Lyrics

In the darkest hue
With the curtains drawn,
Suddenly my lights flickered,
And I heard her song,
Hey! You in the dark,
In the darkening hue,
This is the banshee,
I’ve come for you. 

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go. 

I know you’re way too cheap
To hitch a ride,
So I’ve personally come,
But I’m too young I cried
I don’t want to go,
But it was too late,
We were already down the road. 

And she picked up those who’d strayed,
And she picked up those who were strong, 
And she picked up those who’d blessed us,
And she picked up those who were wrong.
And she picked up those who had lost their voice,
And taught them how to scream this song. 

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go. 

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
When the young ones come,
The old’s got to go
If you’ve heard me,
It’s already too late. 

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go. 

And she picked up by those who’d prayed,
And she picked up those who were good, 
And she picked up those who’d confessed,
And she picked anyone she could,
And she picked up those who had lost their voice,
Taught them how to scream this song. 

I am the banshee
The banshee you know,
You have had your time,
Now It’s time for you to go. 


A Banshee is a death-spirit native to Celtic mythology and was regarded either as a type of fairy or a ghost, regardless of origin a Banshee was always seen as an omen of death and her screaming was said to be heard by those destined to die

Mike Krath: Lyrics
Finn Eces: Production, Arrangement, Melody, Vocals, Octave Mandolin, Banjo, Mandolin

Finn Eces - @finn_eces
Mike Krath - @mike-krath

The Banshee Of The Darkest Hue (feat. Finn Eces)

A Baby's First Steps

Nine Cavities!!!

I Don't Know If I Can Take Anymore

A Happy Day in the French Countryside

And My Parking Space
 Lyrics and Music by Mike Krath

I saw a building go up today
In a city that didn’t need another building
And My view was blocked when I didn’t even have a window,
And my parking space,
And my parking space,
Gone. 
 
And I saw a gated park today,
In a city that had a thousand parks already.
And it was locked and required a key
And I was arrested when I tried to enter. 
And my parking space,
And my parking space,
Gone. 
 
And I wondered why I bothered
To make this place my home
When I couldn’t even manage
To make a space my own,
 
And I saw a sidewalk being built today
On a street where no one was in a hurry. 
And I heard a shout to cross the street
When there wasn’t a light to warn you. 
And my parking space,
And my parking space,
Gone. 
 
Instrumental
 
And I wondered why I bothered
To make this place my home
When I couldn’t even manage
To make a space my own,
And why a woman without a child
Walks a lonely road to find one,
Or why a man who wants a mate,
Takes all the steps to be alone. 
And why the things we want to keep,
By time and chance move on. 
It’s not like we don’t see it,
But when we do, it’s gone. 

And my parking space,
And my parking space
Gone.

Lyrics/Music by Mike Krath

My Parking Space (remixed)

First Thoughts

All in a Summer’s Day

Evening Hoe-Down

I once knew a cat
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath


I once knew a cat
Who lived under the trailer
Where I worked,
And I brought her home
One cold winter morning
I made her bed that evening,
Next to mine
And she slept in it
As though the bed had been hers from the beginning,
And she purred throughout the night,
As the cold wind beat against the windows,
And she made a slight sound,
In what seemed as gratitude 
And from that day on,
We shared a deep bond,

Of all the pets I’ve had,
And I had many before her,
She was my closest,
And the best friend I ever had. 
And when I went about the house,
She’d follow me around,
Everywhere I went,
She was always at my side,
She was right there with me,
In the morning,
In the evening,
She was right by my side,
Until the day she had to go. 

On that day she slept forever. 
Forever my friend went away. 
On that day she slept forever. 
Forever my friend went away.

I Once Knew A Cat

Fifty Years Ago,
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

You invited me to your 16th birthday,
I showed up with albums in my hand 
No one was dancing,
So I started up the first dance. 
And we danced all night,
While the stars shone above the sand,
Then the Germans crashed the party,
And your party got out of hand,
And your Mom was mad,
And asked why no one had brought gifts,
But she didn’t understand,
I was your gift,
And you fell in love with it,
When I walked out 
with albums in my hand. 

And we tried to be a couple,
But it just wasn’t meant to be,
And I told you I didn’t want to marry,
And I left you in university. 
And you went off and found someone else,
And I didn’t care,
But I learned to regret it,
And often wondered why you weren’t there,
And I drifted through the years
Alone in my life,
But I kept your pictures
To remind me,
If I could do it all over again,
You would’ve been my wife.

