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Your World
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One of my more recent creations. Written in 2014 for a now defunct project, it features some beautiful vocals by Paul Umbach (another songwriter on the project). I'm very fond of this recording.
pop
Artist picture
Folk music for postmoderns
I am what you might call a musical generalist. I listen to pretty much everything and I compose in pretty much any style, though I concentrate mainly on folk, folk-rock, rock, synth-pop, alternative, comedy, musical theatre, jazz, new-age, film music, avant-garde, and the occasional lullaby (why sing your kid to sleep with "Rock-a-bye Baby" when you can can create something personalized?). I've done most of my professional (i.e. paid) work in the theatre, where I've been musical director for dozens of productions. I was also musical director of Mental Floss, the legendary Miami improv group, for over 500 performances; I recently did a stint with Laughing Gas, which rose from the ashes of Mental Floss 11 years ago to become the longest running improv group in South Florida. As a singer-songwriter, I've concentrated most of my energy on my signature style of synth-driven folk-rock (sort of Indigo Girls meets Vangelis). I'm also something of a minor celebrity in the world of Filk (folk music for science fiction fans), where I am proud to be the object of the worlds smallest international fan base.
Song Info
Genre
Pop • Dance-Pop
Charts
#3,676 today Peak #35
#1,889 in subgenre Peak #22
Author
Darren Zieger
Rights
2014
Uploaded
December 20, 2015
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.8 MB • 128 kbps • 5:13
Story behind the song
Written for Emily, a young woman I fell in love with in high school -- a love that, 30 years later, has not faded. Emily was polymorphously brilliant, top of our graduating class, talented musician... she went to Harvard and had an incredibly bright future ahead of her. Then she developed some sort of mental illness, something very resistant to treatment, and has spent the rest of her life in an institution. For years, decades I had tried to find her, assuming she was out conquering the world. I finally tracked down a few of her closest friends from high school, and was informed of her fate. I was, and remain, utterly crushed by the knowledge. After months of depression after finding out, this song poured out of me over the course of a sleepless weekend. Honestly, it's not the song I wanted to write for her. I wanted something worthy of Joni Mitchell, something like "The Last Time I Saw Richard." What actually came out was something that owed more to Howard Jones than Joni Mitchell -- but then again, Emily really liked Howard Jones, so I guess it's appropriate. This recording features the best vocals of any of my demos, courtesy of the remarkably talented Paul Umbach, a brilliant songwriter whom I strongly recommend you seek out. He has an album on Spotify, called "From the Sleeve," full of terrific songs, not to mention a gold record on his wall (!) from his work on a Britney Spears album. I'm honored that he was willing to provide vocals for this track -- a huge improvement on my own.
Lyrics
Hey, Emmy, whats it like in there? Id give anything to be part of your world You dont have to love me back specially since you dont know that I love you Guess Ill tell you later Guess Ill tell you later Hey, Emmy, high schools almost through Id give anything to stay part of your world You still dont know I love you Well, theres always time I promise Ill work up the nerve Just keep me in your world Just keep me in your world And your world, it is a bright star shining Far beyond my reach or my understanding And your world, it is a bright moon rising If I sing to you, can you hear me singing? Hey, Emmy, where are you these days? Id bet anything youre conquering the world Cant say the same of me I guess Im getting by Knowing that youre making it your world Were all living in your world And your world, it is a bright star shining Far beyond my reach or my understanding And your world, it is a bright moon rising If I sing to you, can you hear me singing? Twenty years on: Letter from a friend She has news Knows where youve been Something went wrong Early on And your mind was shattered Nothing they can do There is no cure It could be years and years or never Before you find yourself again So all your grand adventures Were just my fond delusions Now you sit alone No one comes near No one can share your lonely world And your world, it is a bright star shining Far beyond my reach or my understanding And your world, it is a bright moon rising If I sing to you, can you hear me singing? And your world, it is a bright star shining Far beyond my reach or my understanding And your world, it is a bright moon rising If I sing to you, can you hear me singing?
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