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Since it is Passover time, I thought I'd submit a song that falls somewhere between Passover evening and Easter morning. The song was in the first draft of a play I wrote but the song didn't survived the script rewrite process. It was sung by a chorus to Oedipus at Collonus as Antigone lays in his arms (the chorus concept was dropped). I reworked it for solo voice; it is now a song in which the father is trying to convince himself of these sentiments. Trying to find joy amidst the tragedy, praying that memories and old hopes help heal the wounds, and simply asking for something beyond now. I used more reverb than usual, and a continually differing amount, to act as a sort of internal universe feel. Because the play is actually about several heroes, including Merlin & King Arthur, there is a momentary British anthem reference in a musical break which I kept in because I really like the sense of historic connection it lends to the character (who could be any father, not merely a banished Oedipal one). (The artwork is by Fulchran Jean Harriet, 1796.)
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Lyrics
TURN THE KEY
The breath of God draws near,
so human is the prayer.
Now it begins, the celebration.
Awakened by the wind,
the ghosts within your skin.
Join the brightening constellation.
Turn the key,
throw open wide Eternity.
Love I see...
My life
My breath
The love in me.
The child now the man.
Mother rests her hand.
Father nods his head,
"Look down the road..."
The melody has spun
harmonies of one
that fill this world with song.
Sing on.
Come to greet the man,
the day at least in hand,
come child, come elder, come I.
From generations long,
from lives lived short, lived strong,
comes the single one, comes I.
In one day we grow.
Then suddenly we hold a newborn infant bright,
the star we need.
And with our eyes as bright and clear
we see the rebirth here,
the start, the strength, the hope,
the tension freed...
Burning plea,
Encircle me Eternity.
Love I see: My life, my breath,
the love I free.
Turn the key.
A treasure waits, just turn the key.
Love for me.
A life awaits
my love for you.
The breath of God draws near,
so human is the prayer.
Now it begins, the celebration.
Awakened by the wind,
the ghosts within your skin.
Join the brightening constellation.
Turn the key,
throw open wide Eternity.
Love I see...
My life
My breath
The love in me.
The child now the man.
Mother rests her hand.
Father nods his head,
"Look down the road..."
The melody has spun
harmonies of one
that fill this world with song.
Sing on.
Come to greet the man,
the day at least in hand,
come child, come elder, come I.
From generations long,
from lives lived short, lived strong,
comes the single one, comes I.
In one day we grow.
Then suddenly we hold a newborn infant bright,
the star we need.
And with our eyes as bright and clear
we see the rebirth here,
the start, the strength, the hope,
the tension freed...
Burning plea,
Encircle me Eternity.
Love I see: My life, my breath,
the love I free.
Turn the key.
A treasure waits, just turn the key.
Love for me.
A life awaits
my love for you.
mandolinquent
It doesn't really fit my simpleton tastes, either religiously
or musically, but anyone can see how beautifully you put
the music together. I really like the over-the-top reverb; if
it was me I would reduce the elements, taking out tracks
to leave more space for your voice. I like the Japanese-y
section at the end...