Written by Nadia Sheikh
Produced by Nadia Sheikh & Rowan Davies
Mixed by Rowan Davies
Mastered by George Perks

The Start of December

The Start Of December

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)

Check out Dan van den Berg and Sergio Parraga on our original Double Vision.  Dan created the simply marvelous theme and development including the mesmerizing bass and Sergio's syncopated latin percussion goodness drives the music forward.  What a treat and pleasure to again be creating and recording with these outstanding musicians.  Follow their wonderful music and playing here:  
https://soundcloud.com/danarchx
https://soundcloud.com/sergioparraga

And for playlists of our music together:
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind/sets/dazzling-em-dan-van-den-berg
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind/sets/swinging-with-sergio-parraga

And as always, thank you for your generous time listening, for your comments and for your shares

Double Vision

Video: https://youtu.be/-XgT1n-jals?si=lwUr4Cg9n26e-Wjp

This is for those waiting for their loved ones to come home for Thanksgiving & Christmas. May the Love and Joy of the Season, bring you all together, and may you be Loved, Most of All. 

Copyright 2025 Daniels & Durgy / GRR
Written/Performed/Produced: Nat Daniels & Craig Durgy

Lyrics:

(Verse) 
Carols linger in the air 
Folks are gathering in the square 
Oh the night fills with laughter and love 
Winter coats, and fluffy boots 
Silly sweaters, Santa Suits 
Children making snowy angels from above

As I walk by every store
 I see my shadow on the doors 
And imagine you’re walking next to me,
With your hand holding mine. 
As the bells begin to chime,  
We would kiss and lose the sense of any time

(Chorus) 
Merry Christmas to one and all !
See the Blessings Big and Small  
May our days be filled with joy we can recall! 
And may we all be safe and warm  
Wrapped up cosy in our homes 
And may you know, that I love you most of all.

(Verse)
So I send you all my love 
A little card there on your shelf 
My lips lingered on each word so you'd know ...
That no matter where you dwell ,
You are loved, and missed as well 
And I’m counting the hours ’till you’re home!

 So I walk by every store 
And see my shadow on the doors 
And imagine you’re walking next to me, 
How your hand is holding mine. 
As the bells begin to chime,  
We would kiss and lose the sense of any time

(Chorus)
 I have faith and I believe  
I will see you New Year’s Eve
Where we fell in love as snow began to fall 
Travel safely from afar  
Take me in your loving arms,
And know that I love you darling most of all,  
And know that I love you darling most of all…

Most of All

Introduction and Lyrics in English

This song was inspired by the images of war that I have been increasingly confronted with on the internet, television, and social media in recent years.
The verses are an attempt to translate the sometimes unspeakable horror of brutally extinguished lives and destroyed houses and cities into pictorial, metaphorical language.
The chorus expresses the longing to stop this creeping wave of destruction and counter it with a profound world peace. A world peace that will lead stray souls, who are currently being seduced by right-wing populist and ultimately warmongering slogans, to return to their true loving, deeply humanistic core selves.
Since the entire song is a kind of desperate plea for more love for oneself and others, I chose Picasso's famous painting “The Supplicant” as song-cover.

To Rest in Peace

Eyes run with pus
A freshly wilted bouquet of flowers
Bridges are broken
Rainbows are grey
A man cries
Before his wife's corpse

Glasses without stems and without shine
A shadow invites you to dance with death
A bed stands crooked and askew
Because it ran in circles
The shop door
With the inscription ‘No one here’

Inside, it's seething
Everything wants to burst
Rabies has taken hold of my soul
The river of balm fights its way through the narrowness
Perhaps it will take away this curse of haste

I'd like to lie down for a while
To Rest in Peace
Who will give me the liberating blessing
To rest in peace
To rest in peace

Chocolate runs into the stairwell
The fairy tale is about to end
Red mushrooms give us the last poison
A sarcophagus is shipped anonymously

Horses can no longer find their way
A lizard man steps up to swear an oath of truth
Prayers are said on combs
Bubbles burst
Urinary retention
Now takes its course

My senses are shattered
A thousand ears
My eyes are flooded
Glaring light
Can't smell
Nostrils beaten black and blue
My tongue swells from the fresh cactus sting

I want to lie down for a while
To Rest in Peace
Who will give me the liberating blessing
To rest in peace
To rest in peace

In peace
In peace
In peace
In peace
In peace

Deutscher Originaltext

To Rest in Peace

Augen laufen eiternd aus
Ein frischverwelkter Blumenstrauß
Brücken sind zerbrochen
Regenbögen grau
Ein Mann weint
Vor der Leiche seiner Frau

