Reflections
FUTILITY
by Wilfred Owen
Move him into the sun
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields half-sown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds
Woke once the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved, still warm, too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?
***
Lyrics
If you're broken and weary
And over it all
I'll be there right by your side
If you should stumble and fall
If the road that you travel should be winding and long
Come with me and I'll carry you home in my loving arms
Hold up to the light
Don't say goodbye
Oh these tears I cry
We knew it was right
Oh the love inside
Oh the rising tide
Lifts me loving you here tonight
If you're left here to suffer
The wreck and the fall
Take my hand and I'll give you my heart
You can have it all
Hold up to the light
Don't say goodbye
Oh these tears I cry
We knew it was right
Oh the love inside
Oh the rising tide
Lifts me loving you here tonight
Yes I see the sun is shining down on you
Shining down for us to see
Yes I see a brighter day is coming for you soon
Shining down for us to see
***
Pair with...
ORIGINAL SIN-NAMON
All that glitters is not gold
30ml Zubrowka vodka or apple-flflavoured vodka
30ml Goldschlager
Fill shaker with ice and liqueurs and shake vigorously.
Strain into a martini glass and garnish with a sliver of apple skin.
Serve with a hug and a back-handed compliment.
***
Track Notes
Drums – Jeff Asselin
Bass – Mark Decho
Piano/Hammond organ – Rod Fotheringham
Tambourine – Bruce Cawdron
Guitar/vocals – Greg Paul Stone
Backing vocals – Anouk Michelle Grégoire/Bethan Nodwell
I once had a friend who was going through some really heavy problems, and I did what I could, but ultimately there was a limit to how effective my help could be. In fact, everyone involved felt helpless. I was troubled by the whole situation, particularly everyone's inability to help each other.
I decided to write about it.
I wanted to offer a song to those who need to hear that they are loved, who need to hear that they are supported, who need to hear that a brighter day is coming soon and they will again find their place in the sun.
Every day might be a windfall or a windstorm. Let there be love.
Out of character for me, the guitar solo was written in the studio. I knew I wanted to imply the melody, but beyond that I didn't know what I was going to play. I just knew that I wanted a big harmonised guitar sound. The lead voice came together in the space of an hour or so, but the lower harmony took a bit longer.
Good arranging practice dictates that, when harmonising a melody, the harmony line should follow both the harmonic movement—follow the chords—and be a pleasing melody of its own. Merging these two goals was tricky but, with Jason's excellent ear and feedback, the arrangement eventually came together.
There are three lead guitars stacked up on the recording: the top note is the original line; the middle note is a lower harmony; the bottom note of the stack is the original line down an octave to reinforce the melody. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.