Back Roads

Boots in the wind, thunder like feet
Tima stirs under her lion-sheet
The night tiptoes in, wearing its roar
She pads across the soft-matted floor

My hand finds hers before she can ask
Mam lifts the covers, no need for a task
She wriggles between us, breath warm and shy
Mam whispers “Dw i yma. Dim byd i ofni.”

It’s cwtsh o’clock, the storm can wait
Snuggled up close behind the gate
Wrapped in arms, under soft night thread
No monsters live in this bed

Morning is slow, soft light on her cheeks
She hides in the covers, and barely speaks
“You snored like a dragon,” I say with a grin
She giggles, then pulls Mam's jumper in

“I just came in... to check the rain.”
“Of course you did,” Mam laughs again
Toast in the kitchen, the kettle sings
Peace held together with butter and strings

It’s cwtsh o’clock, with tea and jam
A hug on toast from Dad and Mam
A moment, a glance, a knitted sock —
That’s all it takes to turn the clock

We walk the Twmp in the Labour Day sun
Mam plants seeds where the hill has none
“For the bees,” she says, “and the dreams we keep”
Tima yawns, but she doesn’t sleep

I carry her up as the wind leans low
“There’s someone big and quiet below”
She places her ear on the mossy stone
“Bran’s still here — he just sleeps alone”

“He heard the storm,” she softly said
“Maybe even giants need a bed.”

It’s cwtsh o’clock on a mossy spine
Even the hill knows the warmth of time
A mountain hug, a seed, a sigh —
Even Bran’s heart breathes the sky

Eira arrives with paint-stained hands
They draw up castles and mountain lands
A bear with wings, a fox that grins
A moon that cwtshes everything in

Evening comes like a lullaby breeze
They fall asleep in a pile of knees
Mam tucks the blanket, brushes their hair
Says “Cwtshiau always find you there.”

It’s cwtsh o’clock, again, again
At midnight, noon, or half past ten
It’s not on clocks, or written down —
It’s when love’s there to wrap you round

“I keep one for you in every room.”

Cwtsh o’Clock

God, I wanna know you more
But I know it’s up to me 
To make the time we need 
So Your presence can set me free
Your invitation is waiting 
It’s waiting on me
To spend the time together 
To bring my heart relief

Draw me closer
Let Your love flow deep within
Break my pride, my fear, my sin
Till all I see is You again
Take my heart, make it pure
Let Your Spirit reassure
Every moment, I’m made sure
I want to know you more

Lord, I wanna know you more
So I can lay my burdens down
Trade the weight I’ve carried 
For the peace that I’ve found
Help me love the ones around me
Just the way you showed me how 
Lord, I wanna know You more
Right here, right now

Draw me closer
Let Your love flow deep within
Break my pride, my fear, my sin
Till all I see is You again
Take my heart, make it pure
Let Your Spirit reassure
Every moment, I’m made sure
I want to know you more

Jesus, I want to know you more
But my sin gets in the way
Teach me to put You first 
Each and every day 
I don’t want to chase the world
And end up lost again 
Draw me to Your mercy
My savior and my friend 

Draw me closer
Let Your love flow deep within
Break my pride, my fear, my sin
Till all I see is You again
Take my heart, make it pure
Let Your Spirit reassure
Every moment, I’m made sure
I want to know you more

You’re the breath within my lungs
You’re the peace when I’m undone
You’re the fire that keeps me strong
You’re my strength all along
You’re the voice that calms my sea
You’re the truth that sets me free
Every day I long to be
Closer, Father, to Thee

Holy Spirit, I want to know You more  
Fill my heart with what is pure
The fruits of the Spirit
Not the greed
Not the shame 
Not the bitterness or the blame
Break every chain
So only your love remains

Draw me closer
Let Your love flow deep within
Break my pride, my fear, my sin
Till all I see is You again
Take my heart, make it pure
Let Your Spirit reassure
Every moment, I’m made sure
I want to know you more
I just wanna know you more

Father God, let me know you more
Jesus, let me know you more
Holy Spirit, let me know you more 
It’s all I’m living for

Know You More (Worship Session)

En fortolkning af en af Thomas Helmigs store hits

Dybt inde i mit hjerte - Thomas Helmig Cover

Based on lyrics by John Gogoulas. John, an old college friend from my Athens days (early '70s), has been an amateur singer and lyricist his whole life. When he learned I was curating songs through AI, he asked me to create music based on his poetry—first last August, and again recently.

