The Mountain

You'd Adore Me Now

TPB#406 Intimate Friends 2

✨ "What I know" is Elizabeth’s song to her cousin, Mary, from "Don't Blink" - the modern folk Christmas musical that features the minor characters and minor moments that are more often overlooked, but which hold major insights into a story many of us thought we knew inside and out-  the first Christmas. Both women pregnant by a kind of miracle with children who will change the world, Elizabeth sings to Mary of believing what you feel in your bones and trusting what you know is real. 

LYRICS:

VERSE:

When I saw my happy cousin, right away I knew - 
There was something there about her unbelievable but true.
In her eyes  a certain something, in her step a certain spring
The word that came to me was “blessed.” I couldn’t help but sing:

CHORUS: 

The child in me - he more than moved, he more than kicked, he leapt.
In every way impossible, in every way except...
For what I see with my own eyes. For all the things I feel. 
The harder part would be to doubt when I know I know what's real
What I know, what I know, what I know, what I know.

VERSE:

“My husband’s just gone quiet - some kind of attack.
His voice just up and left him. Who knows? It might be back.
But while it’s gone, between us, cousin, let’s cut the man some slack.
Silence can be golden, or an aphrodisiac!

CHORUS: 

The child in me - he more than moved, he more than kicked, he leapt.
In every way impossible, in every way except...
For what I see with my own eyes. For all the things I feel. 
The harder part would be to doubt when I know I know what's real
What I know, what I know, what I know, what I know.

BRIDGE:

I couldn’t make this happen - all that’s happening to me,
Or believe it’s just an accident. No, this is destiny!
We’re part of it, you and me - this story being told.
Don’t ever let the doubters make you think that you’re too old.

CHORUS: 

The child in me - he more than moved, he more than kicked, he leapt.
In every way impossible, in every way except...
For what I see with my own eyes. For all the things I feel. 
The harder part would be to doubt when I know I know what's real
What I know, what I know, what I know, what I know.

What I know, what I know, what I know, what I know….

What I Know (Elizabeth; feat. Ashley Lanfer)

The story:
A rock-musical adaptation of the best-selling book "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

Background:
The Alchemist is essentially our attempt at writing a rock-musical within a pop context. I had just finished the book and the protagonist, Santiago, really resonated with me. The book was gifted to me. My god-sis found that I was quite lost and needed some direction. I actually have a couple of copies of the book now because I tend to buy them at airport bookstores for flights.  

Tim had also begun taking his guitar playing a lot more seriously. He always did, but it was around this time that he really formalised his learning by plowing through theory books. We took as somewhat classical approach to the song. I went to the library to borrow tapes on musicals because we didn't have Youtube. Tim was listening to more classical music. Jon and Jarell had always known what they were doing. It somehow always came more naturally to them when determining the vibe of a song. 

The intro and first verse were written to capture the feeling of a monologue on stage. Because, the song loosely follows the three-act structure (of a play), the breakdown was heavier to represent the confrontation of a second act. The chorus was written last since the song ends with it. We actually had a lot of trouble writing it because M.I.’s approach to choruses was always “big, loud and preferably catchy”. 

If I remember correctly, we'd actually finalised the guitar parts and Jarell came up with the idea to do a drummer-boy baroque-style beat with only the snare. We loved it, so Tim and Jon adapted. Harun recorded the bass and we demanded a brief solo from him. - Illyas 

Trivia:
- The Alchemist is Jon's favourite M.I. song. 
- Tim did not provide vocals for the song because we wanted to remain true to the source material. Santiago was alone on his journey.

Lyrics:
Wandering lost, wondering where this road will take me
A shepherd boy no different from his sheep
This fork might bend, but will it shape for me?
To each his own, so I'll dethrone the destiny that life has set for me

Don't cry
Fall into my arms, I'll sing you to sleep
In time, 
I will return to you my queen

The eastern sky has lightened to mourn the night
Omens have spoken, nothing will break my stride
In search of a treasure residing beyond the brine

No reprieve, I don't need relief 
Faith has kept me on my feet
Cos there is nothing I won't give 
To feel so alive

Credits
Written by: Timothy Adalia, Jonathan Chua, Illyas Lim Effandi, Jarell Monteiro & Harun Rashid
Lyrics by: Illyas Lim Effandi

Vocals: Illyas Lim Effandi
Guitars: Timothy Adalia
Guitars & Keyboards: Jonathan Chua
Bass: Harun Nur Rashid
Drums: Jarell Monteiro

Recorded and Produced by Neil Lim

Moving On (17/1/2016 9:44:45 PM)

The Alchemist

Stefan Lanfer writes indie folk singer-songwriter songs with the soul of a storyteller and the heart of a seeker. With a vibe somewhere between Ben Folds and Cat Stevens, his music blends lyrical introspection, spiritual resonance, and quiet power. This song library is for fans who want to feel something and collaborators looking for material ripe with possibilities and ready for their magic. 

SoundCloud is Stefan's songwriting sandbox, with work tapes and rehearsal tapes, multiple versions, works in progress, different drafts tracing the evolutions, and ideas from listeners always welcome to help these songs figure out and become what they want to be before they launch into the wider streaming world. 

Thanks for stopping by. Come back anytime. Bring a friend. 

Backstories collected on The StefStack: https://stefanlanfer.substack.com/ - "a SubStack stuff sack of Stefan stuff"

What I Know (Elizabeth; feat. Ashley Lanfer)

Stefan Lanfer

Related tracks