Gläser ohne Stiel und ohne Glanz
Ein Schatten lädt zum Totentanz
Ein Bett steht krumm und schief
Weil es im Kreise lief
Die Ladentür
Mit Aufschrift "Niemand hier"

Im Innern brodelts
Alles will zerspringen
Die Tollwut hat meinen Seelenhain erfasst
Der Balsamfluss kämpft sich durch die Enge
Vielleicht nimmt er mir diesen Fluch zur Hast

Möchte mich ein wenig hinlegen
To Rest in Peace
Wer gibt mir den befreienden Segen
To Rest in Peace
To Rest in Peace

Schokolade läuft ins Treppenhaus
Das Märchen steht kurz vor dem Aus
Rote Pilze schenken uns das letzte Gift
Ein Sarkophag wird anonym verschifft

Pferde kommen nicht mehr in die Spur
Ein Echsenmensch tritt an zum Wahrheitsschwur
Auf Kämmen wird gebetet
Blasen springen auf
Die Harnverhaltung
Nimmt jetzt ihren Lauf

Meine Sinne sind geborsten
Tausend Ohren
Meine Augen sind geflutet
Greller Schein
Kann nicht riechen
Nasenflügel windelweich geprügelt
Mein Zunge schwillt vom frischen Kaktusstich

Möchte mich ein wenig hinlegen
To Rest in Peace
Wer gibt mir den befreienden Segen
To Rest in Peace
To Rest in Peace

In Peace
In Peace
In Peace
In Peace
In Peace

To Rest in Peace

Another track , written, played and recorded while Netta was visiting Australia from Norway….cheers for having a listen and your support👍
-
-
The hours towards the night
They Seem so dark
That’s just because
We’re apart

The dreams last night
Now so real
That’s just because
Of how we feel
In the wee hours of the night
-
Up there in the distance
I know there’s a light
And you and I will soon
Reunite

The mutual connection
The way that we see
This is how we stay
Quite happily
In the wee hours of the night 
-

The hours towards the night
They seem so dark
That’s just because
We’re apart
In the wee hours of the night

Up there in the distance
I know there’s a light
And you and I will soon
Reunite

The mutual connection.
The way that we see
This is how we stay
Quite happily
In the wee hours of the night

In The Wee Hours

I've always wanted to make this song. I'm very happy with the way it came together!  There are 12 individual tracks and below is a description of instruments...
Celtic Flute (Keyboard)
Background Synthesizer (Keyboard)
Peavey Bass Guitar
Piano tracks 1 & 2
Glockenspiel (Keyboard)
Strings (Keyboard)
Harp (Keyboard)
4 individual Vocal tracks (1 Main and 3 for harmonizing choir)

Image: My parents' barn at the bottom of the mountain at their home in Tennessee, United States 20 years ago.

It was snowing all night while I finished this song up and that made it even more magical!! Hope you enjoy!! and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

White Christmas

Got my wife Charlottie and her Froggy Bottom H-12 to join me on this bit of blues fun.

Him And Not A Me

This is the demo with just my piano and vocals recorded for production to be added.  I've decided to share as this is the last song I will write and record this year.  Thank you to everyone who's listened and supported my music this year.

Produced, written and performed by Sarah Paradise-Brown

The night is hollow where you stood
But I stand weak, my blood tastes good
Your scent still lingers in the air
I reach out but you’re not there

If love can tell what death has made
Then let me fall let me be unafraid
The dark won’t hide what I have known
Your hunger carved in flesh and bone

Take my heart
Though it beats in chains
Take my soul
Through the endless pain

If I must burn
Then let me burn for you
I cannot live
But I can love
Like mortals do

Your voice exists within my brain
A broken hymn that still remains
I curse the gift that keeps me whole
Immortal nights

If love can tell what death has made
Then let me fall let me be unafraid
A bleeding cry my spirit weeps
For you alone, are what I need

Take my heart
Though it beats in chains
Take my soul
Through the endless pain

If I must burn
Then let me burn for you
I cannot live
But I can love
Like mortals do

They call you monster
They curse your name
But still your light
Ignites my flame

If I must walk this world alone
I’d dream of you
And call it home

Take my soul
Take my soul
If I must burn
Then let me burn for you
I cannot live
But I can love
Like mortals do

Like mortals do
Like mortals do
Like mortals do

Like Mortals Do

Unicorn

Silent Night All Day Long (John Prine cover)

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

What If we Went to Italy (cover)

The Music of Dan Swanson

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