like the celtic lilt ,wonderful lyrics.so would bag pipes be useful here.

After this presentation, and listening to the result, I am pleasantly surprised by the outcome.... An ode to joy, also a lyrical poem intended to celebrate and reflect on a subject of important values.... It is truly associated with the song and music for which you created this melody a few years ago. An astonishing and successful collaboration.

Love the beat and production!!!!!…..🌍 ☮︎ 👍

What a joyful, beautiful song, David 🫶 Your collab with Mike and Axel adds awesome polish to your beautiful tune – great vocal, guitar, that Celtic flair, even the art ✨ Bravo to all 👏👏👏

Wonderfully light and joyous... and great backstory old man... (hee-hee: I am old too.)

I had left the pastorate in 1985 but many friends remained in the little town of St. Francis, Kansas.  One of them was a woman who found love again after the death of her spouse.  I composed this song for them and officiated their wedding and as far as I know, they lived happily ever after.  
Then came the wedding of my oldest daughter and she requested the song be done for her and Thor (yes, his real name;) That was 27 years ago.  
This past summer, I had suggested the song to Axel and after hearing my rough, 35 year old demo, he loved the song straight away, but wanted to change it up a bit.  The song I had written was done in a more devotional 4/4 meter, he wanted to bring to it the flavor of a Celtic dance.  Enter Mike Fox who gives the lyrics a definitive voice and excellent guitar to the backing track.  I loved the track art Axel had created because it resembled the wedding of my 2nd granddaughter Grace at the end of September, a lovely garden ceremony in Oklahoma City.  It resembles it right down to the kilt another son-in-law wore by request.  They didn't use the song as part of their ceremony, but I dedicate this new version to Grace and Ethan and wish them a lifetime of love, happiness and fond adventures together.
Thank you Axel and Mike for lavishing your talents on my songwriting efforts.  I am truly honored.  Hear more of their fabulous music creativity @soundcloud.com/axel-m-501052973, and @soundcloud.com/michael-fox-925325997

Gathered--Lyrics:
 What are we gathered here for, what have we come to see?
Two people who believe that a better life
Is lived together not separately.
Father we ask you blessing upon the union of these two,
That the vows they are both confessing
Will bind their hearts to each other and You.

Bridge:
And it's more than just "tying a knot" and it's more than just getting "hitched"
We're seeing two hearts being sewn together,
We're witnessing it stitch by stitch.
It's the miracle of seeing two become one,
Though the two are really not the same,
Like the paint and the canvas are separate until 
The Artist joins them in a beautiful frame.

Instrumental Interlude

Repeat Bridge

Repeat Verse:
What are we gathered here for, what have we come to see?
Two people who believe that a better life
Is lived together not separately.
Father we ask you blessing upon the union of these two,
That the vows they are both confessing
Will bind their hearts to each other and You.
Will bind their hearts to each other and You
Will bind their hearts to each other and You.

Gathered-A Wedding Song (Axel Menningen, Mike Fox, David Dunham)

I am a finger-style guitarist living on the Texas high plains.  At the core of my music is melody that is inspired and informed by my Christian faith, family, friends, and countless influences through the years from the great composers, to jazz, folk, rock, Latin, Celtic, and the many fine musicians I have come to love on the Cloud, some I have been privileged to collaborate with.  Thanks for stopping by to have a listen. Comments are always welcome. Feel free to click on the picture of any track to learn more about it.

Comments

Larry Collen

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