It's All About You And Me

What I wrote in response to this FutureLearn course back in ~2016:
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/songwriting
Finalised on 1 June 2022. You're listening to a computer-generated approximation.
===
Kennette (14) is the protagonist of "Kennette Kendalite: The Musical". Science prodigy. English was her first language.
Natalie (40+) is her mum. Single working mother.
Eric (14) is Kennette's secret admirer in school. Also only son of Ethan. Dislikes what his dad stands for.
Ethan (45+) is Eric's dad. Widower. Professor of cognitive sciences. Highly respected.
===
*Verse 1 — Kennette*
I just moved into my new home
And the kids laugh at my dreams
Curses, gossip, petty thefts and stuff
Are all bursting at the seams
The life I want to live is not
The life I’m living now
Mum, you used to tell me “Dream big”
I beg you, please tell me how

*Chorus — Natalie*
Welcome to Hong Kong (my dear)
Famous for that scen’ry of the Peak
Oh, oh, welcome to Hong Kong
Where fortune is all that people seek
In-demand skills are the way forward
Fancy dreams are meant to die
Do you hear me when I cry?
Do you hear me when I cry~?

*Verse 2 — Eric*
I enjoy hiking together
And the free siu mai we share
When I vent, you don’t lose your temper
When I talk too much, you care
But there's a parasite in me
And I can’t let it sprout
Can’t afford to be stuck on you
—Can somebody help me out?

*Chorus — Kennette / Natalie*
Welcome to Hong Kong (my dear)
Where romance is for the silver screen
Oh, oh, welcome to Hong Kong
The people here care how they are seen
And so no one can follow their heart
Beautiful plans go awry
Do you hear me when I cry?
Do you hear me when I cry~

*Bridge — Kennette*
Here’s where meaning, love and freedom
Are but promises-turned-lies
And so every higher purpose
Meets an untimely demise~~

*Chorus — Kennette*
Oh~ Welcome to Hong Kong
A kaleidoscope that’s blowing smoke
Oh, oh, welcome to Hong Kong
No young or old’s spared an iron yoke
If you want to make it big here
You must bid your soul goodbye
Do you hear me when I cry?
Do you hear me when I cry~

Welcome to Hong Kong - Demo #FLSong

Melody and partial lyrics originally written in 2017. Didn't know it would come in handy 2020-. Video (re-uploaded): https://vimeo.com/790334456

The moment of truth in "Kennette Kendalite: The Musical"
Full lyrics not to be released publicly until after the debut performance.

Chorus:
Imprisoned in this place
Imprisoned by your grace
Imprisoned by your mercy
The need to see you face to face
Imprisoned by your absence
And imprisoned by your rage
I can’t believe we’d ever reach this stage

Imprisoned

Finally made it before my 30th birthday, by when I'm too old to do stupid stuff like this :p
==========
Wanted to be with you
But now I look back in regret
Wanted to stay with you
But now you're someone to forget
There is nothing I can do
And there's no one else to woo
Other dreams I must get to
Bye, thank you.

Wanted to be with you
But the hidden I-don't-love-you comes out
I cannot stay with you
Now I no longer have to shout
In the hills my declaration
Of this ludicrous affection
It's just another distraction--
No, thank you.

Wanted to be with you
But what if it's all my life could be
I cannot stay with you
There is more to me, you see
There is nothing you can do
When my heart's abandoned you
Ending our plans gone askew
Bye, thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank... you!

Wanted To Be With You

I don't want to fall in love

The Ballad Of Comfort

Speeding on the Midnight Highway

I began writing this piece in October 2013 and completed it over three days in December 2015 using Overture 4.0. It is of the form A1-B1-A2-B2-A3-C-B3-D-A4-B4-A5.

The A section is a dance. B is Eric's theme, a grand section of music fitting for serious occasions. In particular, B4 is lighthearted, or, if I geek out, "scherzo". C has an intriguing feel, while D depicts a desolate wintry landscape.

The lyrics for A2-B1 or A2-B3 (adapted from Habakkuk 3:17-19, King James Version):

Although the fig tree shall not blossom
Neither shall fruit be in the vines
The labour of the olive shall fail
And the fields shall yield no meat
The flock shall be cut off from the fold
And there (shall) be no herd in the stalls
Yet I will rejoice, I will rejoice,
I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will joy in the Lord,
I will joy in the Lord,
I will joy in the God
Of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength
(And) he will make my feet like hinds' feet
(And) he will make me to walk upon
Mine high places.

Eric's Theme (Full) / Although the Fig Tree Shall Not Blossom

Worship Music

Although the Fig Tree Shall Not Blossom (music only)

Although the Fig Tree Shall Not Blossom

The tune to which the Welsh hymn "Dyma Gariad" is currently sung.

Photo by Francesco Ungaro from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/sea-clouds-waves-blue-sky-96377/

Dyma Gariad / Here is Love

Ebenezer / Ton y Botel (version 1)

This partial song is in Cantonese. It's not the first time I wrote lyrics in Cantonese — my first was "Deck the halls with boughs of holly / La × 9 / 我唔要做人地媽咪 [meaning: I don't want to be someone else's mother] / La × 9 /", but it's certainly the most fun. If you don't understand Cantonese, no worries; just enjoy the melody.

Verse:
或者係我先曉咁夜
係呢度去等啲花去謝
或者係我先曉問：「有冇問題？」
但係問極問極都係廢
或者係我先曉咁傻
喺呢度係咁咦嗡首歌
緣份唔鬼理我地啲希望
但有啲心事都要講

Chorus:
仍然相信你對我重有啲意思
但係咪話我自私～
仍然希望有朝一日可以再聚
其他嘢都濕濕碎～
仍然要一睹你動心嘅眼眸
一心追住你，你啊崩叫狗～
唔好借意講「早唞」
打開蚊帳趕我走

Q: Who's Ethan?
A: He's a character in a musical I haven't completed yet. 🙈

Photo by Lucas Pezeta from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-playing-guitar-2079169/

Kennette Kendalite

Ethan's Solo (Cantonese, partial)

Demo recording using GarageBand.
I wrote this when the summer of 2013 ended.

I wish this summer could go on forever - demo version

(French for "Push on and faith will catch up with you")
There's always a little bit of you out of reach. And I keep wanting to get there.
Oh, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a written work by me without something French in it. C'est la vie.

Allez en avant, et la foi vous viendra

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