Evening Hours
Episode #177: Evening Hours\xa0 \xa0(Song starts at 3:34 &16:22)\n'Evening hours' starts out with a slightly unsettling discordant bell (sounds like the end something) set against a quiet piano riff. \nThis particular introduction has always brought to mind a potential rough story and an opening scene in a play or possibly a movie or stage show, for me. \nThe bell represents \u2018the end\u2019 (also the start) and the arpeggio is like a child music box dancer - \u2018the beginning\u2019. A music box is also something that may be equally enjoyed by a young person or an older person\u2026perhaps it\u2019s a keepsake, a childhood memory. And now this older person can\u2019t quite believe the years have passed by - but passed by they have and now it\u2019s time\u2026.\nYes, 'Evening Hours' is a deep song, about the end of life. We don\u2019t talk about death much here in \u2018the West\u2019, at least. I think we need to. Perhaps a song is a good place to start.\nIt\u2019s not a morbid song, to me. Spooky, sure, but there\u2019s a couple of uplifting lines that say \u2018Why not reach a highlight here tonight?\u2019. Life is to be lived, regardless of one\u2019s age.\nThis song was really determined to get a voice tonight, when I came out to my studio to record another episode. It popped into my mind as a contender and that\u2019s generally the moment I go \u201cok, let\u2019s do it\u201d\u2026\nI picked up an old cassette from the stack and there it was, the title track from an old 4 tracked home recorded album by Paul Dredge and myself. I recognised the art work on the cassette.\nBeneath it was another cassette. The 3rd song in my handwriting on the inner jacket that caught my eye straight away was \u2026'Evening Hours'.\nI thought: \u2018Ok, it\u2019s a sign\u2019.. ha.\nEvening hours was written in 1987. It\u2019s song number 18. Now in 2023, as I find myself writing about the song, I\u2019ve written 800. Bizarre. It\u2019s great yo be rediscovering the old songs - and sharing them - on the podcast.\nI\u2019ve chosen to include both versions of the song. You get to hear the piano vocal version. And then the other more involved arrangement. I wanted to show what I hear in my head as I play \u2018 just \u2018 the piano and sing.\nI was using very basic gear in 1989 and 1991 when these 2 versions were recorded. We are so lucky in this day and age to have wonderful recording gear at our fingertips in our homes. I say: go for it, make the most of it and see what you come up with - if you\u2019re so inclined.\nRecording is so much like the songwriting process. One happy accident leads to the next. I think the opening riff was due to me pacing my left hand in the wrong position on the piano keys, for instance.\nWhat composing Evening Hours did for me was: it made me feel like i could do this thing. I could write songs with feeling and mystery and I could record a version of something that was in my mind. 1987 was a big year for me. It was when I began writing at least a song a week, which I then continued to do for many years.\nIt\u2019s like discovering you can draw. I\u2019ve been lucky to do be doing that in my life as well.\nI hope you enjoy this episode. You can touch on deep themes with music and somehow \u2018get away with it\u2019. I think that\u2019s perhaps what\u2019s happened with 'Evening Hours'.\nI\u2019d sure like to perform it one day on a stage. It\u2019d have to be the right setting! And I\u2019d like to record it properly. That\u2019d be fun.\nYou can find the lyrics, more music\xa0 - and art here on my blog\xa0 www.petepascoe.worpress.com. I have 12 albums online (solo, and with others), www.petepascoe.com\xa0\nHere we go\u2026.