Collaborations

As this is called ‘Wordlessly’ I’ll try to keep this brief. http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1 approached me with this beautiful and unusual piece and I had his melody going around in my head for months with several sets of lyrics on different themes but I found myself drawn to this almost wordless version. http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1 loved this but felt a female vocal would give more of a sense of dialogue and suggested https://soundcloud.com/lamara-marie, who brought a whole new dynamic to the piece. Behind the scenes, we ended up in a 3-way philosophical debate on the role of communication within relationships. Our communication was far from wordless.

I’d like to thank Dan and Lamara-Marie for their help and inspiration in this experimental journey. Please check out their clouds and also leave a comment if you have time.

All Music, Arrangement and Mix - http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

Additional Lyrics, Lead and Backing Vocals - https://soundcloud.com/lamara-marie

Lyrics, Lead and Backing Vocals - Me

My love and I, 
Have found the way 
To express, 
Our love, 
Wordlessly.

Wordlessly (collaboration with ProgRockDan1 & Lamara-Marie)

After collaborating with Dan on 'Wordlessly', being keen to try another project and seeing that he was interested in all types of music, I suggested we try a country song. Dan sent me a Banjo/Guitar track that made me instantly think of the Travelling Wilburys, with a Beatles-like rhythm and as I knew I couldn't sing like Roy Orbison the challenge was how to approach this. I knew what I wanted the story to be as the music somehow suggested it straightaway - verse with a longing feeling, urgent pre-chorus and then a release - made me think of a long distance love. The song came easily but it took me a long time to gather up the courage to sing a country-style song. I hope you find me treating this unique form of American music with appreciation and respect. I suggested that Dick might help with his great fiddle playing and thankfully he did. We had a little fun setting up the campfire atmosphere. I'm greatly indebted to Dick and Dan for their huge talents and time. Please check out my collaborators' clouds too if you have time. Cheers, Mark

Music: http://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1 
Lyrics and vocals: Mark Bennett 
Fiddle: http://soundcloud.com/oorlab

I’m leavin’ 
’s like grievin’ 
Feels as though my heart’s breakin’ 
I’m workin’ 
Day’s dawnin’ 
Far away from home 

Seven more days till I’m coming on back to you 
Just one week and I’ll be coming on home to you… 
…And when I’m home

I’m prayin’ 
Not strayin’ 
Stayin’ true to my love 
I’m waitin’ 
’ticipatin’ 
When I’ll be back home 

Three more days till I’m coming on back to you 
Few more days and I’ll be coming on home to you 
Only days and I’ll be right there next to you… 
…And when I’m home.

I’m leavin’ 
Completin’ 
My shift is endin’ 
I’m drivin’ 
’s excitin’ 
I’m on my way home.

Couple of hours till I’m coming on back to you 
Few more hours and I’ll be coming on home to you 
Just a few hours and I’ll be right there next to you…

...And when I'm home.

When I'm Home (ProgRockDan1/Oorlab Collaboration)

My idea for the subject matter came from Dan saying the music made him think of mountains and water. In my head I made a leap to a human story I knew of a mother and son who waited for much of WWII at a tiny seaport (Kyle of Lochalsh) in the North Western Highlands of Scotland to occasionally see the husband/father who was on mine sweeping missions with the Arctic convoys. Life expectancy was 6 months but he returned safely. This story would work just as well as a scenario for a fishing village where all the men had been gone for days during a storm.

I can't thank Dan enough for his inspirational piece that triggered these words and likewise Dick made this sound so emotionally charged with his fiddle and harmony vocals. I am greatly indebted to my collaborators for making this possible with endless patience and skill.

Please check out their wonderful clouds. https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart/by-the-waters-edge-with-mark-bennett-oorlab-with-video-link
All Music (except for Violin), Vocal - https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart
Violin, Harmony Vocal and Video - https://soundcloud.com/oorlab
Lyrics, Vocal and Artwork - me 

Video link - http://youtu.be/UAfy0vtMmsc


By the water’s edge,
All her thoughts are out at sea,
The child in her arms belongs to he,
He who’s gone

Ev’ry storm is a pain in her heart,
Waiting for news that would tear her apart,
Of he who’s gone
By the water’s edge

She is not alone in her wait,
All the women share her fate,
By the water’s edge

Tears of joy from all on the shore,
The ship is home once more.
By the water’s edge

