Lay Down is an introspective exploration of feelings of lust and desire.
There are two minds at work, one is obsessed and possessive while the other is steadfast and stubbornly defiant.
Originally intended to be a nod to the big sexy songs from the 80's and 90's from artists like Warrant and Aerosmith, it quickly became a pop-rock style song, with a funky beat, that has one mind speak in the verse and the other in the chorus.
Phil and I would play this live with a rock style groove in the verses that drop to a reggae, sort of, pulse for the chorus.
At one point we were thinking it should be reminiscent of the funky, bass driven wah sound from 70's adult films.
The quiet of the third verse that has a heartrate monitor beeping to an unpredictable beat was something from early on in the writing phase, I think we had that idea even before the lyrics.
I really love how everything came together in studio.
The funky drum beat, the bouncing bass groove, and the killer guitars dancing around with little of that reggae flavouring made me want to join in, rhythmically, so I added some latin style percussion to the mix.
I made the percussion a little unconventional to highlight the bouncing groove and triplet hits throughout that I think sound really cool and give it a sparkling pop that makes me want to dance.
That percussion took a while, I was still working on it when John had an idea to add a B3 sound in the background that really tied everything together.
The third verse starting with a drop to a quiet place while the band mimics the heartbeat, the B3 whines quietly up high while I sing defiantly, Sean's guitar joins in, matching the pitch and whirling around like a sine wave on the screen, making up a sound that is freaking beautiful to me.
Lay Down
lyrics
What happened to the man I was before?
Something's gone wrong, it's impossible to ignore.
You picked me up right when I'd fallen flat.
You broke down my walls and drove away the black.
But make no mistake, I'll never break.
I'll fight through the aching when you walk out.
No give and all take, It's love to forsake.
I know what's at stake here when we lay down.
Lay down again.
I try to cry, fighting a stinging pain.
But that well's run dry with only myself to blame.
I can't deny I'm barely keeping intact.
I see your eyes, I just wish they'd see me back.
But make no mistake, I'll never break.
I'll fight through the aching when you walk out.
No give and all take, It's love to forsake.
I know what's at stake here when we lay down.
Lay down again.
My pulse is weak, I can't take anymore.
I'm torn in two with lust fighting love's war.
My plan is laid out, there ain't no going back.
I swear that I, I'm having a heart attack.
If I could rewind the music of time and bring back to the crossroads all I left behind.
Would I make those same damn choices, stack the deck and deal, or risk it all shadowboxing and faking religion out of fear?
Oh, but make no mistake, I'll never break.
I'll fight through the aching when you walk out.
No give and all take, It's love we forsake.
We both know what's at stake here when we lay down.
Lay down again.
Oh, lay down, lay down again.
Oh, I want to lay down, I want to lay down again.
credits
from Let Me Go,
released March 19, 2024
Written by Jean-Pierre Larda & Phil Short
Vocals/Percussion - Jean-Pierre K. Larda
Drums - Aaron Spink
Guitars - Sean Roberts
Bass - Alex Paris
Percussion/Keyboards - John MacLeod
Produced by Jean-Pierre K. Larda
Additional production by John MacLeod
Recorded at Artist Development Studio, Courtice
Engineered and mixed by Alex Paris
Mastered and additional mixing by John MacLeod at Sweet Daddy Sound, Ajax
Rising Philadelphia band balance oversized pop punk hooks with vivid, intimate lyrics, presenting a raw, honest vision of guitar music. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2022
