All My Life
Writing
The unusual thing for me about writing this song was that the lyrics came, nearly in full, to me in the bath one day. I had had the chords and most of the melody already but only catch phrases of words.
I had been cycling 45 minutes each way out to my rehearsal space in Marzahn deep in old East Berlin that I was sharing with the Irish rock band Humanzi 5 days a week for a couple of months trying to focus myself to finish writing these songs. It proved to be hugely helpful place to write.
One day, I had been playing the chords and melody to what would become "All My Life" and I was deeply moved by the feel of it even though I had no functioning lyrics yet.
So, the next morning while having a bath, a mini-movie came into my head about a couple down on their luck, without proper food or shelter, shielding themselves from life's storms. And yet, with their backs against the wall and no help coming, the voice of the lyric still has hope and a sense that everything he has been through in his life has made him ready to face these challenges. They would somehow make it though. The lyrics came basically complete and I quickly finished the bath and wrote down the lyrics.
It felt great cycling to the rehearsal space that day to finally sing these words to this song that had so excited me the day before.
Here is part of the demo I did just after I wrote the song but before the lyrics came.
Recording
I wanted to make this as simple, direct and honest a recording as possible. So, Fab set up one microphone that had to pick up both my acoustic guitar and vocal as I was wanted to play and sing it live.
Coincidentally, a big storm kicked up just before we started working on this song. Since a storm is central to the lyric, I opened the windows in the room I was recording in so the noise of the rain, wind and thunder could be heard. To make sure we captured this enough, Fab put a second microphone in front of the open window.
Mixing
I did 3 takes of the song and after playback we decided that take 2 was a keeper. No effects used, no EQ, just me, my guitar and a bit of mother nature. The mix we did there and then is what you hear on the album.
So, within about an hour and a half, the song was recorded and mixed. I really enjoy working like this and channeling the emotion and mood of the moment of recording into the mix.
Track Information
Eric:
Acoustic Guitar and Lead Vocal (both guitar and vocal recorded live with one microphone. This is take 2 out of 3 in its entirety, no editing)
Mother Nature:
Rain, wind and thunder ( we opened the windows in the sound room where I was recording the song and place a microphone in the window to pick up the storm that was happening. Please note that the thunder that occurs on beat after the second chorus was as it happened - not editing done, just luck.)
Lyrics
All My Life
No more sleeping down the lane
I build a bed and shelter from the rain
Instead of making do, there’ll be plenty here for you
I’ve been working for this moment all my life
No more scraps upon your plate
I plant a garden that never blows away
Instead of making do, there’ll be plenty here for you
I’ve been working for this moment all my life
Chorus:
When hope begins to die it’s so hard to get by
You can feel the endless storm
As it keeps a coming back for more
The tide returns, that’s true
But I’ll be a levee here for you
I’ve been ready for this moment all my life
Time, it slowly slips away
But you’ll always have me and children too someday
Instead of making do, there’ll be plenty here for you
I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life
Chorus:
When hope begins to die it’s so hard to get by
You can feel the endless storm
As it keeps a coming back for more
The tide returns, that’s true
But I’ll be a levee here for you
I’ve been ready for this moment all my life
So rest your weary eyes and let those memories subside
I’ll be lying here beside you all my life, all my life, all my life