And you called me,
When I was thirty,
When life was over and I wanted to be left alone,
And we talked three hours,
And I didn’t want to hang up the phone
And I went to work the next day,
And told everyone,
that I was getting married,
And they thought I’d come undone.
But seven months later,
we tied the knot,
and picked up from where we first  begun.
and from then,
we never looked back,
To the time I stopped our fun.

And we traveled back,
On a cold November night,
To the house you had first fallen in love,
When I walked out with albums in my hands,
And your party was going strong,
Fifty years ago,
And we saw the stars still shining
Above the desert sands. 
Like love,
It kept on going,
Never quitting,
Regardless of what we felt,
or tried to understand.

Fifty Years Ago

And Now Never Will
Lyrics and Music by Mike Krath

Remember those times
we sat by the Nile,
Watching the setting sun,
Knowing by the time the stars had come out,
We had tackled deep things and such,
And we sat drinking Egyptian beer,
Until we couldn’t feel our skin. 
And  we always said that if we had time,
we’d do it all over again. 

And now here you are,
In a wheelchair,
Dribbling,
And barely able to move your lips,
And those times we had,
You’ve forgotten. 
You can’t even remember what you did this morning,
Much less your name,
And you still me money
From the beer you drunk. 
All that money I loaned you
For all that beer,
The money you never paid back,
And now never will. 

We thought those times would never end. 
Well now I’m afraid it has my friend.

And Now Never Will

I Have a Doll
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I have a doll,
And I call her Boo. 
And when I pick her up,
It says booga,
And I say boo. 
I also have a pet snake that’s named Elizabeth,
And a bite from her assures a most horrible death,
Once in bed,
I had anxiety,
That Elizabeth would escape,
And make a lunge for me,
And I wouldn’t know what to do
Or how to flee. 

Now you think that I’ve gone mad,
But it’s not what you think,
And it makes me sad,
So maybe you could help,
With your sanity,
To help me redeem
Humanity.

First we begin with a cup of tea,
And one or two sugars, if you please,
And a crumpet or cucumber sandwich to munch,
Then an introduction to Elizabeth,
To bite you for lunch. 
Then you’ll fall,
And I’ll  get up and dance,
And pick up my doll and throw it by chance
And hope it hits you to make it say boo,
And I doubt you’ll be able to say booga,
That’s not what you do. 
That’s not what you do. 

Now this is a dream I once had,
That Lizabeth was swallowing Boo
To make me more mad,
And you came over in a cup of tea,
And you raised its sail
And we set out to sea. 

But Elizabeth won’t like it,
And will swim to our boat,
And our little excursion,
Will be breathless at most,
And Boo will our captain,
And you will be our liege,
And we’ll have a great time together,
In the middle of the sea.

I Have a Doll

Little Red Harmonica
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Many years ago,
When one of our sons was born,
The doctor told us your boy is very sick,
He’d live three to four years at most,
And when he turned five, we were so happy,
Maybe there was a chance after all,
And on that birthday I gave him a little red harmonica,
You may be weak, I told him, not able to do much but lie around, but with this you can play anywhere you are. 
Now go ahead, make something of yourself. 
Let’s hear some sweet music. 
And he smiled and took the little red harmonica in his hands. 
I’m gonna learn how to play this, daddy,
I’m gonna learn how to make a heavenly sound. 
I laughed. I bet you will, son. I bet you will. 

And for the next year,
He played the best he could,
Here and there, to anyone who’d listen,
To his brothers and sisters, to the neighbors, the cats, the dogs, even the pigs.
He loved that harmonica,
It never left his little hand all day, 
Not even to eat (to an extent)
And he had it with him by his side until he went to bed,
But on his sixth birthday, the music stopped. And we had to take him to the hospital. 
And there he begged me in a weak voice, daddy, please don’t let them take away my harmonica. I want to practice, I want to keep practicing. If I’m gonna die and be buried, don’t let me buried without it. 
And I promised. 
And when his 6-year-old body was lying in the coffin, the little red harmonica lay in his hands. 

Now the years have passed,
And we’ve moved on with our lives,
And I try not to think too much of my son,
But from time to time 
I have someone from our old town
Tell me that when they visited the graveyard. 
They swore they could hear a muffled sound
Of someone practicing a harmonica. 
And I start to think again of my little boy.  
I start to think of him day and night. 

In the great redemption story,
I know I’ll see him again,
I know I’ll see him and we’ll be standing side by side. 
And in my mind I see him with his little red harmonica,
And him saying,
You want to see me play it, daddy, you wanna?
And I say, of course, Let’s hear what you’ve learned all these many years. 

