional glimpses of clarity...but not often.

Your choice of RT's is both interesting and effective and the mix works very nicely with your vocal.

"The heart of folk music" indeed.

J&B

Fantastic write, another great one

I see that it's from 95, thanks for bringing this out

and sharing. I'm a history buff and you captured my

imagination quickly with the opening lines.

in the last wild wood castle
past the freeway that buried this town
the man who once flew Spitfires
skins a rabbit by the sickle moon

That is great writing! I can see that Spitfire so clearly

the desolation is painted in this scene so well

very nice mix also, a lot of thought as to how to

make those drums bring a dynamic powerful build to this

good stuff

Kenny

Torrey,
Feels good to be acknowledged by a real musician -thank you!

Robert



Thanks for the listen and kind comments,Joe.




Bob,
Thanks for that - glad you liked this song. The production took a number of tries as the acoustic/electric folk rock sound is a balancing act.

Robert

Greg,
You are too kind... but I`ll take the kudos on the "band" as mixing the rock waltz guitar & drums with bluegrass fiddle & acoustic guitar did take some work.

Robert



Janice & Bud,

That`s much appreciated.
I was a wordy kid who didn`t write much until way later... when I discovered I had a pretty good memory too.

Robert

Hello, Robert

Very beautiful Folk Rock Waltz!
Filled with Dylan feel.
The melody is very pleasant.
And so is your vocal.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Robert

That was pretty special - excellent writing - stunning lyric and a matching atmospheric track.
Very impressive all round.

Peter

Robert,

Well almost everything has already been said here, so what could I add?
Wait, I know:

Your voice here is so nice and fragile, it's got that slightly dark tone in it, that reminds me of Philadelphia from Neil Young. In fact there's more of your songs that remind me of Neil which should be a fine complement ;-)
beautiful lyrics, beautiful song.
You've outdone yourself again!

Rob

Thanks Kenny!
I tried to make the transition from folk to folk rock fit the build of the song - glad you thought it worked.
I started songwriting in `94 and still have a few left in that locker.

Robert