"Rain" is meant to be a snapshot into a particular mood. The simplistic text hides inside the shadow of dense minor harmonies to evoke the feeling of being surrounded by rain clouds, and the uneven meter serves to unsettle the listener, particularly through the use of "the" on downbeats rather than pickups.  The overall gloomy feel of the piece allows the performers and the audience to wallow in a collective misery for a while, because sometimes the only way to cope with difficult feelings is to sit with them and share them with others.  

Rain

Stillness (demo)

"Mediocrity" ©2016 Marjorie Halloran Music
words and music by Marjorie Halloran


Mediocrity (guitar demo)

"Beautiful People" demo track
Music and lyrics ©2016 Marjorie Halloran Music

Don't carry the world on your shoulders, that's what the old songs say
It's hard to live as a sensitive soul when feelings so often get in the way
Your heart aches for the ones who are thirsty, and wonder when they'll get their next meal
There's never enough time or resources or finance to express all the empathy you feel,

And a lot of the weird in the world is good
A lot of the good in the world is weird
All these crazy, messed-up, beautiful people
Trying to get by, trying to conquer their fear

Now everyone has their own situation and they're fighting demons we'll never understand
There's not much we can do to keep them from hurting, but we'll try at least to offer a helping hand

And a lot of the weird in the world is good
A lot of the good in the world is weird
All these crazy, messed-up, beautiful people
Trying to get by, trying to conquer their fear

How can we change things by action and thought?
Do we want to be remembered when we die
Or just not be forgotten?

All we can do is our best, better than nothing by far
All we can do is be kind to all and love them however they are.

And a lot of the weird in the world is good
A lot of the good in the world is weird
All these crazy, messed-up, beautiful people
Trying to get by, trying to conquer their fear

Beautiful People

"Somebody Loved", by the Weepies

One-shot recording with slightly out of tune piano, made for Steven

Somebody Loved

8 Ways to Look at a Window
Text by Francesca Myhrvold
Music by Marjorie Halloran

This is a rough demo multitrack recording of the choral piece I wrote under the mentorship of Alice Parker-- to hear the real thing, come to the WomenSing concert in June! Details: http://womensing.org/concerts/current-season

8 Ways to Look at a Window-- multitrack demo

"Truly, Madly, Deeply" as done with improvised four-part harmony and the World's Worst Junky Guitar™. Quite possibly the most awkward cover ever done by any group of people. Happy Valentine's Day! 

"Performed" by Marjorie Halloran, Michael Garrett Steele, Philip Riegle, and Zachary Kohlmeier.
February 2017

Truly, Madly, Deeply: party edition

I wrote a new song today, and upon my attempt to record a full run-through of it, the clock on the wall decided to "chime in" and sing along. LOL! Oh well.

"Our First April" Music and lyrics ©2017 Marjorie Halloran Music

Our First April (piano demo with surprise ending)

A mash-up of "It's Quiet Uptown" (from Hamilton) and "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" (from Evita) that I did for Chibi_Ma as a secret santa creative exchange. 

Words and music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber
Arrangement, vocals, and piano by Marjorie Halloran

It's Quiet in Another Hall

"Tommy's Tale (The Ballad of Obese Raccoon)" was written for Megan Jaquez, as a gift for Brett Foster on his birthday. Concept given by Megan and Brett, music and lyrics ©2018 Marjorie Halloran Music.

Lyrics:
Once upon a time (but fairly recently),
There lived a man and woman who wanted a family
One day, they found a little raccoon abandoned by his mommy

The Jeffersons, they loved him, kept him warm and safe and clean He was the cutest little woodland creature you had ever seen They adopted him and named him Tommy

Eventually all good things must come to an end
One dark and stormy night, a knock came at the door
“Sorry, ma’am,” the ranger said, “I’m here to apprehend
You’re keeping a wild animal illegally and we can’t allow it anymore”

“Please don’t take him!” Mrs. Jefferson cried, “This can’t be real! Where is he going to live? How will he find his next meal?”

The enclosure at the wildlife center wasn’t too secure
And time was of the essence, his stomach couldn’t wait
There might be a better world out there— how could he be sure? Clever Tommy had to escape, and when he was out... he ate.

Snails and worms and ladybugs, apples nice and round 
A half-eaten slice of pizza someone left on the ground 
Remnants of a casserole from a trash can up the road 
Tommy, if you’re not careful, you’ll explode

It turns out when you’re living on the streets, you gotta make your own way 
Sneak in through the pet door, help yourself to tuna pâté
Tommy quickly realized lots of food is wasted and thrown away
A neighborhood of picky eaters becomes a wild raccoon buffet

Oranges and avocados and grilled cheese with fries 
Marshmallows with chocolate silk and coconut cream pies 
Taco shells and egg salad and a bit of liverwurst
Tommy, if you’re not careful, you might burst

The neighbors began calling him Obese Raccoon
He grew too large for pet doors, people chased him with brooms 
He didn’t really notice, and just kept moving on
Going house to house ’til all the leftovers were gone

When all the cans on Elm Street were empty, it was time
To move along, street by street, to a better place
Up the social garbage bin ladder he climbed
And fancy homes have the fanciest trash, so Obese Raccoon stuffed his face

Lobster and fois gras and ratatouille stew
Truffle risotto, lemon gelato, and a pot of cheese fondue
Pinot noir and caviar, escargot nonstop
And one sad day, our Obese Raccoon, he wasn’t careful and he went *pop*!

Brett's Birthday 

Tommy's Tale (The Ballad of Obese Raccoon)

"Cliche Love Song"
Words and music ©2015 Marjorie Halloran Music
Dedicated to Steven Moore


According to my calculations, we have been together for a long, long time
And after all these years I've tried my best to let you know how glad I am that you are mine
I love your eyes, your smile, your hair
And the cleverness your words reveal
I love you just for being there
And the way you make me feel

I only feel creative when complaining
And I only go outside when it is raining
What else can I do but write a song or two?
And though it's cliche, I want to say I love you

I've told you time and time again, when things are going well I'm not inspired
But I need to thank you for your lasting patience when I'm mad or scared or tired
You're brilliant, and a smartass too 
(I never liked that sappy romance)
But I'm so glad that I married you
That for you I'll take the chance to say

I only feel creative when complaining
And I only go outside when it is raining
What else can I do but write a song or two?
And though it's cliche, I want to say I love you

And though it's cliche, I want to say I need you
And though it's cliche, I want to say
You make my life brighter every day
And I don't know what I'd ever do without you
So I had to write a cliche love song about you

Steven's Gift 2015

Cliché Love Song

San Francisco Bay Area-born Marjorie Halloran is a composer, singer, and songwriter currently based in Austin, TX. She is the founder and coordinator of the choral workshop at Vermont College of Fine Arts, and her debut album, Ready For Anything (available on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and BandCamp) was released in 2015. She is one of the lead vocalists and keyboardist for the Austin based indie band One Touch Relief.

Marjorie Halloran

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