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Keywords:
musical (22), showtune (13), wind ensemble (3), adult contemporary (17), divorce (9), daughter (9), father (37), lullaby (44), Pilgrim Village (11), tobin (67), Sarah (10)
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Description:
As I am on the road a lot these next weeks, I am reminded of what it is like to be alone. This is a song dedicated to my daughter (from my first marriage)... lyrics written after my divorce while living in Manhattan. The music is arranged using Proteus II instruments to augment GB. Recorded while my daughter was with her mother.
Lyrics:
AT HER WINDOW
Out from my window
thoughts gently fade across brick and stone.
Lights from the offices embroider the night
as I pause alone, stitched into glass,
a grey silhouette, well framed in moments lost.
Child, oh child, do you know it was not you I left?
While dreaming my dreams,
I woke up and found my world split in half.
Tell me now that you’re dreaming still.
When just a child, I gathered up daylight with greedy hands.
At night I would sing out and fill all the darkness with rainbow lands.
Alone in my room, I knew I was free;
I was safe and sound and always summer green.
Alone at her window, I wonder, what does my child sing?
Does she remember her father, like sunlight, like coming spring?
Or am I well framed, fingers pressed against the glass?
Child, sweet child, come to the window and see
how up in the sky the blue and the white are eyes for thee.
When I sing there, for miles it rings.
We take up our lives in each dream we make. And then we lose some of life with each dream we break.
How can I tell you this?
Child, oh child.
Child, sweet child.
Hardware:
Roland A90ex; Proteus II; G4.
Software:
GB 1.1 / Jam Pack. DP 4.1.
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Touching &mdash 08/23/04 - 05:34:40 PM
Very touching lyrics, beautiful music that doesn't get in
the way of the message, but actually helps carry it. As
always, a professionnal result, and a very enjoyable one. [ Reply to This ]
As ever..... &mdash 08/24/04 - 01:31:57 AM
something very broadway in the feel of this wiht a touch
of Richard Harris to the vocals. Nice verbal landscaping.
Have fun on the road will hear forwards as ever for your
new ones............ [ Reply to This ]
Poetry in motion &mdash 08/24/04 - 02:32:42 AM
Delicate, expressive handling of words and instruments,
deftly interwoven. Heartfelt. Beautiful. [ Reply to This ]
Very nice &mdash 08/24/04 - 03:41:47 AM
As regulus said, this has a realy showy feel to me, but, as
always, arranged and written beautifully. The production
doesn't sound as clear as your other stuff? Not sure what
you've done differently but the vocals sound a little fuzzy?
The production on your other stuff is sooo god though
you've set yourself particularly high standards! [ Reply to This ]
Very nice &mdash 08/24/04 - 08:56:05 AM
Yes, after listening to the vocals as they stream online, they seem slightly
phased in mp3 form. They sound just right in AIFF format in my
original mix, however. Converting sometimes does that. Ah well. The sense
of immediacy and intimacy is retained, with very little reverb, I hope. I
wanted it very intimate, as if I was talking to my daughter directly. This is a
conversation song, really. Didn't want anything to get in the way of that. The
background is like a floating memory, a dream. The vocals are meant to
sound slightly tired, perhaps worried, yet wanting to inspire. [ Reply to This ]
Heartbreaking &mdash 08/24/04 - 10:22:11 AM
your lyrics are so touching. I can see you standing at your Manhattan window looking out, her looking into the empty yard, letters strewn on the floor. such little tragedies it conjures. ...come home soon, ok? [ Reply to This ]
poignant &mdash 08/24/04 - 10:35:46 AM
The accompaniment is very orchestral, deft use of sounds.
I particularly like the way the oboe weaves in and out of
the texture.
The music complements the words perfectly.
Somehow this piece reminds me of something out of "The
Secret Garden"....same kind of atmosphere and treatment.
This does sound like a song out of a show; I can see you
sitting on a tree-stump in the moonlight singing this song
about missing your daughter.
It is indeed interesting how the vocals can change with the
conversion of AIFF files to mp3. Only at the loudest levels
was there just a hint of distortion in my headphones.
Wonderful, evocative piece! [ Reply to This ]
I love how... &mdash 08/25/04 - 07:36:55 AM
you've weaved bits of melody throughout. This tune is of
a style that I'm not normally in to... but since it was you, I
listened to the end. And I'm glad I did! I was awe struck!
You've taken a polaroid of that moment of your life.. and
we can see the details clearly. My only suggestion would
be too move the second verse later. To me... that verse is
the climax and it feels like its been revealed too soon.
