A soldier's musings and longing for his loved one as he spends Christmas eve in the warfront.
Story behind the song
Music by Lynman Bacolor
Lyrics by Dennis Lalata
Arranged by Mandi Ferrer
Background vocals arranged and performed by Mandi Ferrer
Lead vocal performed by Dennis Lalata
Recorded at MandiMusic Studio
Mixed and mastered by Mandi Ferrer for Access 2 MYusik Co.
Published by Access 2 MYusik Co.
Before the end of 2006, the continuing war in Iraq and in other parts of the world, including the situation in some parts of Mindanao, inspired Dennis to write lyrics for a song about how a soldier spends Christmas eve and what his hopes and dreams are for the future despite being in the warfront. He wrote the song in English with the intention of having an international audience for the song and its message. Dennis already had his own melodic line for the song but when Lynman offered a new melodic line, Dennis was convinced that the song would sound and convey its message much better with Lynman's melody. With the help of Mandi Ferrer as arranger, producer, and sound engineer, the song has been polished to its present sound recording.
SONGWRITERS' PROFILE
Dennis started writing songs only in the year 2000. He writes songs in the pop, gospel, inspirational, rock and adult contemporary genres having been influenced by artists and songwriters like The Carpenters, Apo Hiking Society, Jonathan Larson of RENT fame, George Canseco, Louie Ocampo, Gary Granada, Boublil and Schonberg of Les Miserables fame, and Elton John. Dennis does not use any musical instrument when he writes songs. He is a winner of the 2005 Bayan Umawit Songwriting Contest organized by the Bukaspalad Music Ministry. His winning song “A Time for Everything” is included in the inspirational disc of Bukaspalad’s “Hindi Kita Malilimutan” album released in 2007. Dennis aspires to create songs for a global audience writing about the story of the Filipino and social themes such as war, patriotism, women and children’s rights, among others, and combining them with the universal theme of love. He believes that his passion for songwriting can become a vehicle of expression for his profession as a writer and editor in the area of social science research. Together with his co-founding partners in Access 2 MYusik, he would like to help develop aspiring Filipino songwriters and artists gain access to the commercial music market.
Lynman is a medical practitioner whose passion for music preceded his choice of the medical profession. He has a degree in Medical Technology and Doctor of Medicine from the Manila Central University. He ranked no. 9 in the graduating class for medicine and passed the Physician Licensure Examination given in August 2000. He also completed a vocational computer technician course in 1995. He has been practicing medicine in Pampanga since 2000. He was designated as Medical Officer at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore in 2003 and was a recipient of the Courage Fund Award during the SARS Outbreak. He continues to work with government executives and private medical suppliers in providing free and affordable health care to communities in Pampanga. He has given motivational lectures to afflicted patients in order to enhance their cooperation with medical treatments. Lynman was a college band member and leader from 1992 to 1998. His endeavor to become a singer-songwriter started in 2000. He has a deep interest in the use of the latest software as tools in songwriting. He has been an active member of KATHA (Organization of Filipino Composers) since 2005.
Lyrics
If I Could Hold You Here Tonight
(Lynman Bacolor and Dennis Lalata)
I
I gaze at your picture this Christmas eve
It’s the only hope I can hold on to in this war’s reprieve
It’s the only way I can touch your face and kiss your lips
It’s the only time I can steal a moment of bliss
II
I see the darkness embrace this land
I can’t bear to hear the silence creep through this barren camp
It’s the calm before the perfect storm that waits as I pray
And life will never be the same after this fateful day
Chorus:
If I could hold you here tonight and maybe make things right
If I could turn the coming tide, tomorrow would be mine
If I could hold you here tonight
III
I try to dream of better days
When guns have ceased then laid to rest – plowshares in their place
Where the fields are green and the sun shines through your long dark hair
And no Christmas gift would compare to the life that we could share
Chorus:
If I could hold you here tonight and maybe make things right
If I could turn the coming tide, tomorrow would be mine
If I could hold you here tonight
Bridge:
I only wish that this same night next year
I’d be with you, I’d be with you back home
Chorus:
If I could hold you here tonight and maybe make things right
If I could turn the coming tide, tomorrow would be mine
If I could hold you here tonight…tonight