One more for Sean. Please click on the title below to hear it.
All
All we had
All we had was not
All we had was not enough
Time
Time went by
Time went by and then
There was no more time for us
Hope
Hope that dwelt
Hope that dwelt inside
Hope that dwelt inside our minds
Left
Left one night
Left one night and then
There was no more hope of time
Spent
Spent as though
Spent as though the sun
Spent as though the sun would shine
On
On the lives
On the lives we lived
On your happy life and mine
If
If I could
If I could go back
If I could go back in time
I
I would not
I would not behave
Any differently this time
For
For I know
For I know that you
For I know that you knew too
All
All the love
All the love I had
In my beating heart for you
And
And I know
All the love you had
In your beating heart for me
The road to God knows where ... Brendan O'Brien 
Brendano this song has brought tears to my eyes. It it both gentle and raw and so full of love. I can imagine a guitar softly picking out a running accompaniment and I shall write this for you as a gift, using the “guitar” button on my piano keyboard. This song and these words I can imagine being sung in many pubs and on many stages! Well done!
Hello PapaG … thank you very much. I’m really glad you like it. It’s nice to get praise from a proper musician!
This is obviously a very simple little tune, and the words came easily. I’ll try to some more songs … I’ve never really tried before, as there wasn’t anything that I particularly wanted to say in a song. That has now changed, along with everything else.
Beautiful, such beautiful words. Your love for your son shines through your words.
Thank you, Shermeen. I’m glad you think so.
this is a great song -thanks for sharing it it’s great to hear a song that says so much
Hi Aedín … thank you. Like papaguinea, you’re a very musical person, so I’m really glad you like the song.
You think I have forgotten this song? Never! This morning I took the trouble to notate the melody and then begin to construct some accompaniment on the piano by using a guitar sound, arpeggio style with an occasional chord on the main beat. Brendano this simple song which I liken to a cradle song or lullaby is beautiful. Whilst I was figuring out some minor/major variations (and some major 7ths) i was discovering this song has more potential to be “aired” and there I mean given more singing time, even repeating some lines and adding a variation to the chording. Honestly mate i had tears in my eyes. Pitch wise this in is B major (as I hear it) but I’m asking you what is the key you play it in -how do you see the chords, in B or C (or indeed something else entirely).
How I wish I could let you hear what I’m up to! But my engineering and recording skills are pretty negligible. However I shall work at the constructs and mail you the song with the repeated lines I have added. Please do not under-estimate the power of this song; I would love to hear your female singer have a shot at this with a harp or guitar and I will write the chords I have used and try and notate the harmony as best as I can to send it in the next ten days. At least I can scan what I do and send it to you by e-mail.
Another odd thing with this song is the timing: sometimes it feels like 3/4 time in lullaby or waltz and other time in 4/4. It is the repetition of the lines that completely hook me on this song, akin to a prayer or chant. If need be, please e-mail me; I am devoting time to this song all this week. I just love playing it with the words in front of me and the guitar sounds under my fingertips!
Thanks, PapaG. Funnily enough, I was thinking about this song in bed last night. I’m really glad you’re taking an interest in it and that you like it so much.
I think it’s close to B, as you say … I haven’t really tried it on the guitar (I just sang in whatever key seemed suitable) and I’m not sure what the chords would be. I agree that it would be a good one for a female singer, and I would definitely like to record it properly – I think it has a lot of potential. It’s certainly very short at present, but could be padded out with instrumental parts.
I’ll be very interested in anything you come up with.
Well well! For the sake of easy chord recognition I shall first ‘post’ my chords in C, but will write it in B as well. Certainly on piano, the B, E and F sharp chord changes are a refreshing change for the ear ‘oles. So I’m practicing in B! And its not all about a chord being plonked down – its how that chord is framed or stretched and I guess you know about inverted chords etc. One of the attractions of a guitar is the capability of spacing a chord across a wider range of notes. Shut up PG!
I see the point about a wider range of notes in a guitar chord … unless you have hands like Pat Jennings! As for inverted chords etc. … I’m afraid I’m desperately ignorant, but I don’t let that stop me!
Inverted on boring music theory just means re-positioned or re-pitched so that a C chord with a C in the bass (C, E and G) could equally become E,G and C or G, C and E. The same tonal qualities (C major) could be spread out on piano with an E in the bass, then a C above and then a G above that. Its a wide spread aka Pat Jennings bless him. With six strings on a guitar there is more variation in ‘spreading’ a chord so that a stabbing four note chord may arched out to give greater depth and height. This sounds great when strummed out on the guitar as the guitar sound gives greater sensitivity when allowing for this type of expanded chord. Brendano, all your fingers tips know this. You is not aint not ignorant!
Thanks for that, PapaG. I thought it might be something like that. 🙂
Well Brendano, just want to tell you I’m really close to e-mailing you a written version as extended by me, with melody notes and colour chords – only four chords I think! I have transcribed it in C for easy reading. I have been a bit naughty but I’m not going to tell you musically what I have done. Only your ear will tell you!
I will be interested in what you think. I do like it but will admit to changing and unchanging – trying to keep it simple, and having integrity to your song.
I will write a simple score next to show the running guitar or harp accompaniment but tonight you will see the basics, words, melody and chords. I hope you are in a receptive mood! About 1-2 hours then!
That’s great, PapaG … I look forward to seeing it, although I’m not fluent at reading music … hopefully I’ll be able to get a sense of your ideas.
You’re very good to do this.
Brendano I have just sent it.I think you will get the gist of it. I hope so!
Thank you so much, PapaG … your email came through and I have gone through the song. Very interesting … I realize already that it may have hidden depths, so to speak (I like the Fmajor7 a lot). I had thought of it a quick and simple unaccompanied song, but I see now that it has potential for some instrumentation and harmony … and perhaps another verse or two.
Looking forward to hearing your further thoughts.
Sorry, I spoke too soon (typically) … I had just gone through the first page when I wrote this; will go through the rest of it now …
C is a good key for it.
OK I have been forever tinkering with it. The Fmaj7 only went in at the last minute (rather than a C chord. .I think more importantly the melody drives this, the contant repetition, sort of call and response.This stands alone without accompaniment, just as father or mother might sing a child to sleep. By the way I numbered each line for easy reference, to facilitate discussion on each line. The end of the song has a little more constructive harmony with the A minor. But the whole thing is gentle and not to be rushed. hey wait a minute, YOU wrote it, NOT me!
The A minor is good. I have a good feeling about this song now.