Ken: I felt like I always wanted to do a duet with another man, where the subject was love between men, and last year I found @ofishell's music, and this year I asked him if he wanted to do it. I was really inspired by John Barrowman's duet on "I Know Him So Well" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8az1gFoZp4c), and that inspired Wayne to write these lyrics and the melody. He asked me to do the harmonies (easy for me) and audio production (yikes!). This is the first time that I've done a collab where I'm dealing with the technology, and I'm feeling okay about it. Feels good to get this out on Valentine's Day also. Thanks Wayne for the fun collab!
Wayne:
It was fun to be able to add something a bit more Broadway-esque to the duets that I did last year, and was glad when @kenmattsson brought the idea to me. Thanks as well, Ken, adding the backing strings tracks and for "pushing the buttons," in general, as putting it all together on a phone would have been a wee bit difficult for me. This was interesting to write, as I went through the song Ken linked above, and went through, line by line as a writing exercise to determine how I could bring the ideas conveyed in the song into my own voice.
I rarely write on the piano, so full deference to actual piano players...you can hear that I only know how to bang out chords.
Also, I am not sure how a flag can be "dim," but that's what the lyric wanted to be and so I went with it. Y'all hush. LOL
Lyrics ©2022 Wayne Fishell
Music ©2022 Wayne Fishell and Ken Mattsson (BeaconBeats Music)
I can't turn back the clock, I can't hold all of time still,
Flawless starts just start to fizzle out.
And I should have known better, should have had some more self-will,
But not an inch of me would let in doubt.
All the flags were present, some red and others dim,
I'll admit a few were gripped in my own hands.
But I stitched up all the moments that equaled all of him,
And the sum of it was worth the way it stands.
No youthful time was wasted, and I gave fully in.
Knowing every action has a toll.
It was heady just to gamble, throwing caution to the wind,
Content to focus on a single goal.
And all the flags were present, so easily in sight,
But couldn't hold a candle to that grin.
And I should have know better, but saw no need to fight,
I gladly caved in to all our whims.
Chorus
We let it be everything, What we needed at the time,
There was no questioning, I was his and he was mine.
And it doesn't even matter that it was never meant to last.
Fire seldom smolders endlessly. 'Cause just for then it was everything.
Every story branches, people come and people go,
No single soul can meet your every need.
I could have tried to force it, tried to go against the flow,
I might have lost myself inside that energy.
'Cause all the flags were present, and in time we understood,
That bowing out's not always a defeat.
But just those little moments gave everything they could,
'Cause I can still feel each of his heartbeats.
Chorus
@berni1954 Mar 2022
Ah yes, this is a super version. Love the arrangement. Nothing new to add to my earlier comment on the song itself.
@odilongreen Mar 2022
Broadway indeed! Soaring and majestic, this would indeed be right at home on stage as a showstopper. So much emotion here, such wisdom that, as the song says at the end of the last verse, ending doesn't necessary mean the experience wasn't worth it. I haven't even seen the rest of the show leading up to this climax, and yet I genuinely feel for these characters, and their loss, and their drive to learn and grow. Magical and moving.
@auditasum Mar 2022
Yessss, I love hearing a same sex love duet and they're so rare. "We let it be everything, what we need at the time." I have heart eyes. So bittersweet.
@cleanshoes Feb 2022
Oof, that is one beautiful chorus. In fact, the whole thing is beautiful. I'm picky about my Broadway-esque tunes, and this one is a real winner. Both of your voices are fantastic and blend together so well. So many wonderful lines in the lyrics, too. I just loved this.
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022
This is Magnificent. It really moves me. And it definitely has that Broadway feel you were going for. Exceptional collab. So glad you posted it and I had the good luck to find it!
The Chorus is superb!
@bfwaite Feb 2022
Verse 2 brought me close to tears -- the journey from "all the flags were present" to "I stitched up all the moments" moved me so much.
I agree with some of the other comments--this has the feeling of an 11 o'clock number in a show, but (as someone who gets a lot of "hey that's a Broadway song.." feedback) I think it also works beautifully as a standalone pop song.
Thanks for putting this one out for us to hear; keep these sweet duets coming!
@jeustan Feb 2022
"Fire seldom smolders endlessly" honks real loud. As my friends would say it "honks something reeky." That's a big compliment. What a fantastic line on it's own but there is no denying that moment in this song when it comes. The meter of the chorus sets it up, lines pausing before the next, and then right at the emotional apex these words spill right over. Wow, dude. So much truth and real feels in that.
