Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit

Subject: LYR ADD: We Will Walk Together - Alanabit
From: alanabit
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:24 AM

I have never been asked to do this sort of thing before.
"Can you play something sad but beautiful for Anna's funeral on Monday?"
Anna died last night. She was eighteen. She was my girlfriend's niece. I saw her for the first time some nine years ago. She could just walk then, but she would deteriorate continuously for the rest of her life. The rare genetic disorder left her body unable to break down the poisons. The poisons halted her physical and mental growth and then gradually exerted a stranglehold on her. Her mother had to feed her, change her nappies and try to comfort her through the spells of panic as she struggled to breathe. Max, the younger brother, is dying of the same disease. Children rarely survive beyond puberty and fifteen is exceptional.
I lost both of my parents over the past three years – not an uncommon occurrence for a man in his forties – and the song tumbled out without any conscious effort. It is not a great song, but it sums up in some way how I feel when people pass on. It is the best I can do and I shall try not to choke as I reflect upon Anna, her brother and her heroic, unsung mother.
                                
We Will Walk Together

When the fever's high and the shadows creep
And you want to wrap yourself in sleep
Take my hand
And we will walk together

When the bitter wind cuts your face
And the rain drenched path leads no place
Take my hand
And we will walk together

        We will walk
        We will walk
        Take my hand and we will walk together

When your home is empty and your children gone
And you can not bear to hear their song
Take my hand
And we will walk together

When the sun goes down and the world must end
And you stand alone without a friend
Take my hand
And we will walk together

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: alison
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:33 AM

(((((((((((alanabit)))))))))))))

that is as close as I can get to give you a big hug... sorry to hear of your loss......it'll be a tough thing to do... but your song is beautiful


slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: smallpiper
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:35 AM

WOW!

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: MMario
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:43 AM

Sad but beautiful - I think you have nailed it.    What a tribute.

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 27 May 03 - 09:44 AM

Alan, you might comment that your song is not great but I disagree. Personally, I think it is beatiful.

Thoughts and best wishes to all of you.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: Mark Clark
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:22 AM

Alan, I'm sorry to hear of your loss but you found a very beautiful way to express your feelings and, I imagine, the feelings of those close to you. Later on, you must share the melody with us.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: Wolfgang
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:26 AM

A great song. A few words opening riches of images.
I knew one such child and I know how it feels for parent(s) and friends.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: Alba
Date: 27 May 03 - 10:35 AM

So Sad Alan. Your song speaks volumes. Very beautiful.
My Kindest thoughts and Blessings to You and your Friends at this sad time.
A

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: Jeanie
Date: 27 May 03 - 11:07 AM

Alan, thank you for posting those words. Sending love to you and to all Anna's family, right now and for the future.

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 May 03 - 12:07 PM

Blessings on you, your girlfriend and her family. You have poured your heart into the song- it's lovely. Tune?

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 May 03 - 01:04 PM

A heartfelt song, with a honest sentiment--This is a sad situation, and you have found a way to express the feelings that we all have about it. I wish I could hear the melody--

Subject: Suddenly it gets serious
From: Alice
Date: 27 May 03 - 01:10 PM

My sympathy to you in your sadness.

I think it is an excellent lyric and this thread should be up in the music threads, not here in BS.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Suddenly it gets serious
From: black walnut
Date: 27 May 03 - 03:42 PM

I echo Alice's remark. This is music. This is not BS.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit
From: alanabit
Date: 28 May 03 - 01:57 AM

Thanks everyone. I thought it had to go under BS as it was a personal matter. I'll post an address for the tune just as soon as I have a halfway decent recording of it.

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alana
From: open mike
Date: 28 May 03 - 02:02 AM

well, anna is not suffering any longer..
hard to see such a young one pass on.
and even harder yet to know that her
brother will follow her...my love to
the family and thank you for sharing
the song ... with them ... and us...
hugs to all....

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 03 - 02:19 AM

Ar Hyd y Nos   "All Through The Night" is also appropriate; it is both a lullabye and a hymn. The last verse is very tender and I have sung it many times.

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,
I my loving vigil keeping
All through the night.

While the moon her watch is keeping
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping
All through the night
O'er they spirit gently stealing
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling
All through the night.

Love, to thee my thoughts are turning
All through the night
All for thee my heart is yearning,
All through the night.
Though sad fate our lives may sever
Parting will not last forever,
There's a hope that leaves me never,
All through the night.

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit
From: Jeri
Date: 28 May 03 - 07:55 AM

Alan, I'll echo what Wolfgang said: "A few words opening riches of images."

The song does Anna justice, but I believe it will primarily give comfort to her mother and all those who knew her. It's not a complicated song, but I believe it's harder to write an uncomplicated song that sums everything up in a few verses than a long, wordy one. The strength is in what's left unsaid, because it invites those who hear it to fill in the details with their own feelings. I'd like to hear the tune too.

May you have the strength to get through your song. I think it's important for those at the funeral to hear it. Thanks for posting it here.

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit
From: InOBU
Date: 28 May 03 - 08:21 AM

Wonderful song, Alan, holding you and yours in the light
Larry

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 28 May 03 - 03:35 PM

alanabit, my prayers are with you and your family. Such a loss is never easily overcome.

As for the song... you've outdone yourself. That is a stirring and remarkable tribute.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 May 03 - 06:29 PM

It'll be tough singing that. I know a lot of us will be thinking of you on Monday.

Thanks for letting us see it.

Subject: RE: Suddenly it gets serious - new song from alanabit
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 06:45 AM

"I'll post an address for the tune just as soon as I have a halfway decent recording of it."
Sorry about this, but it takes me a little time to get around to some of these things. The song is now finished and is indeed, the last track of "Travellers's Tales". I guess it is the one journey none of us will be able to recount ourselves.
As a couple of Mudcatters were kind enough to express interest in hearing the tune, I now have MP3s of it, which I am happy to send to anyone who still wants to hear it. It is a big file, over 5 MB, I think, so you will need to be able to handle bigger downloads.
It became the song, which Markus and I use as a show closer.