22. I wrote a Song.

 Adrian Song of the week 

 Listen here: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=12885889

 

A very ancient video of a much younger me playing the song at a Bala, UK  youth retreat can be found here: https://youtu.be/b0p5WJ6SIFM

This weeks song is a true masterpiece of composition and incredibly notable for its focus and brevity.  Here are the lyrics.

I wrote a song.

Which don't take long.

It goes like this

That's all it is.

Hmm.

Yep. That's all it is. 17 seconds of mandolin accompanied reflection. Recorded 'live' in my bedroom at my parents house in 20 Orchard Road on an Akai DB 4000 reel to reel deck, more years ago than I care to remember. (Shout out to Paul Maylor who was the mandolins owner)

I have performed this 'live' at various random events over the decades. Most recently at open mic nights. Usually raises a smile or two. 😎🙈😝

After conversations with other creative folk, I have been analysing my own song writing methods and how, at least for me, songs and tunes can happen. 

I've identified the following patterns.

Songs that just arrive. Suddenly there they are in your mind. Can be something you wake up with, or just a random tune that arrives from goodness knows where. 

Songs and tunes created just because I like the way the music sounds or the words fit together.

Songs written specifically for and sometimes with bands I've played with. 

Songs or tunes that come out of experimenting with synths, samples and DAWS.

Songs written for specific purposes such as retreats, worship services, events. If they are written for a group of folk to learn and sing, this has a big impact on the writing process.

Songs of personal devotion or that are reactions to things going in or around my life.

Songs that reflect my beliefs, in particular either a supportive thought or a critique.

Songs about things going on in the world. Politics. Issues of peace and justice.

Songs that are part of musicals (and therefore just part of a bigger picture)

Songs about family and relationships (Including silly love songs) 

Songs co-written with others on a huge variety of themes.

Music put to other folks words or expanding other peoples musical ideas.

Songs that explore a genre I am not familiar with or wish to learn about.

Cover Versions of other peoples songs.

Remixes and Mash Ups.

Q. Do they start with the words or the tune? 

A. Depends which comes to mind first. Can be a thought or it can be a chord sequence, something I just read or a melodic idea that I can't shake off. 

Q. Is it a quick process or a lengthy one? 

A. Again, depends. Some are done in twenty minutes. Some take years of revisits.

Q. Why write at all, particularly when your work generates zero money or is of only limited interest to anybody but yourself? 

A. Because I can. Because it brings me joy. Because sometimes my songs bring others joy. Because it is a way of working things out and expressing things I can't always frame with words alone.  Because it's something I've done as long as I can remember.  Because it keeps my mind focussed and requires creative thought. Because I'm growing older and need to do things that keep the grey matter active.  

Honestly, I have no idea if these thoughts are of any interest to anybody but myself. And that's ok. 

But hey... if I've given you 17 seconds of light relief...  then 'yay!'

14. Big Bob's Water Music (Tresaith song)

 Listen here: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=13771359

This Weeks “The Adrian Song of the Week” was prompted by an old friend, Stuart Trimby’s birthday. On his Facebook page somebody had posted a picture of a group of folk at the Tresaith Youth Holiday Week, back in the day.  Not sure what that year was, and I don’t want to know, because it would mean I’m getting older than I thought.  Lol

Every year a group would gather at that glorious Welsh Seaside location for a week of fun and fellowship. One of the champions of the week was the now retired Reverend Robert Bebb and his wife, Jackie. Robert was minister at Hoylake Presbyterian Church on the Wirral and later at Park End Presbyterian, in Cardiff. Among his other achievements he served for a while as the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales.

But, for a small group of folk, he will always remain in their hearts as one of the leaders at Tresaith,Youth Holiday Fellowship, held at a Center sadly no longer a part of the Presbyterian Church of Wales mission.

Here's a link to Rev Bebb talking about one of his favorite bible Verses: https://youtu.be/2HI_8Fzthek

Robert was known for some of his phrases, that, in keeping us all in order, had to be repeated. One was “No water in the building.”  Another, “I’m only going to say this once.” A major task each morning at any youth retreat is getting kids, who have stayed up way to late, out of bed.  Quite often, at Tresaith, a piece of music would be blasted out to rouse them.

A particular year came along, when…terror of terrors… the Bebbs were not going to be able to be in attendance. Sion (the guy to my right in the picture… now a minister in Melbourne, Australia) had the idea of recording Robert’s words on tape so as his presence would still be heard! One afternoon we travelled over to the manse in Hoylake and captured some of his immortal phrases.

What to do with them? At that time, I had a small recording set up in a tiny room in the house we were living. I had obtained an Akai S700 Sampler, (For gear nerds… one of Akai’s earliest… 12-bit, 6 notes polyphony and precursor to the much better known S900 and S1000 models.)

 
One thing it was good at doing was loading phrases that could be played, at varying pitches, across the keyboard. In went Rev Bebbs words of wisdom. 

