THE EDGE
The Edge arose out of a need for something a little more "rock" in the set of songs I was playing. I don't often refer specifically to the places I get my inspiration (that's because most of the time I am not really sure myself...) but in this case, I have to give credit to an Irish band I saw in Sydney called The Frames. Sometimes you come across music that really resonates with you at a particular time in your life, and this was the case with the Frames when I saw them at The Metro in 2007. In short, they were breathtaking. The energy of the band on stage was really something to behold - unlike anything I had seen before in Sydney. I have since discovered (through listening to more music from Ireland) that a lot of Irish music seems to carry a similar dynamic - not just in terms of style, but in terms of the place it comes from. There's something real about it.
On this particular occasion, The Frames seemed to be having such a ball on stage it seemed like they could play forever. And when you see songs delivered with that type of passion, you realise the amount of power a song can have. It made me want to write just for the sake of it. To write so I could say I did. I don't think The Edge was the first song I wrote after I saw the gig, but I can say that the song in some respects was a throw-back to the "rockier" aspects of the Frames set. In any case, I owe Mr Hansard and co. a debt of gratitude for stoking the fire again. Because for a while there I thought the flame was gone for good.
It's funny how songs often reflect your mood at the time. The Edge was written during a period where I was doing a lot of writing, and enjoying the feeling of being inspired again. As a result, the song is about the types of things I was discussing above - the willingness to do things just for the sake of it, just so you can say you did, just because it feels good at the time. It wasn't an easy song to write, some of the lines took an eternity to finalise, and structurally it took a long time to figure out the exact form, but in the end I like to think that I managed to get the point across.
"The Edge" is a metaphor of sorts - you're standing at the cliff, and you're not sure if you want to jump, not sure if you'll remember how to fly. But you've always got to try, for better or worse, because that's the only way you'll know where it might take you. As I am typing this, I am realising that the themes are somewhat similar to "The Birds" (the song from last week). I guess in that period of my life, it was a time of rediscovery, so there is an element of hope that comes through in a lot of the songs on the album. Perhaps this is the line that best sums it up:
"The promise of this beginning could all turn to shit in the end, but I'll do it again and again and again".
Whenever you take a leap into the unknown there's always a risk it could go wrong, whatever it is you might be doing. But at the end of the day, I reckon it's worth taking that chance every time.
Two weeks to the launch, and two more songs on the album. Hope you've been enjoying the preview series. Next week - "Our Time".
Cheers,
Renny
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THE EDGE
I’ve seen the edge, but I’ve never been this close before.
I’ve hedged my bets just to make it through this crooked war.
It’s tried to hold me down.
But I won’t be chained to the ground any more.
I’ve seen the edge, but I’ve never been this close.
Jump with me from this ledge, we’ll go further than we’ve been before.
Listen can you hear now, the old school bells
Ringing through the hallway,
It’s the end of the lesson, the start of the hard sell
Lay down what you know here, and take in what you see
Cause when the clock ticks down to zero, you won’t be needing me any more.
Any more.
The promise of this beginning could all turn to shit in the end,
But I’ll do it again, and again, and again.
Hope will take you, hope will break your fall.
So come with me, I’m leaving for us all. Don’t try to keep me safe.
Run like the wind my child, we’ll leap from this mountainside.
Into a place without concern.
Where the sun will rise and continue to burn.
Away from this angry world that wants you to turn, turn, turn.
It’s tried to hold me down.
But I’ve been here before and I won’t surrender buried neath the ground.
I just need a song to sing as I’m flying through the air
Cause when the clock ticks down to zero, I won’t be standing there any more.
Any more.
I’ve seen the edge, but I’ve never been this close before.
Vocals, Electric Guitars, Organ, Percussion – Renny
Drums – Matt Field
Bass – Pat Savina
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