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window.mp3
File Size: 3492 kb
File Type: mp3
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Above is a link to an mp3 of my song, Window, recorded June 2012. I reworked a folk song/ballad I had written around 1974 and developed new lyrics and feel. I was sitting in bed with my late wife, Cheri as the late morning sun was lighting up our bedroom near the Sandia mountains in Albuquerque and the basic melody and verse came into my mind more or less completely formed. I jumped up and grabbed my guitar and a pad and pen and jotted down the song concept, which was really the music of the love between Cheri and I. I initially recorded a rough lead vocal and a couple of preliminary harmony tracks, along with a basic rhythm track on my acoustic guitar. I added two single-take lead preliminary tracks (playing a Martin acoustic), then keyboards and percussion, as well as bass (tapping out the notes/drum beats on a $30 Walmart keyboard). The recording was done in at that apartment using a DAW and single channel vacuum tube mixer. Here are the lyrics (Cheri suggested the "there's a coin in my cup---did you say you liked 7-up"...I told her meter and rhyme was the only constraint and she responded cleverly) and chording:

Open the Window

lyrics and music by Dalton Bentley June 14, 2012 (listen to the mp3 recording above for music) © Dalton Bentley 2012. All rights reserved.

[intro just a 1/2 verse run through without vocal]

Verse I:

D A C G C G C G

Opened the window and I ------ breathed in the sun, painted the sky, left my—worries behind

D A C G C G

This day is perfect 'cuz I ------ know you're the one, put your little-hand-in-mine and I'll,

C G

show you the way

Chorus:

Em G C G

All of my life I've been, searchin' for you

A Em C D

And now you say that you looked for me too

A Em C D

Now the sun's shinin' down on us two

Am C F C

There may be little reason for being--- not at all

G

The writing's on the wall!

D

There's a coin in my cup

Am7 C D

Did you say you liked 7-Up?


[repeats above music with some instrumental work]