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Swimming Upstream

from Blue Macabre by Rob Birdwell

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about

"Swimming Upstream" is another blues inspired rocker. The lyrical analogy should be clear - life is frickin' hard! Our dreams are never easily realized. Still, we must "kick that can" and "stick it to the man." The horns are once again featured (Rob playing trumpet, cornet, and tenor sax) and then the talented Creighton Lindsay delivers a stellar slide guitar solo. (For more about Creighton Lindsay, checkout his site: creightonlindsay.com) While the desire to "surf that tide and get high to a Love Supreme" may be whimsical folly (yet careful listeners will catch the Coletrane quote at the end of the song) the sentiment is universal: follow your dreams, even if it means swimming upstream, going against the grain, against the wind, or over the river and through the woods. Do your thing with everything ya got! Rob heartily thanks Creighton Lindsay for his amazing slide guitar work - he is an artist with great depth his contribution to the track was an incredible gift. Here's a pre-mastered/mixed version of the tune with an animated fish that help illustrate the song in a different way.

lyrics

Swimming Upstream words and music by Rob Birdwell

I’m on the road less traveled
in fact there ain’t no road
it’s just me and this rusty canteen
swimming upstream...

searching for a love that’s right
and I want her tonight
but she’s gotta be all
peaches and cream
swimming upstream...

I know the river is wide
the current is strong
and I should drift on with the flow
but when you’re swimming upstream
you learn the darndest things
down-streamers never know

I’m gonna kick that can
stick it to the man
yeah everybody’s got to follow their dream
swimming upstream...

(solo)

I know the river is wide
the current is strong
and I should drift on with the flow
but when you’re swimming upstream
you learn the darndest things
down-streamers never know

don’t want no easy ride
just wanna surf that tide
and get high to ‘a love supreme’
swimming upstream...

credits

from Blue Macabre, released September 1, 2014

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Rob Birdwell Corvallis, Oregon

Rob Birdwell is a songwriter, composer, producer, and performer. He lives in Corvallis, Oregon. He sings, plays trumpet, sax, bass, piano, ukulele, and more. Thanks for listening and sharing his music!

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