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"Untitled #1" was the original title of this piece; it tried on a few other ones that just never fit.
My brother would call this song "Nostalgic Carousel", for the poignant-sounding chords and triple meter. I also tried titling it "I Believe In You", or even the gag-inducing "My Precious One". The first song I ever wrote, "Untitled #1" included words that were just so near and dear to my heart—my tightly shut and fearful heart—that I couldn't bear to expose any of the lyrics at the time, not even a couple for a simple title.
The song was written in dedication to a very good friend of mine, whom I crushed on and off and on throughout middle and high school. He was going through a rough time, especially apparent to me during our first two years of high school, when we were the closest. The song reflected just how much I wanted him to confide in me and let me console him however I could. It seems that the song actually helped me through the pain that I was vicariously experiencing through my friend.
"It seems that the song actually helped me through the pain that I was vicariously experiencing through my friend."
The ending intentionally sounds like a music box that is slowly winding down. I love the mismatched rhythms between the two hands in that section, and the extra beat thrown in during one of the very last measures.
This song's structure is slightly different from that of the first two, in that it introduces the CHANNEL!
The channel is what most people would call the "bridge". I use the term "bridge" to refer to the connecting section between the verse and chorus, and "channel" to refer to the drastically different section between the second and third/last choruses. This isn't to say that one is right and one is wrong—when there are more parts to a song, I like to use more words to describe them!
I so enjoy the chords in this song, with the bVII and iv/b6.
In the original key of D:
bVII = C Major
iv/b6 = G minor/Bb
In the modulated key of Eb:
bVII = Db Major
iv/b6 = Ab minor/Cb
It was great fun to have to then learn to play the Chorus again in a new key. Essentially all I did was shift everything up a half step, but it was cool to be able to play the same thing in different keys.
I think it was probably around that time—if not before—where I started to try playing pieces that I'd memorized in as many different keys as I could!
This song included triple time, modulation (changing of key), chromatic chord tones, structural development, and it was my first real attempt at crunchy dissonance!! I loved it so much that I couldn't just stop with that one...
—
Sometimes, I wonder and wonder
What I ever see in you
But it's times like these, my mind wanders
It's hard to see what you're going through
No matter what the time
Whenever I'm blue
Who always comforts me?
It's true that it's always you
Come with me, come with me,
And we'll learn how to fly
We'll fly up into the air
Hold my hand, never let go
Follow me, follow me
There's no need to be shy
You do not need to be scared
Because you'll always know that I'm here
I've tried and tried to tell you,
But it's difficult to say
It's so hard to sound like I mean it
Even though it grows stronger every day
I want you to know
My feelings for you
They run so deep through the ground
These roots can't ever be moved
Come with me, come with me,
I will take you away
From all of your pain,
And all of your sorrow
Follow me, follow me,
There's no need to be brave
There is so much you can gain
If you try again tomorrow
But to just fly away
From the things you face each day
What, oh what good would that do?
You need to face your fears
And wipe away your tears
Have faith in what you can do
I believe in you,
I believe in you,
If you believe in me
Come with me, I'll comfort you
If you tell me what's wrong
You can cry into my arms,
And nobody will see
Reach for me, I'll cradle you
Doesn't matter how long
I'll forever keep you warm
Because you are so precious to me.