Songs that Haunt

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Edward Sparks on May 7, 2011 at 8:49pm

Here's one of mine that I think is pretty haunting...It's actually an 11 minute "Suite" of four movements, two of which are instrumental and two with lyrics.  This was from one of my earlier albums (1993) of the same name. I wrote it all myself and played most of the instruments.  Hope you'll get to listen to it!  Edward

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/emsparks/music/Uncharted%20Skies%20Suite%...

 

Uncharted Skies

Second Movement:

There’s a lion lying next to the road watching the tall grasses
And he’s tired and he’s old, and his bite belongs to the past
Some say he’s the Devil himself, forever wondering who…
will be the next to pass by without a clue.

There’s an owl waiting high on a branch, watching the tall grasses
And he’s tired and he’s old, and his sight belongs to the past
Some say he’s the Devil himself, forever wondering who…
will be the next to pass by without a clue. 

The mighty lion and clever owl, on the ground and overhead
Both are hunters, hidden, who have never ever fled
We will fly high above them both forever wondering who…
will be the next to pass by with out a clue.  

Fourth Movement:

Like a lifeboat on a ship that’s going down
Like the church bell that’s singing over the small, small town
Like the waves softly caressing the awaiting sands
Like all these things I need a healing hand
Yeah like all these things I need a healing hand

Like a child’s face that’s glowing over a birthday cake
Like a lost Angel crying for Heaven’s sake
Like a lighthouse that’s searching without a rescue plan
Like all these things I need a healing hand
Yeah like all these things I need a healing hand

Like an aging woman finally facing motherhood 
Like a child creating memories like children should
Like the memories in the smile of an old, old man
Like all these things I need a healing hand
Yeah like all these things I need a healing hand

Lie back and watch the clouds travel oh so fast
I close my eyes and imagine the clouds of my past
Looking for a band of Angels to carry me up high
Waiting for my passage into Uncharted Skies

Looking for a band of Angels to carry me up high
Waiting for my passage into Uncharted Skies

 

© M.Edward Sparks / Pepperland Productions 1993

 

Permalink Reply by Ken Brodie on May 7, 2011 at 10:46pm

Hi Ed

 

I remember listening to this when I first tapped into the AG community and it is simply a beautifully crafted body of work. Thanks for sharing.

Permalink Reply by Rosemary j. Lambin on May 17, 2011 at 3:57pm

Hey, Edward, I just finished listening to "Uncharted Skies." What a beautiful piece! Thank you for posting it.

Permalink Reply by Alan Williams on May 8, 2011 at 9:38am

This is such a broad range of songs.  Three of my favorites are "Melissa" and "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers, and possibly the saddest song ever written "Hello In There" by John Prine.

Permalink Reply by Edward Sparks on May 9, 2011 at 8:19am

Wow Allen, three of my all time favorites...I do Hello in There as a solo when with my band and I also perform it with my son playing cello...it'll rip you up every time!

Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on July 1, 2011 at 12:01pm

Melissa!  What a great song, both lyrically and instrumentally.  The beginning is one of the most instantly recognizable riffs ever written.

Permalink Reply by Edward Sparks on May 9, 2011 at 8:34am

Okay, here is another of my older originals (1993) that was inspired by a news report of a man arrested for a 'crime of passion" for killing his girlfriend and her lover, only to find out later that she didn't know the shooter at all, it seemed that he had been "worshiping her from afar!"  I had a BBC sound FX collection from which I culled the sound effects, including the gunshots in the middle of the song. The police siren I made myself with my own voice because the BBC police sirens sound all together different than ours in the US.  Also, at the beginning of the third verse the deep breathing you hear is supposed to be that of the shooter and again I made that sound myself. I wanted it to have a really haunting sound throughout and so I used a small 8 string tenor guitar I had built for the main instrument, added a 12 string and some haunting sounds from a synth to continue the mood.   Although written and recorded in 1993 when I had my first home studio, this song never appeared on any of my releases until 2009 when I put together a double-CD compilation album spanning many years.  I got some weird responses to it, but some people told me it was one of their favorites...I try to stay away from them!  This is yet another example of when a songwriter can write about something that they hear about that they did not actually experience themselves.  But hey, you asked for songs of desperation, love and darker moments!  Here is mine! Edward 

Here is a shot of my 8 string tenor guitar:

 

Here is the link to the audio file on my website:

http://mysite.verizon.net/emsparks/music/She%20Was%20a%20Lady.mp3

 

Here are the lyrics:

She Was a Lady

 

Loves cruel lessons, I have learned

Love one who’s fair, and others will yearn

Oh no, Oh no…

 

She was a Lady, with lace left and right

To me more important than the day or the night

But then she vanished into thin air

She took with her my laughter, my soul, my cares 

 

She was a Lady, So fine and so fair

To me more important than the ground or the air

But then she vanished, before my very eyes

She took with her my laughter, and left me here to cry

 

Loves cruel lessons, I have learned

Love one who’s fair, and others will yearn

Oh no, Oh no…

 

She was a Lady, she was a precious find

But most important, she was mine

Then she vanished, and so did my friend

When I found them together, to both I put an end

 

© M.Edward Sparks / Pepperland Productions 1993

 

Permalink Reply by Ken Brodie on May 12, 2011 at 2:52pm

I originally started this discussion because I was listening to an extaordinary Scottish songwriter Jackie Leven who really got into so many dark places and I have been meaning to share some lyrics with you here but I haven't been able to find any of the particular songs on the net that I could copy into this discussion. Jackie has an amazing voice and although much of his material is dark in context his delivery is so hauntingly beautiful that you listen, not with a sense of sadness but really wanting to hear the stories and it gives an insight into the shadows that are perhaps within many of us.

Through exploring these darker sides in song we can begin to recognise that real beauty does exist and without shadows then perhaps the colours in our life may not be so bright. For me tackling the darker issues and bringing them out in song is also a cathartic process and I'm sure many writers have healed wounds through songwriting and music. 

 

Permalink Reply by Ken Brodie on May 12, 2011 at 7:10pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyLX2cke-Lw&feature=related

Hi Folks

I found this totally amazing and uplifting - even haunting - The first link is one of the compositions and the second is an interview with the composer.

Permalink Reply by Patrick Michael Alaggio on May 14, 2011 at 8:06am

Songs can "haunt" in a positive way too... Here's one from a friend of mine that, along with the photos, is hauntingly beautiful.

Permalink Reply by Ken Brodie on May 14, 2011 at 3:10pm

Hi Pat

I really loved the Canon variation. That has always been a favourite. I agree that songs can haunt in a positive way, There are so many instrumental compositions that do so. One of the songs we previously discussed "When You Come Back Down" performed by Nickel Creek is also one that just gets under my skin as it is so hauntingly beautiful. 

 

Here's one of my ultimate haunt songs. It's performed in Gaelic by Clannad sung by Maire Brennan who is the sister of Enya. 

Translation I will go east and go west [To the places] from whence came The moon and the sun The moon and the sun will go And the young man With his reputation behind him I will go wherever he came from - The young man with his reputation behind him

Live Performance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5orfCHMmM8&feature=related

Studio Performance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KpNzalFKPo

Permalink Reply by Patrick Michael Alaggio on May 14, 2011 at 8:32am

Impressive musicianship Edward. I especially enjoyed the Second Movement of Uncharted Skies. Well done sir.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page