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Description
Icy Waters
I had a very strong visual when I wrote this song and I tried my best to put it in a sonic framework that reflected the colours of the image that was floating in my head. The story is takes place off the coast of Ireland and is about husband, a wife, and their two sons. He’s a merchant seaman and has been lost at sea. Her heart is in so many pieces that every time she looks at her sons, or hears their voices, she is reminded of her love lost at sea. As he is drowning all he can think about is his beautiful wife and his two sons. This is the lament they sing to each other. Through time and space, always linking them together.
When I perform this song live I do it as a solo and it has such a strong impact on the audience that I hoped when it was done as a duet, it would become even more powerful. I leave that for you to decide.
I think Linda (onesweetworld) did a really sensitive and beautiful interpretation of the female vocal in this. Linda, thank you for putting up with my nit picky ways.
The violin in this song is very special and adds to the pathos and mood of the tune. I apologize for this lengthy discourse that follows, but it seems to me quite relevant. A few years ago a dear friend of mine passed away in the prime of his life. He was an extremely talented and gentle soul who not only played in the Portland symphony, but chamber music quartets and several different pop groups. We had the chance to work together in a singer/songwriter project that I was the musical director in. At one point he asked to hear some of my music and for what ever reason he really connected to it. He insisted when I record next that he play violin on whatever I needed him on. So there came that time. He played on a song called “Sending.” I had him lay down 6 takes. Each one was different and equally brilliant. For kicks I thought, let’s listen to all the tracks together with all the other instruments and vocals muted. So we sat and listened to 6 violin tracks playing around the ghost of a song. After the last notes died out we looked at each other in amazement. It was a stirring and moving piece without the meat of the song present! I promised him that I would make a mix of this for him and myself. I was lucky enough to get it to him before he died. A local classical radio station did a memorial of his life and interviewed me as well as many others. They played my original song, “Sending”, and then the version with just the 6 violins, which I had given the name “Endings”. So what does this have to do with this song? As I was tinkering away on this tune I wished that I could have Marty come in and play some magic violin... then I thought, wait, I think the “Sending” tune is in the same key. Not only was it in the same key but the tempo was nearly the same... I then painstakingly transferred all six tracks into “Icy Waters” and comped together a performance. My wonderful friend has helped me once again... Even in death his brilliance shines. Thank you Marty Jennings. You are missed every day, but today I am reminded of what a very special human being you were.
I had a very strong visual when I wrote this song and I tried my best to put it in a sonic framework that reflected the colours of the image that was floating in my head. The story is takes place off the coast of Ireland and is about husband, a wife, and their two sons. He’s a merchant seaman and has been lost at sea. Her heart is in so many pieces that every time she looks at her sons, or hears their voices, she is reminded of her love lost at sea. As he is drowning all he can think about is his beautiful wife and his two sons. This is the lament they sing to each other. Through time and space, always linking them together.
When I perform this song live I do it as a solo and it has such a strong impact on the audience that I hoped when it was done as a duet, it would become even more powerful. I leave that for you to decide.
I think Linda (onesweetworld) did a really sensitive and beautiful interpretation of the female vocal in this. Linda, thank you for putting up with my nit picky ways.
The violin in this song is very special and adds to the pathos and mood of the tune. I apologize for this lengthy discourse that follows, but it seems to me quite relevant. A few years ago a dear friend of mine passed away in the prime of his life. He was an extremely talented and gentle soul who not only played in the Portland symphony, but chamber music quartets and several different pop groups. We had the chance to work together in a singer/songwriter project that I was the musical director in. At one point he asked to hear some of my music and for what ever reason he really connected to it. He insisted when I record next that he play violin on whatever I needed him on. So there came that time. He played on a song called “Sending.” I had him lay down 6 takes. Each one was different and equally brilliant. For kicks I thought, let’s listen to all the tracks together with all the other instruments and vocals muted. So we sat and listened to 6 violin tracks playing around the ghost of a song. After the last notes died out we looked at each other in amazement. It was a stirring and moving piece without the meat of the song present! I promised him that I would make a mix of this for him and myself. I was lucky enough to get it to him before he died. A local classical radio station did a memorial of his life and interviewed me as well as many others. They played my original song, “Sending”, and then the version with just the 6 violins, which I had given the name “Endings”. So what does this have to do with this song? As I was tinkering away on this tune I wished that I could have Marty come in and play some magic violin... then I thought, wait, I think the “Sending” tune is in the same key. Not only was it in the same key but the tempo was nearly the same... I then painstakingly transferred all six tracks into “Icy Waters” and comped together a performance. My wonderful friend has helped me once again... Even in death his brilliance shines. Thank you Marty Jennings. You are missed every day, but today I am reminded of what a very special human being you were.
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Lyrics
Icy Waters
so many times I’ve heard your voice
coming from our little boys
it feeds my soul, a tattered sail
then the wind blows through and I lose my way
so many tears I have wrought
I salt the sea and all for not
you’re never coming back my dear
I keep pretending you’re very near
I cry to the wind from the sea
icy waters stole from me
my cries fall on silent seas
waves washing over me
the sea is stronger than my will
it fills my lungs and holds me still
I fall into the desperate deep
but my heart wont freeze and this love it can’t keep
I cry to the wind from the sea
icy waters don’t take me
my cries fall on silent seas
waves washing over me
waves washing over
all I can remember is your hands
your gentle hands, your strong hands
they hold and bind me close to you
in this way I’m never far away, never gone, gone, gone
I whisper to the wind from the sea
icy waters please take me
my tears fall on silent seas
waves crashing over me
icy waters over me
so many times I’ve heard your voice
coming from our little boys
it feeds my soul, a tattered sail
then the wind blows through and I lose my way
so many tears I have wrought
I salt the sea and all for not
you’re never coming back my dear
I keep pretending you’re very near
I cry to the wind from the sea
icy waters stole from me
my cries fall on silent seas
waves washing over me
the sea is stronger than my will
it fills my lungs and holds me still
I fall into the desperate deep
but my heart wont freeze and this love it can’t keep
I cry to the wind from the sea
icy waters don’t take me
my cries fall on silent seas
waves washing over me
waves washing over
all I can remember is your hands
your gentle hands, your strong hands
they hold and bind me close to you
in this way I’m never far away, never gone, gone, gone
I whisper to the wind from the sea
icy waters please take me
my tears fall on silent seas
waves crashing over me
icy waters over me
ktb
at the lyrical content, the moving music the pleading vocal performances and the tribute to Marty. Heavy stuff, beautifully rendered.