When I brought ¨Lady in Black¨ to the band they didn´t like it much, said it was too ¨folky¨ and David simply didn´t want to sing it. But the producer saw something they didn´t and we pushed ahead with it and it became our biggest global hit. Lots of great memories there, including hearing 100,000 people singing the chorus at a German festival. Amazing!
And the girl that inspired it will never know. I saw her through my hotel room window, but we never met! The song may only have 2 chords, but it has 279 words, not including the chorus!
Plus, by popular demand, the late-night full-screen variation from 2007 when the audience became the star. Set aside 15 minutes and stay with it.
[This one goes out to Emma Jean…]
She came to me one morning
One lonely Sunday morning
Her long hair flowing in the midwinter wind
I know not how she found me
For in darkness I was walking
And destruction lay around me
From a fight I could not win
Ahh Ahh Ahh, Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh
She asked me name my foe then
I said the need within some men
To fight and kill their brothers
Without thought of love or God
And I begged her give me horses
To trample down my enemies
So eager was my passion
To devour this waste of life
Ahh Ahh Ahh, Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh
But she wouldn’t think of battle that
Reduces men to animals
So easy to begin
And yet impossible to end
For she’s the mother of all men
Who counselled me so wisely then
I feared to walk alone again
And asked if she would stay
Oh lady lend your hand outright
And let me rest here at your side
Have faith and trust in peace she said
And filled my heart with life
There’s no strength in numbers
Have no such misconception
But when you need me
Be assured I won’t be far away
Ahh Ahh Ahh, Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh
Thus having spoke she turned away
And though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw
Her black cloak disappear
My labour is no easier
But now I know I’m not alone
I’ll find new heart
Each time I think upon that windy day
And if one day she comes to you
Drink deeply from her words so wise
Take courage from her as your prize
And say hello from me
And to think I sired four boomers (last two were genx, and really are different from first four).
pacJuly 1, 2020, 8:32 AM
could be mistaken but I think he said ‘white’ cloak
JackJuly 1, 2020, 9:00 AM
Heard of them, never listened to them. Like the rest of us on this blog they’re getting a little long in the tooth.
ghostsniperJuly 1, 2020, 6:59 PM
He’s almost 75 and can still reasonably pull it off.
I was 17 the first time I heard this at a friends house and have listened to it maybe 300 times since. It’s a roust about song – gets the crowd involved, automatically.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
And to think I sired four boomers (last two were genx, and really are different from first four).
could be mistaken but I think he said ‘white’ cloak
Heard of them, never listened to them. Like the rest of us on this blog they’re getting a little long in the tooth.
He’s almost 75 and can still reasonably pull it off.
I was 17 the first time I heard this at a friends house and have listened to it maybe 300 times since. It’s a roust about song – gets the crowd involved, automatically.