The Coals of Compassion

johnwhitehead

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Description

This is an experiment...with layering voices and composing in GB as opposed as writing with guitar and pen. Lyrics were written to fill out arrangement and so I can't really say what they're about!

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Lyrics

When you give freely with heart wide open
Love’s waves wash back in like the ocean
A smile or a nod to a stranger is action
Like blowing a breath on the coals of compassion

She walks about in chain mail and armor
Girded from any arrows that harm her
But under the weight of the sword that she carries
She slow to defend against enemy parries

Don’t be afraid to lead with your heartstrings
A deep well of sadness is also where joy springs
Be kind to yourself and soon others will follow
Be wary of any creatures that wallow

Song Stats

Hits: 1022
Comments: 44
Fans: 36
Plays: 112
Downloads: 36

Uploaded: Feb 01, 2012 - 07:02:41 PM
Last Updated: Feb 01, 2012 - 07:02:41 PM Last Played: May 05, 2013 - 06:33:19 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

Compassion (7), love (1434)

Hardware:

Various

Software:

Comments

TvRicky

TvRicky said 477 days ago (February 1st, 2012)

An Ultimate and Human Concept
Compassion is depicted here in the Lyrical Poetry of true humanity expressed. Guitar melody gentle and calm like the warmth of Mother Love. Harmonies express heart and determination to do what's necessary to contribute value to a society so desperately yearning for answers to the worlds plight! Wonderful Composition My Friend.

A SincerelyFelt, TvRicky

Check out my latest song called 'Barnett's Lounge Suday 3.5% Beer' Evolution On The One

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Thanks ...for stopping Ricky. Like your comments a lot. Always a touch of the poet. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

Daugrin	Daugrin said 477 days ago (February 1st, 2012)
	Picking and vibe Thanks John. Your growing so fast. Thanks for sharing your work with us... Daug Check out my latest song called Ride Yer Bike

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Vibe Herr, Docktor, so glad you found your way into the tent.Thanks for the encouragement, Daug. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

Philip18	Philip18 said 477 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Coals of compassion Fascinating soundscape with interesting sounds coming from many directions - but it holds together well! Still at the centre is you light touch with the guitar and your gentle emotive vocal. A delight, John! Check out my latest song called Close to Midnight w/ alackbass, rok41, paul f. page, & KyasheMusic

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Holds together Thanks for the listen and the attaboy, Phillip. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Holds together Thanks for the listen and the attaboy, Phillip. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

PeterB7858	PeterB7858 said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Cool experiment... Hi John. Cool experiment. I like the hummed motif and your harmony/vocal interchange is as enjoyable as ever. The acoustic guitar anchors the piece and the embellishments work in pretty well. Thanks, Peter. Check out my latest song called Autumn Falling

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Cool Another favorite Aussie in the house. Thanks for taking the trip, Peter. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

DWL	DWL said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Wonderful really nicely put together. Lovely smooth vocals, clear and clean picking and and subtle additions. What's not to like? Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called Not For The Likes of You

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Wonderful Thanks muchly, Dick. Appreciated. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

neilh79	neilh79 said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	The Coals of Compassion Love how you experimented here, the humming sounds like a choir, your playing as always is superb and a great vocal love it Check out my latest song called Resurrection of Life Final Mix! (w/ Loob, Rok41, Symphony101, Gadzooks)

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Went Back ..and listened to your Cannonball Rag earlier this evening. Very nicely played. It's always been my goal to master some Merle Travis before I spin in. But you're nailing it. Thanks fir the comment, Neil Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

Relic67	Relic67 said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	nice top notch singing and playing as usual. A lot of wisdom in the lyrics. The vibes were a nice touch, reminded me a bit of Tim Buckley. applause! Check out my latest song called Someone Else's Thing

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Nice Tim Buckley....oh yeah. Maybe my third favorite folkie junkie after Phil Ochs and Tim Hardin. But maybe Ochs was an alkie. Anyway, thanks for the listen, bud. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

alackbass	alackbass said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	The Coals of Compassion I've been having my students hum as a vocal warm up prior to singing in class. I love the way you've used it here as a part of the vocal arrangement. Charming song and impressive recording. Check out my latest song called Just Ain't Worth a Song (2 Track)

