4. Sunrise in Suburbia (feat. Jack Straw) (3:16)
Katie’s CommentsTrack four is called "Sunrise in Suburbia". It's like, a double whammy hehe. On one hand, it continues the story that I have been trying to portray, but it also acts as a thank you, a testimonial, and an homage to the band who made it all happen for me, and I'll address that first.
After I had just been signed, obviously I still had nowhere really to go. I was just Katie on my own as always. But then a band came along, and said that they had seen some of what I could do online, and they were impressed. That band was called Suburban Sunrise, hence the title of the track, and they added me to the bill of their UK tour right there and then. Whilst being signed was obviously a massive step towards where I wanted to be in the industry, I honestly believe that this band, and the fact that they took me on my first tour, was the stepping stone to me being able to be where I am today, and I will always be grateful to them for that. So I raise a glass to Suburban Sunrise!
In terms of the story aspect, this is a simple step. Although the lyrics don't actually mention being on tour specifically, they do allude to it, and so it continues the step by step notion that I'm trying to put across. I've now moved from "where it all began" to being on tour, visiting obscurity and discovery en route. And I'm pleased with the story up until this point. I can also say though that I'm pleased that, in my mind, each song stands on its own rather well too. I didn't want it to be one of those albums with a concept that always has to be played from start to finish you know?
The song itself, is a metaphor as I've said. It's a thank you metaphor, and a metaphor to being on tour through ideas of freedom, discovery, and just being accepted. It makes me feel so warm inside, and it really brings back the memories when I hear it. The song is actually one of the shortest on the album, and it has the most obscure structure of all of them I think. But because of how it fits together, I liked it. It's back to Katie being Katie, there's no pop in it really, we just went for acoustic guitar, and some banjo...yeah, banjo hahaha. I hope you all like it.
Obviously I had another guest on this track, and I'd like to thank Jack Straw! When i heard he was coming in, I have to admit I questioned it, because I knew he was a bassist in his own band. But he totally proved me wrong, and he was a delight to work with!
Track descriptionBack to basics for Katie here, in a song which loses the pop influence that we have seen from her lately, and this song starts with a straight up acoustic intro. The acoustic guitar strums for a while some gentle chords, before it changes to a mixture of medium paced picking and fast paced, major strumming.
Verse (1) comes in with a slow first line, sung over a bouncy, but quite slow, simple guitar chord progression. It appears to be more about the voice than the music in this track. Katie's haunting voice sings line 1 quite slowly, before line 2 picks up the pace, in order to make the longer line still seem "in place", although she does pause for a second mid line. Line 3 is slower again, before the pace of her vocals picks up again for the final line, which is sung with a much choppier guitar chord progression.
Between verse (1) and (.b) the banjo comes in to replace the strumming of the guitar, with its typically tinny sound being very distinctive and allowing the guitar to play the simple but effective picking it was before for around 10 seconds.
The music changes again for (.b) as the pace pace picks up slightly, but it changes to a slightly minor tone. Both guitar and banjo now play the same strumming chords, as Katie sings the slow first line, followed by a slightly uplifting tone, and a much higher note throughout the second line. This change is repeated through lines 3 and 4. The banjo and guitar break very suddenly, as Katie sings the single last word, "you" before rejoining almost instantly, with the banjo strumming and the guitar finger picking again.
The pace during verse (2) is a lot faster than (1), and the guitar and banjo continue to strum and pick respectively, with Katie's vocals overpowering both rather convincingly, she sings this verse more powerfully, but still with that haunting tone.
(.b) as above
(.c) comes in after a harmonica plays a short interlude following the bridge. Guitar and banjo stay on the same riffs as the harmonica plays. Then (.c)comes in with guitar and banjo both playing chords again. Katie sings much louder and with a lot more exuberance than the rest of the song, and the music packs more of a punch as well, almost as if she really wants the name of the band she is thanking to jump out at people.
(.c) as above
Verse (3) is a return to verse (1) style with just guitar and Katie, but it packs more of a jumpy attitude than the first verse did, and is slightly more pacey.
(.b) as above
Harmonica interlude again
(.c) as above
Verse (4) comes in with all instruments now playing the same, single chords, without a repeated strumming pattern. Even the harmonica is playing softly in the background, as Katie sings quietly, but confidently.
(.b) as above
(.c) as above, but the final two lines are sung without music, before the harmonica comes in to play a nice, happy outro.
The final line (o) is sung, with one guitar chord played the start and finish, before the banjo plays a little, low key flourish.
Lyrics(1)You believed what I said
Although I ran out of ways….to tell you what I meant
You had the faith in my style
Because of what I did, you said we’d go for miles and miles and miles
(.b)This must be what it’s like to win
Goosebumps run deeply through my skin
But god bless you, you alleviate my loneliness
You bring a smile to my heart when I’m with
You
(2)You took me far from this place
Lifted out of a rut and to a new time and new space
My bones were filling up with doubt
But now I’m here I see what life must be about
(.b)This must be what it’s like to win
Goosebumps run deeply through my skin
But god bless you, you alleviate my loneliness
You bring a smile to my heart when I’m with
You
(.c)Sunrise in Suburbia bright
You take me to the day from dust
And blow away the night
Sunrise in Suburbia swell
My new life on the road
Is so so far apart from hell
(.c)Sunrise in Suburbia bright
You take me to the day from dust
And blow away the night
Sunrise in Suburbia swell
My new life on the road
Is so so far apart from hell
(3)Took me under your wing
We soared together, sipping on a T and gin
There’s still screaming every night
Now there’s adulation and applause and bright white light
(.b)This must be what it’s like to win
Goosebumps run deeply through my skin
But god bless you, you alleviate my loneliness
You bring a smile to my heart when I’m with
You
(.c)Sunrise in Suburbia bright
You take me to the day from dust
And blow away the night
Sunrise in Suburbia swell
My new life on the road
Is so so far apart from hell
(4)I waited all of my days
Then someone plucked me from a dark and lonesome maze
I feel on top of the earth
Suddenly there’s someone who can see just what I’m worth
(.b)This must be what it’s like to win
Goosebumps run deeply through my skin
But god bless you, you alleviate my loneliness
You bring a smile to my heart when I’m with
You
(.c)Sunrise in Suburbia bright
You take me to the day from dust
And blow away the night
Sunrise in Suburbia swell
My new life on the road
Is so so far apart from hell
(o)This must be what it’s like to win
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