Unusually, I can't pinpoint any musician or band who had a direct influence on the writing of this song. I've been told that it sounds a little like Clifford T. Ward while others have said it sounds like a song from a sixties film such as "Georgie Girl" or "The Family Way". I was consciously trying to return to the wistful bitter-sweet atmosphere of "Tell Them I'm Gone" and "Butterfly's Wing" although "If Ever" is more upbeat than either of those two songs. I was also going for a formal, very English style in the lyrics - "answer my enquiry" and "ever so pleased to stay a while". I also played with "long distance rhyming" where the last word of each verse rhymes with each other and nothing else (bad, sad, mad, cad, lad and had).
The string writing is a bit like George Martin's in "Eleanor Rigby" which in return was influenced by Bernard Herrmann's "Psycho" film score but both "Eleanor Rigby" and my song are worlds away from Hermann's music for the infamous "shower scene". I also remember thinking that a 12-string acoustic guitar and flute worked well together in Peter Gabriel's "Solisbury Hill" so I thought I'd give it a try here.
The flute solo (for two flutes actually) was written using 4ths and 5ths intervals instead of the more obvious 3rds. This is because the purity of the flute's tone can result in discordant "difference tones" when they play together in close harmony.
For the video I used two clips from the quintessentially English romantic film "Brief Encounter" which fit well with the sentiment of "caper around and play the clown" and "you can safely assume that I'm your man". I also learned a great deal about animating text for this video!
Instrumentation: All instruments played or programmed by Brian Parks:
Programmed 12-string acoustic guitar, programmed Korg Poly 800 synth, Line 6 Variax bass guitar (simulating a 1949 Kay upright bass), two programmed flutes, programmed string orchestra, programmed triangle, programmed 2000s Pearl Reference drum kit recorded at Abbey Road Studios, lead vocals, backing and harmony vocals, programmed female backing vocals.
Lyrics
If ever you have a moment free
With nothing in your diary
I’d be thankful if you would think of me
And answer my enquiry.
I don’t care if you think I’m pushy
I don’t care if you feel that I’m bad
If ever you’d like to pass the time
With someone who admires you
I’d be ever so pleased to stay a while
And be right there beside you
I don’t care if you think I’m stupid
I don’t care if you feel that I’m sad.
Woah……. Woah…..
If ever you want me
You know where to find me
If ever the need should arise
If ever by chance you’re feeling down
And nothing will sustain you
I would caper around and play the clown
If that would entertain you
I don’t care if you feel I’m foolish
I don’t care if you think that I’m mad.
I don’t care if you feel I’m forward
I don’t care if you think I’m a cad
Woah……. Woah…..
If ever you want me
You know where to find me
If ever the need should arise
If ever you need a guiding hand
To steer you free from danger
You can safely assume that I’m your man
So please don’t be a stranger
I don’t care if you feel I’m childish
I don’t care if you think I’m a lad
‘Cos once I’d trodden the route and I’d tasted the fruit
There’s no way that escape could be had.