Mark J Bennett: THE PARTING GLASS

@phil-mcwalter approached me to ask if I’d like to do my own version of his song, https://soundcloud.com/phil-mcwalter/i-can-see-all-of-you-1 . He was keen that I used my own words, although I explained that I wouldn’t be able to match, let alone improve on what he had done. I persevered and once I found the mood I wanted to occupy, the words came quickly. Phil’s original version, if my interpretation is correct, appears to be from the perspective of an all-seeing/omnipotent being. Whereas the anxiety and tension I felt in the music led me to the perspective of someone who is all-seeing, via our various modern communications and information systems, yet simultaneously wholly powerless to change anything and gradually becomes insane. The beauty of writing something like this is that it doesn’t necessarily have to represent your own personal ideas and beliefs. I’m a little bit cynical in real life but nothing like this (honestly)… Feel free to take what you want from my diatribe, but only with a pinch of salt.

Hugely indebted and honoured to get to work with Phil on this. A very liberating experience that let me think outside of the box. Cheers Phil.

Thanks for listening ;-)

Original song lyrics, all music, instrumentation and final mix – @phil-mcwalter - I Can See All Of You - Nov 2013 © Phil McWalter
Additional lyrics, vocals and artwork (courtesy of Joseph Losey’s Don Giovanni) - Mark Bennett

Hellbound ( July 2014 © McWalter/Bennett )

I can see all wonder ,  that nature displays, 
From a newborn’s fingertip,  
To forests ablaze.
  I was simply spellbound , 
To the point of disbelief , 
Overwhelmed and awed, 
As if by grief . 
We unhappy few who have ,
 Such luxury ,
 Still blindly plunder ,
 Its treasury.

I was spellbound,
I’m losing my mind,    
Simply spellbound,  spellbound, spellbound,
  I’m losing my mind , 
Simply spellbound,  spellbound… Hellbound

I really can’t help but be,   
Quite so cynical,  
Maybe I’m just kind of,
 Hypercritical . 
The fool or the philistine, 
Who is to blame?  
Leisure and culture , 
They’re just not the same . 
Work to live, live to shop,
  Everything’s retail.  
Even your integrity,  
It’s all up for sale . 
Whatever you believe in, 
  Believe in yourself.
  I can’t keep everything   Inside my mind,  
Something’s gotta give ,
 It’s not how we’re designed.

I can’t keep everything,   
Inside my mind,  
Wade through false symbols , 
Drown in true signs.
  Information overload,  
Got nothing to say.  
Data Protection,  
This area’s grey.
  Intellectual copyright,  
We all assume,
  Will see us alright,  
From tome to tomb.

I was spellbound, 
   I’m losing my mind,    
Simply spellbound,  spellbound, spellbound,
  I’m losing my mind, 
Simply spellbound,  spellbound, Hellbound.

I can see all of you,
  Inside my head.  
Y’all know who you are,  
The quick and the dead . 
Soundbite, whatever you like,
  It’s all watered down.
  Well, I can take it straight,
  Coz I’m a big boy now.
  Lifestyle or a real life?  
Which will it be?
  For now, it’s still your life,  
Take it from me.  
Or maybe not,  
Coz I’ve lost the plot.
  I can see all of you,   
Inside my head.  
The ones that look shiny,  
The ones that look dead.

I can see all of you,  
Spellbound ,
 I can see all of you,
  Simply spellbound,
  I can see all of you,  
Spellbound,  
I can see all of you,  
Hellbound

Hellbound - McWalter Bennett (Click for info)

When Procol Harum’s ‘A Salty Dog’ was released in 1969, I was just seven. My Damascene moment came when an enlightened teenaged neighbour introduced me to the album of the same name when I was 12 and my life has never been quite the same since. Many people will have heard ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, although few people will be as familiar with this equally beautiful and unforgettable song. The band Procol Harum is recognized as an influential force in the development of Progressive Rock, but for me the thing that makes them stand out is Gary Brooker’s unique voice. Often their lyrics are unfathomable, for example “We skipped the light fandango, Turned cartwheels ’cross the floor”, but always sound credible given Gary Brooker’s warm and authoritative delivery. 
This is one of those songs that should have a warning label saying ‘Don’t Try To Cover This – It’ll Only End In Tears’ but with Graham Lavallin’s confidence and wonderful support we persevered. However, I then had to find a way of making this my own as no-one can touch Mr Brooker’s version. Please check out Graham's wonderful cloud https://soundcloud.com/lavallin if you enjoyed his work here. Thanks for listening to our very British collaboration.
	
