The song "Tell Me" was written in a car one night, after realizing that the truth of a certain situation was painfully obvious, but no one was speaking it. The particular truth was that someone I loved was sick, and everyone knew it, but no one said anything.
By the end of the car ride ( I forget where I was going), the song had turned into a song about love gone bad. It's one person asking the other person to go ahead and break up with me already, because we both know it's coming.
You'd think there'd be enough love-gone-bad songs in this world!
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Interview with Marion Walsh Part II
Here you go, blog readers! By popular demand, part two of my imaginary interview.
Interviewer: Well, this has been a very LONG commercial break, but we are back with Marion Walsh, who was just getting ready to tell us about the song that she wrote for her father. Marion, can you tell us how this song came to be?
Marion: Well, as I explain on my blog, the song actually came to me in a dream. In the dream, I was opening up for Bob Dylan (yeah I know, it was a good dream!) and there was some trouble with the sound, but I was singing one of his songs. With him watching! Can you imagine!
Anyway, the first words to the song were
"on and on, on and on, best before the day is done" and the tune was there, too, and I woke up with the dream very fresh in my mind and I could not get the tune and those words out of my head. So I wrote it down and worked with it, tried to turn it into something, but had some trouble.
Fast forward a few months, Dad gets sick, I revisit the song, change the word "best" to "rest" in the first line, and then it sort of seemed to flow. I liked it. I sang it for Dad as he lay dying. Literally. He was fortunate enough to die at home, in the house that he built fifty five years before. He was in his own bed. I sat next to him and played my little song and got a smile from him. So I played it some more, but it didn't have an end. I just couldn't figure out how to end the song. It just sort of petered out. Then Dad died, and I had my ending.
Interviewer: Wow. How does the song end?
The last verse goes:
"On and on, on and on,
how beautiful your setting sun
stretching out across the sky
and your train is gonna be here by and bye..."
His death was a beautiful, mysterious, peaceful, peaceful, peaceful thing and so inspiring, I hardly know what to do.
Interviewer: What do you mean, you hardly know what to do?
Marion: I mean I just feel inspired, connected, like I can almost touch the other side, if you will...
Interviewer: The other side?
Marion: Yeah, the other side, you know, that place where inspiration comes from..or maybe you don't know, I don't know. I'm not sure what I'm talking about, really. It's just a feeling. I just feel inspired, that's all, like I want to do something, but I don't know what to do.
Oh my gosh, I can't explain myself at all I really do have thoughts in my head, I promise! ..must be the holidays dumbing me down or something..ask me the same question after New Year's.
Interviewer: Speaking of the New Year, any particular creative goals for you?
Marion: I would like to write more, sing more, love more, laugh more. And I would like to sing in Carnegie Hall. Please.
Interviewer: I'll see what I can do!
Marion: Thank you!
Interviewer: We only have a minute left, but I want to ask you something non-music related, something that I've heard about you that I just wanted to know. A silly thing.
Marion: Okay, sure, silly is good. What do you want to know?
Interviewer: Umm, I heard that you were once a member of the Donny Osmond fan club. Any truth to that little piece of useless gossip?
Marion: YES! It's true! I was a proud and very exited member of the Osmond Brothers fan club when I was in elementary school, maybe nine or 10 years old. I saved up some money, paid my membership dues and awaited all sorts of fun stuff in the mail, posters, magazines, all sorts of things, mostly made of paper, as I recall. My room was a shrine to all things Osmond. For example, here's something I learned from the fan club: did you know there is another Osmond brother who is deaf?
Interviewer: No, really?
Marion: Yes, really. Or that's what I understood at the time, anyway. In any case, my Osmond obsession was short-lived. I didn't renew my membership to the club, and ultimately I decided that I was a dork for belonging to the fan club, and I threw all the stuff out and moved on to, I think maybe David Cassidy.
Interviewer: Great, thanks for setting the record straight. How about this one: Is there any truth to the story about you and Courtney Love having a catfight?
Marion: NO! Where did that one come from? I have never even met the woman.
Interviewer: OK, we are out of time, thank you Marion for speaking with us today. Good luck with your song. Where can listeners get a copy of your song?
Marion: They can go to my cdbaby.com or itunes and purchase a download or a CD.
Interviewer: OK, Thank you Marion.
Marion: Thank you. Margaret. Meghan. Sorry. Meghan. Thank you Meghan.
Interviewer: Well, this has been a very LONG commercial break, but we are back with Marion Walsh, who was just getting ready to tell us about the song that she wrote for her father. Marion, can you tell us how this song came to be?