By The Water's Edge (with Dan Lockhart & oorlab) with Video link

Hot on the heels of 'By The Water's Edge', Dan came up with another maritime sounding arrangement that he was keen to share with Dick Vestdijk and myself. The original music was very inspiring and my immediate suggestion was on the theme of 'impressment' - the press-ganging of sailors into naval service against their will. No sooner had I suggested this than Dick had drafted a great start to the fine lyric we have now. I added a verse then Dick completed the lyric and delivered a guide vocal that took my breath away. I thought we should leave it at that, however we all continued to work on multiple versions with a variety of arrangements and vocal set-ups. What we were seeking was something organic and natural sounding, as if a couple of sailors were singing in a tavern about their life at sea, surrounded by other impressed seamen. The quality of musicianship, imagination and patience that Dan and Dick brought to this continues to astound me. As well as their generosity and skill, they really are great guys to collaborate with. I look forward to many more projects.

I'm sure Dan and Dick will gladly respond to any comments posted here. Thanks for taking the time to listen.
 
Original Music, All Other Instrumentation and Final Mix - https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart
Guitar, Harmonica, Lyrics, Vocals and Vocal Melody - https://soundcloud.com/oorlab
Additional Lyrics and Vocals - me
 
Also attached is a link to a beautiful video made by https://soundcloud.com/oorlab
- https://youtu.be/I2mUn3yWxPs
 
They took me from the harbour,
 
While I was still asleep,
 
Chained and gagged and bent and ragged,
 
Human turned to sheep.
 


In the days of impressment,
 
Flogging instead of caressment,
 
A captain cruel, an empire’s tool
 
... ship of fools.



Though the sails are torn,
 
The bow cleaves straight,

For the Equator.
 
Unto its fate.
 


The King's shilling will be my lot,
 
My fate's sailing, willing or not,
 
The wind's ailing and I've been bought.
 
The wind’s ailing, It's come to naught.



This coin of treason,

Was in my cup,

The pressgang thugs will never stop,

My love, the world's a station, cruel & dim,

Where is the truth & dignity,

How can this law be for the free?

The King's shilling will be my lot



They robbed me from my hometown,

And pressed me on their ship,

Forced to fight their dirty war,

Slave under their whip,


In the days of impressment,

No law forbade his arrestment,

Sailor’s freedom for what it’s worth,

Where is the justice on this earth?

In the days of impressment.



The King's Shilling Will Be My Lot (with Dan Lockhart & Oorlab) + videolink

Like "The King's Shilling Will Be My Lot' this song started with a maritime theme from Dan, to which Dick found the highly original subject of Napoleon's jailor on the island of Saint Helena. There are conspiracy theories (rumours of arsenic poisoning, etc) about what really happened in Napoleon's last years, although both sides of the story are well documented. Dick was inspired by some research he made via the British Library's website. For more information follow these links -
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Lowe
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Napoleons-Exile-on-St-Helena/

It is always a pleasure to get the opportunity to work with such wonderful collaborators. Please check out their clouds if you haven't already. This will become part of a set of songs that relate to nautical themes with more to follow soon.

Original Music, All Other Instrumentation - @dan-lockhart
Guitar, Violin, Additional Drums, Lyrics, Vocals, Vocal Melody, Final Mix and Video - @oorlab
Additional Lyrics, Vocals and Artwork - me

Link to video - youtu.be/_PVXdPRpitc

Hudson Lowe took his ship
To horizons far & wide, 
As long as he was sailing,
He felt no need to hide,

Fighting for King & country,
God & honour ran through his veins,
Securing domains,
In campaigns,
With the insane.

Writing letters from quarters,
Beyond the sea,
From an island full of rats,
And devoid of trees.
The Emperor still conniving,
For an escape, that he was striving.

Hudson Lowe
So long ago
Played his part,
In this final act

The Emperor & his jailor,
Prisoners in time, 
Six times met face to face,
In Longwood’s walls of his disgrace 
The Corporal was waiting 
For his final hour,
Using his power,
The Ferryman’s come.

Endless streams of blood,
In Europe's ground, Europe's soul. 
This prison below the equator,
For them both, it would take its toll.

Where is the purpose,
Of rising through the ranks,
When your ship is stranded,
On history's treacherous banks.

Yet Hudson Lowe
So long ago
Played his part,
In this final act
Hudson Lowe
Long ago
Played his part,
Final show.