I didn’t have a reel to reel deck at that time, so everything had to stay in the MIDI or digital domain (more nerd talk) but thanks to the wonder of Atari and Roland, I came up with a little ditty that became the “Wake Up” music for the year the Bebbs could not attend Tresaith.

You would think that would be the end of the story. Just another song that became a legend in its own lunchtime. As the Internet became a place you could post music, it was a natural thing to put it out there for any who wanted to reminisce.

I was incredibly surprised when a few years later, after moving to West Virginia, I received an email from a DJ somewhere in Asia, (Indonesia I think) asking for permission to use the song as part of the set he performed at Dance events.

More recently I came across a graphic on Spotify that surely has to be related in some way!

Seems that, for a while, Rev Bebbs words went global.

One of the beautiful things about music, of any style, is how it can take us back to relive happy memories of places and people. I can’t play this one without thinking of those wonderful days at Tresaith, and the folk who shared the experience. Good to still be in touch with many of them.

13. "Get into the Groove – ‘Madonna’ remix by DJ AD”

The Adrian Song of the Week  

On You Tube - https://youtu.be/S3_Uf2j06rs

One of the things the internet has opened up for many of us home recording fanatics is access to original recordings of classic pop songs. Various sites offer an opportunity to download ‘stems,’ which are basically the untreated tracks of original recordings, or partially mixed versions of songs repackaged for use in computer games or videos.

It is a whole lot of fun to load them into whatever music program you have on your computer and be able to hear the constituent parts, rearrange them and even add to them if you wish. It’s also a great learning tool, in that sometimes there are parts of songs you just can’t figure out how exactly they’ve been done… and suddenly, you get it!

I’m sharing this one because, much to my surprise, it has gained some traction on YouTube. Usually when I upload any of my music, I think it is doing well if I hit double figures in the viewing statistics and if anybody at all ever hits the ‘like’ button.

I don’t have a problem with that! I’d continue making music if everybody wanted to listen or nobody wanted to listen. Some folks play computer games, some folks do jigsaws. My passion is playing, creating, and doodling with musical ideas. Sometimes they end up as instrumentals. Sometimes as songs. And in this case… as a remix.

I also spend way too much time just figuring out how different music programs work, how to program different sounds on synthesizer programs I’ve purchased and all that nerdy stuff.

So, when something I have done receives more attention than I had expected it is a pleasant surprise.

I’d played around with this Madonna track, added some instrumentation (such as a guitar solo), added a few effects, and restructured it slightly. It didn’t sound terrible, so I uploaded it with the name “DJ AD” to distinguish it from other musical projects.

Much to my surprise it has, at the time of writing,  received over 25,000 views and received 350 ‘likes.’ It seems folks all around the world have been giving it a listen and adding it to their playlists. When you are used to your music only being listened to by a small number of family and friends… such is wonderfully unanticipated.

By contrast, a self-penned communion song, (which one lady described as 'extremely meaningful' after I had sang it in a worship service) has only attracted 12 views and had zero 'Likes'. Half of those views were probably by myself!  

I kind of wish it were my own songs that  gained as much attention as a hastily created Madonna remix, but that’s not the way it works. Folks really like hearing stuff they are familiar with.

But I will say, my remix is great for a 5 minute dance workout. Try it!

So, maybe there’s a future for DJ AD. 

And that Madonna lady probably won't do so badly either. Lol.

12. Marshmallow

 The Adrian Song of the Week
12. Marshmallow

A song about the beauty of chocolate marshmellows :-)
https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=14180899

Recently we went shopping at Schiavoni's Market in Sag Harbor, NY. They seem to be the only place that sells English crumpets in the immediate area. Sadly, we were out of luck. While browsing the shelves we did come across one of my childhood favorites... Marshmallow's. How could I resist.

Not just any old marshmallows, but a brand called 'Dare' that claimed they were 'Pure Chocolate Whippet' A heavenly cloud-like marshmallow cookie coated in pure dark chocolate . Quebec's favorite since 1927.'

Growing up I always called them 'Mellows' rather than 'Mallows'... but never recall describing them as 'Whippets. 'Whippet's were greyhound like dogs owned by Yorkshiremen. Apparently our marshmallows got their name from the mallow plant (Athaea officinalis) which is native to salty marshes in Asia and Europe. The root of the mallow is used to make the mushy white bit.

The environment in which the plant grows led to them being called marsh-mallow's.  Whoever came up with the idea of mounting the mallow on a base of crunchy biscuit and then dousing it in chocolate was pure genius.

I recall on a songwriting retreat, being told that you could find inspiration in anything, and how somebody had had a big hit writing a song about a coffee cup. I had to smile inwardly as... long before I discovered there were rules about how songs should be written (and the topics they could include), I had already composed many a ditty to inanimate objects. In particular food  - one of the great loves of my life.