Marion: Well, as I explain on my blog, the song actually came to me in a dream. In the dream, I was opening up for Bob Dylan (yeah I know, it was a good dream!) and there was some trouble with the sound, but I was singing one of his songs. With him watching! Can you imagine!
Anyway, the first words to the song were
"on and on, on and on, best before the day is done" and the tune was there, too, and I woke up with the dream very fresh in my mind and I could not get the tune and those words out of my head. So I wrote it down and worked with it, tried to turn it into something, but had some trouble.
Fast forward a few months, Dad gets sick, I revisit the song, change the word "best" to "rest" in the first line, and then it sort of seemed to flow. I liked it. I sang it for Dad as he lay dying. Literally. He was fortunate enough to die at home, in the house that he built fifty five years before. He was in his own bed. I sat next to him and played my little song and got a smile from him. So I played it some more, but it didn't have an end. I just couldn't figure out how to end the song. It just sort of petered out. Then Dad died, and I had my ending.
Interviewer: Wow. How does the song end?
The last verse goes:
"On and on, on and on,
how beautiful your setting sun
stretching out across the sky
and your train is gonna be here by and bye..."
His death was a beautiful, mysterious, peaceful, peaceful, peaceful thing and so inspiring, I hardly know what to do.
Interviewer: What do you mean, you hardly know what to do?
Marion: I mean I just feel inspired, connected, like I can almost touch the other side, if you will...
Interviewer: The other side?
Marion: Yeah, the other side, you know, that place where inspiration comes from..or maybe you don't know, I don't know. I'm not sure what I'm talking about, really. It's just a feeling. I just feel inspired, that's all, like I want to do something, but I don't know what to do.
Oh my gosh, I can't explain myself at all I really do have thoughts in my head, I promise! ..must be the holidays dumbing me down or something..ask me the same question after New Year's.
Interviewer: Speaking of the New Year, any particular creative goals for you?
Marion: I would like to write more, sing more, love more, laugh more. And I would like to sing in Carnegie Hall. Please.
Interviewer: I'll see what I can do!
Marion: Thank you!
Interviewer: We only have a minute left, but I want to ask you something non-music related, something that I've heard about you that I just wanted to know. A silly thing.
Marion: Okay, sure, silly is good. What do you want to know?
Interviewer: Umm, I heard that you were once a member of the Donny Osmond fan club. Any truth to that little piece of useless gossip?
Marion: YES! It's true! I was a proud and very exited member of the Osmond Brothers fan club when I was in elementary school, maybe nine or 10 years old. I saved up some money, paid my membership dues and awaited all sorts of fun stuff in the mail, posters, magazines, all sorts of things, mostly made of paper, as I recall. My room was a shrine to all things Osmond. For example, here's something I learned from the fan club: did you know there is another Osmond brother who is deaf?
Interviewer: No, really?
Marion: Yes, really. Or that's what I understood at the time, anyway. In any case, my Osmond obsession was short-lived. I didn't renew my membership to the club, and ultimately I decided that I was a dork for belonging to the fan club, and I threw all the stuff out and moved on to, I think maybe David Cassidy.
Interviewer: Great, thanks for setting the record straight. How about this one: Is there any truth to the story about you and Courtney Love having a catfight?
Marion: NO! Where did that one come from? I have never even met the woman.
Interviewer: OK, we are out of time, thank you Marion for speaking with us today. Good luck with your song. Where can listeners get a copy of your song?
Marion: They can go to my cdbaby.com or itunes and purchase a download or a CD.
Interviewer: OK, Thank you Marion.
Marion: Thank you. Margaret. Meghan. Sorry. Meghan. Thank you Meghan.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Holiday Blues
I dedicate this post to all people everywhere who would be happy to skip the holidays, who feel the holiday blues, who have arrived at this time of year again, only to hunker down and get through it. I feel your pain.
Nothing bad ever happened to me at Christmas time. I had an intact family, plenty of food and plenty of stuff. I went to church, had plenty of friends, always enjoyed my presents and so forth. So my holiday blues are not logical, but they are real, and I GET IT.
So I just want to use this space to say to all of you who are suffering right now that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. And IT'S OKAY not to feel perky cheery haphaphappy this time of year. It really is. You will get through it, we will get through it and everything will be okay. The earth will keep revolving, the sun and the moon will do their thing, mountains will still be high and rivers low, people will be people, and it will all be okay.
DONA NOBIS PACEM. Peace peace peace.
Nothing bad ever happened to me at Christmas time. I had an intact family, plenty of food and plenty of stuff. I went to church, had plenty of friends, always enjoyed my presents and so forth. So my holiday blues are not logical, but they are real, and I GET IT.