The Ballad Of Hudson Lowe (with Dan Lockhart and Dick Vestdijk)+videolink

Another song to add to our collection of 'Songs from the Sea'. As before, Dan offered a slow celtic air, which had such a beautiful melody that it felt like a 'boat song'. I was inspired to write a lyric about the herring fishing industry that was once so important to so many nations. Dick and Dan added some more lyrics, then the tempo had to quicken to convey the joy of the fishermen returning home and once it had all three of us singing, it began to really take shape. Thank you for taking the time to listen and comment.

Original Music, All Other Instrumentation, Vocals, Additional Lyrics, Final Mix - @dan-lockhart
Guitar, Violin, Vocals, Additional Lyrics - @oorlab
Vocals, Lyrics and Artwork - me
The image, I believe to be of 'Herring Girls' in Scarborough, North Yorkshire but I can't be sure and unfortunately I have no source to thank and credit either.

Sunrise on the horizon,
Beyond tired and cold,
Dawn begins to brighten,
Homeward if this course we hold
'Til we roam again

Homeward, 
Landward,
With our nets full,
Of the silver darlings

With only wood and nails,
Between us and peril,
With the wind in our sails,
And herring for the barrel,
'Til we roam again.

Homeward, 
Landward,
With our nets full,
Of the silver darlings

Neptune and Saint Peter,
Bring us to the shore,
Bounty from the ocean
Harvest the sea once more
'Til we roam again.

Homeward, 
Landward,
With our nets full,
Of the silver darlings

Homeward, 
Landward,
Home

The Silver Darlings (with Dan Lockhart & Dick Vestdijk)

It started with Dan's question if I could help out on the bass, and it has now turned into a fully fledged collab. Asking Oorlab was the obvious next thing to do, and he immediately made it clear that he wanted to express his great concern about climate change in the lyric, and his disbelief in the choice for power over the desperate need for change we are in. So, here it is:

- guitar, organ, initial idea: Daniel Lockhart
- bass guitar, Ziggy tap guitar, synths: Pleudoniem
- drums, lyrics & vocals: Oorlab

Going Gently, Good Night*

Earliest ever autumn
record of yellow
browed warbler
makes me wonder
when we
will be
going under

The new president
is an accident
he's a winner
not a loser
bad bad sinner
not a chooser

Release the people at the base
from their fear
of not knowing
Insulting the veteran
"you must be kidding me"
Climate change is a lie
you don't need
to know
the how or the why
yeah

"Do not go gentle
into that good night"

The new pesident
just landed
on the front lawn
of the center
of power
while the generals
- never tired
of saluting -
are considering
shooting



Title Inspired by Dylan Thomas' Do not go gently into that good night (rage, rage, against the dying of the light)

Other songs in the project are:

https://soundcloud.com/pleudoniem/the-president-paints-collab-with-oorlab
https://soundcloud.com/pleudoniem/toxic-tuxedo-collab-with-oorlab

Going Gently, Good Night - Collab ProgrockDan1, Oorlab, Pleudoniem

The story of Grace Darling to me as a child felt like the ultimate example of female heroism imaginable. This year celebrates the bicentenary of her birth. For more information on her life please visit these links –
http://www.gracedarling.co.uk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Darling
http://rnli.org/aboutus/historyandheritage/museums/Pages/Grace-Darling-Museum.aspx

This song was different from most of our other collaborations in the way it developed. It started from a lyric for almost all of the song from myself, which Dick added to, especially in the chorus as well as coming up with the music and vocal melody. Dan came on board later with backing vocals and more instrumentation as well as the final mix.

I’d like to thank Dan and Dick yet again for their patience and creativity and for enabling me to realise this piece. I’d also like to thank some other fellow Soundclouders from the North of England for some invaluable advice whilst we were researching this subject -
https://soundcloud.com/the-secret-red-orchestra
https://soundcloud.com/sciencebase
and https://soundcloud.com/gibson-j-4-5

Mark J Bennett – Lyrics, Vocals, Artwork
https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart – Backing vocals, Mandolin, Bass and Final Mix
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab – Music, Additional Lyrics, Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Drums and Video.

Videolink - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V31JV3Bqz8&feature=youtu.be

Witnessing the wreck from her window,
Showed her mettle when facing peril.
With her father, she braved the storm
Little thought of fear or harm.
Survivors clamour for dear life,      
On half a ship as if cut by a knife.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.

Rowed a mile in a Northumbrian coble,
Was an act so selfless and noble.
They rescued four men and Sarah Dawson,
Too late for the vicar and her children.
Newspapers clamour for her story,
And bathe in her reflected glory.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.