Chocolate Marshmallows held a wonderful attraction. So many ways you could eat them. And they were all messy.

You could start on the chocolate, gradually consuming the outer layer, piece by piece, before demolishing the biscuit and finishing up on the mallow itself.

Or you could gently taste it from different angles. A chocky/mallow bit here. Hmmm. Now a bit of biscuit.

Or you could go straight for the kill and just shove the whole thing in your mouth, greedily consuming it with your cheeks bulging like a hamster and a giveaway dribble from the side of your mouth.

The song is an old recording, made on my trusty 4 track Teac A3340, long before computers and digital came around.  The song itself, even older.  Like me.

Marshmallow
 © Adrian J Pratt 1973ish

Marshmallow, Marshmallow,
My magnificent mushy marshmallow.

How I like to taste
Your little mushy fill
You conjure up volumptous glee

Marshmallow, Marshmallow,
My magnificent mushy marshmallow.

Thick chocolate, Thick chocolate,
Is mellows integral part
Without chocolate marshy would be a flop
A mournfully floppy mallow

Marshmallow, Marshmallow,
My magnificent mushy marshmallow.

Plain biscuit, Plain biscuit,
Makes up your crunchy base
The part that makes you really think
And then flake off chocolate bit by bit

Marshmallow, Marshmallow,
My magnificent mushy marshmallow.
Marshmallow, Marshmallow,
My magnificent mushy marshmallow.
Marshmallow, Marshmallow,
My magnificent mushy marshmallow.

After note. The song uses the word "volumptous." Volumptous is a misspelling of "voluptuous" derived from Latin 'voluptas', which refers to sensual pleasure and not to shape.  A voluptuous body is a luxurious body.  However "volumptous." refers to volume. The volume of edible delight delivered to me by a magnificent mushy marshmallow was both sensual and intense in volume. So “volumptous” it is. 

11. The Mason's Armpit

 The Adrian Song of The Week

Well, it's St Paddy's day approaching so I had to post a jig.

The Mason's Armpit.
https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=14214843

Back in the mid 1970's, when playing in 'Mr. Grumbold', we often used to finish our gigs by doing a cover version of 'East of Eden's' instrumental 'Jig-a-Jig.' 

 https://youtu.be/178LOntoB4A.

It was a wonderful piece to demonstrate violinist Paul Wynn's (aka Henri) amazing skills on his instrument of choice. A little different to his usual performances with the Merseyside Youth Orchestra, but versatility was his middle name.

The other band I was playing with back then, 'Pegasus', also played a piece (I think called 'Mount Captain Junga' or some such name) that ended with a frantic A minor jig played on my Roland SH1000. Seeing the way the punters danced like crazy beasts to a bit of Celtic music, was enough inspiration to try my hand at writing something in a similar vein.

I found among the music stored in the piano stool in my childhood home, at 20 Orchard Road, a little volume of Irish reels and jigs that included a piece called 'The Mason's Apron.'

That particular tune has been covered many times, part of the repertoire budding violinists learn https://youtu.be/ZSJ91BxYTYo 

... and the 'Dubliner's' do a cracking version https://youtu.be/JALYH61L3VM

So, the basis, in a tweaked form, was laid. I added an introduction, a second section featuring a riff I had written on the bass guitar and a third section that I'd had in my head for a while (but no idea where it came from.) A brief middle 8 (in straight 4/4 time) created a bridge back into the plagiarized apron tune.

I wanted to catch the feel of an inebriated Irish dancer recalling a piece of music, but not getting it right, and doing his best to get his dancing feet in step. With that in mind I originally titled the piece 'The Mason who Confused His Armpits', but after it became a tune performed by aforementioned 'Mr. Grumbold' it became redacted to 'The Masons Armpit.'

It lay forgotten for a while, but the advent of MIDI offered an opportunity to try and recreate a version on my digital keyboard, which back in the eighties had become a Roland D10, linked to an Atari ST 1040 computer running C-Labs Notator. If you are a fan of home recording gear and software history, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about, but if not, then feel free to never read this paragraph again.

After moving stateside my recording set up progressed to owning a Korg D1600 digital recorder with the capacity to not only record to re-writable CD’s but capture actual instruments such as electric guitars! The MIDI file was given a new lease of life as actual lead and bass guitars were added. (My Hayman and Yamaha BB1200 to be exact.)

I still have the Korg, and while it is now viewed as vintage gear, the version of 'The Mason's Armpit' presented for your listening pleasure, emanates from those sessions on that machine... carefully downloaded onto CD... and uploaded, via computer to my music website.

What a complicated path we home recordists must tread! The crazy tune has made quite a journey since being plagiarized from a book of Irish jigs in the piano stool at my parents’ house.

Whatever... enjoy 😊.

And if you can a drink a pint of Guinness while tapping your feet and looking forward to celebrating St. Patrick's Day, then 'Top of the morning to you all."