So I just want to use this space to say to all of you who are suffering right now that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. And IT'S OKAY not to feel perky cheery haphaphappy this time of year. It really is. You will get through it, we will get through it and everything will be okay. The earth will keep revolving, the sun and the moon will do their thing, mountains will still be high and rivers low, people will be people, and it will all be okay.
DONA NOBIS PACEM. Peace peace peace.
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
New National Anthem
I am a homesick American, presently living in Canada. I miss a lot of things, but one thing I don't miss is our national anthem. Don't get me wrong, I love our national anthem. As a Baltimorean, I take special pride in imagining Francis Scott Key penning the lyrics from my harbor as the bombs were actually bursting in air above the skies of my city.
But to me, the words are a bit jingoistic, too military. And the tune! Good grief, I don't think there are many people who have the vocal range to sing the whole thing comfortably. You either have to start too low for yourself so that you can hit that hight note at the end, or do what a lot of people do an just start singing at your comfortable range and then squeak out that high note on "land of the FREE!" if you haven't forgotten the words and still have the breath to make it to the end.
(Oh! And it really irks me when people have to show off their vocal range on that song, and add all sorts of vibrato and extra vocal wiggles and jiggles to it. Just sing it straight, why don't ya? The song is not about you and your voice! It's about our country!)
So, I propose a new American National Anthem: America the Beautiful. Singable. Short. A tribute to the land and the people, not just the military might that makes the US what it is.
In case you have forgotten, here are the lyrics. Well, not all the lyrics, just the two verses that I like.
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
end of blog entry
But to me, the words are a bit jingoistic, too military. And the tune! Good grief, I don't think there are many people who have the vocal range to sing the whole thing comfortably. You either have to start too low for yourself so that you can hit that hight note at the end, or do what a lot of people do an just start singing at your comfortable range and then squeak out that high note on "land of the FREE!" if you haven't forgotten the words and still have the breath to make it to the end.
(Oh! And it really irks me when people have to show off their vocal range on that song, and add all sorts of vibrato and extra vocal wiggles and jiggles to it. Just sing it straight, why don't ya? The song is not about you and your voice! It's about our country!)
So, I propose a new American National Anthem: America the Beautiful. Singable. Short. A tribute to the land and the people, not just the military might that makes the US what it is.
In case you have forgotten, here are the lyrics. Well, not all the lyrics, just the two verses that I like.
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
end of blog entry
My New Favorite Holiday
I have a new favorite holiday. Veteran's Day, otherwise known as Remembrance Day in Canada.
(OK I have to stop here and just say that it REALLY annoys me when my computer tells me my American spelling is wrong, and tries to change "favorite " to FavOUrite" and "color" to "colOUR" and so forth. Leave my American spelling alone, will ya! I am a good speller! Go correct something else! Correct the lousy weather, or the date of Thanksgiving, or something.
end of rant.)
ANYWAY, I think Veteran's Day is the perfect holiday because you can't argue with it. I mean, it seems to me that regardless of your philosophical views about war, or your political opinions or what have you, you can't disagree with the fact that millions of people risk their lives and make huge sacrifices to fight for their country. This one day is our chance to reflect on this sacrifice and where it has brought us. Reflect, remember, appreciate. Can't go wrong, it seems to me. A day set aside for gratitude, how beautiful is that?
Think about it:
No presents.
No family obligations.
No elevated plane fares.
No expectations.
No extra-long church service.
A chance to see a a parade.
Lots of concerts.
Some stores actually close for the day.
No school.
Then again, for people with family members involved in war past or present or future, the day could be anxious or lonely or sad. For this I am sorry and I hope that the pride, reflection, singing, and staying-still of the rest of us will lend you some comfort and strength.
Blessings to all.
(OK I have to stop here and just say that it REALLY annoys me when my computer tells me my American spelling is wrong, and tries to change "favorite " to FavOUrite" and "color" to "colOUR" and so forth. Leave my American spelling alone, will ya! I am a good speller! Go correct something else! Correct the lousy weather, or the date of Thanksgiving, or something.
end of rant.)
ANYWAY, I think Veteran's Day is the perfect holiday because you can't argue with it. I mean, it seems to me that regardless of your philosophical views about war, or your political opinions or what have you, you can't disagree with the fact that millions of people risk their lives and make huge sacrifices to fight for their country. This one day is our chance to reflect on this sacrifice and where it has brought us. Reflect, remember, appreciate. Can't go wrong, it seems to me. A day set aside for gratitude, how beautiful is that?
