A short anthology of Angel related songs from my songbook.

Calling All Angels - EP

This collection consists of poetry set to music.

Poetry

This is my Re-Master of the track including Luděk's string arrangement. I have added a little 'movement' to the sound, I hope it adds something. By the way, the guitar is Unnar, a baritone.

"I really felt this was in need of being re-done and led by strings, cello & violin perhaps, or even a quartet? https://soundcloud.com/rav132 offered to add his magic to the track and this is his version of the song. We hope you like it. I thank Luděk Havran for his beautiful birthday gift to me."

The original is here: https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin/come-slowly-eden-after-emily

Apotheosis 
[Love l, Xvlll]

Come slowly—Eden 
Lips unused to Thee— 
Bashful—sip thy Jessamines 
As the fainting Bee—

Reaching late his flower, 
Round her chamber hums— 
Counts his nectars— 
Enters—and is lost in Balms.

Emily Dickinson

Apotheosis (after Emily Dickinson) click for information

Just noticed I had not ReMastered this piece yet. Well! Now I have. 

This is a sketch for a possible Seal Skins song in the vein of Charon and March At Sea.

Martin 000-15M, Martin SP Custom Lights, Fishman Rare Earth Blend...vocal Rode NT2-A

Angels

I once was a young man
Faster than this one
I was once the salmon
That leapt to your tongue

They counted my angels departed
They counted my angels returned
The counted them all 
But for one 
But for one

We harried the border
Between heaven and hell
Satisfied thirst from a 
Much deeper well

They counted our angles departed
They counted our angels returned
They counted them all 
But for one 
But for one

But for one bright moment
But for one bright moment

I feasted on innocence
Black blood and bone
A singular beast
Revenant black hole

I counted my angels departed
I counted my angels returned
I counted them all 
For this one 
But for one

But for one bright moment
But for one bright moment

I once was a young man
Faster than this one

Angels (Logic Pro X ReMaster) click for information

This is a remastered version of 'Jólnir (Yule Song)' which is my version of a Yule or Winter Solstice celebration song. Perhaps it is a little early to be posting this, but I was inspired to rework this recording because of the image 'January' by Josefine Jonsson @ http://www.josefinejonsson.com.

Jólnir (Yule Song) ReMasTeReD

Here is a ReMastered version of this song of mine but not including on this occasion Daniel Lockhardt's midi sounds...just me and the guitar. It is a free download for celebrating Sauin.

Northern Lights

I've never seen the Northern Lights
Shining in a northern sky
I'd like to see them one time
Reflected into your eyes

I've never seen the Reindeer
Running through a forest clear
I'd like to chase them once down
In this one and only lifetime

With you, with you

In northern latitudes
Where winters endless hush
Is woken by Northern Lights

I've never felt a lava flow
Beneath me on a basalt bowl
I'd want to feel that sometime
Iceland in the winter time

I've never flown on Sauin
Agaric flowing through me
I'd like to chase it one time
Through northern skies at night time

With you, with you

In northern latitudes
Where winters endless hush
Is woken by Northern Lights

Northern Lights (Free download for Samhain)

I had hoped that someone would offer to enhance my little song, and making my wish come true https://soundcloud.com/faerytale has offered her beautiful vocal support...Thank you Lisa! <3

Guitar: Unnar (Walden Baritione B1E), Microphone: Rode NT2A, I/O Focusrite Saffire Pro14, iMac and Logic Pro X.

Riders on the the old river road
Nobody's talking, but somebody told
And the weathercock turns over Sutter's barn
Scarecrow points to the setting sun

Dark clouds lour the western plain
A distant rumble, a storm declaims
And Billies been sweating since she gave it up
Its fear that silvers her tongue

Oh! Judgement
It comes to be
Take the choice
Away from me
I hear them now
Oh! As they blow
The bleating horns
Of Jericho

Corvids darken the lightning tree
A thousand eyes through the darkness see
A brutal truth of the world exposed
The sacrifice, the blood, the bone

Oh! Judgement (etc)

Spotless lamb, blameless girl
The blades they turn in this mans world
They dare not see or will they look
At the truths that lie in their good books

Oh! Judgement (etc) x2

Riders on the old river road
Nobody's talking, but somebody told.

Jericho ~ with Faerytale (click title for information & lyrics)

Jólnir (Yule Song) is a seasonal celebratory song for the winter solstice; the death of the year gone and the germination of the new year to come. 

We have entered this song in a Xmas song competition and a like on our YouTube video counts as a vote for us. You can find the video here: http://youtu.be/XsOzoj8gkXo  Thank you for taking a couple of minutes to listen and for voting for us! Have a wonderful Solstice. 

Bella and the Bear are:
Bella Luna https://soundcloud.com/bella_luna
and
Ian Melvin https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Lyrics:

Red the velvet 
White the snow
Sharp the thorn
Yet evergreen
The wild wood
Doth grow

Cold winter stars shining down
Ice crystals dancing around and around, and
Warm fires of life ignite our hearts
Wild rhythms beating the antlers a'shaking, and

Dark the solstice
Yet green the jack
Falls Mistleteinnin
Yet Jólnir
Always 
Comes back

Cold winter stars shining down
Ice crystals dancing around and around, and
Warm fires of life ignite our hearts
Wild rhythms beating the antlers a'shaking, and

Red the velvet
White the snow

Jólnir (Yule Song) by Bella And The Bear [with Video]

Hush! Is night falling?
Silently falling, white
The snow covers the land

Deep, is the darkness
So sweet the excitement
Spice scents and lights fill the air.