Be sure to get in touch with me when you get back
home...ciao [ Reply to This ]
I love how... &mdash 08/26/04 - 07:38:53 AM
Amazing. When I wrote the lyrics, before applying them to the music, the
second stanza was the third from last stanza. But then when I went to sing it,
the ubiquitous sense of its "revelations" sounded better placed with the first
section, as an expression of what I am thinking while looking out my
Manhattan window. As if I think it each time I look there. Also, by
juxtaposing that "Child, oh, child" stanza with the latter "Child, sweet child"
one, which flows more powerfully into the coda about breaking dreams, it
ends up being both a more hopeful and a more touching piece, I think. I
could sing the latter stanza with more energy and expectation. So, I know
where you're coming from about re-ordering the lyrics, but from a personal
intuitive perspective, this order worked best (for me). [ Reply to This ]
Reminded me &mdash 08/25/04 - 04:00:22 PM
of David Bowie (only much more subdued musically...) and
I love Bowie.
Very poetic in nature and production, although I felt it was
a little long.
I have to agree with the vocal production... try converting
as AAC to nix some the mp3 artifacts and deficiencies.
Nice work, as always. 9-7-8-7 [ Reply to This ]
Powerful lyrics &mdash 08/25/04 - 04:58:06 PM
Growing on me more and more you are! Talking like
Yoda I am....
Anyway, there's something very interesting about
this track... it's lyrics carry sadness, but the music
itself feels like hope. So, having said that, it feels like
a hopeful and comforting voice projected towards
the child... wonderful, makes the piece heartfelt and
unselfish. [ Reply to This ]
Powerful lyrics &mdash 12/28/04 - 10:25:35 AM
Wow, thank you. When something is hard to do and it gets a response like
this, it makes it so much better. I really appreciate your comments. [ Reply to This ]
Very moving &mdash 08/26/04 - 11:53:31 AM
and introspective. The music speaks on a very personal
and human level, without artifice to other
commercial motivations. You continue to be one of the
most interesting artists here on MJ! Congratulations! [ Reply to This ]
Very moving &mdash 12/28/04 - 10:30:30 AM
Thank you. I was caught up in the emotions when doing this and to hear
your comments makes me feel like writing and arranging from the heart
works, sometimes. Trust. Thanks. [ Reply to This ]
lyrical master... &mdash 08/27/04 - 08:56:27 AM
i wish i had your gift of lyricism.....or the courage to sing
with your exuberance......bravo...... [ Reply to This ]
lyrical master... &mdash 12/28/04 - 10:32:37 AM
Thanks. Courage and exuberance, the greatest of compliments. I really
appreciate it, McBoy. [ Reply to This ]
Wow! &mdash 09/14/04 - 10:00:33 PM
Wow! &mdash 09/14/04 - 10:00:58 PM
questions... &mdash 09/21/04 - 10:52:59 PM
Wonderful and touching. My first "conversation" piece as a
listener. I like it for its intimacy. After listening, I ended up
with all kinds of questions, some of them personal, so
don't feel obliged to answer any of them. I'm really just
listing the questions I have after listening.
How old is she? How old was she when the divorce
happened? Do you regret the divorce? How's your
relationship with her now? Do you see her often? What's
her opinion of you? What's your opinion of her mother?
What's her mother's opinion of you? Do you feel guilty
about not seeing your daughter more, or about how the
divorce happened? [ Reply to This ]
questions... &mdash 12/28/04 - 10:18:36 AM
(Answers in parentheses): How old is she? (12 when I wrote the song.) How
old was she when the divorce happened? (11) Do you regret the divorce?
(Divorce is the worse sort of failure. But at some point seemed inevitable, an
acknowledgment of reality. I love my life now and regret is not a
consideration.) How's your relationship with her now? (Excellent.) Do you see
her often? (Never enough.) What's her opinion of you? (You're asking the
wrong person. I would hope it is high. There is a great deal of love.) What's
your opinion of her mother? (We are still very good friends and co-nourishing
parents.) What's her mother's opinion of you? (Again, asking the wrong
person. We rarely disagree any more. We are very supportive of each other.)
Do you feel guilty about not seeing your daughter more. (Yes, inevitable I
think.) ...or about how the divorce happened? (Yes and no. Yes. Well...) [ Reply to This ]
...losing some of life with each dream &mdash 10/02/04 - 10:15:42 AM
Your bridge at the end was devistating... yet you sang with a quite fortitude. Communicating to your child or to yourself? The ambiguity is very moving. Bravo. [ Reply to This ]
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the way of the message, but actually helps carry it. As
always, a professionnal result, and a very enjoyable one.
[ Reply to This ]