Raymond (6 of 14)

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Here's number 6 of 14 for FAWM (February is Album Writing Month). All crits and comments welcome!

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7333894

Raymond

Raymond was a friend in the Dumb Days
He taught me how to drive with no headlights on
Sometimes I switch my lights off for Raymond
He was a friend of mine

We drove up to college in his T-Bird
He used to watch my back and I’d watch him take his nap
But those afternoons with Raymond, they were peaceful
He was a friend of mine

No one knows where Raymond goes, no one knows
And this I’ll never understand
I’m all right, just strung out tonight
Grieving for Raymond

I never need a friend until I lose one
He was a friend of mine

Raymond slept all day, drove me crazy
He said “I like to dream”, I said “You’re the Horizontal Man”
When we saw him lay in his casket
He looked just the same to me

No one knows where Raymond goes, no one knows
And this I’ll never understand
I’m all right, I’m sleeping tonight
Dreaming of Raymond

I never need a friend until I lose one
He was a friend of mine

(Copyright 2009 by Mark Kaufman)

[ram]

Good tune Mark. I think most folks have a Raymond in their life somewhere.... What guitar did you use here - how did you record it?

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Thanks Tom! I used my Alvarez-Yairi, it's a handmade guitar I bought new in 1982. I miked it with a Gauge ECM-87.

[ram]

I have an Alvarez-Yairi 12 string. Man I love that guitar - it really doesn't get played as much as it should. So just a single mic... cool - nice sound!

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

I did two tracks, one just guitar, then one just voice, but both used the same mic. When I record a "live" take, I'll add my SM-58 in the mix, usually with the cap screwed off.