Category: Music
Music and lyrics by Andrew Charman-Williams and Spiral Net
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Abandoned Home – lyrics
quiet corner, shadows play,
ivy creeps, memories lay,
there’s a house, all alone,
stories etched, every stone.
windows stare, longing gaze,
distant echoes, bygone days,
through doors ajar, the breeze,
flows through the memories.
abandoned home, full of memories,
whispers linger in the autumn breeze,
floors that creak with the weight of years,
yet in the silence, love still appears.the fireplace emits no light,
cold embers in the night,
in its ashes, the stories remain,
echoing laughter, echoing pain.rooms a canvas, life’s design,
faded colours of heart and mind,
furniture draped, sheets of white,
waiting for one last night.abandoned home, full of memories,
whispers linger in the autumn breeze,
nature reclaims, with vines entwined,
yet in the ruins, love you’ll find.abandoned home, full of memories,
whispers linger in the autumn breeze,
guarding secrets, tales untold,
in this home, now still and cold. -
Waiting in the Rain – lyrics
Waiting in the rain for you,
I should leave but still I stay
In case you arrive I remain ,
Waiting in the rain for you.Huddled on this corner soaked to the bone
Broken umbrella heart filled with ache
Time ticks slowly waiting on my own
Realising our mistakesI watch the world pass in shades of grey
Time passes and still no sign
No glimpse of you coming back to stayMemories dance in the misty air
While I stand in the pouring rain
Promises broken lies laid bare
So much hurt so much pain -
Walking In My Sleep – lyrics
In the depths of night
I start to roam
alone I stride
far from homemoonlight guides
my silent strides
secrets hide
on every sidewalking in my sleep
lots of things I find
some I’d like to keep
some to leave behind
walking in my sleepfields of gold
rivers of sighs
dark and cold
under midnight skieslet me wander
let me ponder
let me roam
far from homewalking in my sleep
lots of things I find
some I’d like to keep
some to leave behind
walking in my sleep -
Sleep Softly Now – lyrics
let the worries fade away
in the stillness of the night
sleep softly now
until the morning lightclose your weary eyes
let your troubles go
in the silence of the night
let your spirit flowlet the gentle breeze
lull you to your rest
in the cradle of the night
feel sleep’s caresssleep softly now
let the darkness embrace
find comfort in its arms
find peace in its spacewith gentle whispers
the night unfolds its tale
as darkness blankets all
like a comforting veillet the gentle rhythms
carry you away
to a place of quiet
where you’ll gently swaylet the worries fade away
in the stillness of the night
sleep softly now
dream until the morning light
sleep softly now -
Time is Passing – lyrics
time is passing so slow today
oh yeah time is passing so slow today
I may be wrong to sing my song
and let the time just pass awaynothing I need to do today
no there’s nothing I need to do today
so it may be wrong to sing some songs
but I’ll just let time pass awaynowhere I need to be today
no there’s nowhere I need to be today
so it may be wrong to sing my songs
as I just let time pass away
so I may be wrong to sing my songs
while I just let time pass away -
Yelling Into the Void – lyrics
I shout my anguish my fear my pain
but noone listens yet again
I’ll shout it out let the words take flight
I’ll shout it out with all my mightYelling into the void but there’s no reply
Met with silence I scream, I cry
Yelling into the void for all these years
shouting and screaming till someone hearsThough my cries may fade away
I’ll keep yelling come what may
In the void I’ll make my stand
A lone voice heard across the landSo let me scream let me roar
Until my voice is heard once moreYelling into the void but there’s no reply
Met with silence I scream, I cry
Yelling into the void for all these years
shouting and screaming till someone hearsYelling into the void I won’t give in
I’ll keep shouting, until I win
Yelling into the void until I’m hoarse
No regrets no remorse -
Castle Ruins – lyrics
In shadows cast by stones of old
whispers rise from depths untold
for though the castle may decay
its spirit lingers bright as day
In the ruins memories unfold -
Bittersweet – lyrics
tears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet life
light and shade
pleasure and pain
without contrast there is no meaningtears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet lifejoy and sorrow
bittersweet
i just want the balance righttears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet lifei want more pleasure than pain
more up than down
more joy than sorrowtears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet life -
White Dove – lyrics
Under skies of blue, where troubles end,
A symbol of peace, a dove ascends.
Its feathers, a canvas, pure and white,
Glide through the skies, a beacon of light.Oh, white dove, take me away,
To a place where dreams don’t fade,
with strong intent take to the sky,
Oh, white dove, away you fly.In times of trouble, when hearts grow weary,
The white dove whispers, soft and airy.