Think about it:
No presents.
No family obligations.
No elevated plane fares.
No expectations.
No extra-long church service.
A chance to see a a parade.
Lots of concerts.
Some stores actually close for the day.
No school.
Then again, for people with family members involved in war past or present or future, the day could be anxious or lonely or sad. For this I am sorry and I hope that the pride, reflection, singing, and staying-still of the rest of us will lend you some comfort and strength.
Blessings to all.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
"I Believe", Revisited
When I first moved to Vancouver, I got a gig at a local club at Christmas time, as part of a group show, and was asked to sing an original holiday song. I said "okay" and then realized that I didn't have one. I agonized for awhile, then I remembered an old journaliam professor's words of wisdom: " K.I.S.S." "Keep It Simple, Stupid". I quicky came up with this very straighforward, simple song. My favorite line is the last one: Dona Nobis Pacem. Give Us Peace. Doesn't get any simpler than that. (obviously, I didn't write that! I just put it in my song.)
Punch line: I got bronchitis a few days before the gig, and had to cancel.
But I still play the song during the holiday season, for whoever's listening.
DONA NOBIS PACEM
AMEN
ALLELUIA
Punch line: I got bronchitis a few days before the gig, and had to cancel.
But I still play the song during the holiday season, for whoever's listening.
DONA NOBIS PACEM
AMEN
ALLELUIA
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Interview with Marion Walsh
"Song For My Father," is taking on a life of its own, which is a wonderful, beautiful thing. And there are questions, I know there are questions, so I am providing herewith for you an interview with Marion Walsh. I am both host and guest on this imaginary TV show with a worldwide audience.
(time on my hands today, can you tell?)
Q: Hello Marion, so glad you have you on our show.
A: I am honored to be here.
Q: We'll get to the specifics of "Song For My Father" later in the show, but first, the basics. Where you from?
A: I'm from Owings Mills, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. My parents built the house we all grew up in. The land was in the family for four generations until recently, when my Dad passed away and we four siblings decided to sell the place. Ouch.
Q: What is it like there?
A: When I was a kid, it was mostly rural in all directions, but now you can barely find any grass at all along Reisterstown Road. It's malls and car dealerships and WalMart and Costco and ToysR Us, and really ugly But if you go out the other direction, into the Greenspring and Worthington Valleys, its still delightfully picturesque, lots of trees and fields and windy roads. I try to always go out that way if I have to go anywhere. It takes longer but it's oh so lovely.
Q: But you live in Canada now.
A: Yes.
Q: What brought you to Canada?
A: My husband got a job there. He's a dual citizen of Canada and the US.
Q: And how do you like Canada?
A: Canada is good. There are some really nice things about Canada.
Q: I sense a "but"coming...
A: Yes, Canada is a great country, but I am American, and I love my country and I miss my country. I mean, I know the US is having a of of huge problems right now, but does that make me love it any less? Of course not! I don't think the US is the best country in the world, I don't think there is such a thing, but it's my homeland and I love it. But I'm in Canada now, and that's good. Canada has a lot to offer, too. Just think- if I had not moved to Canada, I would not have written any of the songs I wrote there, and I would not have met the amazing friends that I have now.
Q: How do you know you would have not written all the songs? And how many songs are we talking about ?
A: My songs come from the heart, and my heart has been in Canada. If my heart was somewhere else, I suppose I might have written different songs, but I don't know. I think I needed to be here in order to create what I've created. Is that vague enough for you?
Oh, and two full CDs and a single, so 25 songs, plus a few more not recorded.
Q : Where do your songs come from?
A: I have to be in a certain headspace, then the songs flow pretty easily. If I try too hard, it doesn't work. I have to pay attention to my headspace and seize the moment.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the headspace?
A: Umm, sure. If I'm having a really good time, then I am not in songwriting mode. I write from a place of uncomfortableness, or melancholy, actually.
Q: You mean like depression?
A: No, not depression. I've had depression before and when I'm there, I can't write at all. I mean just melancholy, like so many of the old poets and whatnot. The blues, you know. Hey, even even Mother Theresa had the blues. Has the blues? I don't know, is she still alive?
Q: Did you study music as a child?
A: I took piano lessons from the age of 7 or 8 until I was maybe 13, when I decided piano was uncool and guitar was much cooler. Then I taught myself to play guitar using a Burl Ives songbook.
Q:Burl Ives?
A: Yup, Burl Ives, the old guy with a beard, folksinger. You are probably too young to remember Burl Ives. He had a "teach yourself to play guitar" book, so I did!