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Humming ...is a great way to warm up the voice. I once blew out my voice and had to lay off for months. I came back slowly and found lotsa warm up to be the key to healthier, stronger singing. Forget to warm up sometimes, but it's always better when you can. Thanks for the comment, Andrew. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

PBGB

PBGB said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)

Love the harmonies John
I often find that apparently "meaningless" lyrics can often be the most powerful because they come from feelings/emotions and aren't restricted by reality necessarily. I still don't know what some of my favourite lyrics mean :) This is a lovely post - extremely easy on the ear and very relaxing in a far-away way.
Cheers from Oz,
Neil

Check out my latest song called Shy and Retiring

johnwhitehead	johnwhitehead said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Harmonies True dat about lyrics. Stop making sense, right? Thanks for the listen and comments, Neil. Check out my latest song called Wandering Blues

Doug Somers	Doug Somers said 476 days ago (February 2nd, 2012)
	Coals Intimate and warm, this is a lovely setting. The harmonies get me, but then there's so much else to like about this one. The lyrics do work for me. Nicely produced sir. Doug Check out my latest song called The Asteroid [Doom2012]

MarkHolbrook	MarkHolbrook said 475 days ago (February 3rd, 2012)
	Like most John Whitehead songs I can't help but just fall in love with the clean, clear sound. The unique guitar work. The vocal layering is interesting and it works! Nice job John! Downloaded! Check out my latest song called My 911

TobinMueller

TobinMueller said 475 days ago (February 3rd, 2012)

Transcendent ditty
Love those opening "hmms", the simple harmonies and falling progression. Really strong simple tune, like a great ditty that transcends its smallness with something universal and lovely.

When I first started using GB, six years ago?, I decided to use it as an experimental way to write and arrange, just as you describe, by laying down lines and building the song improvisation ally, on the fly, including vocal lines and lyrics. It ended up informing my normal way of writing, with pencil and score paper at my piano. This is an excellent first experiment. I look forward to more.

Check out my latest song called Frozen Man (by James Taylor)

abzwork	abzwork said 475 days ago (February 3rd, 2012)
	The Coals... Super guitar work, great lyrics, a joyous ride my friend...very peaceful and relaxing...a wonderful carpet for the vocals to float on..enjoyed every note here...:)peace Check out my latest song called As Soon As"

KCsGROOVE	KCsGROOVE said 475 days ago (February 3rd, 2012)
	not only great vocals, the mix is really good! Listened on headphones. the vibraphone notes feel like drops of sound, can't explain this in words, hehehe :-) Cool stuff! KC Check out my latest song called I DON'T LIKE IT

Jarvoid	Jarvoid said 474 days ago (February 4th, 2012)
	you don't have to have retorts,flasks and pippettes to experiment....just some good ideas and a will to do 'em.Hum away,hum away.Greatstuff. Jarvoid Check out my latest song called Cripple Creek Revised........By Jarvoid and the Banjo Bedraggled Manic Mandolin Accordion Squeezers

dave_b	dave_b said 472 days ago (February 6th, 2012)
	The Coals of Compassion I like "coals of compassion". Strong images in the lyric. Solid tone & technique on the picked guitar. Vocal harmonies fill out the mix nicely. Check out my latest song called Llarions Blues

RochaMalhada	RochaMalhada said 472 days ago (February 6th, 2012)
	but Coals of Passion are in your love for song, it's obvious. experiment? OK - it works well... . - Harold Check out my latest song called Ascent of a Tree (w Mike_D & FEEL)

airportseven	airportseven said 472 days ago (February 6th, 2012)
	Oh I get these lrics and love them Excellent work John. Nice arrangement and the vocal treatment works really well. Check out my latest song called 4.22.13 first thing

jibes	jibes said 472 days ago (February 6th, 2012)
	Coals of Compassion This is tops in my book! So well done! Check out my latest song called JESSICA

eleveneyes	eleveneyes said 472 days ago (February 6th, 2012)
	Warmed me up! Lovely song. The simple instrumental arrangement takes on quite a bit of depth with your careful choice and placement of things like the shaker, vibes?, and piano. The reoccurring harmony vocals especially effective. Really like the guitar part - is that two tracks of acoustic? Thanks for sharing! Check out my latest song called God Whose Giving Knows No Ending

kaidavis

kaidavis said 472 days ago (February 6th, 2012)

