When Light Floats is co-written by Dan Swanson and Steve Andricks

Our world is turning 
Colours fill the sky
We watch the light floating
Dancing ‘cross our eyes

Dan Swanson - guitars and vocals
Steve Andricks - keyboards, bass, mandolin
Eddie Framzoid - drums

Copyright Dan Swanson & Steve Andricks 2022

When Light Floats

“Borning Cry” has grown increasingly important in the hymn singing of the church, especially on special occasions, such as baptisms, confirmation, and memorial services. The hymn has also been adapted for choirs and handbells by several different arrangers.  I hope you enjoy my arrangement of this beautiful hymn for voice and 12-string guitar. 

"I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.

I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell.

When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.

If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I'll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk 'till rising sun.

In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I'll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I've begun.

When the evening gently closes in,
and you shut your weary eyes,
I'll be there as I have always been
with just one more surprise.

I was there to hear your borning cry,
I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold."

I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry

Turn around
    Look away
The fires they fight
    Have more to say
The sun is obscured
    Day turns to night
Smoke turns a trick
   Flames take a life

Hills are consumed
   Homes we once lived
Where wild horses danced 
   Old dreams understood 
Flames have their say
   With us in their sites.
Natures revenge
   Fires in the night

Burning    Churning
Learning   Turning 

Losing       Feeling
Teasing    Leaving

Yearning    Spurning 
Listening    Glistening

Trying and Dying
      
It’s Natures revenge

Burning    Churning
Learning   Turning

Losing
Feeling
Natures revenge


Copyright Dan Swanson 2022

Fires In The Night

"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn published in 1779, with words written in 1772 by the English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton. It is an immensely popular hymn in the United States, where it is used for both religious and secular purposes.

Lyricist: John Newton
Composers: John Newton, E. O. Excell

Amazing Grace (vocal)

I decided to send out 2022 in song - a Scottish song known by all and a Welsh lullaby to put the year to bed.  Featuring my 12-string, my arrangement of Auld Lang Syne and Suo Gan. 

Have a safe NYE and a happy and healthy New Year!!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you'll buy your pint
and surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o' kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Suo Gan : Auld Lang

HOPE - a song for Spring, featuring me on guitar and vocal.

Walking through the first-cut hay, we headed to the ridge.  We sat in silence on the ledge, to see where we had been.  Breathed real deep and let it out, swaying in the wind. Watched the colors be reborn from winter’s stubbled chin. 

Hope, I’ve heard it springs eternal and 
Love is in the air;
Spring is found around the corner and damn, we’re headed there.

The tulips and the daffodils start peeking from the earth.  The hyacinth begins to bloom, showing all its worth. We breathe real deep and let it out, swaying with the trees. We watch the colors be reborn, carried on the breeze. 

Hope, I’ve heard it springs eternal and 
Love is in the air;
Spring is found around the corner, I think we’re going there.

Another trip around the sun
Another year gone by
Life’s a simple journey 
But always a surprise 

The tulips and the daffodils are poking from the earth.  The hyacinth is in its bloom, showing all its worth. We breathe real deep then let it out, we’re swaying with the trees. We watch the colors be reborn, carried on that breeze. 

Hope, I’ve heard it springs eternal and 
Love is in the air;
Spring is found around the corner, I think we’re going there.

Copyright Dan Swanson 2023

Hope

Lennon & McCartney’s classic Beatles song in my arrangement for guitar (with an overdub).  This recording features my Kirk Sand Crossover nylon string guitar.

And I Love Her (cover)

Vince Gill's beautiful anthem was written after his brother passed away unexpectedly.

I know your life
On earth was troubled
And only you could know the pain
You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain
Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son
Oh, how we cried the day you left us
We gathered 'round your grave to grieve
Wish I could see the angels faces
When they hear your sweet voice sing
Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son
Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son

Go Rest High On That Mountain (Vince Gill Cover)

Lonely Road is the first song written with Mike Dampf.  His lyrics paint a lovely picture.

Lonely Road
M: Dan Swanson
L: Mike Dampf

There’s a somewhere that lives in my heart
Where a sleepy river flows
With busy hummingbirds and buzzing bees
By a cottage down a lonely road

Was it ever really there?
Is it just a lovely dream I want to share?
   
A river’s running through my sleepy[, sleepy] mind
Where dusk and dawn entwine
Her Sunday clothes are hanging on the line
At the cottage down that lonely road

Was there a way to change her mind?
Are these just shadows of another time?

It’s a somewhere that lives in my heart
where that sleepy river flows
with buzzing hummingbirds and busy bees
at that cottage down a lonely road

Was she ever really there?
Is this just a lovely dream I want to share?

There’s a woman in a dress of green
sitting on an old porch swing
the river whispers, meandering
past the cottage down that lonely road

Don’t look back, Don’t look back….

Copyright 2024 Swanson& Dampf

Lonely Road

The story of Icarus came into my memory recently, and this piece is the result.  

