I play drums in a band called Penny Blacks. We’re currently finishing our debut album and I have only a few percussion parts left to lay down. This led me to purchase some shakers this past Saturday which ended being the inspiration for this month’s song. ‘Beaten Heart’ is a rhythm based track that I built around a guitar riff I have been playing with for the past few weeks. I recorded this song at home in my music room with instruments that I have lying around the house. The songs features a nylon string guitar, a ukulele, electric guitar, melodica, tambourine, 18″ bass drum, electric guitar and the shakers that I previously mentioned. The introduction is a stylized piece with the original way I played the riff and some classic LP scratch noise thrown in for effect.
Lyrically this song is a time tested tale of a broken heart which, in this case, intends to stay broken and maybe even discarded. I draw the analogy to a fighter who takes a dive and stays down for the count. Something we’ve all probably considered at one point or another. The title is a little play on words that I couldn’t resist (and maybe should have!).
Broke in two is the heart I let lie
There it lays bleeding, where I left it to
and there it stays, the heart I let lie
Too afraid to do what it’s supposed to do
Like a fighter who’s down in the second round
when the bell just rang
I’m down and out for the count, hanging up my gloves
and calling it a day
Broke and bruised is the heart I let lie
Torn and frayed and bleeding where I left it to
But oh be brave, broken heart I let lie
these scars will fade in time
You’ll be beating like you’re brand new
Like a fighter who’s down in the second round
when the bell just rang
I’m down and out for the count, hanging up my gloves
and calling it a day
Clinton Charlton – Beaten Heart
(to download, right click and select “save as”)
Note: This song is also available in both .WAV and FLAC formats. If you’d like a copy in either format, please write to clintoncca@gmail.com
(As always, I’d like to thank Sean Boyer for his assistance with the mix)