It carries hopes on gentle wings,
And to a troubled world, some hope it brings.Oh, white dove, take me away,
To a place where dreams don’t fade,
with strong intent take to the sky,
Oh, white dove, away you fly.In lands divided, by walls of fear,
The white dove’s call, so crystal clear.
It seeks no borders, nor lines drawn deep,
But a world united, where all may sleep.Oh, white dove, take me away,
To a place where dreams don’t fade,
with strong intent take to the sky,
Oh, white dove, away you fly.oh white dove you still remain
a symbol of hope amidst the pain
with every beat of your gentle wing
a dream of peace you bring -
Nothing At All – lyrics
nowhere to go
noone to see
nothing to do
nothing at allso i can just relax
and do nothing much at allno expectations
no obligations
no confrontations
nothing at allso i can just relax
and do nothing much at all -
Skid Road – lyrics
Maynardtown
Down on the Sawdust
Yesler’s Mill in the Sag
TenderloinSkid Road
where dreams go to dieLava Beds
White Chapel
Great Restricted District
WappyvilleSkid Road
where dreams go to dieMill Street
Yesler Way
The Deadline
Pioneer SquareSkid Road
where dreams go to die
Skid Road
where dreams go to die -
I Thought of You – lyrics
I still hear your laughter, soft as the breeze
It whispers through the trees, brings me to my knees
The way we used to dance, under starlit skies
Now the echoes of your voice are where my heart lies
I thought of you yesterday
I thought of you today
I’ll think of you tomorrow
The memories never fade
I see your shadow in the morning light
It lingers in the silence of the quiet night
Though time moves forward, leaving us behind
In every passing moment, you’re still on my mind
I thought of you yesterday
I thought of you today
I’ll think of you tomorrow
The memories never fade
And I hold on to every piece of you
The moments we shared, the things we knew
They live on forever, deep in my soul
Your memory’s a fire, it keeps me whole
I thought of you yesterday
I thought of you today
I’ll think of you tomorrow
The memories never fade -
Yes or No – Yes and No – lyrics
They wanted Yes or No
as the only answers
but what if it’s Yes and No
or neither with no firm answer.So many things aren’t simply black or white,
wrong or right.
Left or right
day or nightYes or No
Yes and No
Yes or No
Yes and NoWhere are the shades of grey and the central ground
Why expect a simple answer to a complex question
Why is the complex answer never found
What if it’s both, what if it’s noneYes or No
Yes and No
Yes or No
Yes and No
or neither -
Tintinn
Tintinn is an instrumental piece for piano by Andrew Charman-Williams that is based on a modification of the tintinnabuli compositional technique developed by Arvo Pärt.
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Myfyrdod 6
Myfyrdod 6 is an instrumental by Andrew Charman-Williams for classical guitar and mandolin.
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Myfyrdod 5
Myfyrdod 5 is an original instrumental piece played on Irish bouzouki [made by Gladstone Guitars] and mandolin [made by Peter Coombe].
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Gentle Echoes
Gentle Echoes is an instrumental piece by Andrew Charman-Williams recording as Spiral Net that is maybe part ambient, part soundscape and part gentle contemplation.
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Banjo Noodling 241024
Banjo Noodling 241024 is a fingerstyle tenor banjo improvisation over a four chord loop. Both tenor banjo tracks were a single take so there’s things I’d probably change or fix if I planned it out fully.
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Incessant Call
Incessant Call is an instrumental piece with two fingerstyle tenor guitar parts. Cockatoos insisted on providing some accompaniment from their scratching on the roof and screeching. The piece was inspired by the constant monotonous calls of the Tawny Frogmouth and Bronzewing.
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Myfyrdod 4
Myfyrdod 4 is an instrumental for tenor guitar. It was originally on an acoustic tenor guitar tuned GDAE but here it is played finger style on electric tenor guitar in CGDA.
Myfyrdod is just a word I like that is one of two I’m using as generic titles (instead of Untitled 4 or whatever) for instrumentals that don’t have other names but is taken from a Welsh word meaning meditation or contemplation.
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Myfyrdod 3
A new piece played finger style on electric tenor guitar called Myfyrdod 3. I wrote it and had been playing it on an acoustic tenor guitar in GDAE tuning but decided to give it a try in CGDA on the electric.
The title Myfyrdod is mainly just one of two generic titles I am using for some instrumentals where I don’t have a name. Myfyrdod is from a Welsh word which seems to translate to meditation or contemplation and the other, Syniad is idea or concept but I mainly just like the way they look and sound.