Here and from home to home
We all go, hand in hand
Singing our message of joy
Soon it will be Christmas time

Hark! Is that ringing?
Of bells and and bright singing
High above sleep and the rooftops

Here and from home to home
We all go, hand in hand
Singing our message of joy
Soon it will be Christmas time

Lo! Is dawn breaking?
And the children awaking
Suddenly cries fill the morning

Bright laughter greeting
Each present and bringing us
Joys of Christmas time

Here and from home to home
We all go, hand in hand
Singing our message of joy
Soon it will be Christmas time

Quick! The meal beckons
So fragrant so pleasant
A promise of family fare

Long is the measure
Of love and of pleasure
Everyone then gathered near and here.

Here and from home to home
We all go, hand in hand
Singing our message of joy
Soon it will be Christmas time

Soon It Will Be Christmas Time

This is @cindyeichardt retelling of my original song The Yule Tree (and also The Kingfisher)

Eichardt & Melvin are

Music and guitar: @ian-melvin
Words and vocals:@cindyeichardt

Tannenbaum

Im kalten Schnee steht kerzengrad ein grüner Tannenbaum
Und wartet, dass die Kinder mit ihm spielen
Er wartet schon das ganze Jahr so friedlich und so still.
Und mit dem Schnee! Zur Weihnachtszeit! Ist endlich nun soweit. 
Wenn im Frost die Welt gefriert und der Winter triumphiert.
Wenn die Flocken weiß und wild im Winde tanzen
Ist des Winters schönste Zeit, Glocken klingen weit und breit.
Und der Tannenbaum strahlt im neuen Kleid hell zum Weihnachtsfest
Wenn im Schnee die Welt versinkt, und ein Lied ganz leis erklingt
Wenn die Stimmen hell und froh gemeinsam singen
Dann ist des Winters schönste Zeit, Glocken klingen weit und breit
Und der Tannenbaum strahlt im neuen Kleid hell zum Weihnachtsfest

Break (lalala)

Dann ist des Winters schönste Zeit, Glocken klingen weit und breit.
Und der Tannenbaum strahlt im neuen Kleid hell zum Weihnachtsfest
Wenn im Schnee die Welt versinkt, und ein Lied ganz leis erklingt
Wenn die Stimmen hell und froh gemeinsam singen
Dann ist des Winters schönste Zeit, Glocken klingen weit und breit
Und der Tannenbaum strahlt im neuen Kleid hell zum Weihnachtsfest

Artwork by: www.raycaesar.com

Tannenbaum ~ by CindE (2013 ReMix)

Ecstasy

After a poem by Sarojini Naidu (The Nightingale of India)
Music composed by I Melvin.

Performed by https://soundcloud.com/anaksunabyss & https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Guitar "JJ" (Cordoba Fusion Jet 12 strung with D'Addario Pro*Arte EJ50 Black nylon) through onboard preamp and vocal recorded as live through a Rode NT2-A mic and Focusrite Saffire Pro 14. 2.6Ghz Intel Core i7 MacMini with 16GB memory running Logic Pro X.

Cover mine eyes, O my Love! 
Mine eyes that are weary of bliss 
As of light that is poignant and strong 
O silence my lips with a kiss, 
My lips that are weary of song! (rpt)

2nd verse

Shelter my soul, O my love!
My soul is bent low with the pain
And the burden of love, like the grace
Of a flower that is smitten with rain:
O shelter my soul from thy face! (rpt)

rpt 1st verse together

Artwork "Ecstasy of the Lillies" by Joseph Donaghy

Ecstasy with Ana Axe (Please click for information)

A friend, David Stuart, offered this collaborative poem to passing minstrels for setting to music. This is my interpretation.

Lyrics by https://soundcloud.com/archimedes, https://soundcloud.com/jomama-2 and https://soundcloud.com/skye-milan
Music written and performed by https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Guitar: Vintage Lemon Drop through Logic Pro X ~ emulated British Combo Amp, 2x12 Speaker Cab, and pedals Spin Box (Leslie speaker fx), Blue Echo, The Vibe, Heavenly Chorus
Vocal and Harp (DDR Bandmaster Chromatic): Rode NT2-A, Saffire Pro 14 and Logic Pro X on a MacMini. 

dogs

my body is a dog 
being walked by my soul
lashed by the fetter of life
together we are one 
for now

puppets of meat 
piloted by ghosts
atop a blue rock hurtling 
through the vacuum
we are many 
for now

what is this thing 
i think i am
a blip in space and time
i "am"
for now

what is this soul 
this "me"
canidae contraband 
pedaled with marginal success
it is 
for now

traces of my life
my love 
my hate
us and 
them 
then and 
now

fade to dust 
once the canine dies
that widowed leash 
survived 
by my soul
a whisper 
undiscovered
for now

Dogs (click for lyrics & information)

This is a remaster of an early 'as live' & dubbed duet track by The Anaheim's.

As I was listening to this again I remembered that I was inspired to write this piece, many years ago,  after listening to America's - A Horse With No Name. 

