ZeCoop:
So, for *me*, the original instrumental version of this song was originally a disappointment. I recorded everything on my 8-track cassette recorder. The drums were played with mallets and didn't turn out as I expected them to. I liked the Hammond organ part, but the guitar was very frustrating to record and by the time I finished it with piano, it was fine, but posted only because it was FAWM. I was going to call it "Dark of Day" but decided I had had enough darkness and went with the opposite "Light of Night", which could be taken a few different ways. I posted it and moved on.
I was absolutely floored when almost immediately, Mary asked is she could sing on it. Really? Then an even bigger surprise, she wanted to sing it in Welsh!! She and I have Wales in common, as part of my family came from Aberystwyth long ago. I even have a Wales shirt hanging in my studio!
So this morning when she sent over the vocals, I was absolutely floored. (I mean after I ate breakfast, did the dishes, got my kombucha and THEN listened, I was floored) 😉 Mary has turned what was nearly a throwaway song for me into something that is gorgeous and amazing. I cannot thank you enough!! 😀
EmKayDeeBee:
I REALLY wanted to write a song in Welsh before the end of this fawm, but nothing had come as yet. As soon as I heard John's music yesterday, I knew it was the perfect base, with it's gentle drums and laid back feel, and the title immediately spoke to me of the mixed emotions all parents experience, of the long days but short years, and that overwhelming love and protectiveness you feel when you see your offspring asleep. Writing in Welsh is such a joy, but holds it's challenges - so many syllables, so many hard sounds... as ever, the translation to English doesn't fully cut it, but this is as close to as I can get without over simplifying. I wanted to go big in the chorus (think Welsh Male Voice Choirs) and I know this was a challenge for the mix, so thank you so much for being open to all this John, I love the Welsh connection, and Monday is St David's Day too - perfect timing!
lyrics
Light of Night (Y Noson Deffro) -
V1:
Trwy’r dyddiau hir
Yr oriau’n symud yn rhydd
Dyma’r amser dwi’n gofyn
Beth ydyn ni’n ei wneud?
Mae’r dyddiau hyn yn hir
blynyddoedd hedfan heibio
Rwy’n gwybod na fydd yn hir
Cyn i chi adael
CHORUS
Ond tra bydd y noson yn deffro
Dyna rwy’n weld eich goleuni
Tra bydd eich llygaid yn gorffoes
Yna yr wyf yn d’addoli
A tra bydd y noson yn deffro
Dyna rwy’n weld eich goleuni
Tra bydd eich llygaid yn gorffoes
Yna yr wyf yn d’addoli
V2
Rwy'n cofio'ch cam cyntaf
A’r tro cyntaf i chi siarad
Pob un o’ch brifo
A phob ymladd â’ch brawd
Mae’r dyddiau hyn yn hir
blynyddoedd hedfan heibio
Rwy’n gwybod na fydd yn hir
Cyn i chi adael
CHORUS
Ond tra bydd y noson yn deffro
Dyna rwy’n weld eich goleuni
Tra bydd eich llygaid yn gorffoes
Yna yr wyf yn d’addoli
A tra bydd y noson yn deffro
Dyna rwy’n weld eich goleuni
Tra bydd eich llygaid yn gorffoes
Yna yr wyf yn d’addoli
V1
Through these long days
Where the hours move as they will
This is the time I ask myself
What are we doing?
The days are long
but the years they fly by
I know it won’t be long
before us you leave…
CHORUS
But when the night is waking
That’s when I see your light
Then when your eyes are resting
I know that it’s you I adore…
And when the night is waking
That’s when I see your light
Then when your eyes are resting
I know that it’s you I adore…
V2
I remember your first step
And the first time that you spoke
Every one of your hurts
and every fight with your bro…
The days are long
but the years they fly by
I know it won’t be long
before us you leave…
CHORUS
But when the night is waking
That’s when I see your light
Then when your eyes are resting
I know that it’s you I adore…
And when the night is waking
That’s when I see your light
Then when your eyes are resting
I know that it’s you I adore…
credits
from 2021,
released April 24, 2021
ZeCoop: Hammond M-100 organ, drums, electric guitar
EmKayDeeBee: lyrics and vocals
I love playing music and keep learning new instruments. My songs are in a wide range of styles, from indie-rock to surf, to
folk to rock to electronic... I never know. I record at home in a studio I put together in a spare room. I work (via the web) with a lot of vocal/lyric collaborators from all over the world.
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