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about

About the song:

I began a version of this song in 1980, finally revising and finishing it in 1996. Some things take a little time to develope I guess. I had been thinking about certain family members, friends and loved ones who have moved on in one way or another, either in death or in distance of some kind. I realized how each person we meet on our journey becomes a part of the fabric of our lives for better or worse, and in my case it's been mostly for the better. I wanted to acknowledge that it has been good to have crossed paths with these brothers and sisters, and thank them for their contribution to who I am and for playing some part in my story. And whatever the circumstances of our relationships' ascent or demise, I only wish for them many blessings, and hope we meet again some other time.


About the recording:

I was living in Kalihiwai valley about a minute drive to one of the most respected waves on the north shore here on Kauai. You could hear the waves in winter breaking hard on the old lava and reef down below, boomeranging through the valley walls. It was the same house where I recorded the 'Coconut Culture' CD with Mike Shipley, minus the creep that was living upstairs. The acoustic guitar played here is my Collings OM3 cutaway, a really wonderful instrument made in Austin Texas in 1994. My recorder was the ADAT 8 track, the guitar mic was an AKG 451 EB condenser, and the vocal mic was the AKG 414 straight into the Neve 1272. I used the Roland R-70 Human Rhythm composer for the drum groove on this one too.

I had been in an open tuning frenzy for the previous few years when I stumbled upon this one: EADEAE, and I don't remember where or how I came across it but it had such a sad retrospective aura about it when I delved into it's mystery that it lead me on to the lyric content pretty quick. As usual I recorded the drum part first then add my rhythm guitar followed by vocals, recording one thing at a time and really trying to get it right.

lyrics

The Journey

words & music - ALLAN THOMAS


I’D LIKE TO GO BACK IN TIME IN MY LIFE
VISIT WITH ALL MY OLD FRIENDS AND RELATIONS
TALK TO THOSE I MISS ON THE JOURNEY

I KNOW WE ALL HAD OUR OWN ROADS TO TRAVEL
BRIEFLY MEETING BY CHANCE ALONG THE WAY
WE GO IT ALONE WE GAVE IT EVERYTHING

VIA CONDIOS MI AMIGO
MAY YOU FIND YOUR WAY ON THE WINDING ROAD
MAY WE MEET AGAIN ON THE JOURNEY

YOU AND I WE HAD OUR MOMENT
WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL
BUT FOR THE WIND
THE DESTINATION NEVER MATTERED
WAS ALWAYS THE JOURNEY

VIA CONDIOS MI AMIGO
MAY YOU FIND YOUR WAY ON THE WINDING ROAD
MAY WE MEET AGAIN ON THE JOURNEY

WE CHOSE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED
ALWAYS HAVING TO LET GO

SO WE WOUND UP GOING DOWN
DIFFERENT HIGHWAYS
WISH YOU WELL WHEREVER YOU GO
BETTER TO HAVE LIVED AND LOVED YOU
THAN NEVER LOVED YOU AT ALL

VIA CONDIOS MI AMIGO
MAY YOU FIND YOUR WAY ON THE WINDING ROAD
AND MAY WE MEET AGAIN ON THE JOURNEY

SOMEWHERE ON THE JOURNEY
SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE
SO MANY CROSSROADS
AND STRANGE PILGRIMS ON THE WAY


tuning: EADEAE


© 1996 BLACK BAMBOO MUSIC - BMI

credits

from Brooklyn Boy In Paradise, track released February 10, 1996
Allan Thomas - vocals & guitar

Produced & Recorded by Allan Thomas

Photo: Jim Shea

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Allan Thomas Hanalei, Hawaii

Aloha and welcome to my Bandcamp Music Store home page. Here you can listen to full-length samples of all seven Allan Thomas albums and three singles. Also to be found are credits, photos, stories and lyrics for all songs. Dig in...

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