This is the end of Week 2 of a 6 week S.A.C. (Songwriters Association of Canada) songwriting challenge guided by Christopher Ward.
I decided early on that the idea "Cranes in the sky" had some meaning to me. I could use it as a concept of death and rebirth in every part of the world, the natural and the man made. The idea of a town/city living and dying as an organic entity had a some interest to me. I wrote the chorus first, and came up with a melody for it, as well as a rhythmic guitar picking part. However, after trying to write verses, I found a more natural strumming pattern and melody for both the verses and the chorus.
I finished most of the lyrics on Friday night, and then reworked them a bit on Saturday. After recording guitar and vocals, I attempted to experiment a bit by adding in some Stylophone. The end result is "A Sky Full Of Cranes". I hope that although the song lyrics have a bit of a down and out feel at the beginning, that by the end, and in combination with the upbeat guitar and melody, that this song finds its level on the happier side of life.
https://soundcloud.com/matt-gerber
A Sky Full of Cranes:
There are days my dreams feel like these streets,
Worn out, tired, crushed by defeats
Some power lines drag down an old telephone pole,
It can't complain, just takes the strain, I feel kindred soul.
Catch a reflection in a broken window pane,
Wonder how we manage to survive,
But then I look around and see the sky is full of cranes,
And I know this town is still alive.
I will walk the very ground where skyscrapers grow.
In time, even they will find, it's back to the earth they'll go.
There is beauty, there is life, there is death and decay
That's the rule, no exceptions, just happens this way.
Catch a reflection in a broken window pane,
Wonder how we manage to survive,
But then I look around and see the sky is full of cranes,
And know this town is still alive.
(Stylophone solo)
Catch a reflection in a broken window pane,
Wonder how it all can still survive,
But then I look around I see the sky is full of cranes,
And I know this town is still alive.