Here are the private notes for: “Thirty Something”.
(Artwork by the fantastic Ray Ibbetson)
Shock of all shocks, it’s another pretty challenging tune to put out there. Thanks for taking the time to listen!
Part of me doesn’t want to tell you my version to keep it pure. But, that’s kinda what this “off the record” thing is all about, so…
DISCLAIMER: This song is YOURS, my interpretation is just that.
I would love to hear what it makes YOU think of. Please do get in touch!
First up, here is the final studio recording in all its glory, recorded with extremely talented producer Will Davies, at the beautiful Sutton Wood Studios, sat among the rolling green hills of Alresford, just outside of Winchester:
Here is the earliest demo I could find. I don’t think it’s the very first time I played it, but must be within a week or two. As you can see the words haven’t quite stumbled into their final form yet, and more reflect the handwritten notes below.
Note: the actual song starts at 01:55, you wanted behind-the-scenes so I left all the faffing at that start.
Original Lyrics
Final Lyrics
Thirty years old, got a lot to carry on
I booked in two seats for my baggage beside me
Then you came flying by chance the same time
And you came and sat beside and we both compared our lives
All the darkness and the light
In a moment we won’t mind
And you break remake your mind
A thousand times, a thousand lives
Do you remember that face
From a smile in a crowded place?
Like: “Hi”, “Hi”
Like: “Hi”, “Hi”
Thirty something with an undercurrent
With an expectation, with a hesitation
With an I’m still hoping, with a can’t believe my eyes
And you break remake your mind
A thousand times, a thousand lives
Do you remember that face
From a smile in a crowded place?
Like: “Hi”, “Hi”
Like: “Hi”, “Hi”
Thirty something
Thirty something
Thirty something
What do I see?
(It’s pretty literal)
An airport scene, sped up, like a long exposure shot with a guy stood still, with a huge crowd of travellers flowing around him like liquid.
Everything is a blur until he boards the plane and takes a seat by the window. Then she sits beside him. It’s a 3 seat aisle, so there’s an empty space between them. Their eyes meet. Smiles.
They feel a connection immediately and as the plane takes off they begin a conversation.
There is a spark for sure, words flow easily, but every time the spark emerges and he feels that shock of pleasure and excitement their combined luggage from the cupboard above falls onto the seat between them.
An impossible amount of luggage, somewhat akin to those endless flags that clowns, or dodgy magicians pull from their pockets.
They continually have to fight their way through it and stow it away again before they can continue the conversation. This happens for the duration of the flight.
Finally the plane lands and just like he’s in a dream the guy appears at the baggage claim, back amongst the crowd flowing around him, with zero memory of the connection he just made.
Then he sees her again. She’s the one still thing amongst the liquid crowd flowing between them.
He knows her, though he doesn’t quite know how. Their eyes meet.
She knows him. Simultaneously they wave, expressions a little askance.
Two separate points of stillness amongst the relentless blur of passersby.
And just like that the blur overtakes them both and it begins again.
An airport scene, sped up, like a long exposure shot with a guy stood still, with a huge crowd of travellers flowing around him like liquid.
Everything is a blur until he boards the plane and takes a seat by the window.
Then she sits beside him…
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