The Anaheim's are https://soundcloud.com/monicadockery & https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Technicals: The original guitar and voice was recorded with a Boss Micro recorder and stereo condenser microphone. Monica used that and recorded her vox as an overdub. Using both the original recording and Monica's version I have remastered the MP3 through Logic Pro X.

Video: http://youtu.be/WLKGuc1qEYU

D           Am/Em/C      G                 D                  Am /Em/C/G
There's a town, that the angels fear to roam, bag the bones 
                       Am/Em/C        G                  D                   Am
Yeah! There's a town, that the angels fear to roam, bag the bones

                      Am      Em   C             G                   D                    Am
Now, there's a hole in your heart that overflows with dark, and with cold
          Am                  C              G                 D                            Am
And a face you cannot face in the mirrors cold embrace, you see the soul
              Am/Em/C        G                   D                   Am
And it's a town, that the angels fear to roam, bag the bones
                  Am/Em/C        G                  D                   Am 
Yeah!  It's a town, that the angels fear to roam, bag the bones
                 
Now in your dream, you've seen so many things that no one knows            
And in your mind, a desert stretches out, beyond, behind
And it's a place, that the angels dare not face, bag the bones 
Yeah! It's a place, that the angels dare not face, bag the bones 

Now there's a thought in your mind, ringing like a chime, is it time?
As the bloom comes into view, you suddenly taste the truth of the bitter iron
And it's a beast that the angels fear to ride, bag the bones
It's a beast that the angels fear to ride, bag the bones
And it's a town, that the angels fear to roam, bag the bones

And it's a place, that the angels dare not face, bag the bones 
And it's a beast that the angels fear to ride, bag the bones
You're the beast that the angels fear to ride, bag the bones

Bag The Bones (by The Anaheim's) click for information

This is a song by 'The Anaheims', who are https://soundcloud.com/monicadockery & https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Artwork by MiMi

Down (In Mexico)

Way down south of nowhere
In a place that no one goes
There’s a little dirt cantina called
El Muerte del Amour 
They serve Mescal from the counter
And Corona’s from the steam
And there's a chilli on the hotplate
That will burn you in your dreams
And there’s a smoking Señorita
With lips of pepper red
She can take you up to heaven
But she’ll leave you lying dead
Yeah! It’s the place
We all want to go
When we're down
In Mexico

Two inch short of seven foot tall
And half a barn door wide
He had iron in his fist held tight
And murder in his eye
Well I guess he thought he owned her
Thought he could take my kind
So he closed the gap between us
Before he dropped - to my smoking nine
I grabbed her hand! Led her running
Through the door out to my ride
We were crossing on the border
Fore the sun began to rise
And it is a place
We all want to go
When we're down
In Mexico

We holed up in Tulsa
For a while there life was sweet
I was living on her loving
She gave me all I could eat
Then one night when I was working
She was lonely, called her ma
It didn’t take the trouble long
To find out where we were
They came out of the darkness
They rose up like holy death
She fell into their funeral fire
I escaped by a bare hairs breadth
And it's place 
We all want to go
When we're down
In Mexico

And there’s a smoking Señorita
With lips of pepper red
She can take you up to heaven
But she’ll leave you lying dead
Yeah! It’s the place
We all want to go
When we're down
In Mexico

Down (In Mexico) - click for information

Ecstasy

After a poem by Sarojini Naidu (The Nightingale of India)

Music composed by I Melvin.

Performed by @selaruioana & @ian-melvin

Guitar "JJ" (Cordoba Fusion Jet 12 strung with D'Addario Pro*Arte EJ50 Black nylon) through onboard preamp and vocal recorded as live through a Rode NT2-A mic and Focusrite Saffire Pro 14. 2.6Ghz Intel Core i7 MacMini with 16GB memory running Logic Pro X.

Cover mine eyes, O my Love! 
Mine eyes that are weary of bliss 
As of light that is poignant and strong 
O silence my lips with a kiss, 
My lips that are weary of song! (rpt)

2nd verse

Shelter my soul, O my love!
My soul is bent low with the pain
And the burden of love, like the grace
Of a flower that is smitten with rain:
O shelter my soul from thy face! (rpt)

rpt 1st verse together

Ecstasy (with Ioana Selaru ~ Violin)

I have not wings
That make me an angel
But I'll fly
All the same
I have not words
To sing to you false praises
So I'll sing my songs
In my own name

And I will walk upon your troubled waters, and
I will ford every river that you find
I will fashion a feast of loaves and fishes, and
I will turn all your tears to wine
Given time

I have not gold
No myrrh 
Nor have I incense
But I'll burn for you
Like a flame
I do not wear
A coat of many colours
But I'll shine for you
Out in the rain

And I will walk upon your troubled waters, and
I will ford every river that you find
I will fashion a feast from loaves and fishes, and
I will turn all your tears to wine
Given time

Given time all of the mountain sides will fall away as dust
Given time all of the nails that bind will wash away as rust
Given time of all their promises to ashes in their mouths
Given time, even to certainties come doubts

I have not wings
That make me an angel
But I'll fly
All the same
I do not wear
A coat of many colours
But I'll shine for you
Out in the rain

And I will walk upon your troubled waters, and
I will ford every river that you find
I will fashion a feast from loaves and fishes, and
I will turn all your tears to wine
Given time
Given time
Given time
Given time

Amen (Given Time) ~ demo ~ click for lyrics

Listening through some old recordings I have noted how basic some were in the early days (two or three years ago) so I have decided to 'fix' some of the issues that I now know how to address.

