Over the course of a couple of decades I recorded, on digital recorders of various makes and finally on iPhone versions, snippets of song ideas that would flow out of me whenever I'd pick up my guitar. Even sometimes while doing other things, like driving, an idea would hit me and I'd sing a melody and/or a beat into the device. I got prolific at having new ideas, new feels, etc., and horrible at doing anything with them. I tried to think of these snippets as entities that were patiently waiting for me to get back to them and that helped me to not feel bad about leaving them behind but I was always on to the next new idea and never had time for the old ones. Well, with the advent of AI music generators, I now can take these really raw sounding snippets, upload them, and have the AI generate backing tracks that follow the chord progression, melody and melodic rhythms. This process inspires me to actually dig in and turn these old snippets into full songs. So here's one of them – Shadows. – Paul Fifield

Shadows
© Paul Fifield 2026


[Verse 1]
I've got a tremor in my heart tonight, what I’m seeing’s giving me a fright
There are shadows playing on the floor in the pale moonlight
They aren’t cast by the old oak trees, I would see ‘em swayin’ in the breeze
I am  havin’ a hard time putting my mind at ease

[Chorus 1]
They must be shadows from the back of my mind
Hidden thoughts I’ve been trying not to find… and let unwind

[Verse 2]
I walk the hallway in the dead of night, just waitin’ for the morning light
While the shadows just keep playin’ at the edge of my sight
Boards creak like a warning sign, every crack feels like a line
‘Tween the world out here and the one living in my mind

[Chorus 2]
They must be shadows from the back of my mind
Hidden thoughts I’ve been trying not to find… and let unwind

[Verse 3]
The old mirror on the bedroom wall, shows a stranger I don’t know at all
Now I stumble and lose my way as my spirits fall
I hear a voice that ain’t really there, it slips away then hangs in the air
Leaves restless feeling kinda like a strange nightmare

[Bridge]
Are they demons I have locked away, old feelings that won’t go away?
Or fears that run and hide during the day
I suppose that if I turned to face, these shadows with forgiving grace
They just might have a thing or two to say

[Instrumental Break] 

[Verse 4]
This feels like the longest night, shadows causing such a fright
I’m just hanging on til I get to the morning light
In the east what a glorious sight, the very first sign of light,
Means the shadows will retreat and I’ll feel alright

[Chorus 3]
They must be shadows from the back of my mind
Hidden thoughts I’ve been trying not to find… and let unwind

[Verse 5]
Now the dawn is rising clear and bright, shadows giving up the will to fight
They’re just floating around and hanging at the edge of sight
I’m afraid they’ll come again some night, when feelings are again just right
But for now I’m happy knowing that they’re out of sight

[Instrumental Outro]
 

Vocals by Paul Fifield. 
Music, lyrics, melody and melodic rhythms © Paul Fifield 2025
Backing tracks by Suno.com per Paul Fifield's uploaded audio and specific instructions to hold Suno to every aspedt of the song structure.