On One Condition

Robert James

Sometimes when I’m working on rhythm guitar parts I have to make sure I remember Robin Trower’s third album (For Earth Below) where he put a ton of distinct rhythm guitar tracks on most of the songs and most of those rhythm guitar tracks are flooded with wah wah. As a lifelong lover of all things wah wah I must think of how I felt listening to that album for the first time when I realized it is in fact possible to have too much of a good thing.

My favorite parts of this song are the sections where the rhythm guitar has wah wah. I came close to having wah wah going from start to finish but I was able to restrain myself… somehow.

5/4 time is fun for me. Maybe not as much fun as 7/8 time, but fun. 5/4 time generally feels natural to me. Maybe not as natural as 7/8 time, but pretty natural. Not this one though. Even the simple rhythms kept tripping me up. The verses were surprisingly tough for both the guitar and the vocals. It works out okay, but it should have been a lot easier than it turned out to be,

I kinda like this one. I don’t think much will ever become of it, but it’s good in it’s own quirky way.

The guitars were all Gibson ES-335 Pro. The amps were all Vox AC15 and a Fender Bassbreaker 15 as a duel mono pair. The rhythm parts had a dunlop cry baby wah and a Klon KTR. The leads has the KTR and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. I was trying to go lowish gain for the leads and it didn’t really feel comfortable. There’s also a touch of the ol’ Woman Tone (nods to Mr Clapton) on one of the solos.

I might change the title to “On to Something Bigger”.

Chorus
no longer able
to see the way home
its all unstable
time to give in
I need permission
to change position
on one condition
lets begin

verse 1
time to figure it out
mine to do what I will
time to banish all doubt
mine move in for the kill

verse 2
if you give me a chance
I could help you advance
no tomorrow for me
no more future to see

Break slow
so much left to figure
all so unfamiliar
One thing to consider
on to something bigger