I read all those words of inspiration with interest. The music though, required only two words to describe it. FLOWS BEAUTIFULLY.

Dan’s AMBIENT t& INSTRUMENTAL works

“Everything That Grows” is all about paying attention to our inner voices, whether real or imagined.  This arrangement includes William Shakespeare’s Sonnet XV: When I consider everything that grows, which did influence the title.  This song also features the Andricks Mental Orchestra Ambient Choir, Steve Andricks, realizer and arranger.

The lyrics are:

a gentle soul
heard an unseen voice
got a chance
to make another choice

turn to the left or right
that fork in the road
it’s all those little things
that make us look bold

words will echo through the years
where they’ll show
they turn a wasteland 
into everything that grows 

voices, talking
speaking, softly…,
they’re carried on the wind

you hear a voice so clear
seeking amends
how can you know
if it’s an angel or a friend

the same or change
you’re given a choice 
you hear it in your ears
a clear yet distant voice

words will echo through the years
where they’ll show
they turn a wasteland 
into everything that grows

voices, talking
speaking, softly…,
they’re carried on the wind

Copyright Dan Swanson, 2022

Everything That Grows

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

The Hummingbird Suite was written in 2015 and re-recorded here on 12-string guitar.  The Suite consists of 4 short movements that represent a day-in-the-life of the hummingbirds that we used to attract to our feeders when we lived in WV:

 I   - Dawn Arrivals 
 II  - Morning Acrobats
III  - Afternoon Lull
IV - Evening Flights

It was very common for dozens of those beautiful birds to be active at our 3 feeders during the summer months.  Just one of the things we miss from that part of the country.

The Hummingbird Suite (2022)

This work is about completeness and satisfaction.  It was inspired by what I see as a response to the prosperity doctrine and the constant demand for personal perfection. It is loosely based on the following quote:

“I think that whole “we can have it all” thing is bullshit.  I don’t actually hear the message “you can have it all” as a liberation, I hear it as an accusation…. I didn’t need to have it all, I needed to be set free…. I am already enough….”        Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, May 2018

This work features me on vocals, acoustic guitars, synths, etc.  For my fellow music nerds, the harmony is circular (there is no traditional cadence, just a return to its beginning) and the meter ‘polymetric’ (it is in common time and 11/8 simultaneously), both add to the free-form feel.

Copyright Dan Swanson 2022

Unbound (Vocalise)

‘Willow’s Tear’ is an ambient work that is a combination of an art-piece and program-music.  If you like, close your eyes and imagine yourself as the willow tree on a summer night, with the crickets, stars, rain and wind.  The title is because willows weep.

Copyright Dan Swanson 2023

Willow's Tear

All the Clouds in the Sky is a new alt-ambient work.  It’s built on musical textures similar to how clouds texture the sky.  This features me on all virtual instruments and electric guitar (yes, it's in there).

Updated 3 October, 2023


Copyright Dan Swanson 2023

All the Clouds in the Sky

The song isn't quite finished, but I'd like to upload it as early as possible in December, even though you can listen to it at any time of year. Since I don't have any more time this year, it's coming out now on SC. I'm happy with it as it is. I don't always like the vocals in the second verse, so I would re-record some parts. The bass is just a first draft and the mix (the volume of the individual instruments could certainly be improved). But I'm happy with it as it is. Anyone who doesn't like it this way wouldn't like the revised version either. Let's go it's:
December
I ride my bike through the frozen streets
memories of different past years meet
from the suburb to the city I go
while in the air there's a little bit of snow

there's to the right the street to my old school
where some of the boys often played the fool
I hear in a distance the sound of the sea
the harbor comes in sight
the boats lie silent and the sails are dry
the beach cafe has been closed for months
back next season in Mai I will be welcome
in summer I had ice cream and coffee there, was awesome

shops with frosty glass
as the day has passed
in the city the light shine bright
festive colors in the night
it's this peaceful month
it is Christmas coming
preparations running

while in my face the cold wind blows
in the shops with glowing windows
the Christmas season silently shows
the scent of cinnamon is in the air
decorated houses are everywhere
the market place ahead
with yellow busses and people widespread
it's this months the calm December
the good moments of the year you remember
as the year fades into quiet slumber
----
Have a great Christmas time and December and rest of the year!


December

This is a song about an escalated night of Christmas drinking.
Starring: You and me and a  Mall Santa Claus ( a Harry Dean Stanton type character).
This is probably the most depressing Christmas song ever.
Happy Holidays!

Lyrics:
Yeah (well) anyways...
I guess I'm your guardian angel
I should  wish you good luck
I've been sent by"The Entities" above
To get you out of your Christmas rut

I went down to the bar
I know that you couldn't go far
You've let yourself go soft
I gave my better judgment the day off
I'm full of Christmas cheer
I've got 10 cases of imported beer
I'm moving out tables and chairs
We're gonna have a dance floor here!