10. Deep Down Inside (We Need Love)

 

Having previously posted one of the first songs I ever wrote, this weeks ditty is my most recent doodling. A poppy dance vibe titled 'Deep Down Inside (We Need Love)'

https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=14400392

I didn't set out to write a pop song. The whole venture was inspired by a piece of free music software. 'Waves', (a music software company) released a free librarian program that catalogues samples into similar folders. (Samples are short musical events or sounds that form the bedrock of much modern dance and pop music.)

As I have thousands of little sound bytes on my hard drive, I was revisiting some of them and came across a loop titled 'xot-128-Ab-getrave-piano.' It was begging for a beat, so I added a percussion loop and then some extra drums. A couple of soulful vocal samples really fitted in... and suddenly I had a a song going on. Added some lyrics... and there it was. A bass line was added on my trusty Yamaha B1200 bass guitar.

Here's the songs very predictable story.

Boy sees girl and thinks she won't be interested
Boy asks girl for dance because he has nothing to lose.
They dance.
They are now together (forever)
Because deep down inside we all need love.
(Burning in our hearts  - yeah)

Romeo and Juliet it is not. But as a dance-able 3 minute slice of trivial pop, maybe it is a reasonable specimen.

One of the biggest songs of 2021, Dua Lipa's 'Levitating,' began life as a synth patch on a rare v1970's Roland vocoder keyboard, a VP-330. (You can find them on on the web usually priced around $3800!) It morphed into something that now may be facing a copyright injunction...  (a story you can pursue on YouTube if you wish https://youtu.be/XT3DghWbk2A.)

So... yes... this particular ditty may well sound like a thousand others... and is totally based on a keyboard sequence that no doubt appears in other songs...but that is the nature of the beast known as pop.

And there is a reason why pop is popular. It's fun. It's throwaway. It sounds like something you already know. It's not important. It doesn't try and change the world, just offer a brief respite from the bad news that threatens to engulf us.  And I don't know about you, but I need that right now! If it gives you a smile or has you dancing around the kitchen... my work is done.

At a time when Putin and his Kremlin cronies appear hell bent on violently building a new Russian empire, maybe the refrain... 'Deep down inside we need love' can be a cause for reflection and an unspoken but sung out loud prayer! 

Deep down inside (We need love)
Adrian J Pratt March 1 2022

I saw you there, sitting just across the room,
Shining with a light that pierced through my gloom
I thought to myself, well what do I say,
I didn't even think you would even turn my way

But deep down inside you need love
Need it burning in your soul
Yes deep down inside you need love
Burning in my soul (burning in my soul  yeh)

I thought to myself, well I'll just take the chance
I'm going over there. going to ask you to dance
Unless you make a move, nothing will ever start
I've got nothing to lose except my lonely heart

Because  deep down inside you need love
Need it burning in your soul
Yes deep down inside you need love
Burning in my soul (burning in my soul  yeh)

Hey, even now I am struggling to believe it,
I offered love and you were prepared to receive it!
I hope you understand, just how much you mean,
The longer we're together, the more it seems like a dream.

Cos deep down inside you need love
Need it burning in my soul
Yes deep down inside you need love
Burning in my soul (burning in my soul  yeh)

Deep down inside you need love
Need it burning in your soul
Yes deep down inside you need love
Burning in my soul (burning in my soul  yeh)

8. O Lord, Hear My Prayer (Taizé)

 

The Adrian Song of the Week 

8. O, Lord Hear My Prayer (Taizé)

Listen here: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=14395967

In the light of the aggression taking place in Ukraine it was hard to think of a song from among my own compositions that I felt resonated with my gut reactions to what is happening. As sometimes happens at times of crisis, I found this well known prayer chorus from the Taizé Community in France, playing in my head. The song is a beautiful and simple setting of a heartfelt cry for help.

I am very aware that not everybody identifies with the "Lord" of Christian faith, but even the most atheistic of humans seem to have those moments when they cry out into the unknown for a sense of understanding and a renewal of hope. Feels like we are in one of those places right now.

This particular version of the tune was created some years ago for a prayer group at one of the churches I had served. Scheduling conflicts meant that Yvonne and I could not actually attend the meetings, so this was a way of being part of the gathering without physically showing up. In today's virtual world that is a common experience. But not so much back in the nineteen eighties. lol.

Every song I have ever written was in some way derived from songs others had already crafted. I don't have a problem singing other folks songs, particularly when I have nothing to bring to the table. It is through others that I am learning the craft for myself. Plagiarism is a great learning tool (but then there are such things as copyright laws! Hopefully I am not infringing any right now.)

As for wars and rumors of wars, well sadly and historically, that's the way the world rolls. My parents lived through the Second World War. Their parents endured the First. There have been conflicts in the Baltic's and numerous other places during my own lifetime. Human beings can be brutal to each other. They can also do wonderful things. Caught between the two extremes we live out our days. Maybe that's a song idea I can take on board!