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Myfyrdod 2
Myfyrdod 2 is a slightly dark, atmospheric electronic instrumental piece by Andrew Charman-Williams. Myfyrdod is one to the words I am using as titles when I don’t have a title for an instrumental. The word (from Welsh) means something like meditation or contemplation.
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Myfyrdod 1
Myfyrdod 1 is an instrumental for piano and organ (using Pianoteq 8 and Organteq 2) by Andrew Charman-Williams. Myfyrdod is one of the titles I am using for instrumentals when I don’t have a title. The word (from Welsh) means reflection or contemplation.
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Syniad 1
Syniad 1 is an instrumental piece by Andrew Charman-Williams. Syniad is one of the titles I am using for instrumentals when I don’t have another title. The word (from Welsh) means something like idea or concept.
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Third Steps
Third Steps is an instrumental for felt piano and pipe organ that has strong influences from ambient music and post-minimalism. Keyboard sounds from Pianoteq 8 and Organteq 2.
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Minor Moves
Minor Moves is a laid-back instrumental for felt piano and cello that has influences from minimalism, ambient, film music and other styles/genres/approaches.
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Rosella
Rosella (or the Rosella Waltz) is just a gentle waltz recorded with 2 tenor guitar tracks and organ (using Organteq 2).
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Cubic Triads
Cubic Triads is just an exploration of a curiosity. I saw a video by @12tone explaining the music theory concept of Cube Dance by Jack Douthett. This explores that concept using just triads to move through the 12 major, 12 minor and 4 augmented triads. Moving between triads only one note changes by one semitone. Through the layering that occurs with organ stops these three notes are fleshed out to a fuller sound. Organteq 2 is used for the organ.
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Droplets
Droplets is a piece for high G ukulele.
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Waiting (Twiddling Thumbs)
Waiting (Twiddling Thumbs) is a piece for high G ukulele.
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Reflections
Reflections is a piece for classical guitar.
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Wallaby in the Chook Pen
Wallaby in the Chook Pen was written in response to a call for Tasmanian jigs for a collation by Steve Gadd. This is one of three tunes I contributed.
abc text (abc is a form of text based notation very common in folk music) the above image is a render from abc and the text for this is:
X:3
T:Wallaby in the Chook Pen
C:A Charman-Williams
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:3/8=105
K:D
B/c/|:”D” AFA “Bm” BGF | “Em” EFD “A”E2A | “G” GAB “Em” edB | “A” c2d ece |
“D” fdB “Bm” AFA | “Em” BdB “D” AFA | “Em” BGB “A” cde |1 “D” d3 fdB :|2 “D” fdB “A” d2B/c/ |
|: “D” def afa | “Em” bab “A” afe | “D” dfe B2d | “A” ced cde |
“D” fga “Bm” fdf | “Em” efg “A” ece | “D” dAd “A” fge | “D” d3 d2B/c/ 😐 -
Pademelon in the Bracken
Pademelon in the Bracken was written in response to a call for Tasmanian jigs for a collation by Steve Gadd. This is one of three tunes I contributed.
abc text (abc is a form of text based notation very common in folk music) the above image is a render from abc and the text for this is:
X:2
T:Pademelon in the Bracken
C:A Charman-Williams
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:3/8=95
K:Am
|: “Am” cAc edc | “G” BGB cBG | “F” F2A BcA | “E” BA^G E3 |
“Am” cAc ede | “G” ged BcG | “F” AcA “E” ^GEG |1 “Am” A3 Acd :|2 “Am” A3 Ace |
|: “Dm” f2f fed | “Am” ecB Ace | “Dm” f2a fed | “Am” e3 edc |
“G” d2d dcB | “F” c2A FAc | “E” BE^G BcB |1 “Am” A3 Ace :|2 “Am” A6 |] -
Roses are Blue, Violets are Red
Roses are Blue, Violets are Red was written in response to a call for Tasmanian jigs for a collation by Steve Gadd. This is one of three tunes I contributed.
