SHOESTRING - Thirty something - 06 - Simple joys of life

And so I come to the last song of 'Thirty something'. It's a tune about the little things that bring a smile to my face. It's called 'Simple joys of life'.

Having come to the end of the show, it's time to say my 'thank yous'.

Ricky Kej, Abhijit Shylanath, Dominic D'Cruz and Robert D'Souza. Writer though I am, I can't quite find the words that capture the extent of my appreciation for your help. I owe you more than one. Thank you fellas. This is a dream come true.

Click here to download 'Simple joys of life'.

The above link will last 7 days. If you happen to get here after it has expired, write to me at shoestring.theband@gmail.com, and I’ll send it to you again. This song is the creation and therefore the property of Manoj Jacob. You are permitted to use it in any non-commercial way you please. Play it, enjoy it and share it with friends. Only remember to give Shoestring credit. It’s taken a lot of work to create this piece. And if you appreciate that, please respect my requests.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

If you’d like to leave some feedback, click on the COMMENTS link at the bottom of this post.
To know more about Shoestring, visit www.shoestringtheband.com

Credits – Simple joys of life

Written, composed, arranged and performed by Manoj Jacob
Vocals and guitar: Manoj Jacob
Lead guitar: Dominic D’Cruz
Keys & Bass: Abhijit Shylanath
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Raveolutions Studios, Bangalore

Lyrics

SHOESTRING - Simple joys of life

To meet an old friend whom I haven’t seen for years
To have a shoulder to cry on when I am in tears
To have someone whom I can call a true friend of mine
Yeah I still live for the simple joys of life
Yeah I still live for the simple joys of life

The smell of the earth after a spot of rain
The first smile that comes to me when I am in pain
To be able to say the truth just because it is right
Yeah I still live for the simple joys of life
Yeah I still live for the simple joys of life


To hold my baby close to me before she goes to sleep
To be able to give away something I’d like to keep

Do we really have to say something we don’t mean
Do we really have to cry over something we don’t feel
These are some of the little things I fail to understand
Cos I still live for the simple joys of life
Yeah I still live for the simple joys of life

www.shoestringtheband.com

SHOESTRING - Thirty Something - 05 - Missing you

I was in Sydney on work last year, when I wrote this song. A ballad, but not entirely.

A song to my sweetheart, wishing she was there to share it all with me. A narrative of my experiences in this beautiful city. Some good, like the places I saw, the friends I made and the beer I drank. And some not so good, like the discrimination I faced at my workplace. Perhaps because I was Indian. Perhaps because my skin wasn't white. However that was just one person. No one else cared beyond the colour of their beer. Cheers to those wonderful blokes.

Click here to download ‘Missing you’.

The above link will last 7 days. If you happen to get here after it has expired, write to me at shoestring.theband@gmail.com, and I’ll send it to you again. This song is the creation and therefore the property of Manoj Jacob. You are permitted to use it in any non-commercial way you please. Play it, enjoy it and share it with friends. Only remember to give Shoestring credit. It’s taken a lot of work to create this piece. And if you appreciate that, please respect my requests.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

If you’d like to leave some feedback, click on the COMMENTS link at the bottom of this post. To know more about Shoestring, visit www.shoestringtheband.com

Come back soon for another song from the album.

Credits – Missing you

Written, composed, arranged and performed by Manoj Jacob
Vocals and guitar: Manoj Jacob
Lead guitar: Dominic D’Cruz
Bass: Abhijit Shylanath
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Raveolutions Studios, Bangalore

Lyrics

SHOESTRING – Missing you

Down by the rocks, on a cold Sydney morning
The waters whisper softly, but it’s a different tune I’m singing
The bridge runs across the skyline, and the Opera House below
But my heart runs across the waters, to my baby back home
Just 24 hours since I landed, still taking in wonderland
And all the time I wish aloud, she was holding my right hand
I walk in to a wayside store, 10 dollars for a calling card
And as the phone begins to ring, I can hear my heart loud and hard

