Hi again, time for another new song. If the first one didn't scare you off... I certainly hope not, there are still 12 more to go after this. Anyway...
Everyone always asks me the same question about this song. "Who is Sarah"? Well believe it or not, it's actually not about a girl, but about contentment and happiness. I sometimes liken "contentment" in this case (mostly when I am trying to explain it at my shows) to sitting on your balcony when you are 85 years old, smoking a cigar on your rocking chair, staring off into the distance, looking back on your life and thinking "F.... that was good". It's a rough analogy sure, but it's the best I can do, and it's the one that came to me first. And you've got to admit, if you were in that situation, it would feel pretty good!
The song could have been called anything really, it's just that - for whatever reason - "Sarah" was the first word that came out of my mouth when I started writing it. I wondered at the time if there was a reason for that, but I can't say there was. Only problem being - "Sarah, shine your little light on me" seemed to be such a good fit for the opening line, that I didn't want to change that part. And lots of people have songs called Sarah - why should I miss out on the fun?! She seems to be a popular choice...
In one sense then I made the song a bit of a metaphor. I like to think if you listen in the context of Sarah being happiness/contentment that it makes some sense. On another level I suppose it's a bit of a love song - at least based on my idea of love, and the place it comes from. The beauty, and ultimately the simplicity of that emotion. I have often thought of love and happiness as going hand in hand, and maybe that's the best explanation I can give about how this song came together.
Like most of the tracks on this album, I really had no idea how I would make it sound something like I had imagined it should. Being the first time I had produced anything, this feeling of hopelessness was something I was coming to terms with. Fortunately Matt and Pat had laid down some great drum and bass tracks to start with (the same process I used for all the band songs), and the maestro himself Carl St Jaques had given me some beautiful Viola takes to work with. Over time, through a process of trial and error, the music started to make a bit more sense, the arrangements started to come to life, and the whole thing slowly (very slowly) started to sound like something worth listening to. Which is a fairly important part of the equation you would have to say... By the time Sarah and Sam came over to sing the BV's, I was confident I was on the right track.
In the final analysis, there are still some things I could have done better, but the end result was an improvement on what I had expected. And whatever imperfections there may be, they are all worth it for the final chorus - which I think is my favourite section of any song on the whole album. A big call maybe, but it was the first time I had a "yes yes yes - there it is, there it is!! (fist punches the air)" moment in my studio, and maybe for that reason I will always have a special attachement to it...
Lyrics below. Have a listen and see what you think.
Next week - Track 3 - Molly Mae. (I can't imagine the description will be as long as this....)
Cheers,
Renny
(In case you're wondering, I will leave the songs up for two weeks at a time. So they'll still be there if you miss a week. Cheers!).
----------------------------------------
SARAH
Sarah, shine your little light on me
I’m waiting in the garden, I’m wandering through the trees so aimlessly
Can we lay down just you and me so I never have to leave
Sarah, come speak your sweet language to me
Come and whisper in my ear so the words you say are clearer than my dictionary
Can we lay down just you and me underneath the willow tree
If I found you here with me, you know I’d never have to leave
If you sing by yourself I won’t hear you
I can live by myself, but it’s better to be near you.
Oh Sarah can we walk, through the fields, by the stream
Sarah can we walk, just the two of us
The way it was meant to be
Sarah, shine your little light on me
Come find me in the garden, you’d fit here in the trees so perfectly
Can we lay down just you and me so I never have to leave
If you sing by yourself, I won’t hear you.
I can live by myself, but it’s better to be near you.
Oh Sarah can we walk, through the fields, by the stream
If you sing by yourself, I won’t hear you
I can live by myself, but it’s so much better with you
Oh Sarah can we walk, through the fields, by the stream
Sarah can we walk, just the two of us
The way it was meant to be
You know I’d never have to leave
Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Glock – Renny
Drums – Matt Field
Bass – Pat Savina
Backing Vocals – Sarah Humphreys, Sam Buckingham
Violas – Carl St Jaques
Violas arranged by Renny Field and Carl St Jaques
No comments:
Post a Comment