Eighteen were saved from the sixty-two, 
Gifts and donations they did accrue,
From circus, Duke and even the Queen.
Such fuss, they could not have foreseen.
Artists clamour for her likeness,
Yet something faded from her brightness.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.

Unwanted celebrity was hard to maintain,
The pressures of fame, proved a strain.
Already reclusive on her island retreat,
Her admirers became indiscreet.
Visitors clamour for a token,
Grace’s calm, forever broken.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
A ray of hope, when all else fades.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.
Grace be brave, daughter of the lighthouse.


Grace Be Brave (with Dan Lockhart & Dick Vestdijk)+Videolink

The story of Sir John Franklin is an amazing story.  They set out on a journey of exploration seeking to find a new path to the Pacific Ocean.  A path through the arctic.  Despite having supplies to last years, they were never heard from again.  This story has been told from many different viewpoints.  This one is told in song.  

Link to Video:  https://youtu.be/QHo57EnadyY

A little history on Sir John Franklin:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Franklin
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29131757
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/franklin-expedition.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFk6HotH0sw

We are pleased to add Kellie Rowley to the musicians on the “Songs of the Sea”.  This is the first “Song of the Sea” featuring Kellie’s vocals.

Dan Lockhart- drums, bass, mix
Dick or Oorlab- violin, mix, video
Kellie Rowley- guitar, vocals, lyrics

Lyrics:

Sir John set out to sail and in his mind he would not fail
a 1000 books and provisions
for a crew paid well for the vision
 
On the Erebus and Terror toward Greenland and Baffin Bay.
Looking for fair weather to cross Lancaster Sound
 
chorus
 
We are sailing forth for glory
changing the map of the world
we will find a new path to the orient
and surely others will follow us into history

 
the trouble arose
as the early summer froze
at Beechy Island where we lost three
we were locked in tight
 On King William, two years we spent
one by one we dropped off the map
 
chorus
 
Moored to an ice berg
lungs full of fluid
the lead cans breached
and madness descends
Chained to a frozen
domain and its suffering
as we drop off the map
 
The worst was yet to come as we came undone
we walked toward the Back River
hundreds of miles
not fit for kings men
walking in this wilderness
in their maddened state
and bellies full of ache.

 Chorus

Visit my collaborators music:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/
https://soundcloud.com/kellie-rowley

Visit the other Songs of the Sea:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/sets/songs-of-the-sea



Sir John's Passage (with Kellie Rowley & Dick Vestdijk)+Videolink

Island of Light
https://youtu.be/Qxs0MkHWNfk

This is the story of Camille Pissarro on the island of St. Thomas.  Pissarro's paintings of the island of light have influenced the history of art, bringing his impressions to France and there contributing to the new movement of impressionism. The changing light of the tropical seas around the birthplace of Camille has played a lasting role in masterpieces such as "Railway Bridge at Pontoise” and "Hay harvest at Eragny-sur-Epte".  

The music for this song has gone through some incarnations before we nailed it with these lyrics. At first we were working on a song about the mythical Irish sailor saint Brendan the navigator. But the musical flow directed us more into tropical Caribbean atmospheres.
We were lucky to have Kellie Rowley sing in the chorus.  Dan played his new Pedal Steel guitar on this, enhancing the Caribbean feel.

Dick Vestdijk:  song, vocals, violin,
Dan Lockhart:  pedal steel
Kellie Rowley:  vocals
Lyrics in collaboration

Picture shown here is the Antillian Landscape Saint Thomas, 1856 - from http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/list.php?m=a&s=tu&aid=444

If you like to learn more about Pissarro we can recommend these websites:
http://www.camille-pissarro.org/

http://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/us-virgin-islands/articles/camille-pissarro-and-carribean-light/

http://www.theartstory.org/artist-pissarro-camille.htm

A review of a recent novel about the family of Pissarro: 
http://www.biography.com/news/marriage-of-opposites-rachel-pissarro



You can find the music of my colleagues at these sites:

https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart

https://soundcloud.com/kellie-rowley

You can find our other "Songs of the Sea" featuring also Mark J. Bennett here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/sets/songs-of-the-sea

Lyrics : 


Painted the harbour
of st Thomas
catching the light
that moves on the sea

from the colour of the dawn
you can tell 
if rain will come.