This piece was developed from a poem by @luche007
Luche and I developed the poem into a song form, which I then set to music and have demo'd on this track with "Sophia", my baritone acoustic guitar. Originally recorded on GarageBand this version has been remastered in Logic X

Words: Luche & Melvin
Music: Melvin 
Artwork: MiMi

All words, music and art copyright 2013.

Colourful Angels (original poem ~ Luche)

Centuries ago,
We were young and naïve.
Centuries ago,
We could truly believe
In affectionate love
Given to us from above
By the angels –
Blue Angels of springtide.

Many years ago,
We were adult and strong.
Many years ago,
We were singing a song
Of our passionate love
Given to us from above
By the angels – 
Green Angels of summer.

Just a year ago,
We’re mature and wise.
Just a year ago,
We could see in our eyes
The reflection of love
Given to us from above
By the angels –
Red Angels of autumn.

Just a day ago,
We were old, we were sad.
Just a day ago,
We were gone, we were dead,
With the memories of love
Taken from us to above
By the angels –
White Angels of winter.

Colourful Angels (2015)

This is a version of my improvised song Heart Shaped Hole, given a new vocal twist by the amazing Ana Axe @anaksunabyss.

ReMastered on Logic Pro X.

Heart Shaped Hole ~ sung by Ana Axe [Remastered 2016]

This is a revisit to a largely improvised two mic recording made nearly 4 years ago now. I've tidied up the original recording here and in doing so, re learnt the piece and in doing that re-written it. I hope to do a whole new version in 2016.

Daddies In The Mood (ReMastered 2016)

They say the simple songs are sweetest
The gypsy girl she plays the violin
Held naked between cheek and shoulder
She draws me out and draws me in

And the music that she plays coils in me
Rewinds me from my farthest shore
I wonder if she'll ever see me
I wonder if she'll ever know

They say that the first kiss is sweetest
But no one speaks thats ever seen her smile
So clear beneath her eyes she sees me
And draws me out and draws me in

And the music that she plays burns in me
Exploding through my every pore
I wonder if she'll ever free me
I wonder if I'll ever know for sure

And the music that she plays coils in me
Rewinds me from my farthest shore
I wonder if she'll ever see me
I wonder if she'll ever know

The Gypsy Girl (with the violin of ~ Ioana Selaru)

This was a new song some 8 months ago and written as an appreciative tribute to Leonard Cohen. Since then I have received better quality hearing aids and recognised the sonic faults with the demo, therefore I have tried to rectify them in this ReMix.

Artwork Co Ray Caesar

MORPHIA
Take my hand way downtown
With the Swanee River
The gold dust in the pan
Won't you
Take me down
When you go
Lead and I will follow
Be it fast 
Be it slow

And you can cure me with your smoke and flames
Waltz me through the Midnight hours 
Until the dawn light comes again and
Chain me to an old fashioned dining chair
Feed me with your baited hooks and
Slowly trim my hair
As if I care

More 
Morphia 
More
Morphia

Wake me up for the show
There'll be burlesques and arabesques
and knives thrown at the wheel
We can watch them rolling
Slowly down the slope
And you can take the high wire
Suspended above hope

And you can cure me with your smoke and flames
Waltz me through the Midnight hours 
Until the dawn light comes again and
Chain me to an old fashioned dining chair
Feed me with your baited hooks and
Slowly trim my hair
If you dare

More 
Morphia 
More
Morphia

And you can cure me with your smoke and flames
Waltz me through the Midnight hours 
Until the dawn light comes again and
Chain me to an old fashioned dining chair
Feed me with your baited hooks and
Slowly trim my hair
Morphia

More 
Morphia 
More
Morphia

Morphia (ReMix 2016) click for lyrics.

Nowadays I play this song on a standard guitar, in a higher key, and I intend to record a version as such in 2016. Before I do so, I have experimented and re-voiced the original Baritone guitar part with a slightly re-written lyric and a background vocal.

BROKEN FOOL

Sometimes I can't breathe at all
Unless I'm breathing you
There are times I don't feel at all
Unless I'm feeling you

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Can you heal?
This broken fool

Sometimes I think you don't see me at all
Sometimes you see right through
Sometimes I think that you don't think of me at all
Other times, that's all you seem to do

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Can you heal?
This broken fool

I can't stay up on this wall, it is inevitable that I must fall
And I cannot put it together, with the King or those that do
I am a broken fool, can you heal?

Sometimes I don't dream at all
Until I dream of you
Sometimes I don't sleep at all
Unless I sleep with you

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Tell me, can you heal?
This broken fool
Can you heal?

Broken Fool (click for lyrics and description)

The Condemned Man’s Lament
Words: Nick Nolan
Music: Ian Melvin
© 2016 all rights reserved

This is a two mic 'live' demo recorded on Logic Pro X & Mac Mini, Rode NT2A and AKG C1000S through a Focusrite Saffire Pro 14. Guitar 'Montserrat' (Martin 000-15M with Medium SP strings)

Will you stay with me awhile my Love
Will you stay with me awhile?
For another hour
In this cursed tower
Will you stay with me awhile my Love?
Will you stay with me awhile?

