Flowers by Goh Nakamura

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I wrote this in Pacifica, after a rough day at the bottom of an emotional well. I had to write it to light the way out, though it might’ve plunged me further. The original demo was done in one sitting, lyrics, melody and all. When I went in to record the album, I wasn’t intending on including this- but Tim was around so we recorded the drums, vocals and guitar live- like a live performance. A few weeks later, Sadie Contini and my sister Aya recorded backing vocals for the end… in the laundry room of my parent’s house. They kept burping and giggling, but we edited that out. I think.

There’s some weird harmony going on in the bridge that was inspired by “Around The World in a Day” era Prince. I tried to channel him on a few of the songs as a bit of a joke to myself, to cheer me up a little. He shows up, in spirit, on a few tracks…

My friend Wil Hendricks, a stellar songwriter in his own right, graciously lent his bass playing genius to this track. It sealed the deal, and healed my feel-ings.

Show Lyrics


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Ulysses - Goh Nakamura Ulysses - Goh Nakamura

Lyrics

Looking at you
Looking at
The far away places
in the photographs
of somewhere
Somewhere that you'd rather be
Someone
Someone that you'd rather be with
Rather than me

Listen now
Listen for it,
In the evening hush
of the rush hour traffic
And look at us now,
Looking for
the other people in the other cars of

Someone
Someone that I used to be
Someone
Someone that I could have been
Rather than me

And sad petals they fall from your face
from strange flowers that bloom in dark places
And you and me
You tryin' to make me more like someone

Someone used to tell you things
like no one ever could come between us now

Now I'm no one
Now
  • http://www.gogoflorist.com/bangkok-flowers Bangkok Flowers

    Well I

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=505925860 Goh Nakamura

    Thanks T, not a strange comment at all. I was very lucky to have Scott Solter mix it, and Mike Wells master it. Hi fidelity heaven.

  • Bridezhead

    Tak, you’re a genius. Great voice and songwriting. I know this is a strange comment, but nice levels in the mastering–all of the instruments and vocals (apart from some of the backing vocals) blend so beautifully.

  • Rob

    by far one of the best songs on the album. i like the message you sent to the fans who downloaded Ulysess where you said that you hoped that your music would find a home. well, it definitly has. im only bummed that more people aren’t experiencing this music too. thank you so much

  • Shorthaired hippie

    By far my favorite song. This one conjures up images of being in a relationship where you know your partner so well, but you ask yourself, “Is this as good as is gets?” Same emotion I get when I listen to Big Head Todd’s Bittersweet. Good song!

  • http://www.8asians.com/2008/11/13/goh-nakamuras-ulysses/ 8Asians.com » Goh Nakamura’s Ulysses: An Asian American/Asian Canadian Blog

    [...] you it’s me” spiel would turn into a monotony of “blah blah blahs” — Goh’s song Flowers would play in the back while you take a drag of your cigarette and do whatever protagonists in [...]

  • http://www.globality.org Steve

    This is probably my favorite song on the album. I like the line about “the rush of traffic” because to me, this song really captures the feeling of driving home on a freeway at dusk. Plus the ending reminds me of Nils Lofgren’s version of “Wreck on the Highway.”

  • Jeanchan

    Beautiful song, melody, lyrics…sad but so pretty.

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