This work may defy classification, but here is the history. We were in a hotel in London the night before the Middle Class Man session. I walked into my friend Omar’s room and he was playing a new intro to a song, that we were scheduled to start on the next day, with our drummer playing gut string guitar harmony to the intro.
It changed the song from a care free flowing melody to folk / love ballad / reminiciancamundo dream remember. .. I told Omar we would have to shift the schedule and move the recording of this one later in the week because I had to write new lyrics and think about the overall composition – AND teach the vocalist the new words.
I went back to my room and, this is embarrassing, could not make my pencil move on the paper because I knew what had to be written. I had never written about her – ever. And now it had to be done. Yet it had to be simple, fit the arrangement and easy to learn. And not give details.
Then and there came a song about my first love that started in high school. I went to college and she went to work for her dad. We did not exchange rings but we decided we would marry. Then I became draft-scared interuptus and left college for a while to go into the Air force. When I got back she was engaged to another. No goodbyes.
I did this then because I was sure this LP would never make it across the pond. I have only seen her once, five years after I returned to the states, and did not tell her anything about her song. Here it is, for what it is worth.
Lynn Ellen
Listen darling While I sing you
Simple words of truth
All the time we went together
Every day was you
You
You had opened up your arms wide
All I could say is why
Two together, thought forever
Never said good bye
Why
Chorus:
- Remember
- Lynn Ellen
- Oh, what a wonderful girl.
In a glowing view of ever
Greening happiness
Flowing by my inner moments
All I can see is you
You
Coming from my open heart
This melody is true
You became this inspiration
I do believe in you
Chorus