Let me tell you
I like all genre however I was surfing and I saw your picture and catalog so i said let me hear what he got and I must say that it was warm,very welcoming if that's a word and inviting.The art work you have chosen fits the mood that you are bringing,the music sounds professional and there is nothing I can say about your banjo playing only you have it going on!!! so thanks for being on macjam to allow a newbie to hear other formats of music that one loves to play

Check out my latest song called Let's Dance (in the spotlight)

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 470 days ago (February 8th, 2012)
	Another jewel Your songs are jewels. Carefully sculpted. Balanced, shining, reflective. Both small and large, like honed memories, truly experienced, cherished. That you post them here, so we can take them out of this jewelry box and and admiring them, let ourselves get lost in them, is a gift. I look forward to more experiments. Check out my latest song called Frozen Man (by James Taylor)

Moviz	Moviz said 469 days ago (February 9th, 2012)
	Oh, this is just lovely. I do envy you your guitar picking skills and sense of harmony..... and if you were in doubt about what the song is about, it's about loving and sharing and that's all good in my book......... as I said John, lovely, regards M Check out my latest song called Shine Your Light

ShadowofNine	ShadowofNine said 468 days ago (February 10th, 2012)
	Compassion Thoughtful music well played and performed..enjoyed Check out my latest song called A Sad Goodbye (Julia's Song)

sammydix	sammydix said 468 days ago (February 10th, 2012)
	coals that strong melody is what caught me, let alone the voice and harmonies. the experimental muse was high here. Check out my latest song called House Terrace w/Yomar

tmcfate	tmcfate said 467 days ago (February 11th, 2012)
	the chorus that comes in in the beginning and continues thru the arrangement, sounds like an old organ. and the call and response style is satisfying. the picking is top notch as usual. i take to heart your last verse. well said and played Check out my latest song called Dark Day in December

Mojekay	Mojekay said 465 days ago (February 13th, 2012)
	The coals of compassion Terrific writing and playing make this a joy to listen to. Check out my latest song called Bagpipechacha

woofer3	woofer3 said 461 days ago (February 17th, 2012)
	The Coals of Compassion I enjoyed this very much, an experiment that certainly paid off. Check out my latest song called burning hitler

gadzooks	gadzooks said 453 days ago (February 25th, 2012)
	The Coals of Compassion Hi John, I don't know how I missed this beautiful tune with those rich and low harmonies against that capo'd guitar. Lovely nuances throughout ... I truly do love everything about this well written and performed tune. Sometimes spontaneous lyrics work well ... from the heart. Cheers SG Check out my latest song called Song of Life

grah3am	grah3am said 453 days ago (February 25th, 2012)
	John Martyn comes to mind here. Nice harmonies and I love the vibes at the end. I wasn't expecting them but they fit perfectly. Check out my latest song called To the Dump

Songwriterz	Songwriterz said 421 days ago (March 28th, 2012)
	I loved this one!! I closed my eyes and dreamed away - thank you! guitar was superb ;) Love Heidi Check out my latest song called No Need For Any Words

tmcfate	tmcfate said 402 days ago (April 16th, 2012)
	waves wash over this one. the vocal backings work so well. the tones are warm and the arrangement pulls you right in . nice layered composition. Check out my latest song called Dark Day in December

CIASM_ZENABI_	CIASM_ZENABI_ said 402 days ago (April 16th, 2012)
	coals of compassion nice clean guitar with really warm and meaningful vocal harmonies that work great. the orchestration is effective but not overdone and gives a light airy feel to the overall sound. very nice stuff. enjoyed it. cheers graham Check out my latest song called GLOWING IN THE DARK (2012 REMIX)

PHBB	PHBB said 393 days ago (April 25th, 2012)
	Truly mystica A very nice arrangement where those strange lyrics somehow fit the multilayered voices and other instruments. And I like the simple melody loop. A good example of simplicity that works. Per Check out my latest song called The Queen of 94

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Artist Info

Name: John Whitehead
Location: Saint Paul MN United States

I've been singing and playing since the age of fourteen when my brother Paul was working his way through the Beatle book and needed someone to play with. From Paul I learned to fingerpick, play barre chords, and to sing the melody while he sang harmo... [see more]

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