I'm drawn to set up
cloth & brushes,
Speaking with my
paint

Island of light
Island of light


When I was 11
my father sent me
to Paris
To learn, 
learn from the world
paying his dues
but painting my blues

When I was 16
Came back to St. Thomas
To work in my father's firm
As I was roaming
on the island shore
I took another turn
To Venezuela

island of light
island of light

How to catch
the light I see 
reflected on the waves

from these waters
where colours 
giving us sight right through time

Island of light
(painting the waves)
Island of light
(lifting the hue)
Island of light
(looking through mist)

Island of light (with Kellie Rowley and Dan Lockhart)

This is our latest installment in the Songs of the Sea series.  
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/sets/songs-of-the-sea

As usual we wanted to do something a little different. A few months ago I started with an idea for a song in 7/4 time.  I have written a number of songs using various time signatures (as well as a couple utilizing multiple Time signatures).  It was hard to play in 7/4 time I kept wanting to add the 8th beat and make it 8/4.  With some work I finally felt the rhythm.  Dick added some parts that helped get it all smooth.

As usual we did a little research to get a theme for this song.  We found that 7/4 time is common in Middle Eastern music.  We did some more research to identify a singer that could help create the Middle Eastern flavor we desired.  Here is a link to the video:
youtu.be/Kjbb9D3U_aY

We were lucky to find Hossein Ragheb.  We sent him the song and he agreed to participate in the project.  The result are the excellent Farsi vocals on this song.  I hope you enjoy this addition to the Songs of the Sea as much as we do.

Sinbad & the Whale

Sindbad and the whale started out as Dan floated the idea to use a different time signature: 7/4 and a Middle Eastern
feel. Off course we then quickly arrived at the legendary Sindbad from the Thousand and one nights fairytales.

&#1607;&#1586;&#1575;&#1585; &#1608; &#1740;&#1705; &#1588;&#1576; / Hezar-o-yek shab

In our version Sindbad comes to an island, but discovers that it is actually a whale.

https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/burton/richard/b97b/complete.html#section714


The Book of
The Thousand Nights and a Night

Translated by Richard F. Burton -1885

Here are the lyrics in Farsi (Persian) which Hossein has written based on the story:

دوباره سندباد
به دریا میره
سفر در کشتی
از این جزیره
به اون جزیره

تا میرسه به
جزیره ای که
آروم نداره
آروم نداره

چه وقت خوابه
نهنگ بیداره
به قایق برگرد
وقت فراره


Here is a translation of the Farsi lyrics:

Sinbad, once again,
Goes to the ocean
Travelling on a Ship
From this island
To that island

Until he arrives
On this odd island
Which is not still
Which is not still

It's not time to sleep
The whale is awake
Go back to the boat
It's time to escape

You can find Hossein’s excellent music here:
https://soundcloud.com/hossein-tunes

You can find Dick’s wonderful music here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab



Sinbad & The Whale (with Hossein Ragheb and Dick Vestdijk)

This is a lost and found song. Dan wrote this song many months ago. He shared it with Kellie. She completed it and then they were not quite sure what happened next. One thing led to another and it got lost amid their hectic daily lives.

It sat around for many months. The one day Kellie looked at her computer and saw it again. She sent it to Dan and asked him if he remembered it. He listened and remembered having heard it before. Beyond that, neither of them has any recollection of what had happened to the song.

They then completed it and posted it for your listening pleasure. It apparently had been among the lost and found, like a diary found in an old cardboard box in the attic. 

Little did they know that their musical friend Pleudoniem listened to it as well, and that it inspired him to work further on it. He asked Rowley and Lockhart if he could add some of the ideas that had bloomed up, and they agreed. 

So, here it is:

Idea and song composition, E-Guitar, E-Piano: Daniel Lockhart
Vocals, melody and lyrics: Kellie Rowley
Drum programming, bass guitar, funky guitar, pads: Pleudoniem

Lyrics:

GAME

Gotcha run run running in circles Baby
Chasing the next thing
They gotcha head filled up and all twisted
With the noise of all the false hope that they bring
They’d like to make you think they have the best in mind
For all the girls and the boys.

But you don’t have to play that game,
You know it’s a runaround
You don’t have to play that game 
Anymore

The world seems like it’s gone crazy 
And you just opened your eyes
To find the true things that matter 
Have been disguised
For some it could be a nightmare 
But you get to choose
To hold on to the real life, 
The loving, 
The things that we can’t lose.

Chorus

Bridge
It’s hard enough to see 
The state of our reality
But its better than just 
Surviving with this spirits malady
You want your freedom, 
Well there's the door
Hey, you want your freedom, 
But tell me are you ready 
To live for more?