Will you talk with me awhile my Love
Will you talk with me awhile?
Will you pass the time
And ease my mind
Will you talk with me awhile my Love.
Will you talk with me awhile?

There’s a gallows made for me my Love
There’s a gallows made for me
And the hour draws near
To the time I fear
And they take me from this place, my Love.
And they take me from this place

Will you whisper in my ear my Love
Will you whisper in my ear?
Will you tell me things
Of ships and kings
Will you whisper in my ear, my love?
Will you whisper in my ear?

There’s a gallows made for me my Love
There’s a gallows made for me
And the hour draws near
To the time I fear
And they take me from this place, my Love.
And they take me from this place

Will you wait with me awhile my Love
Will you wait with me awhile?
But the call has come
My time has run
And the hangman calls my name, my Love
And the hangman calls my name.

There’s a gallows made for me my Love
There’s a gallows made for me
And the call has come
My time it has run
And the hangman calls my name, my Love.
And the hangman calls my name

Will you stay with me awhile my Love?
Will you stay with me awhile?

The Condemned Man's Lament (click for lyrics and details)

Original lyrics below by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1882) and published in 1816 in Albyn's Anthology. However, the ballad is much older. It was originally John of Hazelgreen. C. K. Sharpe, who sent the ballad to Scott said it was from a manuscript dated "probably one hundred years" earlier, placing the original manuscript in the 1700s.

I have made a few alterations to the wording and arranged the song accordingly.

Why weep ye by the tide, lady
Why weep ye by the tide?
I'll wed ye to my youngest son
And ye shall be his bride
And ye shall be his bride, lady
Sae comely to be seen
But aye she let the tears doon fa'
For Jock o' Hazeldean.

Now let this willfu' grief be done
And dry that cheek sae pale
Young Frank is chief of Errington
And laird o' Langley-dale
His step is first in peaceful ha'
His sword in battle keen
But aye she let the tears doon fa'
For Jock o' Hazeldean.

A chain of gold ye shall not lack
Nor braid to bind your hair
Nor mettled hound, nor managed hawk
Nor palfrey fresh and fair.
And you, the foremost o' them a'
Shall ride our forrest queen
But aye she let the tears doon fa'
For Jock o' Hazeldean.

The kirk was deck'd at morningtide
The tapers glimmer'd fair
The priest and bridegroom wait the bride
And dame and knight were there
They sought her baith by bower and ha'
The lady was na' seen
She's o'er the border and awa'
Wi' Jock o' Hazeldean.

Jock O'Hazeldean

I wrote this song in response to the terror attack on The Pulse Nightclub in my former hometown of Orlando. It's as much a polemic about guns and gun crime as it is anything else.

This track has been produced by my good friend David Stuart from Rockford Illinois. I supplied him my rough and ready guitar and vocal track and he worked around my variable timings and other issues. 

Thank you David for you kindness and infinite patience.

Guitars and Vocal: Ian Melvin
All other instruments and percussion: David Stuart
Production: David Stuart

Done (When All’s Said And Done)

Consuela sits in the convenience store
Swears it was him who walked through that there door
He bought a can of Coke and a Hershey bar
Now she wonders if she could have done more
But it’s done, and it’s done
And it’s done and it’s done and it’s done
It’s done, and when all’s said and done
It gets done, at the barrel of a gun

He cruised the Pulse from dusk til dawn
He’d drink so much he would fall and roar
And the boys would pick him up and carry him out that door
Now they wonder if they could have done more
But it’s done, and it’s done
And it’s done and it’s done and it’s done
It’s done, and when all’s said and done
It gets done, at the barrel of a gun

And the crows circle, the vultures feast
The helicopters carry the nightly feed
Politicians hustle, and ministers cuss
They swear to god, it was not us

And it’s done, and it’s done
And it’s done and it’s done and it’s done
It’s done, and when all’s said and done
It gets done, at the barrel of a gun

Mothers weep and the children cry
They light their lights, they signify
They plant a tree and water the loam
But still they wonder if they could have done more
And it’s done, and it’s done
And it’s done and it’s done and it’s done
It’s done, and when all’s said and done
It gets done, at the barrel of a gun 


Done (When All's Said And Done)

This is song written by Nick Nolan and myself in 2014 to commemorate the 100 year Anniversary of the 1914-1918 War, WWl.

I have revisited the mix to clean things up prior to taking another shot at a second recording. I hope you like it.

‘Neath the bluest sky, my love and I
Were married in the Spring, We spoke our vows
Under greenest boughs, and I gave my love a ring.
We danced that night, ‘til the morn’s grey light
And lay as lovers will, & we built our home
Of earth and stone, on the green beneath the hill.

A year passed by, & to our joy 
A son was born to us, in happiness 
We were complete, in our house beneath the hill.
Then the rumours came, of war and flame 
And a darkness on its way, & all young men
Should leave their homes, & march that very day. 

Guns they gave, they called us brave
And sent us out to kill, as we marched away
I bade farewell, to our house beneath the hill. 
For three days straight, we held out gait
As the stench of war drew near, the sergeant roared
I saw the world explode, the blood screaming in our ears.

