A full day or rehearsing the songs for the Dylan night, and wow did I need this! I wrote the words to Times Are Staying The Same some time ago; Jun 2020, but only had a rough idea of the melody, more of the rhythm, a sort of 3-time tango or pasodoble (x.xxx.x.x.x.), inspired by the roll of energy in Dylan's song. After a week or two of nailing down the chords I finally worked out the melody today, sequencing this to give me an idea of it.
Playing it on piano while singing and while reading the words proved to be a huge challenge, and not something I'm use to. Playing the bass/chords and main melody, plus singing and staring at the words or mic... it was a lesson in humility, and wonderful practice, but with only 2 days until the performance, a little panicked. Playing Song For Zimmerman on guitar wasn't much better... but a second run through really improved things. Most errors come from uncertainty, or areas which could do one-thing or another, up or down an octave, for example.
I decided to forget trying to play the melody and sing it, this inevitably leads to one instrument chasing the other. It's easiest to play chords on the higher part of the piano and use a bass arpeggio for the rhythm. I have added more chords, for variety, a couple of D-minor and A-minor sections. I'm struck by the fact that Dylan generally never has or did, and doesn't seem to care about the music, and just fits the words to a simple looping chord arrangement throughout. It would make my life and playing easier, but I at least want to add something good to the music... to push a limit, as I always try. I've jumped up a key for the last two verses to G and D rather than F and C as with most of the song. This will have no bass.
Similarly for Zimmerman. I experimented with a solo part and programmed a groovy bass loop there. I've also got a pretty pad sound for a possible synth part, but I only have two arms, so will play it all on guitar. I've been blessed to discover a nice enough B-minor chord on the guitar.
All the way, the words have changed, ever so slightly. Here are the final lyrics... so far:
Times Are Staying The Same
The sky is blue the leaves are green
tomorrow looks like rain
A wise man said that times are changing
but times are staying the same
There's a sense of unease in this year's breeze
it's looking for someone to blame
everyone thinks the world is unfair
that times are staying the same
The old man sees what young won't hear
and the sense of grievance is crystal-ball clear
nobody wants to be right here
something better was promised;
but everyone hopes, even politicians
for a better world, with no prohibitions
for since god died, we've all lost our mission and every soul's heading for flame
so the cry is us (meaning you) against 'them'
because times keep staying the same
Hunters throw stones
with their weapons of bones
the old earth has seen it before
while the poor burn their homes in protest
in a plea to attract the law
and the stupid ones with the loud voices
seem to float to the top of the game
while the ones who talk sense aren't exciting enough
for times that are staying the same
So you'd better get used to injustice
and you'd better get used to greed
and get used to your insignificance
because you're the last person the universe needs
Get used to hearing and ignoring advice
Get used to kings without brains
because it's been like that for ten thousand years
and times are still the same
You're going to make a difference
but not in the way you expect
The best we can do is look after ourselves
and protect the weak ones from the rain
we can pity the fools with an ego
who can't see that we're on the same train
as we watch the young people battle to change
a world that will always be the same
