I wasn't really planning on writing a song. But this phrase just popped into my brain, "a quarter to ten". I thought this could make a hook in a song. Then I thought there would be more rhyming and meter options if it was "a quarter to nine". Then, I realized that just happened to be about the time of evening that I had my first meaningful conversation (in other words, leading to our first date) with the beautiful girl that would become my wife of over 43 years now.

I met my wife briefly at South Padre (Texas), where we were both performing in a music festival. A few weeks later a mutual friend played matchmaker and brought to my attention that this beautiful girl was interested in me. Her band was playing at a mission in downtown Houston that Saturday night. I went to hear them, and the rest is history! (I hope I didn't overestimate your interest in this, and that you enjoy the song!)

Piano, organ, strings and percussion are all Native Instruments softsynth sounds I played. The rest is RealTracks and RealDrums...

A Quarter To Nine - Video

A Quarter To Nine - Soundcloud

A Quarter To Nine
©Stephen W. Young

There was a mission in downtown Houston
Singing songs of redemption
Saturday nights and a hot meal
Reaching out to the man on the run
Always sure to find one
Giving all for something real

I heard about her from an old friend
I went to hear the band she was in
At the mission in downtown Houston
And when she sat down next to me
It was plain that it was meant to be
I knew she was mine for the first time
At a quarter to nine

She had the voice of an angel
Could make you smile when it's painful
The one you look all your life to find
I was young and free as the wind
Not much money, but rich in friends
But it was clear, we started a lifetime
At a quarter to nine

At a quarter to nine...
That's when my heart started keeping time
At a quarter to nine...
I knew everything had changed
At a quarter to nine...
That's when my heart changed my mind
At a quarter to nine

I was young and free as the wind
Not much money, but rich in friends
But it was clear, we started a lifetime
At a quarter to nine
At a quarter to nine
At a quarter to nine

===

And here are the RT's/RD's...
RealTracks in song: 1254:Bass, Electric, PopShiningSync Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 2780:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm Songwriter8thsBrent Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2541:Pedal Steel, Background ModernPopCountry Ev 110
RealTracks in song: 1850:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm PopShiningGrittyMuted Ev 120
RealTracks in song: 3203:Guitar, Acoustic, Soloist RnBPopBrent Ev 110
RealDrums [in Song:NashvilleEven8^3-a:Sidestick, HiHat , b:Snare, HiHat Open

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Steve Young
Music
"In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of." - Robert Schumann