(Song) Fixture Picture

Fixture Picture

Aldous Harding

Honey, your face is folding up
As the memory kisses you goodbye
It's better to live with melody and have an honest time
Isn't that right?

There's a definite vibe
You can't be pure and in love
In the corner in blue
Is my name (in the corner)

Fixture picture
I've got it, I'm on it
You're in it, I'm honoured
Fixture picture
I've got it, I'm on it
You're in it, I'm honoured

I'm on
I've never burned bright
And how's the wine where you live?
Bet it's expensive
One day we'll share a glass together and the ride the dunes
I'm writing tune

There's a definite vibe
You can't be pure and in love
In the corner in blue
Is my name (in the corner)

Fixture picture
I've got it, I'm on it
You're in it, I'm honoured
Fixture picture
I've got it, I'm on it
You're in it, I'm honoured

Fixture picture
I've got it, I'm on it
You're in it, I'm honoured
Fixture picture
I've got it, I'm on it
You're in it, I'm honoured
Fixture picture
I've got it, I'm on it
You're in it, I'm honoured

Songwriter: Hannah Sian Topp (Aldous Harding)

Fixture Picture


Meaning and form in the lyrics:


Honey, your face is folding up
As the memory kisses you goodbye
It's better to live with melody and have an honest time
Isn't that right?

What emotions are embedded in these words? In what sense is the verse an introduction? Where in time and space is the songwriter placing us? What's already happened?


It's better to live with melody and have an honest time

What do you make of this line?



I'm on
I've never burned bright

What might be meant by these lines?


The lines in the verses are couplets: 

There's a definite vibe
You can't be pure and in love

Consider these two. What do they mean to you? Can you recall the melody? How does the melody communicate their meaning to you?


In the corner in blue
Is my name (in the corner)

Consider these two lines. How are they expressed melodically, rhythmically and with the chords?



The chorus is made of pairs of phrases:

Fixture    
picture
I've got it      
I'm on it
You're in it      
I'm honoured



Chords and melody

Notice the very simple but effective baseline.

Follow the vocal melodies. How many are used?

c  bflat  a (used in verse)
g  f  e (used in pre chorus)

What's the similarity here?

g is used as the home note for the verse (sung over a c maj)
g (an octave higher) is used as the home note in chorus (sung over c maj and g minor)

Notice the chord structure of the pre chorus and how elegantly it leads us to the chorus. Imagine the song without the pre-chorus. 


[Intro] | C | C Bb6 | Dm | Eb | [Verse 1] C Bb6 Honey, your face is folding up Dm Eb As the memory kisses you goodbye C Bb6 Dm It's better to live with melody and have an honest time Eb Isn't that right? [Pre-Chorus] C Dm There's a definite vibe Eb You can't be pure and in love In the corner in blue Dm Is my name (In the corner) [Chorus] C Gm Fixture picture Bb I've got it, I'm on it Dm You're in it, I'm honored C Gm Fixture picture Bb I've got it, I'm on it Dm You're in it, I'm honored [Instrumental] | C | C Bb6 | Dm | Eb | [Verse 2] C I'm on I've never burned bright Bb6 Dm And how's the wine where you live? Eb Bet it's expensive C Bb6 Dm One day we'll share a glass together and the ride the dunes Eb I'm writing tune [Pre-Chorus] C Dm There's a definite vibe Eb You can't be pure and in love In the corner in blue Dm Is my name (In the corner) [Chorus] C Gm Fixture picture Bb I've got it, I'm on it Dm You're in it, I'm honored C Gm Fixture picture Bb I've got it, I'm on it Dm You're in it, I'm honored [Instrumental] | C | C Bb6 | Dm | Eb | x2 [Chorus] C Gm Fixture picture Bb I've got it, I'm on it Dm You're in it, I'm honored C Gm Fixture picture Bb I've got it, I'm on it Dm You're in it, I'm honored C Gm Fixture picture Bb I've got it, I'm on it Dm You're in it, I'm honored [Outro] | C | C Bb6 | Dm | Eb | (end with one strum on Eb)