Go West Young Man (2020 Version)

Robert James

Happy Halloween. Or should I say, Happy Covid-ween. Har Har.

Another song from 2007’s failed RPM Challenge that wasn’t finished until 2011. This was also on my short list of songs to re-record when I first thought of this whole silly project back in March of 2015. Only the drums remain from that original working file. Even rarer is that some of the drums were actually played in by me rather than using GarageBands session drummer. The first 16 bars are me. It matches what I did with my little Roland drum machine back in 2007. Everything after that is a GarageBand drummer (Kyle, if you’re keeping score).

The lyrics are about my desire to permanently vacation in San Diego. We went there on our honeymoon and have gone back a few times since. Every time we go it gets exponentially more difficult to leave.

Other than that there isn’t much special here. Except maybe for the Duane Freakin’ Allman moment in the second solo. I’m not really an Allman Brothers fan, but if you play guitar you kind of have to spend some quality time with Live at the Filmore East, right? Never mind that he plays on 80% of Layla. Whatever, right?

All of the guitar parts were played on a Gibson ES-335 Pro. All of the amps (two per take) were a Vox AC15 and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm guitar were a Klon KTR and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. Pedals on the lead was just a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70.

Verse
Feel the wind, breath the air

Tidal pull, Take me there

Destiny calling me

Full redeem , Pacific dream



Chorus

Feel the pull it is calling me

Drawing me away to the western sea

Needing to go back to feel it all again

Needing to return when can we begin

Go west young man, go west young man

Take me back oh please take me back