Q: No guitar lessons?
A I took guitar lessons my senior year of high school, classical guitar. It was interesting, but I didn't want to play classical guitar. Then I took lessons again in my 20s but only for a short time. I learned more just fiddling around on my own and using guitar books.
Q: Voice lessons?
A: I took voice lessons for a few months in college, because my voice was feeling strained. Didn't like it. Then again, same thing in my late 20s and again in my 30s each time for about two months. I kept getting horrendous coughs, bronchitis and such, and I was concerned that my vocal cords were getting damaged. Thankfully, they weren't. But I never really liked the voice lessons, never practiced or anything. So my voice is very much "au naturel" if you will.
Q: Well, Marion, this has all been very interesting. We have to take a commercial break and wen we come back, we'll talk more about your song "Song for My Father."
A: Okay.
(time on my hands today, can you tell?)
Q: Hello Marion, so glad you have you on our show.
A: I am honored to be here.
Q: We'll get to the specifics of "Song For My Father" later in the show, but first, the basics. Where you from?
A: I'm from Owings Mills, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. My parents built the house we all grew up in. The land was in the family for four generations until recently, when my Dad passed away and we four siblings decided to sell the place. Ouch.
Q: What is it like there?
A: When I was a kid, it was mostly rural in all directions, but now you can barely find any grass at all along Reisterstown Road. It's malls and car dealerships and WalMart and Costco and ToysR Us, and really ugly But if you go out the other direction, into the Greenspring and Worthington Valleys, its still delightfully picturesque, lots of trees and fields and windy roads. I try to always go out that way if I have to go anywhere. It takes longer but it's oh so lovely.
Q: But you live in Canada now.
A: Yes.
Q: What brought you to Canada?
A: My husband got a job there. He's a dual citizen of Canada and the US.
Q: And how do you like Canada?
A: Canada is good. There are some really nice things about Canada.
Q: I sense a "but"coming...
A: Yes, Canada is a great country, but I am American, and I love my country and I miss my country. I mean, I know the US is having a of of huge problems right now, but does that make me love it any less? Of course not! I don't think the US is the best country in the world, I don't think there is such a thing, but it's my homeland and I love it. But I'm in Canada now, and that's good. Canada has a lot to offer, too. Just think- if I had not moved to Canada, I would not have written any of the songs I wrote there, and I would not have met the amazing friends that I have now.
Q: How do you know you would have not written all the songs? And how many songs are we talking about ?
A: My songs come from the heart, and my heart has been in Canada. If my heart was somewhere else, I suppose I might have written different songs, but I don't know. I think I needed to be here in order to create what I've created. Is that vague enough for you?
Oh, and two full CDs and a single, so 25 songs, plus a few more not recorded.
Q : Where do your songs come from?
A: I have to be in a certain headspace, then the songs flow pretty easily. If I try too hard, it doesn't work. I have to pay attention to my headspace and seize the moment.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the headspace?
A: Umm, sure. If I'm having a really good time, then I am not in songwriting mode. I write from a place of uncomfortableness, or melancholy, actually.
Q: You mean like depression?
A: No, not depression. I've had depression before and when I'm there, I can't write at all. I mean just melancholy, like so many of the old poets and whatnot. The blues, you know. Hey, even even Mother Theresa had the blues. Has the blues? I don't know, is she still alive?
Q: Did you study music as a child?
A: I took piano lessons from the age of 7 or 8 until I was maybe 13, when I decided piano was uncool and guitar was much cooler. Then I taught myself to play guitar using a Burl Ives songbook.
Q:Burl Ives?
A: Yup, Burl Ives, the old guy with a beard, folksinger. You are probably too young to remember Burl Ives. He had a "teach yourself to play guitar" book, so I did!
Q: No guitar lessons?
A I took guitar lessons my senior year of high school, classical guitar. It was interesting, but I didn't want to play classical guitar. Then I took lessons again in my 20s but only for a short time. I learned more just fiddling around on my own and using guitar books.
Q: Voice lessons?
A: I took voice lessons for a few months in college, because my voice was feeling strained. Didn't like it. Then again, same thing in my late 20s and again in my 30s each time for about two months. I kept getting horrendous coughs, bronchitis and such, and I was concerned that my vocal cords were getting damaged. Thankfully, they weren't. But I never really liked the voice lessons, never practiced or anything. So my voice is very much "au naturel" if you will.
Q: Well, Marion, this has all been very interesting. We have to take a commercial break and wen we come back, we'll talk more about your song "Song for My Father."
A: Okay.
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