[hardtwistmusic]

March 27, modified to final form and format after applying music and recording.  You can now listen at www.reverbnation.com/hardtwistmusicsongwriter   

ALSO- I just posted this to "finished songs." 

"I'm Popeye the sailor man.  I'm Popeye the sailor man."  
I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam.  
I'm Popeye the sailor man."      --   You can "feel THAT little chanty in my chorus also.  

Both the Italian folk version of the song, and (Particularly) the Grass Roots version are worth taking a listen to btw.  

I'll get a link up for this lyric if anyone is interested in how it sounds to music, but it will take about a week.  

Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Verse, Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Pre-Chorus, Bridge to out.
                     V-PC-C-V-V-PC-C-B-PC-C-BTO.  
KATARINA              

VERSE 1.  
Katarina -  try to understand me.  It’s not an easy thing to do.  
Katarina -  I’m everything  I can be.  I’m leaving the rest up to you.

PRE-CHORUS:  
If you need a man who’s different than I am, I’ll just stand out of your way.
But if I am the one you love and you need, I’m totally committed to stay.            

CHORUS:                                      
Katarina, Katarina, Katarina will you be, The one who would love me
The way that I am,  ---  Uncondtionally.    

VERSE 2.  
Katarina I’ve done all I can do. I hope that you will choose to be.                              
The woman I marry.  The woman I love.  The woman who will stand by me.

VERSE 3.  
I know what I want.   I need you to be sure.  I’m not begging on my knees.
I need your decision to be arrived at very carefully.  

Pre-Chorus:  
If you want a man who’s different than I am, I’ll just stand out of your way.
But if I am the one you love and you need, I’m totally committed to stay.            

CHORUS:                                      
Katarina, Katarina, Katarina will you be.  The one who would love me
The way that I am,  ---  Uncondtionally.      


BRIDGE:  
Katarina, I’ve Got to be me.  It won’t work to change me.  
Don’t try to change me.  Katie I am what I am, and that's all I can be.  

PRE-CHORUS:  
If you need a man who’s different than I am, I’ll just stand out of your way.
But if I am the one you love and you need, I’m totally committed to stay.          

CHORUS:                                      
Katarina, Katarina, Katarina will you be.        
The one who would love me The way that I am,  --   uncondtionally.      

BRIDGE TO OUT:  
Katarina, I am what I am.  It won’t work to change me. Don’t try to change me.    
Katie I am what I am, what I am what I am.                    

[PeeJay]

Hi Verlon,

I listen to a show on the radio called 'Sounds of the Sixties' and it seems there were quite a few Italian songs that were given English lyrics and became hits.

I liked your lyric which suggests that she wants him to change but he's saying that's your lot take it or leave it! I've heard it said that women always try to change men. Not by me of course!

One line i thought was awkward was 'to be arrived at very carefully.' Seemed a bit formal to me.

Nice one,

Phil.

[hardtwistmusic]

Hi Phil: 

The artist who first recorded this in Italian was Lucio Battisti.   I looked him up and listened to about ten of his songs.  Many are very suitable for the American/British market.  Very rock oriented while retaining a folk sound. 

I'm kind of hooked on his old music.  Going to go and listen to more of it. 

The "decision to be arrived at very carefully" ended up being that because it had exactly the right amount of syllables.  I'll consider making it less formal, but I am hesitant to disrupt a working cadence.

[Vintage54]

     Verlon,
         You old goat, this is a surefire winner. "I'll just get out of your way" man, so direct and asking nothing more than a final yes or no. Unconditional love, the only kind. Could pick standout lines from this, but would have to pick them all. Plus, "Katarina" love that name. Hard to equal.

                                            Jealous
                                                  Vintage54

[hardtwistmusic]

     Verlon,
         You old goat, this is a surefire winner. "I'll just get out of your way" man, so direct and asking nothing more than a final yes or no. Unconditional love, the only kind. Could pick standout lines from this, but would have to pick them all. Plus, "Katarina" love that name. Hard to equal.

                                            Jealous
                                                  Vintage54

Thank you Vintage54. 