"Lord, Hear My Prayer" sprang out of a life that was dedicated to music making. Jacques Berthier (b. June 27, 1923; d. June 27, 1994) was the son of musical parents. He studied music at the Ecole Cesar Franck in Paris. From 1961 until his death he served as organist at St. Ignace Church, Paris. Although his published works include numerous compositions for organ, voice, and instruments, he is best known as the composer of service music for the ecumenical Taizé community near Cluny, Burgundy.

Berthier began writing songs in 1955 for the services of twenty monastic brothers at Taizé. As the Taizé community grew, he continued to compose most of the mini-hymns, canons, and various associated instrumental arrangements, which are now universally known as the Taizé repertoire. His songs have become become widely used in church music across the denominations.

Knowing of his background and experience is a reminder that, for most of us, songs don't just happen out of nowhere. We learn how songs work and how to put them together. We find ourselves in circumstances where our music resonates with others. We continue the journey. And, very occasionally, we may come up with something that can be helpful, healing and hopeful.

Let us hope common sense is returned, the desires of the powerful are thwarted and that the situation in the Ukraine will find resolution. Right now, I don't see how this situation can be anything but negative. So I cry out. And I pray. And I hope. Sometimes that's all we have to offer. 

 O Lord, hear my prayer (Berthier)

Copyright:  © 1982, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc., agent.

O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer;
When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer;
Come and listen to me.

7. "Etifeddiaeth Deg/Earth Shall Be Fair"

 The Adrian Song of the Week

"Etifeddiaeth Deg/Earth Shall Be Fair"

Audio in Welsh/Cymraeg: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=5452292
Audio in English: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=13509789
YouTube Welsh/Cymraeg video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3erN09zeM0c
YouTube English video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ODIMc3g5M  

This particular ditty was written for a Christian Aid Fund Raising Appeal launched by the Presbyterian Church of Wales in 1992 that focused on poverty in Brazil. In particular the plight of the children forced to live on the Streets. It's also my only ever attempt at a Welsh language recording... other than offering a few backing vocals on a couple of songs while playing with Welsh language groups during college days. That's another story for another time.

I used the song in a number or worship services that supported the appeal,was interviewed on Radio Wales about it, and eventually the song was picked up and used as part of a S4C documentary about the plight of Brazil's street kids that aired in 1993. (That is where the video clips are from.) The documentary was produced by a former warden of Colg-Y-Bala, a place dear to my heart in my younger days.

It was gratifying that the song did raise some money for the appeal, but sadly was just a drop in an ocean of need. Thankfully others are taking the work further than I ever could. The registered charity "Task Brasil" http://www.taskbrasil.org/ continue to support relief efforts. 

Their work was given a boost in 1997 with a very generous donation by Jimmy Page, of Led Zeppelin fame. The money he donated was used to buy a plot of land in Santa Teresa, 'Casa Jimmy.' Although originally began in the UK, Task Brasil opened an office in the US in the summer of 2002. Updates on their continuing work (and an opportunity to support their mission) can be found on their Facebook page: https://pt-br.facebook.com/taskbrasiltrust

It's an amazing gift to be able to help other folk through your music! I hope that the song will be a reminder that little efforts can plant seeds that others may bring to fruition.

Of invaluable help in the recording process were, of course my wife Yvonne, and Susan Williams (then Susan Rice-Hughes.) It was Susan who painstaking led me phrase by phrase through the Welsh translation she had created. A lady of infinite patience and a gifted singer/songwriter in her own right. Still have a copy of her Cassette Tape "Neb Yn Nabod." The recording was done by Robert Graeme at "Sound advice" studios in North Wales.

(Welsh friends... please forgive any spelling errors in the Cymraeg lyric. Corrections happily accepted. My spell checker is not up to the task!)

Etifeddiaeth Deg
(Translated by Susan Williams)

Mae Pablo fachgen bach sy'n byw ar y stryd,
Dim bwyd yn ie stumog, mor llwm yw ei fyd,
Paid gofyn pam mae'n un o saith milwn llawd ei wlad.
Pob nos fe gwsg mewn ofn, ac weithiau geilwr ar Dduw
"O gwared fi rhag drwg. Mintai sydd am fy ngwaed"
I'r rhelyw o'r boble, di-enw yw a gwael ei stad.