abc text (abc is a form of text based notation very common in folk music) the above image is a render from abc and the text for this is:
X:1
T:Roses are Blue, Violets are Red
C:A Charman-Williams
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:3/8=95
K:Am
Ace|:”Am” a2e fed | “Em” e3 A2E | “Am” A2A cBA | “E” ^G3 Ace |
“Am” a2e fed | “E”e3 A2^G | “Am”ABc “E”A2^G |1 “Am”A3 Ace :|2 “Am”A3 AFE |
|:”Dm”D2F “E”E^GB | “Am”cBc A2c | “Em”e2e fed | “Am”ecB A2E |
“Dm”D2F “E”E^GB | “Am”cec a2b | “Am”aec “E”E^F^G |1 “Am”A3 AFE :|2 “Am”A3 c2d |
|: “Am”e2c “G”d2B | “Am”cBA “E”E2^G | “Am”A2A cBA | “E”^G3 Ecd |
“Am”e2c “Dm”f2d | “E”^g2e “Am”a2e | “Dm”ded “E”c2^G |1 “Am”A3 c2d :|2 “Am”A6 |] -
Yes or No – Yes and No
A song written for a ukulele forum.
Lyrics: Yes or No – Yes and No
They wanted Yes or No
as the only answers
but what if it’s Yes and No
or neither with no firm answer.So many things aren’t simply black or white,
wrong or right.
Left or right
day or nightYes or No
Yes and No
Yes or No
Yes and NoWhere are the shades of grey and the central ground
Why expect a simple answer to a complex question
Why is the complex answer never found
What if it’s both, what if it’s noneYes or No
Yes and No
Yes or No
Yes and No
or neither -
I Thought of You
I Thought of You is a song recorded with vocals and Irish Bouzouki.
Lyrics: I Thought of You
I still hear your laughter, soft as the breeze
It whispers through the trees, brings me to my knees
The way we used to dance, under starlit skies
Now the echoes of your voice are where my heart lies
I thought of you yesterday
I thought of you today
I’ll think of you tomorrow
The memories never fade
I see your shadow in the morning light
It lingers in the silence of the quiet night
Though time moves forward, leaving us behind
In every passing moment, you’re still on my mind
I thought of you yesterday
I thought of you today
I’ll think of you tomorrow
The memories never fade
And I hold on to every piece of you
The moments we shared, the things we knew
They live on forever, deep in my soul
Your memory’s a fire, it keeps me whole
I thought of you yesterday
I thought of you today
I’ll think of you tomorrow
The memories never fade -
Skid Road
A song written for a ukulele forum. This plays on one of the origin stories of the term Skid Row.
Lyrics: Skid Road
Maynardtown
Down on the Sawdust
Yesler’s Mill in the Sag
TenderloinSkid Road
where dreams go to dieLava Beds
White Chapel
Great Restricted District
WappyvilleSkid Road
where dreams go to dieMill Street
Yesler Way
The Deadline
Pioneer SquareSkid Road
where dreams go to die
Skid Road
where dreams go to die -
Nothing At All
A song written for a ukulele forum
Lyrics: Nothing At All
nowhere to go
noone to see
nothing to do
nothing at all
so i can just relax
and do nothing much at all
no expectations
no obligations
no confrontations
nothing at all
so i can just relax
and do nothing much at all -
White Dove
A song written for a ukulele forum
Lyrics: White Dove
Under skies of blue, where troubles end,
A symbol of peace, a dove ascends.
Its feathers, a canvas, pure and white,
Glide through the skies, a beacon of light.Oh, white dove, take me away,
To a place where dreams don’t fade,
with strong intent take to the sky,
Oh, white dove, away you fly.In times of trouble, when hearts grow weary,
The white dove whispers, soft and airy.
It carries hopes on gentle wings,
And to a troubled world, some hope it brings.Oh, white dove, take me away,
To a place where dreams don’t fade,
with strong intent take to the sky,
Oh, white dove, away you fly.In lands divided, by walls of fear,
The white dove’s call, so crystal clear.
It seeks no borders, nor lines drawn deep,
But a world united, where all may sleep.Oh, white dove, take me away,
To a place where dreams don’t fade,
with strong intent take to the sky,
Oh, white dove, away you fly.oh white dove you still remain
a symbol of hope amidst the pain
with every beat of your gentle wing
a dream of peace you bring -
Bittersweet
A song written for a ukulele forum
Lyrics: Bittersweet
tears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet life
light and shade
pleasure and pain
without contrast there is no meaningtears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet lifejoy and sorrow
bittersweet
i just want the balance righttears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet lifei want more pleasure than pain
more up than down
more joy than sorrowtears of joy
a sorrow laced smile
bittersweet moments
from a bittersweet life -
Castle Ruins
A song written for a ukulele forum. A second version not featuring the ukulele was made more recently. The second version in particular is possibly more a soundscape or poem set to music than a song.
