The Path: Stories with Strangers - Untitled #1

"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.