Visit Kellie's music here:
@kellie-rowley

Dan's Music here:


Game (Where Is The Love ) (Pleudoniem remix of Rowley & Lockhart song)

Dick and I have been on a journey to create Songs of the Sea.  You can find the other songs of the sea here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/sets/songs-of-the-sea

You can find the video here:
https://youtu.be/dRx4Qx4d3wg

I approached Dick about doing a song about the East India Company.  We discussed it for a while before heading off on the journey to create this song.  There is a lot of controversy around this company.  All is not glory and good.  In the end we decided it is like life, you have to take the good with the bad.
 
Here is a synopsis of what Wikipedia says about the East India Company:
The United East Indian Company (Dutch: Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie; VOC), referred to by the English as the Dutch East India Company, was established as a company in 1602.  The Dutch government granted it a 21-year monopoly on Dutch spice trade. It is considered to be the first multinational corporation in the world.  It was the first company to issue stock.   It was a powerful company with quasi-governmental powers.  It could wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, make its own coins, and establish colonies.

The East India Company  is famous  as the first public shareholder company actually started out as a bunch of adventurers, possibly pirates. The English, Dutch and Portuguese sailed to the east to find America but, while fighting amongst themselves, reached the South East Asian island empire of nowadays Indonesia. There they stumbled upon civilizations that were in many respects more advanced than Europe in the 1500's. But in one aspect the Europeans had maps and instruments to navigate around the globe. The Chinese also had some maps and knowledge of navigation - but they kept it a secret. The Europeans shared more of their knowledge amongst each other. This song describes the journeys of the soldier-merchants of the East India Companies. Coffee, tea, pepper - we owe a lot to these sailors.

To learn more about the East India Company:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_East_India_Company

Lyrics:  East India Company

Sailing & Searching
across the sea
for spices, slaves and lemontrees.
As long as the wind
is my friend
I can reach that distant land

Across the equator
sooner or later
we all will be working
for the East India Company

I give you one 
If you give me two
make a profit for the crew.
Coconuts for stock & trade
As long as the market is being paid


From Amsterdam to Lissabon,
to Zanzibar and on and on
Fighting and trading
without a care
we'll venture out 
to where we may dare

You can find Dick's music here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab



East India Company (with Dick Vestdijk)

Video clip : https://youtu.be/RH0fMgkFl2E
Please visit my fellow musicians music:
https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1
https://soundcloud.com/mark-hoogslag
https://soundcloud.com/kellie-rowley



The idea of doing a song about Brendan the navigator came from Dan back in June 2015. We tried different tunes and lines - at one time we had four different ideas about either Brendan's homecoming, Brendan's boat (Currach), Brendan's liberty  and Brendan's brother. We could  have done almost a whole album around this Irish Sailor-Saint. One of the ideas got a Caribbean angle and turned into the Island of Light.

But the Brendan idea never got off the ground until we got Kellie singing along and Mark Hoogslag on board with his flute.  So in the end we made a traditional sounding folk song featuring mandoline, violin, mouth harp, flute, budhran and bass, darbuka and Kellie's and Dick's vocals.

So who was Brendan? Did he actually live, and if so did he manage to reach America in the 6th century, in a boat made of leather?

Just like other Celtic figures from that time (Arthur) Brendan's historical background is a bit sketchy. His date of birth and death are given with some certainty (c. 484 – c. 577) but other than that the tales are like legends. His journey is first mentioned in the Navigatio sancti Brendani abbatis, of which at one time 125 manuscripts have been counted, scattered across Europe. Debate about which is the oldest manuscript is still going on among Brendanologists.

In our text we came up with a ficticious brother of Brendan who stayed on land while his brother went to sea. The land-brother worked in the forest that produced the mast that the sailor-brother needed to travel.

Picture from Flickr - https://flic.kr/p/fCUHha - part of a manuscript depicting Saint Brendan on the back of a whale.

Brendan's brother


Come sail with us to distant lands
to seek out unknown shores
we aim beyond the mighty waves
where no one's gone before

Brendan can you tell me,
when we'll be turning back
this journey feels like ages
and we are loosing track

The season's right to catch some wind,
we leave from the bay of Clare
our boat is filled we things we need
so join us if you dare

You went out from the Bay of Clare
and took a Western course
The forest tells me your mast is strong
that can stand the mighty force


waiting for the sun or waiting for the rain
coming down from glaciers 
or up from the flattened plain
Brendan I am your brother 
don't forget me yet
the wood that will carry you, 
came from the forest bed

I am his son and so are you
I travel through the woods
while you have chosen for the sea 
I hope it brings you good

our father he is waiting still
on any news from us
the tales of all this travelling
will arouse his wanderlust

Brendan's brother (featuring Kellie Rowley, Mark Hoogslag & ProgrockDan)

This was created to pay tribute to David Bowie.