Chorus
Cos I am missing you
Nobody can take your place
Yes I am missing you
Next to me is an empty space
Yes I am missing you, missing you

Dinner, a nap and a coffee later, I’m back at work again
Linda holds fort up front with her band of merry men
I go to sleep with my eyes wide open, a drone is all I hear
In it goes through one side, and then out through the other ear
I wake up from my reverie, to find my diamonds gone
Unlocked from just below my nose while the shrew looked on
I let her have her moment, mine is on its way
On a flight across the oceans, it’s just a few more days

Repeat chorus

There ain’t a thing that can cloud my skies
Nothing that can make me wonder why


Now I’m heading in to the airport, waiting to board my plane
Waiting to run in to your arms, to come back home again
Waiting to tell you ‘bout the places I saw, and the friends I made
Waiting to tell you everything, before my memories fade
To tell ‘bout the beer I drank, sitting on the harbour side
Waiting to tell you ‘bout wonderland, and my lovely ride
To tell ‘bout the good times, and those that let me down
Waiting to go back once again, with you this time around

Repeat chorus

www.shoestringtheband.com

SHOESTRING - Thirty Something - 04 - Love at first swipe

I remember my first credit card. It came a week after I landed my first job. My friends thought they deserved a treat. How could I refuse? So what if my newly opened salary account was yet to see the first sign of a salary. I had my gleaming new card. So expansively I encouraged everyone to order everything they wanted. We had a wonderful meal. All would have been well, but some weeks later, the statement arrived.

‘Love at first swipe’ is a song about the perils of plastic.

Click here to download ‘Love at first swipe’.

The above link will last 7 days. If you happen to get here after it has expired, write to me at shoestring.theband@gmail.com, and I’ll send it to you again. This song is the creation and therefore the property of Manoj Jacob. You are permitted to use it in any non-commercial way you please. Play it, enjoy it and share it with friends. Only remember to give Shoestring credit. It’s taken a lot of work to create this piece. And if you appreciate that, please respect my requests.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

If you’d like to leave some feedback, click on the comments link at the bottom of this post.To know more about Shoestring, visit www.shoestringtheband.comCome back soon for another song from the album.

Credits – Love at first swipe

Written, composed, arranged and performed by Manoj Jacob
Vocals and guitar: Manoj Jacob
Lead guitar: Dominic D’Cruz

Bass: Abhijit Shylanath
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Raveolutions Studios, Bangalore


Lyrics

SHOESTRING – Love at first swipe

You step out of the ATM and he’s waiting for you there
Would you like a piece of plastic sir, we’re quite willing to share
The first 3 months are interest free
And there’s never gonna be an annual fee
We ain’t asking for income proof
We trust you to be a nincompoop


Chorus
Living on a credit card
Living on the money you wish you had
Cars, bikes, a lifestyle on loan
No matter what you want to buy
It's all available on EMI
You’re paying for it, but you still can’t call it your own


In just a few minutes you’re ready to put your name on the dotted line
You’re a new man now and you can afford to take your friends out one more time
‘Cos the first 3 months are interest free
And there’s never gonna be an annual fee
So just in case you're out of bread
You can let your card do the talking instead

Repeat chorus

Bridge
It’s a ball and chain you’re carrying around
It’s gonna bring down right to the ground


Plastic’s light but can weigh you down when it’s called a credit card
It can add up and add up and one fine day hit you really hard
And when you wanna get out, it’s always too late
You’re dying everyday of interest rate
You’ve gone too far you’ve gone too fast
With a lifestyle that’s too good to last

Repeat chorus

http://www.shoestringtheband.com/

SHOESTRING - Thirty Something - 03 - Hey Mister Cowboy

If one name will stand out in the 21st century, far beyond any other, it has to be that of George W Bush. With the blood of so many innocents on his hands, it will be hard to deny him a place next to even the mighty Adolf. Everyday the death toll in Iraq mounts. It’s either Iraqi civilians, or American troops. Yet George continues to bungle by sending more soldiers in, to carry on a war he’s never going to win. And in the bargain there’s just one thing he’s doing very well - aligning the world’s loyalties along religious lines.

