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Description
Reflections on a trip to Hermannsburg in the 'red centre' of Australia.
When we first arrived in Australia we stayed at a friends house where two Albert Namatjira prints hung in the bathroom. I'd never heard of Namatjira, or seen his paintings, but two weeks later we were in the place of his birth and suddenly a connection was made between the paintings I'd seen and the landscape that had influenced them.
More than that I found it difficult to reconcile the vision of the artist, and the modern conditions that many indigenous Australians live in. It seemed that Namatjira had escaped somehow, and wondered why so many Aboriginal people seemed 'trapped in the shadows'.
So this isn't really a song that offers any answers - I'm way too unqualified for that - but it is an instinctive lyric about how I felt after that particular visit.
So there you have it. I promise that one day I'm gonna write a song called 'Ooh Baby Baby I Really Love Your Eye's'
Production wise: this lived on my computer for ages as a simple guitar and vocal track. Eventually I penned in the arpeggio, double tracked it as two double basses and added some random stuff. Once the 'ticking clock' percussion was introduced I really started to like the Penguin Cafe Orchestra vibe :-)
See what you think.
p.s. if the drums seem a bit weird on first listen - play it several more times and they make total sense - honestly!
p.p.s as always it's mastered a bit quiet, so turn up your headphones,
Cheers,
Dolby
When we first arrived in Australia we stayed at a friends house where two Albert Namatjira prints hung in the bathroom. I'd never heard of Namatjira, or seen his paintings, but two weeks later we were in the place of his birth and suddenly a connection was made between the paintings I'd seen and the landscape that had influenced them.
More than that I found it difficult to reconcile the vision of the artist, and the modern conditions that many indigenous Australians live in. It seemed that Namatjira had escaped somehow, and wondered why so many Aboriginal people seemed 'trapped in the shadows'.
So this isn't really a song that offers any answers - I'm way too unqualified for that - but it is an instinctive lyric about how I felt after that particular visit.
So there you have it. I promise that one day I'm gonna write a song called 'Ooh Baby Baby I Really Love Your Eye's'
Production wise: this lived on my computer for ages as a simple guitar and vocal track. Eventually I penned in the arpeggio, double tracked it as two double basses and added some random stuff. Once the 'ticking clock' percussion was introduced I really started to like the Penguin Cafe Orchestra vibe :-)
See what you think.
p.s. if the drums seem a bit weird on first listen - play it several more times and they make total sense - honestly!
p.p.s as always it's mastered a bit quiet, so turn up your headphones,
Cheers,
Dolby
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Lyrics
Hermannsburg
(by Phil Dolby © 2007)
They are shadow people
Who hide in the trees
Where no one can see them
They just don’t exist
But they’re dreaming in colour
By the light of the day
But they hide in the shadows
And the dark of the shade
I first met Namatjira
Some place overseas
But the landscape and colour
Didn’t mean much to me
So I went to his birthplace
That was tidy and clean
And the Ghost Gum I saw there
Was the picture I’d seen
So I asked him a question
If he could please explain
How he left behind shadow
For the light of the day
But his words didn’t ring true
For the ghosts of these streets
And a town that is ravaged
By refuse and heat
They are shadow people
That shuffle and creep
Through the alleys and doorways
Through the margins of life
But they’re dreaming in colour
By the light of the day
But they hide between shadows
And the dark of the day
(by Phil Dolby © 2007)
They are shadow people
Who hide in the trees
Where no one can see them
They just don’t exist
But they’re dreaming in colour
By the light of the day
But they hide in the shadows
And the dark of the shade
I first met Namatjira
Some place overseas
But the landscape and colour
Didn’t mean much to me
So I went to his birthplace
That was tidy and clean
And the Ghost Gum I saw there
Was the picture I’d seen
So I asked him a question
If he could please explain
How he left behind shadow
For the light of the day
But his words didn’t ring true
For the ghosts of these streets
And a town that is ravaged
By refuse and heat
They are shadow people
That shuffle and creep
Through the alleys and doorways
Through the margins of life
But they’re dreaming in colour
By the light of the day
But they hide between shadows
And the dark of the day
very well done... Like the lyrics and your singing fit well to your great music.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care
--
Kenta
By the way you have a new fan :D Cheers