You can find the video here:
https://youtu.be/6O8JRSHv2X0

You can find the album Songs of the Sea on Bandcamp.
https://oorlab.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-sea

As a group Dick, Mark, and I had already worked on several Songs of the Sea we decided to combine the thoughts.  We identified a suitable tribute in Bowie's journey from the US to Japan on the Oronsay March/April of 1973.

Information on Bowie's maritime journeys can be found here:
http://cruiselinehistory.com/david-bowie-with-a-fear-flying-sailed-on-many-liners-and-cruise-ships/


Mark J. Bennett - backing vocals and lyrics
Dan Lockhart - guitar, bass, chords
Dick Vestdijk - vocals, lyrics, other instruments.

Lyrics:

was it love of sailing
or fear of flying
you took this ship
the man who fell to earth

Oronsay
On the Oronsay
to the rise and fall

Was it stardust
quicksand from which
dreams are woven
or fear of losing
your wits
the man who sold the world

was it a way
in your eyes
or in the papers

Oronsay
On the Oronsay
to the rise and fall

did you dine
at the captain's table
across the pacific
and follow the sun
come back again
to where you begun

reborn
as a Blackstar

Oronsay
On the Oronsay
to the rise and fall

Dine at the Captains table is reference to a film from 1959 in which the Oronsay was portrayed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Captain's_Table

Songs of the Sea can be found here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/sets/songs-of-the-sea

You can find Oorlab music here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab

You can find Mark's music here:
https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett



Oronsay (Tribute to David Bowie with Oorlab and Mark Bennett)

We also have a video to accompany this song here:
https://youtu.be/w3gWuKjIY2Q

You can find the lyrics on the video.

This is a song about my 5th Great Grandfather Jacob Hornberger.  He was a Palatine and came to the US on the Pleasant in 1732.  The Pleasant traveled from  Rotterdam to Philadelphia, PA.  The Pleasant arrived in Philadelphia on October 11, 1732.  The captain was James Morris.

You can read about the Palatines here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Palatines
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ote/palalist.htm


This song started with me writing the lyrics.  Dick (Oorlab) then created the basis of the song.  We then invited Eric (Pleudoniem) to add bass.  Finally I fit in a little pedal steel.

We hope you enjoy it.  

You can find  Eric's (Pleudoniem) music here:
https://soundcloud.com/pleudoniem

You can find Dick's (Oorlab)  music here:
https://soundcloud.com/oorlab/


Palatines (with Oorlab and Pleudoniem)

Last week when Rex Tillerson made his farewell speech after his time as secretary of State both Dan Lockhart & me immediately thought it was a good idea to make a ballad about Rex. We did some iterations of the music and lyrics and came up with this track. Basic guitar, vocals and pedalsteel by Dan.
The picture used is from Public Domain Flickr LBJ library - https://flic.kr/p/23Zj5wZ 
As always - comments most welcome. Do visit Dan's music here : https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart and here https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

Ballad of Rex


D  G

D		C
he was a hard charging
	G	D
Texan energy tycoon
D		    C	
Proud to serve his country
     G
what else could he do

Em	   A
Second in command

	B7
But he was the one who would 
Em
understand
C			  G
that when the hurricane strikes
  C			  Am
you have to stand on the dykes
C			D
and when the twister falls
C				
true you know, it's that nature calls.

D		Am
began as a busboy
D		Am
and hauling trash
Bm		   D
a long horn kettle drum
C	D
was his game
D		Am
scholarship & percussion
D		C
became his honest cash
G		B7
engineering to fellowship
Em	     C
was his true aim

D			G
Proud to serve was his great calling
D			G
he visited with leaders the world over
A		    Bm
but the one he served was changing course
	G		A7
so it all went from bad to worse

D			G
then came the Salisbury poison attack

D			G
how can Rex bring justice back
A			D
but the white house gave him te boot
g			A
he had to take another route

Ballad of Rex (collaboration with ProgrockDan1)

Picture https://flic.kr/p/pHxnU9 Oscar van der Velde - with kind permission

https://youtu.be/9b0WqilVn0w 

Dan's music : https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart & https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

A Sprite is a very large electrical discharge.  The Jellyfish Sprite is the largest of these discharges (lightning).  They are up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) by 30 miles (48 kilometers).