And I see him lift it and play a heavenly sound,
A sound that lights up my heart,
And I can’t believe it,
And I grab and squeeze him tight,
What joy is this? What joy are you giving?
And he laughs. 
Do you like it, daddy, do you?
Do I like it? I love it!
And I hug him again,
And then weep on his shoulder,
I’ve missed him so much. 
And I hear him say, don’t cry, daddy, this is heaven now. There are no tears. 
I know. But I’m crying tears of joy. 
And I hug him like I’ve never hugged him before. 
I hug my little boy with his little red harmonica like I’ve never have before.


Set-Up:
DAW: Reason 12

Analog Instrument:
C-Harmonica

Keyboard Instruments:
Folk Fiddle - Keyswitch - Insanity Samples
Appassionata Strings - Spitfire
Hanz Zimmer Strings - Spitfire
Voices - Barbary Solo Glide AH TF - Soundpaint
Solo Boy Legacy and Legato Sections - VOXOS
Originals - Felt Piano - Spitfire

Little Red Harmonica

My Wonderful Dream
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I once had a dream,
A dream, you know,
Where we held each other close,
And never let one another go
I had a dream 
Where we’d be side by side
And maybe, by chance,
One day you’d be my bride.

Some dreams,
they just come and go,
big ones, small ones,
Even the ones we hold on to so
They grow old, they become trivial, 
but some can’t let go. 

From something mundane
To something glorious. 
That’s what those dreams are for,
That’s what those dreams are for,
The dreams we had when young
When were both reaching for the stars,
Those were wonderful dreams,
Those were wonderful dreams,

And then the day came,
When you let your dreams be mine,
And you stood and held my hand,
And you said I’ll never leave you behind.

And if there are dreams,
you can’t seem to impress,
I’ll take those dreams,
And I’ll give them my best. 

Dreams come and go 
But one dream was meant to be so,
You never left that dream behind,
You never let that dream to die,
When you promised to follow me to the earth and back,
You became my dream,
My only dream I’d never lack,

You are, you always will be, the embodiment of that dream,
You are my dream,
You’re the only dream I’ve ever had,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream. 
Dreams come and go 
But you’re that dream that was to be so,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream.  


So here’s to you my dream woman,
May I never find a dream without your dreams at my side,
My dream girl, my dream woman,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream. 
Dreams come and go 
But you’re that dream that was to be so,
My dream. My dream
My wonderful dream. 

I love you my dream woman,

May we keep dreaming for many more years to come.

My Wonderful Dream

Just an Ambient Mood

Gray Hair of Wisdom
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

I wrote this song for you,
When I was very young,
When the world was a large place,
And it’s heroes were unsung,
When make-believe was real,
And nothing we did was wrong.  
And passion was our guide,
that moved our love along.
Passion was our guide,
that moved our love along.

I wrote this song for you,
When your face was still so young,
When the world had become a smaller place,
And its heroes now undone,
When beliefs were challenged,
To question right from wrong,
Until all that was left was strength
To carry our love along,
All that was left was strength 
To carry our love along. 

I wrote this song for you,
When I had nothing young to say,
When the world had become old,
And it’s heroes kept at bay,
When darkness now reigned,
To block the midday sun,
But the gray hair of wisdom
Guided our love along,
The gray hair of wisdom,
Guided our love along.

Gray Hair Of Wisdom

Easter Idea

Back in 1973 when Egypt went to war with Israel, I stood my wife up for a tennis date.  Even though there was a war now going on, she was not happy that I stood her up.  Only recently did she tell me that the Tennis Club had been closed due to the war. 

Little White Tennis Outfit
Lyrics and Music by Mike Krath

Look at her
Walking down the street
In her little white tennis outfit 
Look at her,
She looks so sweet
In her little white tennis outfit,
Look at her,
As she keeps the beat,
In her little white tennis outfit, 

Can you hear the bombs?
There’s a war about to go on. 

Her boyfriend stood her up,
She was waiting to play,
Stood her up,
She was waiting to play. 
Stood her up
Waiting to play

His mom says,
He’s at his best friends 
Been there all day. 
No…way!
He stood me up,
I was waiting to play,
Stood me up 
I wanted to play,
His mom says at his friends. 
Been there all day.

Can you hear the bombs?
There’s a war about to go on. 

She phoned her boyfriend,
where you at?
You stood me up,
We need to chat!

And he says, but there’s a war going on,
Can’t you hear the bombs?
Get under the table.

What did you just say to me?

There's a war going on!
Get under the table. HIDE!

You won't get away with this!
You won’t get away…with this!
No you won't!