It is a tale of King Minos, a labyrinth, and a deadly monster, the Minotaur.  It is a tale about Theseus, a hero who succeeds in subduing the monster to save fourteen youth taken from another land as the Kings offering to satiate the monsters appetite. It’s also a tale of the labyrinth’s inventor Daedalus and his son Icarus, who are punished for helping the hero and banished to a remote island to live their remaining days.  It’s also is a tale of feathers and wax, of directions and attention. Ultimately, it is a tale about staying focused on our goals since losing focus of our goals can lead to us crash and burn, or, in Icarus’ case drown in the sea.

O Icarus, O Icarus, fly in the middle of the air
The sun will melt the sealing wax
The sea your feathers tear
O Icarus, O Icarus, don’t watch the northern skies
Or change course to Orion’s Belt
Don’t turn your wandering eyes
Follow me and stay the course
Keep your eyes on freedoms prize

This song features me on all instruments.

Copyright 2025 Dan Swanson Music

Icarus

Here’s a new collaboration with Steve Andricks.  The song grew from a core idea on acoustic guitar into an elaborate piece that is almost symphonic in nature.  It’s a  work that feels like you’re listening on a well-worn LP.

It features me on acoustic guitars and Steve on synths, bass, mellotron and programming.  

Copyright Dan Swanson & Steve Andricks 2025

I Thought I’d Told You

This is my solo guitar cover of Billy Joel’s beautiful tune Lullaby (Goodnight my Angel).  Released in 1994, it was the fourth and final single from his River of Dreams album.  As a solo guitar arrangement, it becomes wonderfully melancholic work that stands on its own.  

Solo guitar arrangement, copyright Dan Swanson 2025.

Lullaby (Billy Joel Cover)

My new arrangement of Penny Lane for solo guitar cover.

Arrangement copyright Dan Swanson 2025

Penny Lane (Beatles cover)

This lovely Beatles song is perfect for the guitar - enjoy!

Arranged for guitar by Dan Swanson.

She's Leaving Home (cover)

This is one of my favorite songs from Chris Cornell.  While the lyric seems to focus on despair, the music itself feels transcendent and even comfortable in its dissonance.  I made this arrangement to capture as much of the original emotion as possible.  It works quite well for solo guitar.  Enjoy!

arrangement copyright Dan Swanson 2025

Black Hole Sun (cover)

Naima was written in 1959 by John Coltrane.  It’s a lovely ballad that was named after his then wife. Musically, it is built around two pedal-points creating dissonances over those pedals, perhaps like his marriage. ;-

#sologuitar #sologuitarcover #coltrane #naima #fingerstyleguitar 

Arranged and performed by Dan Swanson

Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

NAIMA (cover)

Shenandoah is a traditional folk song from North America. It’s thought that the song originated with voyageurs (fur traders) as they  traveled down the Missouri River in canoes during the early 19th century.

In my arrangement, I try to capture that floating quality.  Enjoy!

Arrangement copyright Dan Swanson 2025

Shenandoah

Here’s my arrangement of Billy Joel’s classic song “She’s Always a Woman to Me”.  


Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

She's Alway a Woman to Me (cover)

Billy Joel’s classic “In a New York State of Mind” in my arrangement for solo guitar.


Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

New York State of Mind (cover)

I Will is one of my favorite melodies from Paul McCartney, it hearkens back to an earlier time in the Beatles musical journey.  Enjoy!

Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

I Will (cover)

This may be the Beatles most haunting song, if not, at least one of them.  It actually lays quite nicely for solo guitar. Enjoy!

Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

Because (cover)

Lennon & McCartney's classic from when their songwriting was really, IMO, starting to gel.  The original featured John on acoustic guitar and vocal as well as George on guitar plus an added 12-string, Paul on bass and Ringo on tambourine.  It's fun song to play.


You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (cover)

I Love’s You Porgy is George Gershwin’s haunting song from his opera, Porgy and Bess.  Here is my arrangement for solo guitar.  Enjoy!

Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

I Loves You, Porgy (cover)

I’ve liked this song since I first heard it almost 40 year since ago (gulp) - it was a big hit for Cyndi Lauper.  It’s a fun song to play in guitar and one I hope you’ll enjoy listening to.



Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

Time After Time (cover)

As seasons change, there is a desire to return to the long lazy days of summer, this song takes me there.  Here’s my cover of Mary Chapin-Carpenter’s lovely song, “What If We Went to Italy”.  I’ve always enjoyed her song writing and this is among my favorites that she’s written and performed.


Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

What If we Went to Italy (cover)

Arranged and performed live by Dan Swanson

Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head

Arranged and performed live by Dan Swanson.

In the Bleak Midwinter (instrumental)

Once In Royal David’s City

An 8th century Irish hymn, arranged and performed by Dan Swanson.

Be Thou My Vision

Joni Mitchell's classic arranged for solo guitar and performed by Dan Swanson

Both Sides Now

This site is a mix of some of my compositions and solo guitar performances.

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