'Di o ddim yn deg
Oes na neb yn malio dim
Fod ei fywyyd o mor llym
Oes na neb yn malio dim?
'Di o ddim yn deg
Tydy rhai'm yn cael eu siar
Mewn byd sydd fod yn war
Tyrd gweddia am fyd sy'n deg

Domingo oedd a fferm a chlwtyn bach o dir
Ond milwyr milain, arfog heliodd o o'i sir
Dihangodd rhag eu llid nhw i fyw'n ddiogel yn y dref
Ond nawr mae'n byw mewn bocs ar y stryd
Ai wraig a'i eido prin, mor anodd yw eu byd
Yn brwydro byw mewn llodi, ac anobaith blin yn llenwi eu llef

'Di o ddim yn deg
Oes na neb yn malio dim
Fod ei fywyyd o mor llym
Oes na neb yn malio dim?
'Di o ddim yn deg
Tydy rhai'm yn cael eu siar
Mewn byd sydd fod yn war
Tyrd gweddia am fyd sy'n deg

Dewch i'n wrando ar lais yr Iesu'n galw, yn
Llef anghenus brodyr llawd
Beth bynnag y gwnei dros y lleiaf o mrodyr i
Rwyt ti'n ei wneud i mi

'Di o ddim yn deg
Oes na neb yn malio dim
Fod ei fywyyd o mor llym
Oes na neb yn malio dim?
'Di o ddim yn deg
Tydy rhai'm yn cael eu siar
Mewn byd sydd fod yn war
Tyrd gweddia am fyd sy'n deg

Rhyw ddydd bydd ein byd yn deg

Earth Shall Be Fair

Pablo's just a boy who lives on the streets
He's got an empty stomach and no shoes on his feet
Don't ask him why there are seven million just the same
At night he sleeps in fear, sometimes he prays to God
Deliver me from evil, save me from the death squad
To most of the people he doesn't even have a name

It's not fair, is there no one left to care
Will there ever be a day, when the earth shall be fair
It's not fair, Surely there's enough to share
Won't you join me in my prayer
That the earth shall be fair

Domingo used to farm upon a plot of land
Till soldiers with machine guns took it from his hand
He headed fir the city to build himself a future there
But now he lives in a cardboard home
With a blanket, a wife and broken radio
United to his neighbors in a community of despair

It's not fair, is there no one left to care
Will there ever be a day, when the earth shall be fair
It's not fair, Surely there's enough to share
Won't you join me in my prayer
That the earth shall be fair

Let us listen for the voice of Jesus calling
speaking to us through their need
"Whatever you do for the least of my brothers
You're doing it for me"

It's not fair, is there no one left to care
Will there ever be a day, when the earth shall be fair
It's not fair, Surely there's enough to share
Won't you join me in my prayer
That the earth shall be fair

That one day earth shall be fair

6. The Wedding Song (For Helen and Glenn)

6. The Wedding Song (For Helen and Glenn)

Audio Version: https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=12340364
Video version: https://youtu.be/YYDtgIkqyb4
'Live' at the Wedding https://youtu.be/eLXuhyHsbCs

Sometimes songs are just good tunes or ideas, not particularly related to your life. Other times they are intensely personal! Valentine’s Day approaches, so in line with seasonal sensibility, a love song from a delightful moment of celebration.

Back in 2013, I walked my daughter Helen down the aisle to marry Glenn Walker. Being the guy who was also conducting the service, deciding to write a song for the day ... and figuring out how to sneak it in there without the happy couple knowing it was going to happen, was something of a logistical challenge. Thankfully there was already a guitar at hand, and all went well.

The song itself is self-explanatory. Reminiscing about growing up, the engagement and a whole host of great memories provided a lot of material to draw upon. It is for sure one of those 'one off' productions, that came from the heart and hopefully, when listened to now, brings back happy memories of a great day.  

The hardest part of preparing  was getting through the song without becoming emotional! In the weeks leading up, I had to sing it to wife Yvonne on numerous occasions before she could listen without becoming tearful. Hard enough to be the mother of the bride, without all that added pressure. lol.     

The tune was partly borrowed from a song that Helen had sung as part of a Christmas production. Seemed appropriate to throw in a musical memory among all the others.

On the day that DJ included it in the songs played at the reception, so we even got to have a dance to it.

Since that day Helen and Glenn have blessed us with two wonderful grandchildren, Rose and Max. The circle of love just keeps growing. (And of course I wrote a song about them as well… https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=13864413)

Whatever you may be up to this Valentine’s Day, take time to reflect on the fruits of love that continue to nurture and bless your life!

The Wedding Song (For Helen and Glenn)

How should a Father feel on his daughter’s wedding day?
'Who gives this woman to this man?', Oh Lord, what do I say?
That woman is my little girl, that little girls my child,
Yesterday I sang you nursery rhymes,
Today I walked you down the aisle.

Ferry rides across the Mersey, swims at Newborough shore,
Pantomines and mountain climbs, playing games round castle walls,
Dancing, singing, smiling, cheering, crowning you homecoming queen,
What a kaleidoscope of happy times, the passing years have been.

I always knew the day would come when I had to let you go,
I just prayed you'd find someone who saw the light that's in your soul
Now I rejoice you've found someone whose love for you is clear,
And I pray the precious love you've found,
Grows deeper year by year.

