Shipwrecked… My Sentiments

Album Description:

The year is 2005. My band just broke up, and I’m devastated. At least I can keep making music on my own. In the midst of that, my cousin Mitch takes his life. Ouch. I grasp at words. “Shipwrecked” – that one seemed to stick. I wrote a handful of songs that were meant for my first EP, but with my producer’s encouragement, I proceeded to write and record two more songs to make it a full album. The songs speak of challenges in relationships, the inability to live up to impossible ideals, the struggle for identity and independence, the human condition and parting words for friends and fond memories.

Principle recording for Shipwrecked… began on September 5, 2005 and was completed on April 11, 2006. By June 2006, the CD was packaged and ready to be sold. The release, however, was pushed back until later that fall. The release party was held at Karouzo’s Pizza Steak House & Lounge on September 8, 2006 in Calgary, AB.

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Credits:

All songs written by David Andrew Wiebe © 2006

David Andrew Wiebe – Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Bass, Keyboards
Adam Burwash – Drums and Percussion
Christopher Connelly – Backing Vocals
Josh Park – Violin
Jason Bray – Backing Vocals

Produced by David Andrew Wiebe and Adam Burwash
Recorded by Adam Burwash, Jason Bray, and David Andrew Wiebe
Mixed and mastered by Adam Burwash

Mixed, mastered, and recorded at Red Flame Studios, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

CD artwork and design by David Andrew Wiebe and Adam Burwash
Illustrations and photos by David Andrew Wiebe
Cover photo courtesy Giuseppe Crimeni

Human

Summer has come and gone
And I’ve been strung along for much too long
Please don’t patronize me
I’m not the me you knew yesterday

You’re not ready for the pain
And I’m not going to play this game
Time to go our seperate ways
I’ll let go of all those wasted days

Chorus:
It’s been swell, I’m not well
I won’t dwell on your mistakes
We’re all human here
I want to yell, I’m in hell
But I’ll wish you well, wish you well
We’re all human here

Bridge:
I hope you forgive me for my arrogance, my righteousness
I hope you forgive me if I betrayed your trust

Alternate Chorus:
It’s been swell, I’m not well
I won’t dwell on my mistakes
We’re all human here
I want to yell, I’m in hell
But I’ll rectify, pacify
We’re all human here

Cartwheels of Life

The passage of time has been cruel
I’m learning to do what I can do
You came to me with wide open eyes
But I’m afraid I’ll never understand

I’ll take with me the memories
A mere speck of light in the sky
For the time I know I’ll be fine
Those days will remain in my mind

Chorus:
The heat, the sun, every day on the run
Cartwheels of life leaping steadily forward

Bridge:
The world is spinning, spinning around me
But it’s not so bad when you’re here with me

Pin the Tail

Once everything was easy
When we were on that path
We had our goals in sight
And we didn’t look back

You were wrong
But I was off the map
We lost our faith
And we couldn’t get it back

Chorus:
Whatever happens to you
Wherever you may go
Please don’t forget
That we care for you

When times get tough
And you feel like you’ve had enough
Don’t lose your faith
Don’t ever lose your faith

Between the Lines

I can’t align myself with endless contradiction
I can’t define myself with anybody’s system
My past informs my decisions every day
My stubborn ways will change, but maybe not today
No, not today

Chorus:
Oh, there’s something more than this between the lines
No, there’s nothing more to this – just another rhyme

Complacency is a form of greed we intend to purchase
We’re creatures of habit that lack devotion
My past affects my choices every day
This time of struggle will pass, but maybe not today
No, not today

Bridge:
Your fingerprints are evident, but inconspicuous
The beauty in what’s not seen will be seen

Live for This Day

Life is a journey full of ups and downs
Sometimes my memories are my only source of comfort
But I want to make peace with the here and now
This is all I have and I don’t want to take it for granted

Pre-Chorus:
I want to treasure everything that I used to be
I want to embrace everything that I’ve become

Chorus:
I want to believe that this life is worth living for
I want to conceive a purpose that I never did before
I want to live for this day

I’m diseased; I can’t live my life this way
I’m in pain; I can’t stop this aching in my heart
No matter how hard I try I live in my memories
And I can’t escape this prison that I’ve created

Alternate Pre-Chorus:
There must be a reason and a meaning for this life
I can’t see it now, but I’ll never give it up

The Story Behind Shipwrecked… Nobody Knows

Influences:

Here’s a track-by-track analysis of the musical influences that helped shape this album:

Six Sides

Eric Clapton’s bluesy guitar style had a significant impact on the direction of this song. I wanted to put my own spin on a typical E5-G5-A5 type chord progression, so I turned the chords into dominant 7ths. Technical jargon aside, this makes up for the jazzy/bluesy sound you hear on the song.

Not By a Long Shot

The Mourning Widows had a lot to do with how the chorus took shape, and Further Seems Forever inspired the backing vocals for the chorus. Some of the jazzier parts of the song were likely (but unknowingly) inspired by the likes of Remy Shand, Ivana Santilli, Eric Johnson, and Wes Montgomery.

Too Weak

This song came about when I slapped a capo on the 3rd fret of my guitar, and started playing around with some chords. It was one of those rare moments of inspiration that turned into a full-fledged song. To some extent, worship music inspired the direction of this song.

Clay to Mold

One of my favorite bands, Extreme, helped inspire the funk-rock groove on this song. It wasn’t originally arranged the way you hear it on the album, but it’s one of those songs that keeps changing and evolving, even now. The Mourning Widows inspired the backing vocals.

Afraid

Remy Shand and Further Seems Forever provided some lyrical inspiration for this song. It’s the darkest song on the album, addressing some of the tougher issues I was dealing with.

Human

Extreme had a big influence on this song. I think The Police may have also had a part in this, but inspiration is a funny thing because it isn’t always taken deliberately. It’s a happy accident, because The Police is a wonderful band and I love their music.

Cartwheels of Life

Harem Scarem’s acoustic ballads provided much inspiration for this song. During summer 2005, at a Christian camp, there was a particular Harem Scarem song running through my head the whole time. Using it as fuel, I wrote a song about the events that took place during the few days I was at camp, and that’s what turned into “Cartwheels of Life.”

Pin the Tail

In retrospect, I think Collective Soul had a lot to do with the direction of this song. It was also one of the first songs written for the album along with Six Sides. To some extent, worship music may have influenced this song as well.

Between the Lines

Extreme was a big influence on this song (particularly their III Sides to Every Story record). I felt that the chorus made an important personal statement.

Live for This Day

Extreme, Van Halen and Harem Scarem had a lot to do with the musical direction of this song. I think it’s about the only song on the list that was suited for the end of the album.