Click here to download ‘Hey Mister Cowboy’.

The above link will last 7 days. If you happen to get here after it has expired, write to me at shoestring.theband@gmail.com, and I’ll send it to you again. This song is the creation and therefore the property of Manoj Jacob. You are permitted to use it in any non-commercial way you please. Play it, enjoy it and share it with friends. Only remember to give Shoestring credit. It’s taken a lot of work to create this piece. And if you appreciate that, please respect my requests.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

If you’d like to leave some feedback, click on the comments link at the bottom of this post.To know more about Shoestring, visit www.shoestringtheband.comCome back soon for another song from the album.

Credits – Hey Mister Cowboy
Written, composed, arranged and performed by Manoj Jacob
Vocals and guitar: Manoj Jacob
Lead guitar: Dominic D’Cruz
Bass: Abhijit Shylanath
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Raveolutions Studios, Bangalore

Lyrics

SHOESTRING - Hey Mister Cowboy

The lord of all he surveys, the king of the land
He puts his foot in his mouth as often as he can
Sees nuclear weapons where there are none
Goes bang bang bang, it’s his type of fun

Look he says, I see a dangerous one
We can take him down, or shoot him on the run
A chemical devil, and he’s so damned insane
But he’ll dance to my tune when the bullets rain

Chorus
Hey mister cowboy can’t you see
This is for real, it ain’t no movie
Hey mister cowboy, open your eyes
And take a look around you, it’s someone else’s country


There are body bags coming home every other day
So the cowboy’s on TV and he’s got something to say
The war on terror may have claimed more men
But we ain’t gonna rest till we get Laden

Now there’s a mother standing by his gate
Asking for her kid, it’s been a helluva wait
She says this land may have a million sons
But pardon me sir, my boy’s my only one

Repeat chorus

Is a Hollywood wannabe in the white house today
Cos every word he says sounds like screenplay
Looks like he still nurses a celluloid dream
The fire ain’t dimmed, though the grass ain’t green

He says, ‘I’m gonna be on TV morning and night’
‘And I’m hoping I’ll catch Mr. Spielberg’s eye’
‘If good ol’ Ron could make it to DC’
‘Why can’t the other way round work for me?’

Repeat chorus x 2

http://www.shoestringtheband.com/

SHOESTRING - Thirty Something - 02 - Let me go

I wrote this one in 1995, a time when I was fighting a difficult battle. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life working as a software engineer, but various pressures were dragging me down the road I did not want to walk. I managed to jump it, and jumped into advertising. This song helped me make that leap. Here’s track 2 of ‘Thirty Something’. It’s called ‘Let me go’.

Click here to download ‘Let me go’.

The above link will last 7 days. If you happen to get here after it has expired, write to me at shoestring.theband@gmail.com, and I’ll send it to you again. This song is the creation and therefore the property of Manoj Jacob. You are permitted to use it in any non-commercial way you please. Play it, enjoy it and share it with friends. Only remember to give Shoestring credit. It’s taken a lot of work to create this piece. And if you appreciate that, please respect my requests.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

If you’d like to leave some feedback, click on the comments link at the bottom of this post.

To know more about Shoestring, visit www.shoestringtheband.com

Come back soon for another song from the album.


