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Keywords:
jazz (365), vocal (144), jazz vocals (4), R&B (58), quartet (10), saxophone (28), tenor sax (10), showtune (13), musical (20), piano (571), acoustic (438), death (128), mother (35), son (21), Woody (9), Creature (13), Frankenstein (5), tobin (66), nightclub (7), ensemble (8), TobinMueller (34), Mother's Day (2)
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Description:
This is a new version of a song I wrote for my mother when she was dying. The song was first sung by the character of Victor Frankenstein in my off-broadway show, Creature. He references his own mother who died in childbirth and continues his soliloquy from there. It is sung at her graveside.
This is an R&B-jazz version, a re-setting of the song. It is sung by Woody Mankowski. (Submitted on Mother's Day, 2005.)
Other songs featuring Woody Mankowski:
Dreams III
River Runs Through Me
Windowshade
I Wanna Fly
Cliff's Edge
Final Words
Pilgrim of the Return
Final Words
Lyrics:
A promise.
My life is a promise to those who came before us, here.
A promise of time. Of meaning.
That all their work was not in vain;
and all their love…
Their love is a promise to me,
a promise that life is shaped of beauty and sacrifice
whispered from lips… a mother’s lips,
a whispered wish that lives inside.
Inside, would I have pleased her? Brought her joy?
Am I what she would have wanted?
Has my life been worth her death?
Has my life been worth my own living?
Does death diminish all we do?
Does death diminish all our dreams?
Does death take away the meaning life can hold,
all our reasons of being?
Does death kill the promise?
Can we ever know what survives?
What survives this promise that is life, that is life?
I will awake the world!
Shake them from sleep,
from all their weeping,
from petty fears,
into a mother’s promise.
And they will see again
through the eyes of a child.
Through eyes like mine.
Through eyes like mine.
What do they see?
They see you. They see me.
They’ll see a world of change…and promise.
Hardware:
Acoustic bass: Jeff Cox.
Drums: Dane Richeson.
Tenor sax: Doug Schneider.
Vocals: Woody Mankowski.
Software:
recorded in ProTools
mastered in Peak
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Stunning work! &mdash 05/08/05 - 05:36:26 PM
Beautifully written and played. Woody has an amazing
voice and does total justice to this work. Soulful and
inspirational- thanks for sharing such a personal song. [ Reply to This ]
Stunning work! &mdash 05/09/05 - 07:10:13 AM
Thanks. Yes, even tho this was written for a character in a show, it is a very
personal pronouncement. Victor Frankenstein has always been a archetype
for me, a sort of hero, if only he had not run away from his gift and his
passion. My mothers dying words to me were, "Don't... care about... money...
or fame... Make... history." (Lots of panting between words, she was very
short of breath.) What she was really saying was do what you do and simply
do it. Make your own history. An unforgettable moment. [ Reply to This ]
Fascinating concept &mdash 05/08/05 - 09:27:20 PM
Glad you added the note about the Frankenstein show. It
added a whole new dimension to the song for me.
Imagining the good doctor in a New York state of mind
opens up a realm of possibilities. [ Reply to This ]
Fascinating concept &mdash 05/09/05 - 07:14:06 AM
Ooo, I like that image. I should retitle the show "Victor Frankenstein: In a
New York State of Mind." Very cool idea. Your comments made me smile.
Thanks. [ Reply to This ]
One tough sax &mdash 05/08/05 - 09:46:37 PM
Excellent chops all the way around, but the end section
with Doug Schneider is inspired. Wonderful song,
production, vocals. [ Reply to This ]
One tough sax &mdash 05/09/05 - 07:19:37 AM
Thanks. Doug plays professionally in Chicago, and also provided half of the
dueling piano in the We Are One Body - (he is the piano that
wins
the dual, by the way). An amazing musician. Thanks for listening all the way
to the end! [ Reply to This ]
amazing &mdash 05/09/05 - 12:53:01 AM
this is my favorite version of my favorite of your
songs. this is always a joy to listen to. [ Reply to This ]
amazing &mdash 05/09/05 - 07:28:29 AM
Thanks, Tone. You are my favorite fan in the whole world, you and Suzanne.
The enthusiasm you have for my music is one of the things that sustains me.
Thanks for being such a great son and such a great human being, and for
liking my stuff the way you do. It means more than you know. [ Reply to This ]
amazing &mdash 05/09/05 - 12:57:11 AM
this is my favorite version of my favorite of your
songs. this is always a joy to listen to. [ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 05/09/05 - 06:39:26 AM
Inspirational track Tobin.
beautiful lyrics and sung
perfectly by Woody.
D/L
SlimGirlFat
[ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 05/09/05 - 10:58:49 AM
Cream of the crop &mdash 05/09/05 - 07:04:41 AM
The soul of this track and the love you show your mom,
pulls at my heart. Great lyrics, fitting and wonderful
tribute to your's and mothers everywhere. The players lay
it down! Your work always inspires me. [ Reply to This ]
Cream of the crop &mdash 05/09/05 - 07:53:48 AM
Thanks, Tom. Thanks for listening with such a careful and empathetic ear. [ Reply to This ]
Great Groove &mdash 05/09/05 - 11:18:29 AM
to this song. Nothing like live drums and in this case the
acoutic bass is just what's called for. Everyone was
recorded just right and Doug's tone is just outstanding. [ Reply to This ]
Great Groove &mdash 05/10/05 - 07:20:28 AM
While mixing this one, I thought it would be cool to bring the ride cymbal
forward, just for a different sound, make the track sound more intimate.