This song started when our friend Kelly Rowley posted a picture of this rare phenomenon.  Here is a link to some information on Jellyfish Sprites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprite_(lightning)
 "Allusions to transient optical phenomena above thunderclouds can be found in anecdotal reports by Johann Georg Estor as early as 1730. Nobel laureate C. T. R. Wilson had suggested in 1925, on theoretical grounds, that electrical breakdown could occur in the upper atmosphere, and in 1956 he witnessed what possibly could have been a sprite".


The song draws an analogy between humans letting go of their emotions and the Weather letting go of electricity.  In both cases you have to learn to live with the effects.

Jellyfish Sprite 10-7-2018

Feeling so high and mighty
Letting off charges, Steam from my mouth.
Saying what I feel and feeling what I say,
My face is all red with emotion,
 Like a jellyfish sprite!

Hanging below is all those feelings,
Feelings of things gone by.
Deep in the past wrongs that were done
I explode for the world to see

chorus
Like Jellyfish Sprite (Powerful emissions)
Like a jellyfish Sprite (All red full of rage)
Like a Jellyfish Sprite (exploding for all to see)
Like a Jellyfish Sprite  – Jumping from a cage!


Optical emissions of my felt wrongs
Came as lightning, but faded as a song
Now it is done, I released my steam
and I must live with myself.

What all have seen, seen of me,
these feelings, so strong,
are now part of my aura.

I now know perhaps, they were too strong
But I must live, live with the perception.
I am a loose hinge, not seeing the bigger picture.

Chorus

The damage I carry, harm has been done,
regretting the words, that made you run.
The things I said, feelings that raged.

What was I thinking, why was there haste?
The cage we build, to protect ourselves
in the end, will be our prison.

Jellyfish Sprite (ProgrockDan collaboration)

Dan, Eric, Dick
Pedal steel by @progrockdan
Electric guitars, bass & mix by @pleudoniem
Violin by @oorlab
clip at https://youtu.be/6Ci8_vwF49U

Dan pedal steel II

Clip at https://youtu.be/GxlyfVL9r3Y

Dan Lockhart aka ProgrockDan on Viola, Slide guitar, Backing vocals, percussion.
Listen to more music from Dan here
@progrockdan1
Chinese poetry reading from https://librivox.org/three-hundred-tang-poems-volume-1-by-various/ 


On this planet
I sing my song,
The mighty, the strong
have fallen.

The signal is faint,
the storm has passed,
my thoughts are with friends
left behind.

Ooh this sun,
shining on me.

It was not I
but my robot's that's gone,
Wasted by the impact.
I pray this message
Will find its way
across this lonely Milky Way.

Ooh this star,
radiating on me.

I remember the day I was free
of the pull of this never ending gravity

What say you?
Can we go back again,
and start a-new,
this mission impossible?

On this planet (featuring ProgRockDan)

I am Dan Lockhart/ProgRockDan.  I am half of the duo Dan X2.  I enjoy making music with my partner Dan Blackard.  I was born in East St. Louis, Illinois.  I was raised in a rural area near Edwardsville, Illinois.  I have lived in San Antonio, Texas; Bad, Kreuznach, Germany;  Kansas City, Missouri; Columbus, Georgia; Haverhill Massachusetts;  St, Louis, Missouri, and Indianapolis, Indiana.  I have resided in Carmel Indiana for the past 20 + years.  I consider this home.  I have a small studio in my home.  I go to it everyday and work on creating (writing) songs.  I play bass, guitar, banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, piano, violin, and viola.  I use Cubase for my DAW.  I master using Izotope, Ozone.

You can find my other music on these sites:
https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1
https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart
https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan-instrumentals

https://www.reverbnation.com/prdvocals
https://www.reverbnation.com/progrockdan1
https://www.reverbnation.com/daniellockhart4

My songs with Dan Blackard can be found here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-106484228
https://soundcloud.com/user-590884876

https://www.reverbnation.com/dananddan5
https://www.reverbnation.com/danx2


I have a collection Christmas songs here:
https://www.youtube.com/@prd.christmas4703

Children's music are here:
https://www.youtube.com/@musicfirkids

Here is a link to my Patreon Page.  You can find music that is only available to my patreon supporters on this page.
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=59878068

I have 72 Songs about Space here:
https://hearthis.at/progrockdan1/set/space-songs/