The blood ran like a river, and my friends fell
One by one, & I felt the beast within 
All men rise up and drive me on.
The horrors that I witnessed, the twisted things men do,
In filth and blood, & shit I stood
And slew more than a few.
And all at once, the mayhem stopped
I looked up to the sky, I caught my breath
And saw my death, in a mortars whistling cry.
And the world became so peaceful
As if time itself stood still, & I held a thought
Of my sweet love, in our house beneath the hill. 

But Death it would not take me, and I fought 
With all my might, & I awoke untold weeks later
In a room far from the fight.
The doctors called me: Miracle
That I should survive, 
That the shell that took my legs from me, should leave me yet alive. 

I lay half dead, a blood soaked bed
A month or ten and more, & all the while 
My body cried, I dreamed of my fair home.
One sunny day, sometime next May,
This broken man came home, a stranger to his family,
Apart, and all alone.

So now I’m at my stories end, the ghost who lingers still,
With my haunted son and grieving wife
In our house beneath the hill. 
But we danced yon nights, ‘til the morn’s grey light
And lay as lovers will, & we built our home
Of earth and stone, on the green beneath the hill.

The House Beneath The Hill (ReMiX 2016)

The song is about William Alexander Morgan, http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/05/28/the-yankee-comandante, an American who with Che Guevara were the only foreign fighters in the Cuban Revolucion to attain the rank of Comandante. He was arrested by the Revolucion because he did not agree with move to Sovietism and was then accused as being an American agent, for which he was executed.

The Yankee Comandante (one of Fidel's victims)

I wrote this one a day or so ago and then came down with a cold virus which impaired the recording process. However, I have tried to do my best with the help of whisky honey and hot water ;)I will do a better version when I am well, but wanted to get this out this year!

Christmas Eve (in memory of Greg Lake)

I guess this is my attempt at an old fashioned bluegrass song in the style of Bill Monroe. I have reconfigured my recording software and think I have obtained a much better sound on this demo than on earlier attempts.

Artwork: http://vbridgeshoyt.com

Colly birds 
Them Colly birds
Calling out your name
Colly birds 
Them Colly birds
Calling out your name
It's on the wing
And in the breeze
On the wires
And in the trees
They call 
Your name
Colly birds they call again
Colly birds their song remains
They call
Your name

A simple song
A simple song
They sing a simple song
Them Colly birds
Them Colly birds
They sing a simple song
A song at dawn
A song at dusk
A song of love
A song of loss
They sing 
Your name
Colly birds they call again
Colly birds their song remains
They sing
Your name

I did you wrong
I did you wrong
They sing I did you wrong
Them Colly birds
Them Colly birds
They sing aI did you wrong
The things I did
The words I said
What I remember 
Or forget
I did you wrong
Colly birds they call again
Colly birds their song remains
They sing
Your name

Artwork:http://vbridgeshoyt.com

Colly Birds (Live Demo 2013 ReMastered with Logic) click for information & lyrics

This is a re-recording of a secular (or pagan) seasonal song I wrote at the end of 2011 and didn't really get to grips with in my earlier recording. 

Then I met Bella Luna on soundcloud and our duet together has given the song some of the depth I was originally looking for. I believe Bella's beautiful vocal has given the song a lovely shimmering winteriness and a timeless purity. Thank you from "Bella and the Bear"

Find more of Bella's work here: http://soundcloud.com/bella_luna

Jólnir (Yule Song) - by Bella and the Bear - free download for Christmas

Gravity’s Rainbow

Coming out the blue
Like a sonic boom
Pulling me to you
Gravity’s rainbow
Always lets you know
When it’s time to fall

And I’m falling now
Down to your ground
Zero hour
Here I go

Arcing ‘cross a sky
Brighter than my eye
Coming from on high
Gravity’s rainbow 
Always makes a show
Of the come and go

Is it coming now?
Beyond the zero? Toto?
Is extinction silent?
Well! There you go

Focused in the zone
'Twix flesh and bone
We are analepses
Gravity’s rainbow
Bridges the unknown
To the unknowable

Is it falling snow?
Melting on your tongue
In silent extinction
zero zero zero zero zero


Gravity's Rainbow (live demo) click for lyrics

This is a re-vamped version of "Northern Lights" with Midis expertly provided by Daniel Lockhart https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

Song written & Performed by: https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Northern Lights

I've never seen the Northern Lights
Shining in a northern sky
I'd like to see them one time
Reflected into your eyes

I've never seen the Reindeer
Running through a forest clear
I'd like to chase them once down
In this one and only lifetime

With you, with you

In northern latitudes
Where winters endless hush
Is woken by Northern Lights

I've never felt a lava flow
Beneath me on a basalt bowl
I'd want to feel that sometime
Iceland in the winter time

I've never flown on Sauin
Agaric flowing through me
I'd like to chase it one time
Through northern skies at night time

With you, with you

In northern latitudes
Where winters endless hush
Is woken by Northern Lights


Northern Lights ~ (with Daniel Lockhart)

This song in it's original form and based upon t s eliot's poem Death By Water from The Wasteland has previously been posted in a re-written 'original' version called https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin/the-yankee-comandante-live

Death By Water

Phlebas the Phoenician, a fortnight dead,
Forgot the cry of gulls, and the deep sea swell
And the profit and loss.
                                         A current under sea
Picked his bones in whispers. As he rose and fell
He passed the stages of his age and youth
Entering the whirlpool.
                                       Gentile or Jew
O you who turn the wheel and look to windward,
Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.