Thanks for liking it. The vocals came near to saturation a couple of times,
but we had to go with his best take. Must have gone through 30 different
mixes to get the levels this way. I appreciate your comments. [ Reply to This ]
A familiar tune... &mdash 05/09/05 - 12:54:55 PM
Having the advantage of knowing the showtune version, I
can even more greatly appreciate this version. Woody's
voice is amazing!! This song is beautiful. I seem to
remember a countermelody at the end...*wink* It's
obviously not needed! I love this song, Tobin. [ Reply to This ]
A familiar tune... &mdash 05/10/05 - 07:17:11 AM
Thanks, Emily. This version came out of messing around with the song at
Chris' apartment, trying to hip it up. Remember that black piano in his
hallway? We almost performed it like this on stage at the Houseman, but
thought we couldn't do that to the fellow playing Victor. But Woody really put
himself into this one. Thanks for the great memory and comments. [ Reply to This ]
Deep &mdash 05/09/05 - 01:33:20 PM
thoughts from the bull... &mdash 05/09/05 - 06:17:50 PM
this is such a fine, lustrous piece. it's very theatrical, or
maybe i mean cinematic, in its movement.
the words, the music, and the voice comingle well
together like a fabulous party.
though i'm not typically a big fan of this type of music, it's
impossible to resist the jazzy, "soultry" nature of this
tune.
nice work all around! thank you for sharing it. [ Reply to This ]
thoughts from the bull... &mdash 05/10/05 - 07:35:41 AM
Woody's voice has a touch of Ray Charles in it, which lends this version a
universal cross-genre feel. His voice is so warm and alive. Thanks for the
comments. [ Reply to This ]
Beautiful &mdash 05/09/05 - 10:14:20 PM
...one of those times when words just don't convey feeling
well enough.
Beautiful.
Thank you. [ Reply to This ]
Heavy questions, uplifting answers &mdash 05/10/05 - 06:35:52 AM
You ask some heavy questions. Mothers can do that to
you, thinking about them. Always a boy in their eyes,
always the promise of a better way. Heavy questions, but
the performances soar. You nailed it. Not the
usual lyric, but blew me away. Tops for song writing. [ Reply to This ]
Messianic &mdash 05/11/05 - 05:18:56 AM
This song made me cry. The words reached in me and
shook something loose. Following up your questioning
paragraph with I will awake the world, I couldn't help but
see Messianic and the personal anguish open up. This
really got to me. [ Reply to This ]
Messianic &mdash 05/12/05 - 11:21:21 AM
Thanks. In most musical theatre writing, each stanza needs to be about
something new, something different, otherwise why keep singing? the
character needs to be growing, thinking, transforming as the song
progresses. Thanks for following the changes Victor goes thru as he tackles
each new thought. With all the emotions this song unhinges in me, I
appreciate your comments. [ Reply to This ]
Wow! &mdash 05/11/05 - 08:49:46 AM
Thanks for posting such high quality songs such as this. What a wonderful arrangement and performance.
Bravo! If this doesn't deserve 10s, then I don't know what does.
DL/10s! [ Reply to This ]
Tobin/WW- nice &mdash 05/14/05 - 09:45:58 AM
This is pretty dang heart retching.
Tobin, what can I say. You do such high quality material.
This is just another example of a Tobin high quality
product. Of course Dane, Doug, and Woody are excellent.
Your mother must be proud!
[ Reply to This ]
simplemente perfecta!!! &mdash 05/14/05 - 06:58:27 PM
...moved... &mdash 05/15/05 - 11:04:32 AM
I lost my mother to cancer and this song resonates with
me....
Beautiful melody, changes, arrangement, perfomance.
Great stuff Tobin. [ Reply to This ]
Powerful and well crafted &mdash 07/22/05 - 07:26:37 PM
Masterful arrangement of a powerful song, both musically
and lyrically. Woody's voice is very good. I would love to hear
this live. [ Reply to This ]
a perfection &mdash 09/30/05 - 04:55:39 PM
Makin' jazz rock &mdash 01/26/06 - 09:11:27 AM
Great fusion of jazz and R&B. Truly a top notch tune played by heavies. You make jazz rock. [ Reply to This ]
cool &mdash 02/16/06 - 01:04:50 PM
great production..good singer too...started a little weak but redeemed his self...overall 8.5 [ Reply to This ]
Very moving piece &mdash 02/28/07 - 09:48:57 PM
wonderfully performed by the vocalist and musicians; must be great to sing your songs, they're really built well. Any of your shows hit the road? [ Reply to This ]
Productions &mdash 03/01/07 - 09:19:56 AM
This show played at the John Houseman (NYC-Off Broadway) and ran for a year at 13 Street Rep (NYC, West Village). We toured a while back, nothing currently. I am in the process of revamping the tunes for a CD release tho! Thanks for asking. [ Reply to This ]
The right people &mdash 08/30/07 - 10:21:23 AM
One thing in the music world that is not easy is to find the right artists to
make music with .
You seem to be realy able to do it .
Wonderfull song !!! [ Reply to This ]
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voice and does total justice to this work. Soulful and
inspirational- thanks for sharing such a personal song.
[ Reply to This ]