Credits – Let me go

Written, composed, arranged and performed by Manoj Jacob
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Raveolutions Studios, Bangalore
Vocals and guitar: Manoj Jacob
Lead guitar: Dominic D’Cruz
Bass: Abhijit Shylanath


Lyrics

SHOESTRING - Let me go

Everyone has his own cross to carry, everyone has his own story to tell
My Saturday nights are spent alone now; it hasn’t been a long time since I fell
I just have my 6 string to go back on, and the songs I’ve learnt to play
I dunno how far my songs are gonna get me, but I think things are gonna work for me someday

Chorus
Let me go, let me go (2)
I know you’ve got a lot to give me, but baby I want more
Let me go

If the world could give what I wanted, I wouldn’t want more than I already have
If my girl could give me what I needed, I wouldn’t find myself falling out of love
It doesn’t really matter if I can’t make it, life will go on just the same
I’ll just give what I love my best shot, and if I lose I’ll be the one to blame

Repeat chorus

I think I hear a voice calling me from inside, I think I hear a whisper in the wind
Memories talk to me from another day, seems to tell me I’m losing my way
I haven’t looked at myself for a while, I’ve been makin’ mistakes and calling it my style
It’s so easy to laugh at someone else’s pain, but for every Abel there must also be a Cain

Repeat chorus

http://www.shoestringtheband.com/

SHOESTRING - Thirty Something - 01 - Whose line is it anyway?

This song was triggered off by the death of a soldier in Kashmir. He was also a friend. I don’t expect this song to stop the fight in Kashmir, but I’d be glad if I’ve got a few people thinking. The track is also available as a free download at www.shoestringtheband.com as it has been since January 26, 2006. I present the first track of ‘Thirty Something’.

Click here to download ‘Whose line is it anyway?’.

The above link will last 7 days. If you happen to get here after it has expired, write to me at shoestring.theband@gmail.com, and I’ll send it to you again. This song is the creation and therefore the property of Manoj Jacob. You are permitted to use it in any non-commercial way you please. Play it, enjoy it and share it with friends. Only remember to give Shoestring credit. It’s taken a lot of work to create this piece. And if you appreciate that, please respect my requests.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

If you’d like to leave some feedback, click on the comments link at the bottom of this post.

To know more about Shoestring, visit www.shoestringtheband.com

Come back soon for another song from the album.

Credits – Whose line is it anyway?

Written, composed, arranged and performed by Manoj Jacob
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Raveolutions Studios, Bangalore
Vocals and acoustic guitar: Manoj Jacob
Lead guitar: Robert D’Souza
Bass: Jerome Coelho


Lyrics

SHOESTRING - Whose line is it anyway?

Met a soldier at the bank one day
He was on leave, not here to stay
On a break to see his mamma dear
His time was up, the end was near

I’m leaving tomorrow by the midnight train
Will see you once more when I’m down again
There’s a battle to be fought, a war to be won
And my motherland’s calling her favourite son

Just a week later, one Saturday morn
The headlines said, the soldier was gone
Kashmir had claimed another life
Too young to go, hardly thirty five

Chorus
Whose line is it anyway
Does anybody really care
My friend is dead and gone away
But this battle’s going nowhere

How many more lives will it take
Before we give this fight a break
Can the line of control matter when
You have a line of graves of your finest men

What a sacrifice, Oh what a price to pay
The streams are turning redder everyday
The man on the front ain’t a VIP
But is his life valued less than you and me

Repeat Chorus

Can we now put the guns aside
Can we now try and turn the tide
Can we now stop the metal rain
Can we have peace in this land again

http://www.shoestringtheband.com/

Shoestring - Thirty Something (Jan 28, 2007)

I've been on the tail of this album for a year now. It's take me that amount of time to coax the songs out, put it through the studio and finally arrive at a result that I am very satisfied with. There are 6 songs in all. I had planned to have 8, but my move to Chennai curtailed that.

'Thirty Something' is lyrically a very different album from my first effort. I've consciously tried to write about issues that have touched me - war, racism, credit card debt... Topics I was provoked to write about, by my own experiences. The songs themselves will tell you more.

In time honoured fashion, I'd like to express my gratitude to a few people who helped me along the way.
Ricky Kej and Abhijit Shylanath of Raveolutions Studios, Bangalore. And Dominic D'Cruz and Robert D'Souza, guitarists of extraordinary calibre.

'Thirty Something' will be released on this blog as a free download. One song every week, starting tomorrow. Do come by, and if it's not too much of a bother, pass the word around.