Read more: T. S. Eliot: Death by Water — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/t/lit/wasteland/death.html#ixzz2GkQZiWnx

Consider Phlebas (ReMiXeD) click title for information

"The Bad Hats" are: https://soundcloud.com/julie-wind and https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Strings by Daniel Lockhart https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

This is my first remix courtesy of Logic Pro 9! 2.1.13

Artwork by MiMi © 2012 and 2013.

A Thousand Times (Before I Die)

I saw you walking down the old road
Another arm around your waist
I guess you've found, another way
To break my heart
You're gonna kill me
A thousand times before I die
A thousand times before I die

I see their hands on your nakedness
Every time I close my eyes
I see you've found, another way
To break my heart
You're gonna kill me
A thousand times before I die
A thousand times before I die
A thousand times before I die

A thousand nights I've lain alone
Wondering where it all went wrong
A thousand ways, I've thought them through
A thousand more so will I do
A thousand times before I die
A thousand times before I die

I kissed you face, I was weeping
To awake, cold and alone
I guess I've found, my own way
To break my heart
Life's gonna kill me
A thousand times before I die.

A Thousand Times (Before I Die) ~ by "The Bad Hats" with 'Strings' by ProgRockDan1

I wrote this song in a few minutes this afternoon on 'Sophia', my baritone guitar. Guitar DI'd, with vocal + guitar on one mic.

This song is dedicated to MiMi, without whom I am nothing.

BROKEN FOOL

Sometimes I can't breathe at all
Unless I'm breathing you
There are times I don't feel at all
Unless I'm feeling you

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Can you heal?
This broken fool

Sometimes I think you don't see me at all
Sometimes you see right through
Sometimes I think that you don't think of me at all
Other times, that's all you seem to do

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Can you heal?
This broken fool

I can't stay up on this wall, it is inevitable that I must fall
And I cannot put it together, with the King or those that do
I am a broken fool, can you heal?

Sometimes I can't breathe at all
Unless I'm breathing you
There are times I don't feel at all
Unless I'm feeling you

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Tell me, can you heal?
This broken fool
Can you heal?


Broken Fool (Live Demo ~ click title for lyrics)

Translated and performed by:@mira18b
Piano transcription & performance by:https://soundcloud.com/milanazilnik
Orchestral arrangement by: https://soundcloud.com/stephanfischer-1
Vocals produced by: https://soundcloud.com/artyom-tchebotaryov
Original song and production by: https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

თუ კარგად გიცნობ (If I know you)

თუ კარგად გიცნობ, 
ვიცი ვინც ხარ 
სად იქნებოდი? 
სად წახვიდოდი?

ნაკლებად რომ მიყვარდე, 
ვიდრე ახლა 
ვისთან იქნებოდი? 
უშენოდ რა ვქნა?

გადავცურავდი ღრმა ოკეანეს, 
უმაღლეს მწვერვალს დავიპყრობდი, 
ოკეანის ღრმა სილურჯიდან, 
შავ მარგალიტს მოვიტანდი, 
მხოლოდ შენთვის მოვიტანდი

თუ კარგად მიცნობ, 
იცი ვინც ვარ 
სად წავიდოდი? 
სად ვიქნებოდი?

ნაკლებად რომ გიყვარდე, 
ვიდრე ახლა, 
ვისთან ვიქნებოდი? 
ვისთან წავიდოდი?

გადავცურავდით ღრმა ოკეანეს, 
უმაღლეს მწვერვალს დავიპყრობდით, 
ოკეანის ღრმა სილურჯიდან, 
შავ მარგალიტს მოვიტანდით, 
მხოლოდ შენთვის, 
მოვიტანდით.

Phonetic:

(tu k'argad gitsnob)

tu k'argad gitsnob, vitsi vints khar, 
sad iknebodi? 
sad ts'akhvidodi?

Naklebad rom miq'varde, vidre akhla, 
vistan iknebodi? 
ushenod ra vkna?

gadavtsuravdi ghrma okeanes, 
umaghles mts'vervals davipq'robdi, 
okeanis ghrma silurjidan, 
shav margalit's movit'andi, 
mkholod shentvis, 
movit'andi

tu kargad mitsnob, itsi vints var, 
sad ts'avidodi? 
Sad viknebodi?

nak'lebad rom giq'varde vidre akhla, 
vistan viknebodi? 
vistan ts'avidodi?

Gadavtsuravdit ghrma okeanes, 
umaghles mts'vervals davipq'robdit, 
okeanis ghrma silurjidan, 
shav margalits, movit'andit, 
mkholod shentvis, 
movit'andit

თუ კარგად გიცნობ by Mira (If I Know You ~ in Georgian)

Vocals and Blues arrangement by: https://soundcloud.com/amywinehousetribute180
Trumpet by: https://soundcloud.com/waynemorley

Original song: https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin/broken-fool-demo-click-title

BROKEN FOOL

Sometimes I can't breathe at all
Unless I'm breathing you
There are times I don't feel at all
Unless I'm feeling you

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Can you heal?
This broken fool

Sometimes I think you don't see me at all
Sometimes you see right through
Sometimes I think that you don't think of me at all
Other times, that's all you seem to do

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Can you heal?
This broken fool

I can't stay up on this wall, it is inevitable that I must fall
And I cannot put it together, with the King or those that do
I am a broken fool, can you heal?

