Interpretations differ.
I wrote a song called “The City,” sometime in 2007. I then recorded it with my band at the time, Tuition Well Spent (see below for more info). I rerecorded a version in 2009 with my duo in Argentina, Harold and the Gauchos.
Even though the instrumentation is almost identical on each track, the two versions have different vocalists and display different takes on the song. I think it’s dope to see how each version contrasts.
The Tuition version is more polished. Recorded over two days using Pro Tools in the Digital Audio Workstation at Odegaard Library at the University of Washington, Mike and I took our time with takes and mixing.
The Harold version was done on the fly. Only having practiced the song a few times before pressing record, Claudia and I hadn’t necessarily perfected our arrangement. The “dale,” that I blurt out at the start of the track lends itself to the jam session vibe. However the looser more improvised feel lends itself to a different understanding of the song.
Does anyone else have experience with how changing one part of a piece can lead to new feeling, new reflection?
The City: Tuition Well Spent
The City: Harold and the Gauchos
The City
I was swimming in the River when the river but the river said he don’t mind
Said go on now got my own place to find
So I went on down to the shining deep blue sea
But none of them fishes want to swim with me
And I feel lonely, I feel blue
Get up slowly I got nothin much to do
Ladies ain’t never had too much luck with them
I see an opportunity and all they see is a friend
And 18 odd years that’s how it’s been
I finally met Shirly but shea’s already with Ken
And I feel lonely, I feel blue
Get up slowly I got nothing left to do
Bored in the city in the city it looks so drab
Wanna find a way to get away this strange land
It seems like the sky scrapers they all laugh
In a one man room playing the blues getting pennies in a straw hat
Oh I feel lonely, I feel blue
Get up slowly I got nothing left to do
Bored in the city in the city it looks so drab
Wanna find a way to get away this strange land
It seems like the sky scrapers they all laugh
In a one man room playing the blues getting pennies in a straw hat||
Reflection and Response. In whatever City.
-P
the LIFESTYLE 
[…] Refection and Response. She played briefly in a group with Peter called Harold and the Gauchos, see The City and Solitude. Claudia has recently graduated and now works for the historic Teatro Colon and […]