For this latest song, he specifically requested a greek entexno laiko style I adapted and refined his poetry using ChatGPT, then detailed the musical style and key parameters for Suno AI. After several paid for versions (Suno is not free), I selected this one for publication. While the other versions were also good, I chose this one because the final selection process is the part I truly enjoy—otherwise, this would be a dull profession and not a pastime.

Greek translation:

Βασισμένο σε στίχους του Γιάννη Γώγουλα. Ο Γιάννης, ένας παλιός συμφοιτητής από τα χρόνια μου στην Αθήνα (αρχές '70s), υπήρξε ερασιτέχνης τραγουδιστής και στιχουργός σε όλη του τη ζωή. Όταν έμαθε ότι επιμελούμαι τραγούδια μέσω Τεχνητής Νοημοσύνης, μου ζήτησε να δημιουργήσω μουσική βασισμένη στην ποίησή του—πρώτα τον περασμένο Αύγουστο, και πάλι πρόσφατα.

Για αυτό το τελευταίο τραγούδι, ζήτησε συγκεκριμένα ένα έντεχνο λαικό στυλ. Προσάρμοσα την ποίησή του χρησιμοποιώντας το ChatGPT, και μετά καθόρισα λεπτομερώς το μουσικό στυλ και τις βασικές παραμέτρους για το Suno AI. Μετά από αρκετές εκδόσεις επί πληρωμή (το Suno δεν είναι δωρεάν), επέλεξα αυτήν για δημοσίευση. Ενώ και οι άλλες εκδόσεις ήταν επίσης καλές, επέλεξα αυτήν επειδή η τελική διαδικασία επιλογής είναι το μέρος που πραγματικά απολαμβάνω—διαφορετικά, αυτό θα ήταν ένα βαρετό επάγγελμα και όχι ένα χόμπι.

[Verse 1]
Κίτρινη φωτογραφία
ξεσηκώνει τα παλιά,
όνειρα και αναμνήσεις
σαν ταινία του σινεμά.
Την κοιτάζω και θυμάμαι
τότε που ήμασταν παιδιά,
που γυρνούσαμε στους δρόμους
μεθυσμένοι αγκαλιά.

[Chorus ]
Κι αν περάσανε τα χρόνια,
κι αν χαθήκαν μακριά,
μέσα απ’ τη φωτογραφία
μοιάζουν όλα ζωντανά.

[Verse 2]
Ξεθωριάσανε τα χρώματα,
μα τα βλέμματα μιλούν,
κάτι μέσα μου ανάβει
κι οι σκιές με τριγυρνούν.

[Instrumental break]

[Bridge ]
Κι αν αλλάξανε οι δρόμοι,
κι αν χαθήκαν στη σιωπή,
σε μια κίτρινη φωτογραφία
ζει μια αιώνια ζωή.

[Final Chorus
Κι η καρδιά μου σ’ ανασταίνει,
σ’ έναν κόσμο σκοτεινό,
μια στιγμή που δε πεθαίνει,
ένα χθες που ξαναζώ.
Μια στιγμή που δε πεθαίνει,
ένα χθες που ξαναζώ…

[Outro]
Κίτρινη φωτογραφία…
μοιάζεις σαν όνειρο παλιό,
μα τη βλέπω και θυμάμαι —
πόσο ακόμα σ’ αγαπώ…

Back Roads

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