Look at her
Walking down the street,
in her little white tennis outfit,
Look at her she looks so sweet,
In her little white tennis outfit.
Look at her,
Hitting everyone she meets,
In her little white tennis outfit.
Look at her go!

Can you hear the bombs?
There's a war about to go on.

Little White Tennis Outfit

Last month, I experience a 6.6 earthquake (fortunately only level 4 where I lived) and my building bounced up and down and rattled back and forth.  I thought I was a goner for sure on the 13th floor.  After the 7th largest aftershock, I finally was able to sleep around 5 am.  It was a night I won't forget.  I now tell everyone that I was visibly shaken...but not stirred. My dreams afterwards were about water, being outside without a mask, cobras and...buildings moving back and forth.

Everyone Need an Earthquake
Lyrics (abridged) and Music by Mike Krath

Everyone needs an earthquake
Everyone needs an earthquake
to move them back and forth
back and…
for a dream,
just a dream
a dream where things
are not real.

And water filled the streets,
Standing knee deep,
And cobras moved
back and forth. 
Ready to strike,
And I was frozen with fear.

And my mask was missing,
And I grabbed my shirt to cover my mouth. 
Please, I prayed, don’t let anyone see me. 
I went through a hotel lobby,
and everyone was looking,
But I kept my face covered
with my shirt
And I finally made it home
Just in time for the building
to sway back and forth.

We all need an earthquake,
All need an earthquake
To make us go back and forth.

Everyone Needs An Earthquake

On the Dance Floor
lyrics and music by Mike Krath

There are chords D, A, C, E, 
But no N. 
where’s N?
On the dance floor,
On the dance floor. 

There’s E as a solitary chord,
But where’s L, O, V?
Where’s its companions?
On the dance floor,
On the dance floor. 

D, A, C, E,
L, O, V,
N side,
N side,
The dance floor. 

Then N, R, Y,
with E and G,
And B and T
With E and A,
Where?
On the dance floor,
On the dance floor.

D, A, C, E,
L, O, V,
N side,
N side,
The dance floor.

If you don’t like?
Then you can…
L, O, V it,
Or L, V it. 
L, O, V it
Or L, V it,
On the dance floor 
On the dance floor.

On the Dance Floor

Rowing in the Dark
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

There are times someone shows you the right way to go,
But you ignore them and head for the common flow,
Preferring to be caught up in the stormy gale,
While waves batter against you to keep you still,
And then you only cry for help when you are sure no one is near,
A futile calling when there is none to hear. 

Many times you’ve acted like you’ve wanted someone by your side,
Walking toward you on the water to make your storm subside,
But it was only pretend as you stayed on the wider route,
So you could row here and there and all about. 

Rowing without direction is your preferred way,
To keep your lack of peace as a summer’s day,
And you ignore the waves flooding your boat as the end draws near,
Then have the audacity to sink with the look of fear. 

Rowing in the dark is what it is all about,
Rowing in the dark is where your mind is at. 

You row with no direction to go.
In a river that’s wide to make it so,
No rock in sight to keep you secure,
And even if seen, you always make that quick detour. 
Rowing in the dark until the bitter end. 
Rowing in the dark with your so-called friends.

Rowing in the Dark

Lyrics Mike Krath & Finn Eces
Narration Mike Krath
Music Finn Eces
Performed and Produced Finn Eces

Lyrics Mike Krath & Finn Eces
Narration Mike Krath
Music Finn Eces
Performed and Produced Finn Eces

Lyrics

If I could write something profound
I would
Make you laugh and be your clown
I would
Lift your thoughts when they are down,
I would
If I could always be around
I would
 
If I could flash a smile to make your day
I would
Strike a match I knew would light your way,
I would
 
If I could sing the songs that said it all
I would
If I could take your blame and take the fall
I would

If I could write something profound
I would

Something Profound (feat Finn Eces)

High on Octaves

I grew up listening non-stop to Ray Conniff, Bert Kaempfert, Henry Mancini and other easy listening orchestras. My parents had no mercy.

Here We Are Once Again (Musac Elevator Version)

Here We Are Once Again
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Verse 1

Well…here we are once again,
Alone in this cafe,
The place we began as friends,
All on a sunny day. 
While everyone else sat outside,
Watching the world go by,
We sat and fell in love,
Thanks to the Lord on high. 

Chorus 
Here we are once again,
At the table where it all began,
Eating food and enjoying life,
And with you … my wife. 

Verse 2

Do you hear the birds outside
Chirping loudly above?
What was passed down from years ago
When we first confessed our love
Overheard when we were young,
And now repeated from the beaks of doves,
Can you hear them? It’s easy. 
They’re all singing our song. 

