Don "Zorro of Sorrow" McCarthy– electric guitars
David Partridge– vocals, keys, production
Nathan McCarthy– bass
Produced in Nova Scotia by David Partridge
Words and music by David Partridge
MELTING

      
My fingers struggle to open
Too busy forming a fist  
I  have an impulse to help but
My hands look small on the ends of my wrists
Thank heavens water nurtures the trees 
But when lightning strikes it puts a spark on the breeze
Makes me ill at ease.

CHORUS:
I’m melting, I’m melting, my heart’s on fire in my chest
I’m melting, I’m melting like the wicked witch 
The wicked witch of the west

My eyes aren’t easy to  open
My sleep’s important to me 
But when the light floods the windows
I do not like what I don’t want to see
Power glows– we all know what that brings– Just more
hungry men who want to rule us like kings
Poison’s what that brings.

CHORUS:
I’m melting, I’m melting, my heart’s on fire in my chest
I’m melting, I’m melting like the wicked witch 
The wicked witch of the west

BRIDGE:
Red is blood, not just the colour of your shoes,
(Those ruby shoes)
Run, come quick, there’s flying monkeys on the news.
 
CHORUS:
I’m melting, I’m melting, my heart’s on fire in my chest
I’m melting, I’m melting like the wicked witch 
The wicked witch of the west.

MELTING

Don (Zorro of Sorrow) McCarthy– electric guitars
Nathan McCarthy– bass
David Partridge– vocals, keys, percussion
Guest alien– Peter LeBlanc– cello
Produced in Nova Scotia by David Partridge
Words and music by David Partridge

The WobblySaucer aliens know you won't get far in the universe on the power of a few light bulbs. They're nice hanging from the trees, though...

STRING OF LIGHTS 
We all hang tight to our tether
On nights when the dark seems immense
An owl’s call seems like mocking laughter
That’s when you might feel like that string of lights.

This lonely string of lights barely illuminates the trees
Outshone by the rays of a fulsome moon
It sways, halfhearted on the breeze.
The back porch lamp is much the same flickering, hazy moth cocaine 
Alluring to things with powdery wings– the ritual’s always been the same.

The lonely string of lights– each wire, each filament, each reed–
Existed before in a hardware store
With other things nature doesn’t need.
It hangs, as if perhaps it sinned, flickering and woozy on the wind
Measured in lumens, created by humans– that’s where the paradox begins.

We all hang tight to our tether
On nights when the dark seems immense
An owl’s call seems like mocking laughter
That’s when you might feel like that string of lights.

The wind seems to have a lot to say. Lights sway as if they know its tune
And if you get caught in a parking lot
The lights on poles are not immune.
They hum & buzz on stormy nights, faultering, interrupted lights 
They can’t defend us, the dark is relentless– it’s nature, you cannot win this fight.

We all hang tight to our tether
On nights when the dark seems immense
An owl’s call seems like mocking laughter
That’s when you might feel like that string of lights.

This lonely string of lights barely illuminates the trees.

STRING OF LIGHTS

Here’s my arrangement of Billy Joel’s classic song “She’s Always a Woman to Me”.  


Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

She's Alway a Woman to Me (cover)

Billy Joel’s classic “In a New York State of Mind” in my arrangement for solo guitar.


Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

New York State of Mind (cover)

I Will is one of my favorite melodies from Paul McCartney, it hearkens back to an earlier time in the Beatles musical journey.  Enjoy!

Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

I Will (cover)

This may be the Beatles most haunting song, if not, at least one of them.  It actually lays quite nicely for solo guitar. Enjoy!

Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

Because (cover)

Lennon & McCartney's classic from when their songwriting was really, IMO, starting to gel.  The original featured John on acoustic guitar and vocal as well as George on guitar plus an added 12-string, Paul on bass and Ringo on tambourine.  It's fun song to play.


You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (cover)

I Love’s You Porgy is George Gershwin’s haunting song from his opera, Porgy and Bess.  Here is my arrangement for solo guitar.  Enjoy!

Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

I Loves You, Porgy (cover)

I’ve liked this song since I first heard it almost 40 year since ago (gulp) - it was a big hit for Cyndi Lauper.  It’s a fun song to play in guitar and one I hope you’ll enjoy listening to.



Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025

Time After Time (cover)

As seasons change, there is a desire to return to the long lazy days of summer, this song takes me there.  Here’s my cover of Mary Chapin-Carpenter’s lovely song, “What If We Went to Italy”.  I’ve always enjoyed her song writing and this is among my favorites that she’s written and performed.


Arrangement Copyright Dan Swanson 2025