FROM THE 4TH OF MARCH 2008:
I read an interview with the great Colin Meloy from the Decemberists by Laura Barton on the Guardian website.
They were supposed to write a song together while she was interviewing him. It turned out that he was a little self-conscious about writing in front of her, but in the end they managed a bit of a melody and one verse worth of lyrics. Laura Barton challenged the Guardian readers to try and finish the song, either just the lyrics or actually the whole song, guitar and all. I decided to give it a go, so got up reasonably early on Saturday, finished the lyrics and came up with some fingerpicked guitar to accompany the melody. I made a chorus and a middle section and then recordet the whole thing. It took me most of the day, but I had a great time doing it. I hope it'll somehow end up in Laura's ears, if not in Colin Meloy's.
Anyway, check out the song.
And here are the lyrics.
I hear the floorboards creak
I hear them in my sleep
and now I rise to go aloft,
all padding soft
to catch you lost and lonely call
all through the walls
I open up the door
No creaking anymore
I sit and listen for a while,
and then I smile
You always loved to hide from me,
so I wait patiently
I'll sit here in this very chair
for as long as I can carry myself up these stairs
My boy, you don't have to be sad
I've lost my son, but you've not lost your dad
and I know you can hear me,
my little ghost in the walls
Before I go to rest
I open up the chest
the photo album in my lap
I feel a tap
a tear of joy and one of pain
a tear for all you could've gained
I close my eyes and then I wait
you turn the page
I'll sit here in this very chair
for as long as I can carry myself up these stairs
My boy, you don't have to be sad
I've lost my son, but you've not lost your dad
and I know you can hear me,
my little ghost in the walls