Sometimes I can't breathe at all
Unless I'm breathing you
There are times I don't feel at all
Unless I'm feeling you

Sometimes I'm flying
Sometimes I'm falling 
Sometimes I'm broken
Tell me, can you heal?
This broken fool
Can you heal?

Broken Fool by Ms King & Wazzer M. (ReMasTereD)

Original poem in Russian by: Maria Petrovykh
Translated by: https://soundcloud.com/luche007 (Ludmilla Chebotarev)
Set to music and performed live mic by: https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin

Luche asked me to review her translations of Maria's poems and I heard this song as I read this particular piece.

Confession
F            G         C        Em    Am 
Don’t be hard on my abrupt confession.
      F            G                         C---
It’s alike my fate, all black and blue.
F           G          C            Em Am
And my lips are parching in obsession
F                     G                             C
From the very constant thought of you.


I, within my power, have to render
All my life beseeching for a clue.
I am short of breath and I surrender
From the very tender thought of you.

Though my garden's cindered by a lightning,
I am fighting with myself anew,
Therefore my bitter tears are lightening
From the very simple thought of you.

Don’t be hard on my abrupt confession.
It’s alike my fate, all black and blue.
And my lips are parching in obsession
From the very constant thought of you.

I am short of breath and I surrender
From the very tender thought of you.

Therefore my bitter tears are lightening
From the very loving thought of you.

_______________________________________

Мария Петровых

Не взыщи, мои признанья грубы…

Не взыщи, мои признанья грубы,
Ведь они под стать моей судьбе.
У меня пересыхают губы
От одной лишь мысли о тебе.

Воздаю тебе посильной данью -
Жизнью, воплощенною в мольбе,
У меня заходится дыханье
От одной лишь мысли о тебе.

Не беда, что сад мой смяли грозы,
Что живу сама с собой в борьбе,
Но глаза мне застилают слезы
От одной лишь мысли о тебе.

1967

Confession (after Maria Petrovykh) Logic Pro X ReMasTeR

Performed by: CindE (@cindyeichardt) unD mE (@ian-melvin)
Original music & lyrics: @ian-melvin
Artwork by: Joe Wierenga

HEART SHAPED HOLE

So I lost my heart
Somewhere in the dark
Somewhere over there
Tell me is me
Cause I can't find my key
Or broke it in the lock
Believe it, or not
I can't find my heart
I can't find my heart
I can't find my heart
I can't find my heart
Just a heart shaped hole
Just a heart shaped hole
Just a heart shaped hole

And I can't find my soul
It blew away whole
It faded with the dawn
Tell me, was it you
That took away the glue
So I would fall apart
Somewhere in the dark
Cause I can't find my heart
I can't find my heart
I can't find my heart
I can't find my heart
Just a heart shaped hole
Just a heart shaped hole
Just a heart shaped hole

I can't find my heart
I lost it in the dark
Somewhere over there
At the foot of our stairs
Fuck, is it just me
That never had the key

I couldn't find the lock
With two hands in the light
I couldn't turn it left
I couldn't make it right

I couldn't find my heart
Even in the dark
I couldn't find my heart
I couldn't find my heart
Just this heart shaped hole
Just this heart shaped hole


Heart Shaped Hole (CindEunDmE)

https://soundcloud.com/ian-melvin/audiobiography-ian-melvin

All the songs on this cloud are original compositions of mine.  Sometimes in collaboration with other SoundClouders.

Music is a kind of kaleidoscope, although it manifests itself on an incomparably higher level of ideality. Music produces beautiful forms and colours in ever more elaborate diversity, gently overflowing, sharply contrasted, always coherent and yet always new, self-contained and self-fulfilled. Eduard Hanslick 1854

I am a married father of two, grandfather of four, fine arts graduate and polymath.

I had been asked to commit my songs to recording for the benefit of my offspring, and also I guess before I go completely deaf (Yes. I am one of the 1 in 7 severely deaf people in the UK) so begins this project. 

However, as I have gotten into it I realize that I have a lot of new stuff bursting out all the time, much of it inspired by you good people on Sound Cloud. 

Collaborating has been a revelation and I want to do more and as much as I can, so if you hear anything of mine you like and/or have any ideas about production etc just drop me a line anytime.

My collaborative name is Eight Zeros and can be found here: http://soundcloud.com/eight-zeros and on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/eight8zeros

I would at some point like to work with someone to develop my own and hopefully your songs as an acoustic vocal duo so if you are geographically near and interested please get in touch.

Recordings were made first on a Boss Micro BR, then on an iMac running Garageband'11, inputting through a Behringer 1204 USB mixer and using a Rode NT2A for voice (Behringer C1 condenser mic for voice up to April 2013) and an AKG1000S for guitars. From January 2013 I have upgraded software to Logic pro 9. My weapon of choice is a Martin 00015M, with Martin SP Light's mostly recorded open though sometimes via Fishman Rare Earth Blend. 

All Material is Copyright © 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

Ian Melvin

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