On the evening of Halloween ten years ago today this song was written. Semi-unintentionally I might add. I was dicking about at the piano, playing around with this 3/4 intro thing, singing nonsense. Quickly it turned from less of a playful throwaway moment and more into something of substance. It took about two hours all up, lyrics and all. It's cool when a song comes that thick and fast, but it's not terribly frequent. For me at least.
I was acutely aware of the hour and drawn into Halloween's ye olde pagan roots. This song was never going to be a bloodbath but it was circling me, ritualistic and beckoning. A song trying to find its muse, tracing its own inception. Halloween is in pursuit of its past. As much as the people from olden times have reflected on the souls of those passed.
The piano in Halloween was processed to sound like the old pianofortes. They have an intriguing after ring and sound thinner than modern pianos. The strings were given a bit of a Tron feel. Both the pianoforte and Tron-esque strings are subtle production details. Don't understand where the idea came from, it just felt right. The orchestral drums sat well with a waxing or full moon on a hilltop overlooking an old township before descending to mingle with the living.
Well I said it wasn't a bloodbath but I did have a John Carpenter moment at the end with all that screaming. What can we say, Halloween summons ghosts.
Lyrics:
Way, way back in time forever to find you
All waiting in line, all set for the fine view
Maybe I'll go
Maybe I'll stay
Maybe The Fall just blows this away
I hear you say 'it's never too late'
Oak Tree where we find the pieces we've once been
We'll left hand drive
Westward, the reoccurring scene
Maybe I'll go
Maybe I'll stay
Maybe the Fall just blows this our way
I hear you lean towards Halloween
Eve of All Saint's unspoken word
Echoes down uneven ground
Death and desire, you light the sage
Tendrils and flesh tightly bound
and with the lantern from your hand
Passed down from candle to this land
Season's turn, as does every page
Grey paving thought beyond fact
Out of the blue carried night into day
Oh but you can feel deeper than that
and with the scarecrow in this light
Casting his shadow on second sight
Don't let the moon set too soon
Know that I will burn for you
Don't let the moon set too damn soon
Down on the eve of the muse
If you let the moon set too damn soon
Know that my desire can't lose
I will find you, Halloween