Chorus 
Here we are once again,
At the table where it all began,
Eating food and enjoying life,
And the desert … you … my wife. 

Verse 3

Oh…I can’t think of anywhere else,
I’d rather be,
Than with the memories of you and I here,
Having our first cup of tea. 
And to cherish this very moment,
With the woman I adore,
Nothing could make me any happier,
Or to want anything more.

Here We Are Once Again (Scraggly Voice Version)

Sunday Morning

You lift Me Up
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Here I am sitting,
With the men of this town,
They want to know what’s so special,
That makes me want you around.
And I tell them once again,
What I’ve told them as my friends,
Many times as has arisen,
Of all the women I have known,
And I’ve known many as been told,
You’re the only one if they listen.

You lift me up when I am down
You lift me up to solid ground,
You lift me up to a proper place,
You lift me up when all else fails,
You lift me up when all is despair,
You lift me up to your strong embrace.

You lift me up when am not sound,
You lift me up when I’m the clown,
You lift me up to not lose face,
You lift me up when I don’t care,
You lift me up from my chair,
You lift me up to save me from disgrace.

You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
All day.
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
Is all I can say.

So when I sit at the gates,
Your love has turned away all hate,
And all I can hear is your praise,
And when it comes my turn to speak,
I stand and tell them what they seek,
You lift me up all day.
And when night falls,
You’re right there with me in the hall,
To cast away all of my pains.

You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
All day.
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
Is all I can say.

You lift me up when all is black,
You lift me up when I have lack,
You lift me up, don’t turn back…

You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
All day.
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
You lift me up,
Is all I can say.

You Lift Me Up (All Day)

Instrumental only.  Add your own lyrics. :)


Daw: Logic Pro X

15 Tracks

Instruments:
Rob Papen Quad - Island Arp - JoMal - No FX
Rob Papen RG - 013 Stl 16th Dawn Preset, 3_Steel RG grooves 01 Bank - No FX
Logic Pro Alchemy - 70s Synth Arp -  with Waves S1 Imager and SoundToys PrimalTap as FX
Spitfire Hans Zimmer Strings - 60 Cellos All in one — Long setting — with SoundToys Crystallize (Wet Pad) as FX
Hans Zimmer Strings and QUAD Island Arp used without FX on two tracks
Logic Pro Alchemy - Divine Voices - no FX
KV331 Audio Synthmaster - AR Morph Scanner BT — no FX
Spectronics Omnisphere — Lunar Choirs — no FX
Logic Pro Alchemy - 80s Dream Guitar — Ensemble Symphonic 5 Voice FX
Logic Pro Alchemy - Dynamic String Layer - No FX
Cinebrass Sonore - Horns Legato - No FX
Logic Pro Alchemy - Alchemists Choir — Modulation Delay Super Chorus and Flanger Yellow Flanger FX
Logic Pro Alchemy - Wavetable Morph Lead — No FX
EastWest OPUS — Hollywood Backup Singers — WB Multi - No FX

MASTER MIX
Logic Pro AdLimit - Average Limit
Waves S1 Imager - S1 Full Reset
SoundToys - Sie-Q - Scooped
Ozone 9 — whatever makes it sound good :)

You Lift Me Up (All Day) - Instrumental

Take Me Back Tonight
Music and Lyrics by Mike Krath

Take me back 
To where it all began,
To that moment in time,
When we first became friends,
When our dreams were real,
And our fantasies, too
And you understood me,
When I said I love you.

Take me back tonight,
To where it all began,
Back to those moments,
We thought would never end.

Take me back,
As only you can do,
To that moment in time,
When I said I love you.
When our parents were alive,
And most of our friends, too.
When we would sneak away,
To make our love a new.

Let’s go back tonight,
To where it all began,
Back to those moments
We thought would never end.

Take Me Back Tonight

Morning Songs

I'm a keyboardist with a love for layering sounds to create ambient, ethereal atmospheres and composing simple piano pieces to embellish. I love all genres of music, and find myself composing different types depending on my mood of the day.

I’ve never had formal training. As a teen, my parents wouldn’t let a piano in our house in Egypt, so I studied piece-meal at friends’ homes. When I got to college, I learned by going to university piano practice rooms. In my 40’s, I met my birth-mom who turned out to be a child prodigy, winning a Van Cliburn competition by playing Rachmaninoff at age 11. Most of what I play today, I learned from the techniques she taught me. 

I’m an American who has lived abroad for a good part of my life in Egypt, Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Italy and now Taiwan.

Mike Krath

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