The synth pads do wonders here. So lovely.
@bethdesombre Feb 2022
Wow -- this really could be in a Broadway show; the arrangement is perfect. And the lyrics are lovely -- I like how they unspool the story (the first flag stanza is particularly effective, and then the flags come back). The last two lines in the chorus are stunning, and I also love "every story branches, people come and people go."
@eas3637 Feb 2022
I listened to this a few days ago, Ken, and meant to come back and tell you how lovely it was. I love the sincerity and authenticity of this song, and your voices sound wonderful.
@analogj Feb 2022
This is lovely, sophisticated, and heartfelt. It's really masterful.
And yes, I suppose a flag can dim. If a self-contained entity were overcome and/or were have to surrender, that flag might be dimmed if it were lowered.
@arthurrossi Feb 2022
The lyrics are so poignant and heartfelt, a truly great write! And the musical take on them is just perfect and suits these lyrics wonderfully. The duet-concept is spectacular and the icing on the cake. I am amazed at what you guys produced here... Just WONDERFUL!
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
This is absolutely gorgeous and poignant in the insightful lyric - just amazing as you capture the importance and magnitude of a limited but intensely loving relationship. The lyrics bring tears to my eyes and the delivery is so powerful and emotive. The heartfelt honest feel of the lyric is delivered beautifully with this duet and your voices are perfect. Now I want to see and hear the whole musical!
@andrea Feb 2022
This feels so intimate and honest. Lovely lyrics and vocals. Beautiful all around. Nice collab!
@darcistrutt Feb 2022
Lovely. "Just for then it was everything" brought me a sad yet thankful feeling for the story. The combination of the strings and piano, smooth and choppy was lovely. Nice collab!
@pianoonthepatio Feb 2022
ah I enjoyed this! Sweet and reflective. I love the harmonies, and how lovely to listen to this around Valentine's Day. Lyrics are very meaningful too. *note on the piano basic chords is typically where I start too, before developing anything! no shame lol*
@nadine Feb 2022
Thank you! Now it's besser to distinguish you two. But I still feel like that one is 100% left and the other 30% left. I'm puzzled.
However its a great song!
@oaksnprairie Feb 2022
Beautiful! I love it when the voices come together in the chorus.
@karlsburg25 Feb 2022
Oh wow this is truly magical. I have been taken back to a timeless era of purity and music. The pictures painted are truly emotional and i adore the way you go between the voices. It has a real classic feel and took me to a very special place so thanks loads guys
@headfirstonly Feb 2022
Definitely has that Broadway gloss. From the comments below it looks like you guys are gonna have to write the rest of the musical now!
@elesimo Feb 2022
Just beautiful. I listened a few times... amazing lyrics, very sincere and relatable. Love the duet, and the production is great, Ken! Congrats to both of you!
@bigmood Feb 2022
ahhhhhhh, this hits that sweet spot for me with musical theater (I was his and he was mine...ahhh the angst, it's so good) but also...the verse melody really reminds me of a Simon and Garfunkel song (it's not coming to me right now, but I can already tell it's gonna be bugging me all day.) Great use of melodic repetition, too. That's always something i've struggled with but you seem to know when to shift, musically.
@liz561 Feb 2022
The chorus was really spectacular! I could hear this in a Broadway show-it really tells a story.
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
Oooooh...great lyrics and a TERRIFIC vocal for them.
Very nicely arranged, too. Now...write a play! I'd come to see this in a musical. :-)
Very nice collaboration, gentlemen!
@berni1954 Feb 2022
This was gorgeous. Your voices work so well together.
This deserves to be the closing song of a Broadway Musical. Not a dry eye in the house as the last notes fade!
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
what an excellent lyric. Well played guys a really cool duet, the way Ken comes in really gives it that show feel. sort of where he is somewhere else on stage singing across! very classy
@nadine Feb 2022
Beautiful duet. Your voices work so well together. The harmonies are a treat!
Just a short note on production. I think it's more interessting when one singer is panned left and the other right.
@tageule Feb 2022
What a beautiful duet. You made me cry.
@leslie333 Feb 2022
This is awesome, great duet (especially remotely) -and oh that chorus!
@nancyrost Feb 2022
This has a great arc to it. It's so satisfying when you sing together. Amazing how together you sound duetting over technology. Great adult denouement too, very touching.