All I Can

Music and Lyrics by David Fowler
Arranged and performed by Echo Movement

Behind the Song
As the Good Dr. Thompson is often misquoted, "the music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs."

All I Can would just as well be named Blood, Sweat and Tears or maybe Fear and Loathing in a Reggae Band. The song documents a long-run of establishing myself (and my brother) in music. It may not seem like a huge challenge to play music- after all, we're playing, right? Well, yes, but the stage is the fun and playful part. Behind most closed doors, musicians are viciously beaten with hard sticks, often while the venue's live-in unmotivational speaker puts the band's pay up his nose and spits random discouragements. But this isn't a forum for complaining, and we are eternally grateful for our spot in the music world. Okeeeee...moving on.

All I Can took so long to write (see Cool Facts below) because it needed to experience the trials, errors, angst, frustrations, idles, uncertainties, the many highs and innumerable low-blows in the life of music. It needed time and space to mature rhythmically, melodically and lyrically. It has been written in bitter times and re-written in better times. The end result is about hindsight, "what-if's" and quiet prospects.

The most consistent and prominent musical figure through all this was, and still is, Bob Marley. All I Can is just as much an homage to him, his positive nature and his music.

Cool Facts
All I Can took over ten years to write. Early recordings date back to 1998.

There are two references to Bob Marley's song Three Little Birds. The lyrical reference is in the chorus line "every little thing will be ok" (taken from "every little thing is gonna be alright"). The melodic reference is in the organ lick after the third verse, taken verbatim from the Three Little Birds repeating organ riff.

The original chorus lyric was "Music is all I got...", inspired by an early girlfriend that left because of my maniacal focus on music and wild mood swings.

"You never win if you never play" is a classic aphorism that my and Steve's father uses all the time. As with most everything he said through our youth, this phrase had a lasting, somewhat-anthemic impact and encouraged me and my brother to take necessary chances in our pursuit of music.

Key Phrase
"My soul is tolerating of my mind debating if my heart still gives a damn."

Music and Lyrics (chords over lyrics)
C D
I'm holding onto all I can
G B
Can't try to take that away
C D
One little thing I know
G F#m Em D
Is I'll never win if I never play
C D6
I'm holding onto all I can
G B
And I listen to Bob Marley
C D G
Every little thing will be ok

[C D Em]

Am Em
So I'm told I'm nobody till I'm somebody
B Em
Turn it around again
Am Em
Some they say I might be crazy
B
But tenacity ain't a sin
C B
So I'm trying and I'm trying and I'm trying again
Em
Know exactly where I am
C B
My mind is forgiving to my soul's decision
C D
And my body don't give a damn


[chorus]

G
So I'm feeling for a switch

I've been flipping around my current condition
C D
A way to get up, stand up from a sitting position
G
I try to be cool and understand the collision
C D
When the mission was already planned
G
So I stand on the edge of the land
C7maj D
Bury my feet in the sand
G
Try to establish a plan
C D
A way to trust my life with my band

[chorus]

I know where I'm supposed to be, but don't know where to go
Drifting around again
I'll answer your stares like they're questionnaires
And I'll grin a perfect ten
So I'm trying and I'm trying and I'm trying again
Know exactly who I am
My soul is tolerating of my mind debating
If my heart still gives a damn