We'd just sat down to watch a movie, Glenn called on the phone,
Said 'I'm in love with your daughter and want to make her all my own.'
I heard diamonds dancing in his eyes
Brighter than the stones on that ring,
Not losing a daughter, but gaining a son, now ain't that a crazy thing!

How should a Father feel on his daughter’s wedding day?
'Who gives this woman to this man?' , 'I do',  you heard me say,
My little girl, she's all grown up, and I say with a Father's pride,
Yesterday I sang you nursery rhymes,
Today I walked you down the aisle.

5. Boogie Number 8

  The Adrian Song of the Week 5. "Boogie Number 8"

Not so much a song as a tune this week.

"Boogie Number 8"  https://www.soundclick.com/music/songInfo.cfm?songID=12889786

In a previous post I mentioned how much, as a child, I used to love sitting at the piano, making up tunes in the front room at my parents house at 20 Orchard Road. I had piano lessons, from a lovely lady called Miss Chell, at her home on Upton Road. I can only imagine how many Moretonians she taught to play! 

She even managed to get me through Grade 1 piano exams. I recall doing a teenage production of "Jonah Man Jazz" at the Moreton Presbyterian Church,(myself on piano) and her being present and congratulating me on my performance. I was pleased and suitably humbled.

Not least because, as a young one, my interests were more with boogie-woogie than Bach and Beethoven. I should have paid more attention to Miss Chell, as a lack of technique and theory is not a good thing. While I did occasionally practice the pieces I was set, I was more interested in trying to figure out how to play some of the piano tunes I had heard on records.

Particular favorites and influences were;
Memphis Slim's 'Frankie and Johnny Boogie' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1P7k7nH90M
Keith Emerson playing Honky Tonk Train Blues https://youtu.be/L3mk0AEkiBY  
B Bumble and the Stingers "NutRocker' https://youtu.be/gfYnq-qasiU

Masters of the craft every one of them. My own attempts seem lame in comparison.

The title "Boogie number 8" came about as a reflection on the way that composers would give their compositions numbers rather than names. For some reason that fascinated me and I mused that maybe I would name everything I ever wrote with a number instead of giving it a title. Thankfully that was not a route I followed. My music would be even more inaccessible than it already is!

The recording was done on my Alesis QS7 electric keyboard, so lacks the dynamics of an acoustic piano... but it was the best I had available at the time! Some Drums and Bass were added... well... because computers let you do that stuff these days.  

My inclination to boogie woogie continues unabated. Though, I have to reluctantly admit,the passing years are making tinkling the ivories far more of a challenge than it ever was. My hands certainly no longer have the dexterity I had when younger. The little finger on my left hand in particular seems to object to being flexed. C'est la vie.

When we recently moved to Bridgehampton, NY, I was delighted to find that the church here were providing a piano at the manse! While we  previously had a very out of tune piano in the basement or the garage, the poor old thing was virtually unplayable. What a genuine joy to now have an accessible fully functioning piano once more at my disposable! Been a while. So Thank you Bridgehampton Presbterians:-)

One of the first things I did when moving in was to try it out. I hadn't realized Yvonne had her iphone camera rolling, and she captured a rather rusty (particularly at the start) improvisation that I will call... "Top Hat New House Improv Boogie." It's a better title than 'Boogie number 257" lol 

https://youtu.be/YcCvHk6C-wI

Have a great week and may the boogie woogies put a spring in your step!

4. Song

 

Adrian Song of the Week 4. "Song"

Links on Soundclick

Album version : https://soundclick.com/r/s875ka
Live Version : https://soundclick.com/r/s8777x

Two versions of the same song... called "Song"... are posted for your listening pleasure this week. It seemed logical to follow up a post titled "Music" with one called "Song."

"Song" came out of an experience I had where I had been invited to play at what I thought was to be a concert (featuring mostly "Me") but turned out to be an event where I was just providing backing music as people did their own thing. It did not go well. Some of the other activities taking place were very noise generating, so my presence was rather pointless. I persevered, and even gathered a few folks to listen for a while to what I had to offer, but it was not my finest hour.

For myself songwriting has an element of personal therapy. I tend to write about stuff that impacts me, as a way of dealing with it. But I also get a whole lot of joy from communal experiences of sharing my songs, just as long as others are on board. I don't mind being the one providing backing music but like to know what is required in advance.

The "Live" version invited participation and is from a concert in the early 80's at St Mary's Church in Upton. Very much a warts and all performance and an earlier version than the recorded one. "Song" has served me well as a useful opener in solo performances. I've used it as a warm up song in an open mic set. If you are the first act up, you tend also to be the soundcheck. The opening Chords require hefty strumming. The little instrumental break is quirky and keeps folks’ attention. And the chorus is mindless da-da.

When it came to doing a recording, it was fun to balance the guitar part with the other instruments. The Bass guitar offers a riff going up as the keys and acoustic go down. The lead guitar (Hayman) was played in the control room and plugged in directly to the sound board. Drummer Gwyn produced a groove that really drives it along. Yvonne and Susan offered tuneful da-das. 