It's a real interesting struggle to write love songs (which are largely what the market wants) without falling into the totally dysfunctional cliches.  (i.e. "I'll just DIE if I can't have you.")   

I've committed myself to writing songs which neither condone nor counsel dysfunctional behaviors.  I don't want to enable a lot of (or a few) people who I don't even know. 

I'm pleased you recognized that this is about a functional desire to win a woman's attention, not a "win attention any way he can." 

In my own life, I discovered years ago that if you want a relationship "in the worst way" you will end up getting a relationship "in the worst way." 

Just never want to contribute to anyone else doing that.  Many will do it anyway.  But I just never want it to be my fault in any way. 

:O)

[tracyl]

Hey, I was just checking out your lyrics, and they're pretty good. Somehow I'm getting a Nina by Ed Sheeran vibe from it and I think it would work with that in my, just my opinion. Anyways, good lyrics man.

[Paulski]

Hi Verlon

Clever use of Popeye's saying.
"I am what I am  what I am what I am"
Seems odd when you read it but I'm sure it will be OK with music.
And yes Katarina is a lovely name for a song!

Paul

[hardtwistmusic]

Hey, I was just checking out your lyrics, and they're pretty good. Somehow I'm getting a Nina by Ed Sheeran vibe from it and I think it would work with that in my, just my opinion. Anyways, good lyrics man.

I'm not familiar with Ed Sheeran, but I'll go listen to some of his songs and "Nina" in particular. 

Thanks for reading.  I'll have this posted with music in the "Works in Progress" section sometime this week. 

[hardtwistmusic]

Hi Verlon

Clever use of Popeye's saying.
"I am what I am  what I am what I am"
Seems odd when you read it but I'm sure it will be OK with music.
And yes Katarina is a lovely name for a song!

Paul

Hi Paul.  It started out as "Bella Angelina," then morphed to "Bella Katarina" then to just plain "Katarina." 

[diademgrove]

Hi Verlon,

great lyrics, you're only the second person I know to use the name Katarina in a song so you have a lot to live up to.

For me the bridge doesn't work its too similar to the verses. I also think three verses and two bridges may be a little long. I'd be tempted to go with the first two verses and get married in the bridge and disappear on honeymoon with the chorus ringing out.

If you don't agree feel free to ignore me.

Keith 

[hardtwistmusic]

Hi Verlon,

great lyrics, you're only the second person I know to use the name Katarina in a song so you have a lot to live up to.

For me the bridge doesn't work its too similar to the verses. I also think three verses and two bridges may be a little long. I'd be tempted to go with the first two verses and get married in the bridge and disappear on honeymoon with the chorus ringing out.

If you don't agree feel free to ignore me.

Keith  

No, you're right.  It's got to shrink.  But the bridge is the most musically dramatic part.  Have to find a way to use it.  Maybe make it part of the chorus and lose a few of the other lines.  Even as it is, it's only four minutes.  But it's too many parts right now.

[diademgrove]

Hi Verlon,

I would keep the bridge if its musically dramatic. I just don't think the words are very dramatic, they are very similar to the verse and chorus. I sometimes play somethi9ng over and over again waiting for the right words to appear. Occasionally the music tells you what it wants. You may like to try it and see if the muse appears.

Hope this helps,

Keith

[hardtwistmusic]

Hi Verlon,

I would keep the bridge if its musically dramatic. I just don't think the words are very dramatic, they are very similar to the verse and chorus. I sometimes play somethi9ng over and over again waiting for the right words to appear. Occasionally the music tells you what it wants. You may like to try it and see if the muse appears.

Hope this helps,

Keith

ARRRRGHHH....  I spent three days working on the arrangement and moving the drama in the Bridge to the chorus.......... and I managed to make the whole thing less dramatic than my rough draft.  I have to start over.  Tried some "addition by subtraction" and it simply didn't work.  Now I'm going to go back, use the rough draft as a starting point and start adding tracks and parts.  Wish me luck. 

If I can find the right accompaniment, the song really works well with the lyric and vocal treatment. ?

[hardtwistmusic]

Bumping just to notify the forum that the music is up and I've also posted this to "finished songs" section.