Mark J. Bennett 	Vocals and artwork (based on the original cover)
https://soundcloud.com/lavallin	Guitars, arrangement, production
Instrumentation: 	Fender Strat through Boss ME70 pedal board and Magic Stomp pedal
EWQL piano, drums and percussion, orchestral cello section, orchestral legato cellos, orchestral bass section, orchestral viola section, orchestral violin section, tremolo strings, pizzicato strings
Synth orchestra deep bass and synth flute
AMG mellotron strings
Atmospheres

All recorded and mixed in GarageBand

All hands on deck, we've run a float,
I heard the Captain cry.
Explore the ship, replace the cook,
Let no one leave alive.
Across the straits, around the horn,
How far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course,
And no one left alive.

We sailed for parts unknown to man,
Where ships come home to die.
No lofty peak, nor fortress bold,
Could match our captain's eye.
Upon the seventh seasick day,
We made our port of call.
A sand so white, and sea so blue,
No mortal place at all.

We fired the guns, and burned the mast,
And rowed from ship to shore.
The captain cried, we sailors wept,
Our tears were tears of joy!
Now many moons and many Junes,
Have passed since we made land.
A Salty Dog, the seaman's log,
Your witness, my own hand.

Songwriters: KEITH REID, GARY BROOKER
A Salty Dog lyrics © ESSEX MUSIC INTERNATIONAL C/O THE RICHMOND ORGANIZATION


A Salty Dog (Procol Harum Cover) with Lavallin

When Lee Lucas posted a collaborative version of this song before Christmas https://soundcloud.com/lee-lucas/lee-lucas-mark-j-bennett-the-parting-glass, he suggested that I put out an open invitation for anyone to collaborate with the original stem. Of course, I appreciate that grafting any type of arrangement on to an acapella vocal track isn't easy but I'd welcome any approach. This is an Irish traditional song but it may well withstand a modern arrangement. The vocal stem has lots of reverb and echo on it but should you need a drier stem to work with, just message me and I can send a naked version. Also feel free to take some liberties with this should it lend itself in any other treatment. 

I raise my glass to those brave enough to listen to me tightrope-walking and also to those who might consider taking on this challenge. Cheers!


Of all the money that e'er I had
I have spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk
A man may fight and not be slain
A man may court a pretty girl
And perhaps be welcomed back again
But since it has so ought to be
By a time to rise and a time to fall
Come fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all
Good night and joy be with you all

The Parting Glass - Open Collaboration

Stefan K - Rock Flexible (Official) shared an inspiring instrumental, asking if anyone would like to contribute some vocals. I found the piece to have an ominous atmosphere that builds into something more triumphant. This is my take on it which is a rather dark ecological wake up call (as if we should still need that!) with the invaluable help of Dick Vestdijk (Oorlab) with whom I’ve worked on ten other collaborations. A very special thank you to both Stefan and Dick. Thanks for listening.

Original music – Composition/arrangement/instrumentation/production - https://soundcloud.com/rock-flexible 

Lead vocals, backing vocals and some additional lyrics - https://soundcloud.com/oorlab 

Lead vocals, backing vocals and lyrics – me

Photograph by Douglas Corrance

Is it just me,
Or is it you?
How can we,
See this through?

Is it because,
We're at a loss?
We can find our way,
Out of this.

Time is short,
And can't be bought.
Who will make time,
While we're in decline?

Too late to be denied,
We can’t hold back the tide.
Nowhere left to hide,
Time's not on our side.

Who’ll count the cost 
Of the Earth’s loss?

Is it just me?
Or is it you?

Too late to be denied,
We can’t hold back the tide.

Nowhere left to hide,
Time's not on our side.

(Meet me in the afterglow)

Time's Not On Our Side - A Rock Flexible Open Collaboration with Oorlab & MarkJBennett

Our music can be found by visiting our main page here (https://soundcloud.com/mountain-songs)

Mark J Bennett: THE PARTING GLASS

Mountain Man reposts