The use of silence in the chorus involved two of us on the mixing desk pressing mute buttons on every channel but the acoustic guitar, so as it really was a silence! Fun memories. With its prominent opening chord, I'd originally thought of it as an opening track for the "Jester" album (my only ever studio excursion) but came up with a rather dramatic version of Psalm 150 that took over that role.

The biblical reference in the album sleeve notes is from Matthew 11:17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' The original context was that whatever Jesus did or suggested, folk did the opposite. Frustrating experience for any preacher! The sentiment seemed to vibe with the song theme. Bear in mind, I was in theological college/seminary at the time.

My favorite part is the mid-section "I've been singing my songs for quite a few years now and, yes I've had some really good times. Now here I am, singing my songs for you, Laying down a song, singing a rhyme." Musically I included a few bars of 'boogie' ... right after the words "good time" ... as a musical reference to the band Status Quo, whose music I so enjoyed as a kid... and an oblique reference to another song I'd written called "Good Time Boogie". But that is more information than anybody needs.

I simply hope that you enjoy this particular "Song" offering :-)

(Album lyrics)

I can sing my song for you
Maybe I'll make you smile
Maybe I'll make you tap your feet
Make you think for a while
But there's no point in me singing
if no-one wants to listen
There's no point in me playing my songs
If no-one wants to hear my ...

Chorus: Da Da Da Da Da Da Da. Da Da Da Da Da Da

I can play my guitar for you
Maybe I'll make you smile
Maybe I'll make you tap your feet
Make you think for a while
But there's no point in me playing
If no-one wants to listen
There's no point in me playing guitar
If no-one wants to hear my ...

Chorus

Well, I've been singing my songs
For quite a few years now
And yes, I've had some really good times
Now here I am, singing my songs for you
Laying down a song, singing a rhyme

I can sing my songs for you
Maybe I'll make you smile
Maybe I'll make you tap-tap your feet
Make you think for a while
And I can play my guitar for you
Maybe I'll make you smile
Maybe I'll make you tap-tap your feet
Make you think for a while

But there's no point in me singing
If no-one wants to listen
There's no point in me playing my songs
If no-one wants to hear my ...

Chorus

Adrian: Acoustic, Bass & Lead guitars, OBX Synthesiser, Vocal
Gwyn:    Drums
Yvonne: backing Vocals
Susan Rice-Hughes: Backing Vocals

MATTHEW 11:17

3. Music

 

 Adrian Song of the Week 3. "Music"

Link on Soundclick: https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13493380

By the time I was in junior/middle school, sitting at a musical instrument and making up music had already become my happy place. At our family home in Orchard Road there was a piano in the front room. Unfortunately, that was the same room as the record player and television... so access was not always readily available. But whenever I could occupy that space and, whatever else may be going on in the world, just enjoyed weaving tunes out of nowhere. I was supposedly doing piano practice for the lessons I was taking, but more often than not would be doing my own thing.

Sometime, during High School years, I came up with this piece simply titled "Music." It's not so much a song, as a prelude. I really don't know what genre you would place it under. Or who would sing it. I'm sure Freddy Mercury could have killed it, (with Brian May on guitar of course,) though it's maybe more musically styled toward Michael Bublé or Barry Manilow. Never really known what to do with it! It certainly did not fit in with the output of any bands I ever played in. Nor is it the kind of song you could just strum on a guitar.

 All these years later, now I can see things retrospectively, the line that startles me (and a reason for sharing) is the final one that declares "No matter what I do, The music keeps breaking through." My chosen career as a minister in a traditional denomination hasn't exactly created personal musical opportunities.

 Every congregation I have been part of has embraced traditional music, i.e., hymnbooks, organs and S.A.T.B Choir anthems. I have had more than one church music director inform me that my musical efforts were not welcome on a Sunday morning. Other folk made it quite clear to me that they did not appreciate pastors with guitars invading their sacred space.

Thankfully other venues such as youth retreats, community concerts, open mics and song writing retreats have welcomed my contributions with open arms and offered an opportunity to share my musical creations. And there have even been very occasional songs offered during Sunday services, despite the naysayers.

Music is still my all-time go-to happy place. Over the years I've received far more positive feedback then push-back. The arrival of the internet offered an opportunity to share music with folk I would never otherwise interact with. It has been astounding to see where songs and tunes have sometimes ended up. But that's another story!

The recording is my usual homemade effort. This one was done some twenty plus years ago but remixed here and there. I really like the interaction between the guitar lead and synth in the instrumental part. Although I still have no idea what to do with it, (other than share it) the lyrics still ring true all these years later.

 Enjoy it for what it is 😊

Music has got a hold on me
And I can't seem to break free
No matter how I try
And music
Seems to live somewhere deep inside of me
No matter what I do
The music keeps breaking through.
The music keeps breaking through.