Lyrics: Castle Ruins
In shadows cast by stones of old
whispers rise from depths untold
for though the castle may decay
its spirit lingers bright as day
In the ruins memories unfold -
Yelling Into the Void
A song written for a ukulele forum.
Lyrics: Yelling Into the Void
I shout my anguish my fear my pain
but noone listens yet again
I’ll shout it out let the words take flight
I’ll shout it out with all my mightYelling into the void but there’s no reply
Met with silence I scream, I cry
Yelling into the void for all these years
shouting and screaming till someone hearsThough my cries may fade away
I’ll keep yelling come what may
In the void I’ll make my stand
A lone voice heard across the landSo let me scream let me roar
Until my voice is heard once moreYelling into the void but there’s no reply
Met with silence I scream, I cry
Yelling into the void for all these years
shouting and screaming till someone hearsYelling into the void I won’t give in
I’ll keep shouting, until I win
Yelling into the void until I’m hoarse
No regrets no remorse -
Time is Passing
A song written for a ukulele forum
Lyrics: Time is Passing
time is passing so slow today
oh yeah time is passing so slow today
I may be wrong to sing my song
and let the time just pass awaynothing I need to do today
no there’s nothing I need to do today
so it may be wrong to sing some songs
but I’ll just let time pass awaynowhere I need to be today
no there’s nowhere I need to be today
so it may be wrong to sing my songs
as I just let time pass away
so I may be wrong to sing my songs
while I just let time pass away -
Sleep Softly Now
A song written for a ukulele forum
Lyrics: Sleep Softly Now
let the worries fade away
in the stillness of the night
sleep softly now
until the morning lightclose your weary eyes
let your troubles go
in the silence of the night
let your spirit flowlet the gentle breeze
lull you to your rest
in the cradle of the night
feel sleep’s caresssleep softly now
let the darkness embrace
find comfort in its arms
find peace in its spacewith gentle whispers
the night unfolds its tale
as darkness blankets all
like a comforting veillet the gentle rhythms
carry you away
to a place of quiet
where you’ll gently swaylet the worries fade away
in the stillness of the night
sleep softly now
dream until the morning light
sleep softly now -
Walking in my Sleep
A song written for a ukulele forum
Lyrics: Walking in my Sleep
In the depths of night
I start to roam
alone I stride
far from homemoonlight guides
my silent strides
secrets hide
on every sidewalking in my sleep
lots of things I find
some I’d like to keep
some to leave behind
walking in my sleepfields of gold
rivers of sighs
dark and cold
under midnight skieslet me wander
let me ponder
let me roam
far from homewalking in my sleep
lots of things I find
some I’d like to keep
some to leave behind
walking in my sleep -
Waiting in the Rain
A song written for a ukulele forum
Lyrics: Waiting in the Rain
Waiting in the rain for you,
I should leave but still I stay
In case you arrive I remain ,
Waiting in the rain for you.Huddled on this corner soaked to the bone
Broken umbrella heart filled with ache
Time ticks slowly waiting on my own
Realising our mistakesI watch the world pass in shades of grey
Time passes and still no sign
No glimpse of you coming back to stayMemories dance in the misty air
While I stand in the pouring rain
Promises broken lies laid bare
So much hurt so much pain -
Abandoned Home
An initial ukulele based version written in response to a ukulele forum.
Lyrics: Abandoned Home
quiet corner, shadows play,
ivy creeps, memories lay,
there’s a house, all alone,
stories etched, every stone.
windows stare, longing gaze,
distant echoes, bygone days,
through doors ajar, the breeze,
flows through the memories.
abandoned home, full of memories,
whispers linger in the autumn breeze,
floors that creak with the weight of years,
yet in the silence, love still appears.the fireplace emits no light,
cold embers in the night,
in its ashes, the stories remain,
echoing laughter, echoing pain.rooms a canvas, life’s design,
faded colours of heart and mind,
furniture draped, sheets of white,
waiting for one last night.abandoned home, full of memories,
whispers linger in the autumn breeze,
nature reclaims, with vines entwined,
yet in the ruins, love you’ll find.abandoned home, full of memories,
whispers linger in the autumn breeze,
guarding secrets, tales untold,
in this home, now still and cold. -
Blackwood Gully
A first rough recording of a tune called Blackwood Gully played finger style on tenor guitar in GDAE. I haven’t transcribed it yet so a recording was a good way of documenting it. Probably still a work in progress.
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Gentle Breeze
Gentle Breeze is an instrumental for tenor guitar in GDAE.