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One classic 70's style ballad. Impending 70's riff rock doom on the horizon, I promise.
Singer/songwriter who wants to bring lyrical substance back to modern music.
Song Info
Genre
Charts
Peak #69
Peak in subgenre #8
Author
David John Busby/David John Busby
Rights
2003
Uploaded
December 28, 2003
Track Files
MP3
MP3 7.6 MB • 128 kbps • 0:00
Story behind the song
History:
A few years ago I wrote this song for a girl. Prior to this,
I'd had the greatest romantic disaster of my life
very early, for better or for worse, and it was a good long while before I was ready to
love again. This song was a way of putting my foot forward, of saying
I was willing to give it a try, as arduous as that may be.
I think it's better than playing it safe. Circumstances made it impossible for
she and I to become entangled romantically-- she was in a committed relationship at the time,
but I wrote it anyway, and I'm glad I did. There will aways be a bond there because of this
song; she's a true and loyal friend, almost like family. It took courage to do so. It helped define me as an individual.
I learned to sing largely, in order to sing
this song. I remember trying so hard to make it good. Take after take, practice after
practice. In the end-- took me about 6 months of serious effort-- I think it turned
out ok. I wasn't versatile at the time, but I could sing this song. I'm unashamed to say this was a fine first effort.
About the content:
Ok, the chorus, and the main theme sound like fluff, but there's more to it than that. It's a reference to a French poem by Arthur Rimbaud, one of my fav. Poets.
Rimbaud's poem is only a few lines long:
"L'Eternite'
'It has been found again.
What has?-Eternity.
It is the sea gone off
With the sun."
One biographical interpretation of this stated that the sea represented Rimbaud's mother, the sun represented the father that left had them early in his life. The sun meeting the sea is a restoration of that sense of love, family, and security he once felt as a child, before the turmoil and grief resulting in a broken home. The feeling of love and security is eternity. The girl I wrote this for and myself-- basically, we both came from broken homes. Her folks were splitting up at the time, so we had spoken about this subject. It was a recurrent theme, and once I saw the connection between this theme and Rimbaud, the spark had ignited, and the song was on it's way.
On the most accessible level, it's a love story (at best, open-ended and unresolved). The main theme of the song, however, asks if those from broken homes can restore that sense of family and security in their own relationships. 'Where lies the sea' ends with a question mark. Will the sun find the sea? This I hope, is further strengthened by the outro-'Would you do the same for me? Would it reconcile the wayward tragic…'. Naturally, no one can go back in time and correct the mistakes of their parents, and their own relationships will not literally unite their parents. Figuratively, though, maybe we can rectify those wrongs by swearing not to make the same mistakes ourselves, surrendering everything, including ego, and thus preserving the feeling and ideal of union. That is eternal. I think surrender also works in the sub-theme, inasmuch as the longing defines the narrator, and he needs nothing more ('where I stand, I find myself' etc.) this may be the key to restoring a sense of freedom that doesn't need security. The song does not doubt the validity of romantic love, but I think inadvertently adheres to the idea that people raised in broken homes may seek love for these reasons. I think it may be true for some.
In any case, listen, and feel free to comment. -D.
Lyrics
“Callie”
Music and lyrics
By David Busby
_____________
Verse #1
Ask if I’m alone,
I'll answer when the tide,
has got me on my knees,
an’ I have
Nothing left to hide.
Drownin' inside...
Ask if I get by,
Someday I know,
I’ll miss these days of mine.
When knowing you,
Made me feel so lost,
and never so alive.
_____________
Chorus:
Callie
You are my means
Callie
You are my
end.
Callie
I'd give away
everything
To see the sun rise
over the fields
and light your golden eyes--
Where lies the sea?
______________
Verse# 2:
Callie if my love,
is of no consequence.
Let it be a gift,
Held sacred between friends.
Don't have to give it back.
Don't have to give it back.
____________________
Bridge:
Or trace the trail of shallow breath,
from paradise removed,
Where I stand,
I find myself
By longing for you.
_____________
Chorus:
Callie
You are my means
Callie
You are my
end.
Callie.
I'd give away
everything
To see the sun rise
over the fields
and light your golden eyes--
Where lies the sea?
______________
Outro:
Would you do,
The same for me?
And would it reconcile the
Wayward tragic
Steps so long forgotten,
On the shore.
You are my means.
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