Sunny Gardens Road
A song about my childhood home. Apologies for the rough playing, it’s a new style I haven’t quite grasped yet!
Sunny Gardens Road
I remember clearly
I remember nearly
The sun was always shining
I was always smiling
Music was-a playing
Friends were always staying
Hope was in the air
And I skipped everywhere
Chorus
Sunny Gardens Road
Was my childhood home
Where all my dreams came true (In the)
In the magic of my bedroom
I lived in a nursery rhyme
And everything created in mind
Was my reality
Everything was possible for me
I remember clearly
I remember, really!
My Dad’s maracas on the wall
His parties where he had a ball
Staying up past midnight
Keeping out of sight
While the grown ups danced till dawn
And another Summer’s day was born
Chorus
Sunny Gardens Road
With all the seeds you sowed
My dreams live on inside
In my Sunny Gardens mind
Sunny Gardens Road
The Magic that you showed
Still lives on in me
In my Sunny Gardens memory
I remember clearly
I remember, nearly
I remember, really ………..
Lyrics & Music by Louise French 11/06/23 -TiSTsongsSunny Gardens Road
I remember clearly
I remember nearly
The sun was always shining
I was always smiling
Music was-a playing
Friends were always staying
Hope was in the air
And I skipped everywhere
Chorus
Sunny Gardens Road
Was my childhood home
Where all my dreams came true (In the)
In the magic of my bedroom
I lived in a nursery rhyme
And everything created in mind
Was my reality
Everything was possible for me
I remember clearly
I remember, really!
My Dad’s maracas on the wall
His parties where he had a ball
Staying up past midnight
Keeping out of sight
While the grown ups danced till dawn
And another Summer’s day was born
Chorus
Sunny Gardens Road
With all the seeds you sowed
My dreams live on inside
In my Sunny Gardens mind
Sunny Gardens Road
The Magic that you showed
Still lives on in me
In my Sunny Gardens memory
I remember clearly
I remember, nearly
I remember, really ………..
A sweet tune Louise and well done for challenging yourself on a new style of playing!
Lovely chords – the song has a nice dreamy feel about it, I enjoyed it.
A jolly song, this guitar style is great all you need is a few more instruments.
It would fill it out and make the guitar sound even better.
Well done👏
Thank you Mark for those encouraging words.
Thank you Anne for listening. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for listening Ann and for your feedback – that’s helpful to know.
The way you sing your song and your high, clear, pure voice reminds me of that of Licorice McKechnie, who was once a member of the Incredible String Band. I saw her on stage with them three times here in Liverpool in the late 1960’s. She had a unique voice. I have never heard anyone sing like her, apart from you. I enjoyed listening to your song. Whatever you are doing with your guitar, it sounds really good.
That’s was great Louise.
Love the verse riff on the guitar. There’s an innocence to the lyrics that I found most endearing.
Really nice song👍😁
Thank you Philip – this really helpful as I don’t feel confident that my voice is as good as it needs to be to perform to others or make recordings. I will have a listen to Licorice. These comments have really helped me to be less negative about my voice. Glad you liked the guitar part – again, anything new I struggle with so it’s all helpful to keep me from giving up when I see and hear so much more talented and skilled members sharing. Thank you.
Thank you Phil – I really appreciate your feedback – it really helps me to keep on doing this stuff.
Love your voice on this Louise. Really lovely song. I could imagine Ray Davies singing the chorus! Lovely memories and melody👏
Nice sort of ‘bossa nova’ feel going on. Really enjoyed listening to that. Loved the chords and the vocals.
Wow Louise… what a great song, and your guitar playing is GREAT!
I am glad you appreciated my earlier comment about how your voice reminded me of that of Licorice McKechnie, who was once a member of the Incredible String Band. Together with Rose Simpson, she sang background vocals on some of the songs performed by Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, the two singer songwriters of the group. She also played violin, percussion, guitar and bells on some of their songs. When I heard her sing the line “let me go through” in the song Job’s Tears by Robin Williamson on the stage of the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, I was moved. I never thought the human voice could go that high or be that pure. On the double album, U by the Incredible String Band, she sings her own song, I Know You, solo, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar.
This is lovely Louise and considering you’ve said it’s a new style of playing for you, you’ve done an excellent job.
Thanks James for your really encouraging feedback . Thank you for listening – much appreciated.
Thanks for listening Andy – that’s really helpful as I was aiming for bossa nova but didn’t know if I’d achieved it so that’s really encouraging to hear.
Thanks Julie – I really appreciate your encouraging feedback.
Thanks for listening Huw – your feedback is much appreciated.
Louise, I have to chime in with the others as a fan of your voice. It brings the character and honesty of your songs to life. You are a true original!
I think this is your best song yet Louise! Nice strong chorus. I’d have difficulty with playing that rhythmically and singing so well done for that. Nice clear voice too.
I love this song and the guitar part!
Thanks Steve! That’s really touching to know!
Thanks Ervin – for this encouraging feedback – much appreciated!
Thanks Mel – glad you liked the guitar part – that indeed is great confidence boost to hear.
I can hear what you’re trying to do with the guitar. And it’s a great rhythmic feel. You just need to play it thru every day for a while. But I can hear the finished song and the lyrics are great. I presume the real name of where you lived was “Sunny Gardens”? Lovely feel to your performance.
Such a great song Louise, has an innocence about it which really captures the spirit of the song. I agree with comments about your voice, sounds really lovely and the guitar playing is mind boggling to me., Great stuff.
Thanks for listening Richard and for your encouraging words. Yes, I am practicing the song daily to get better at the natural flow of the song and the chord changes. Yes I lived in Sunny Gardens Road, Hendon NW4.
Thanks Rebecca for your encouraging words and for listening.
Great to hear this again – it was sitting in my ears for ages after the workshop. It just makes me smile so much. Love it.
Thanks Kris – I’m so glad it makes you smile. It’s my new happy song to sing when I feel down.
Lovely song Louise. As with others, well done deciding on a new style and going for it, it supports the playful lyrics. These feels very 60’s to me, somewhere between Herman’s Hermits and Joan Baez (I know, not a common pairing). Your voice sounds clear and bright and spot on.
Loving your voice
Love that new picking style! Really well done Louise. Lovely melody and delivery x
Thanks Kyle – that’s really helpful feedback – glad it feels like 60’s as that was the era I was writing about. Thanks for the encouraging words regarding the voice too – all very much appreciated.
Simon, thanks for listening and for your feedback.
Thanks Cath for your encouraging feedback. This really encourages me to be more adventurous with my style from now on.
Firstly well done on that guitar accompaniment – it is tricky to hold that rhythm whilst singing and you nail it! A great melody and beautiful imagery in the lyric.
Thanks for listening Alan! I really appreciate your encouraging feedback.
Enjoyed that Louise. As Alan says that rhythmic counterpoint is tough to maintain whilst singing, well done!
That guitar accompaniment is great, Louise! You & I keep meeting up in workshops via Zoom & it’s a total joy to watch how your confidence & skills have grown over the last few years. A gem of a song,
Thanks for your encouraging feedback Andy.
Thank you Suzanne – I really appreciate your comments and as you know, its the group energy from the workshops and support from all my fellow TiSTers that helps me to go to places I am not comfortable and then pleasantly surprise myself!