I've been writing Christmas songs
I hope you'll all dance along
and sing along
I'm spinning records of Metal and Motown songs
Songs for everyone
Even if you feel like you don't belong

Oh, when I was a child
My mother took me to go see Santa Claus
At a broken down mall
With a broken down Santa Claus
And I said:
"Santa Claus, what can I do to have everything I want in my life?"
And Santa Claus said to me:
"Get your head out of your own asshole Son"

Ahhh yeah
Get out of your Christmas rut!
I've got some dynamite in my trunk
Let's get you out of your Christmas rut!
I've got a present for you
It's a box of old dumb luck

There goes Santa Claus
Walking home from the Mall
I think he's got a bottle of Ripple in him
Go, Santa Claus, go!!!

Ahhhh, come on
Get out of your Christmas rut!
We're drinking with a Mall Santa Claus
That's (Huh?) down on his luck
C'mon, get out of that Christmas rut!
How about loaning your guardian angel
About $150 bucks?

(Holiday Bell Ringer: )
The holidays  
It's about family
And friends
And peace on earth

(Drunk Santa comment:) 
Yeah?!?! (ha)" Peace on Earth"
More like 'piece of the action' if you ask me!

Lucy Clip: "You're in a rut! A big fat rut!
"I think we're gonna need some good Attorneys"
Get out of your Christmas rut!

Christmas Rut!

I was very happy when Viv agreed to collab, and then produced some beautifully inspired acoustic and bass, and loved what he created.
Many thanks Viv, it was fun working with you again!
Garddwr Porffor - Acoustic, Bass, Synth, and Mixing
Lizzie Taypen - Music, Lyric, Vocal, and Classical guitar ( Clara)
Doo - Wood Pigeon
Daw - Jackdaw
Lyrics
An unlikely a pairing
As ever would be
The Doo and the Daw
In a strange harmony

One bustles, one struts
But their business is clear
The attaining of order
For survival so dear

Day after Day
In garden and field
They comb all the ground
For a hopeful yield

Blue eyes a watching
Should a chance appear
Or a playful encounter
With a friend, brings cheer

Thankyou to those of you who liked and commented last week when the vocal stem went out by mistake!

The Doo 'n' the Daw  With Garddwr Porffor

I had an immense pleasure of collaborating again with the incredibly talented David De Michele who created a sublimely beautiful musical palette for my piano piece "But". 

More of David’s marvellous music is available here: @user-92820487

Thank you so much for your attention to this work. We do hope you will enjoy listening!

Credits:

Composition & piano performance: Anastasiya Ihnatovich
Arrangement & orchestration: David De Michele

But (Ft. David De Michele)

Just messin around on a snowy sunday. Why not write a song about red trucks and their owners. I think chicks dig red trucks.. probly. 

I have some other new ones Id really like to record but Im way out of shape right now as I haven't played since the summer.

I like my eggs over easy and I cook em in lard
I got big strong muscles cuz a work real hard
I got me a 4 wheel ATV that I keep in the yard
I keep it in the yard
Its out in the yard
and if you mess with me or mine 
yer gonna git ded

My Truck is Red.. yep

I dont go down south cuz its too damn hot
I put mustard on my brat cuz I like it a lot
I hope you like PBR cuz thats all I got
Thats all I got
its the only kind I got
And if you trespass on my 40
 yer  gonna git ded 
My truck is red....

Now in this mean old world you gotta toe the line
Whats yours is yours and whats mine is mine
you got to mind your own affairs cuz there just aint time
There aint any time
I got no time
And if you look at my wifes butt 
yer gunna git ded
My truck is red....



My Truck is Red

Alex Arcady:  Drums, Synths, Vocals, Mix & Master
Dirk Taubenheim:  Vocals, Guitars, Bass

This is our 'Christmas Song'. Thanks for your attention. God bless you.

World in trouble   ft. ALEX ARCADY

If You Must

I sat down to write a Christmas carol, and this is what happened. 
Instrumental: Kammerin Hunt
Vocals, lyrics, mix: Nadia Selvaggi

Try it On! by Kammerin Hunt & Nadia Selvaggi

The Attention Burglar

'Best song ever writ'  I was told,   though Mr Hardin wrote quite a few. Smugglin Man was always a favourite though,  both simple and true.  Never recorded it, possibly the newsprint below changed that.

'The U.S. has seized survivors after a strike Thursday on a suspected drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean, the first since President Donald Trump began launching deadly attacks in the region this summer, a defense official and another person familiar with the matter said Friday.'

Smugglin Man (Tim Hardin)

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

Unbound (Vocalise)

The Music of Dan Swanson

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