Dan’s AMBIENT t& INSTRUMENTAL works

Guitar

“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)

‘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

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 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)

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)

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

When Light Floats

The Music of Dan Swanson