Feature: Tim Buck Day 2

Sarah © Tim Buck




10,000 Girls

When my mind is wandering far,
drifting out of the present tense,
So far from the milling crowd
bumping by on sidewalk bricks,

When I would not expect lightning
to strike in an azure day,
I'm stunned out of my stupor.
My breath is stolen away.

What is this kind of strange thing
happening to me over and over,
that sweeps me off my feet?
I fall like a granite boulder.

Eyes touch eyes in a flash of time,
a trembling moment then it's gone.
A meeting of two spirits
comes to nothing but my longing.

10,000 faces alluring.
10,000 fantasies float.
10,000 traces enduring.
10,000 nebulous hopes.
My mind is haunted by 10,000 girls.
10,000 girls.

What would happen were I to speak?
Would that un-charm the space,
that ether between glances,
where dreams have forlorn grace?

Better that we pass like soul ships
on this liquid boulevard.
Better that this evanescence
be like a rainbow's arc.

10,000 loves at first sight.
10,000 minds unexplored.
10,000 quixotic lost kites.
10,000 vanishing doors.
Is there a multi-verse for 10,000 girls
10,000 girls

10,000 faces alluring.
10,000 fantasies float.
10,000 traces enduring.
10,000 nebulous hopes.
My mind is haunted by 10,000 girls.
10,000 girls.

Music & Lyrics © Tim Buck
10,000 Girls -- featuring Robin Willhite on lead guitar and bass


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Q&A

1. How long have you been singing/songwriting? Have you performed at public venues?

I've been writing songs since I was 14 or 15, since around 1967. In high school, I fronted a garage band, and we played out a couple times. Then in the late eighties, I formed a rock band, The Actuals. We played a couple club dates in Little Rock and performed once on the campus of Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Early last year, Robin Willhite and I got together after 20 years to form The Gothic Rangers. Robin played lead guitar in The Actuals, and he was good back then. When I brought my new batch of songs to him, I was stunned by how his good playing had become phenomenal. We recorded the songs for our Omen CD (released in June of last year) and had hopes of playing out. Robin lined up a drummer and bassist, but things haven't worked out so far to play in public venues. We live 150 miles apart, but we still hope to eventually do some performing.

Oh, here's a plug to our website: http://www.myspace.com/thegothicrangers


2. How much technical effect do you think is "cool" (I know your despise for the word!) for that right feel in a song? And how much of that "effect" can spoil a composition?

I assume you're talking about the recording process? I don't care for over-production in a recording. For our Gothic Rangers songs (and the demos I've recorded this year doing all the parts), I like only vocal, drums, bass, rhythm and lead guitars, and an occasional harmonica. No keyboards. No effects, other than standard reverb to “wet” the vocals some. I suppose the closest I come to violating my principle is the layering of rhythm guitar parts, to create a nice, full background wash. I'm a relic, from the days of sixties garage bands, so today's hyped-up production values by the big-name artists makes me want to bite rocks in half. :)


3. If you are asked to sing without a guitar and instead choose another instrument, what will you choose? Why?

What an interesting question, Nabina. And a tough one. You're going to make me have to think.................................hmm.............Well, I think I would pick Hammond organ. See, I'm not a “real” singer. I could never sing a capella. I need a musical surround to ease my voice into, to punch my way into the melodies I come up with. So, the full sweep of an organ would act like a supporting band for me. Yep. That would definitely work.