The Anatomy of a Song - Chasing Dragons

I thought I'd share a few different ways of looking at music or the anatomy of a song.

The song I've chosen to dissect in a visual / prose way is 'Chasing Dragons'. This visual point of view is a different way of looking at music. It doesn't go into how I created the song or the process behind tracking, mixing and mastering. It is art for art's sake.

The image below illustrates how the song has been tracked in my DAW of choice, Adobe Audition 3.0. This image to me becomes art in own terms and has it's own pleasing aesthetic.

Chasing Dragons - tracked in Adobe Audition 3.0

The following image represents the song exported as an individual master track and again has it's own visual aesthetic, unique only to this song.

Chasing Dragons - exported as an individual master track

Here, I present a promotional piece piece of art that gets to the heart of the song's symbolism.

Chasing Dragons - promotional artwork

Finally, the lyrics for the song which completes the prose component of this blog post. This was one of the most challenging lyrics I've ever written. At completion, I was quite satisfied with the rhyming structure that carries throughout all the verses.

Chasing Dragons

There’s an arcade in town that’s hidden away

You can only find it when the sky is grey

To get past the man you have to know what to say

With a tip of your hat down the spiral stairway

Deeper and deeper past rot and decay

Through the old iron gate by the statues of clay

Your sharp trained eyes view the inferno dante

Patrons and dealers open risque

So you slip it away, slip it away

Takers givers, hazy blue smoke ballet

Think yourself part of the underground cliché

It’s the last time, the last plunge into the fray

Fumbling through pockets for the secret sachet

So many times that you’ve become blasé

Go on treat yourself like it’s your birthday

Head in your hands, eyes closed and body sway

Colourful dreams take hold like rainbow puree

And you’re drifting away, drifting away

You’re there cos’ you need it

You know that you want it

Your wish is to have it

Give in and you take it

You’re there cos’ you need it

You know that you want it

Your wish is to have it

Give in and you take it

The ultimate thrill to keep the dragons at bay

Chasing the illusion, see the world in x-ray

Everything’s better when you see it this way

Beware the night, friends and who they portray

You’re caught in a loop rewind and replay

The morning light rises – it must be Tuesday

Your senses prevail don’t want to obey

So you give it away, give it away

You’re here cos’ you need it

You know that you want it

Your wish is to have it

Give in and you take it

You’re there cos’ you need it

You know that you want it

Your wish is to have it

Give in and you take it

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You can hear the song 'Chasing Dragons' at the Triple J Unearthed site.
http://www.triplejunearthed.com/DamianKSheiles
Feel free to leave any comments there or rate my songs.

Best wishes,

Damian :)