Arrangement Competition 2016 - win a guitar by Colin Symonds

@robbiej Competition remains open until Colin finishes the guitar, Robbie.

Keith

Being first poster didn't do me any good in colins ' last competition either!

Anyway, to start the ball rolling - and because there are two sides to every story.

https%3A//soundcloud.com/leoroberts/back-water-bride


Back Water Bride


When the sun went down, I went into town
Thought I’d try and find a bride
But these city girls, with their smile and curls
Looked at me and their disgust they could not hide

They’re standards are too high, I’m afraid that I
Need someone much less sophisticated
A thick country lass, with nice tits and ass
And who’s sole aim is to get mated

I’d prefer nice teeth, and then underneath
‘twould be good if she had full breasts
And a laugh that charms, and two long arms
To wrap around my belly and my chest

I know I must go where expectations are low
And they don’t take much account of good looks
Somewhere in this nation, where there’s no education
After lego and colouring books

If I head to the sticks, I might find someone thick
So I’m going to blackwaterside
because there I’ll find someone not too refined
And I’ll make her my back water bride



Please post any comments here - www.acousticsoundboard.co.uk/thread/5967/arrangement-competition-2016-comments

Ok, so after a frustrating time trying to upload this last night, here is my arrangement. Played in CGCGCD



Robbie

Blackwater Side - A Caution to the Modern Youngster

One morning fair to take the air
Down by Blackwater side.
'Twas in gazing all, all around me
That a likely lass I spied.

All through the first part of the night
Well, we lay in sport and play.
So this young girl arose and she gathered her clothes,
She said, “Might see you round some day.”

That's not the promise that you made to me
When your head lay on my chest.
You could make me believe with your lying tongue
That the sun rose in the west.

Go home, go home, to your mother’s arms,
You go home and weep your fill.
But don’t you forget that your misfortune
Was brought on by your wanton willy.

So there's not a boy in this whole wide world
As easily led on as me.
So don’t be surprised even though it’s a crime
To see photos of you on line.



https%3A//soundcloud.com/rthef/blackwater-side

Olympus LS-14 with natural (real) bathroom reverb...  tuned (close) to EADGBE with a capo on the 3rd fret;  no capo on the voice - not tuned, either.

And remember - I'm the only entrant (so far) in need of a decent guitar! (not to mention a decent technique)

Rob

I've been procrastinating for long enough. Here's my version:

https%3A//soundcloud.com/scorpiodog/blackwaterside

A word (actually, several!) of explanation.

It's a sad song, so I think it deserves to be in a proper minor key. That's why it sounds unfamiliar. It's in A minor. I've altered the words a little bit so it makes more sense to me, but I've also tried to use older sounding phrases (e.g. that you wrought with your wanton will rather than brought).

It's supposed to be a traditional song, but I can't find anything about it prior to the 1950's, so I suspect it isn't. There appear to be Broadsides with a similar story, but not the same song, and as far as I can tell it wasn't collected by any of the folk music collectors (eg, Lloyd, Child, Lomax).

So I suspect it's not a trad song at all, but as it's anon, I felt comfortable taking liberties with it. And that's the spirit of folk music anyway.

As is usual, I don't really "get" a song until I've learned it. But now I have, I think it should be a duet. There are two distinct "voices" in this song, perhaps three if you count the narrative sections. I did try it out with the vocals an octave apart for the male and female parts, but it was laughable. I may record it and shove it in Hecklers corner, but if I can find someone who'll duet it with me (I have someone in mind) I'll see whether it works properly.

The guitar part is simple (it's all I can do!) with the thumb playing the melody and a simple arpeggio accompaniment.

I played it on my Brook Lyn and it's undoctored. Oddly, I think it's the only thing I've ever recorded where it took only one take, without false starts. I recorded it on a Zoom H2 and topped and tailed it in Audacity.

Let me know what you think. Brickbats are as welcome as compliments. It's got to the point where I'm so close to it I can't be objective, so any comment at all will be a lesson to me, and I welcome all learning experiences that don't involve physical pain!

I hadn't intended ......

A song I don't know. With a vocal melody I can't fathom. On a new camera I am still trying to get to grips with, while not singing loud enough to balance voice with the guitar. I can't remember the last time I tried to arrange a song. Add to that it's 5 years since I last tried playing a guitar on video. Plus I hardly ever play and sing at the same time.

BE WARNED! I think all those problems will show VERY clearly below - but every competition needs a comedy act as light relief.



Mark