Under Another Name

This song began as some lines written after my mother`s passing; that was a few years ago and I only finished it recently-not intended to be biographical, but I think she`d have been able to relate.
I was thrilled when Joanne Cooper agreed to record it...I knew she would take it somewhere special.
All the production credits also go to Joanne.

1. RT1729:Piano, Acoustic, Solo-Accompaniment PopBalladJohn Ev
2. a midi strings track based on the melody line from dimension pro
3. a midi flute track in the chorus based on the melody from dimension pro


Under Another Name

there are secrets entwined
between her heart and time
the book that hides a faded letter
hear the rattle of a drum
soldiers and lovers sailed and gone
the ink still wet on the paper

long before his ship was lost
their lines discovered to her cost
cast out with no hope of protection
their love the world denied
though they were blind as birds to sky
she has kept her part of their bargain

ever again may the light that remains
grace the stems of the grain
and keep bright keep bright the secret she hides
under another name

so long ago now to where she dwells
he draws her up from her deep well
wakes her from this endless game of cards
he walks with her through field and laurel
though his ship turn to rust and coral
and her hair from gold to silver braids

ever again may the light that remains
grace the stems of the grain
and keep bright keep bright the secret she hides
under another name

© Robert Cordrey Dec.2016

Hello RobertKC, Brilliant piano and very pristine vocals from Joanne Cooper! Hope to hear more collaborations with you two. Well done!

Robert,

A solid folk write. So many fine lines. Cool title, too.
The melody gives the sense of a classic known for ages...

Joanne did a nice job on this. Well sung.

Enjoyed.

fj

Impeccable!
I can feel what the backstory might have been and it is wonderfully portrayed.Great singing by Joanne of the superb lyrics and a great tune. Simple but effective BB backing too.
Well done
Ian

Beautiful lyric. Vocal was excellent as well

Very nice.

Joanne has a distinctive voice with traces of Joan Baez, and Sandy Denny tucked in nicely. JC nailed this one in classic fashion.

Lovely write on the song. Lyrics were exceptional. And yeah... like Floyd said, the melody is so comfortably familiar yet still seems unknown and new.

Using just piano and strings was an excellent call. Flute floated nicely in the background and stayed mostly in the shadows of the melody. The piano and strings were working so nicely together I didn't want to hear anything else in there.

Nicely done both of you.

Wonderful collaboration ! beautifully written and sang (or sung)

love the melody too

Kenny

It was an honor to be asked to get involved in this one. Wonderful song Robert. Thank you for inviting me.

This is a song I just wanted to play over and over with my guitar. Like Herb said, the melody is so comfortable and familiar and yet unknown.

The production was done using only a piano real track (1729) and then some midi strings (using dimension pro) that follows the melody line. To give the chorus an extra lift I added the midi flute also done with dimension pro and following the melody line.

Thanks Joe, Floyd, Ian, Scott and Herb for the nice comments.

Edited to add Kenny to the list above (he must have been typing when I was)

Great collab everyone!

Robert & Joanne
Very nice enjoyable collaboration - lovely theme and pretty melody.
Very well done.

Peter

Robert / Joanne,

Very beautiful and touching... It's an excellent song and the production and delivery by Joanne is stunning.

Bob

Robert & Joanne

Wow, really haunting, and impeccably delivered.

What a sensational tribute.

You must all be proud.

I have made a video for this lovely song.

It is here
https://youtu.be/DDCfscHAt7Y

Thanks Joe, yes, that piano is lovely.
Joanne sings this just the way I heard it when thinking the song needed a female voice.

Robert

Floyd,
Thank you! The title line was the last part of the write... glad I waited `til that came along.

Robert

That`s very kind, Ian.
My mum bravely endured social isolation for her choices in a much less tolerant time - I tried to hint at that in the song.
I would have been tempted to embellish the backing and am glad Joanne saw the need for simplicity.

Robert

Much appreciated, Scott.

Robert

Thank you for this.
Great to know someone else can hear that Sandy Denny beauty in Joanne`s voice!
The melody came from humming my lyrics to a couple of favourite folksongs and then finding chords and repeating until it didn`t sound like a copy of either.

Robert

Thank very much, Kenny!
My introduction to collaboration here has been very worthwhile.

Robert

Joanne, the honor was mine! I was thinking it might be something you`d get to down the road so very pleased you put my song on "record" right away.
One thing I`d like to learn, if you haven`t posted this elsewhere, is how you are generating the midi melody that follows your vocal; is that done with BiaB melody maker?

Robert

Robert and Joanne,

What a beautiful collaboration is this! A beautiful write and perfectly sung by Joanne (we especially like her harmony voices).
By all means keep these collaborations coming ;-)

Rob & Anne-Marie

The very strong write is tailor made for Joanne's vocal style which we have always felt, as Herb mentioned, is very reminiscent of Baez.

The production is lovely and it would be hard to imagine it done any other way after listening to this arrangement.

Lushly beautiful in all aspects!

Way to go you two.

J&B

Thank you!

Robert

Peter,
Glad you enjoyed- thank you for listening!

Robert

Bob,
Thank you, I`m happy the feeling came through - yes, though its a simple style, I know Joanne did a great deal of work to get that sound.

Robert

VideoTrack,
That`s very kind - many thanks!

Robert

Rob & Anne Marie,
Being only the second time someone else has sung one of my tunes, its spine tingling to hear what a fine singer can do ... I`m certainly open to more of that.
Thanks for your positive feedback!

Robert

Robert and Joanne,

This is really lovely to listen to.

Joanne: your singing is first class and sits with the song as comfortably as cream sits with coffee... 'stunning' is a word that came to mind as I listened.

Robert: as floyd has said, you've written some outstanding lines here. Your imagery is very poetic.

All the best to you both,
Noel

What a superb write, arrangement and production. This is exceptional at every level.

Joanne, your vocals were pristine.

Robert, this a a top level write.

Together they brought us a beautiful, thoughtful and endearing song.

Charlie

Thanks everyone for the great comments on this song. It was a pleasure to sing.

Robert, I make the midi file that follows the melody using melodyne. You simply save the lead vocal as midi. Just make sure that the tempo in melodyne is correct otherwise the midi file doesn't line up properly. You could also do it with the generated harmonies and make a midi file that follows the harmony line.

Hello, Robert and Joanne

Very beautiful song and very nice collaboration.
Joanne's vocal reminds me of Joan Baez. Very pleasant.
As floyd said, the melody is so comfortably familiar yet still seems unknown and new.
Robert, your melody lines are the royal road of Folk music.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best Regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Wow, just so good! Vocal is outstanding and love the harmonies. Good write Robert! Nice collaboration, enjoyed the listen!

Thanks J&B! I can`t really imagine anyone else singing it now either.

Robert

Noel,
That`s very kind - glad you enjoyed our collaboration.

Robert

Charlie,
Many thanks for your listen and kind comments.

Robert

Shigeki,
I`m happy you liked our song.
I`m mostly a recycler when it comes to melody- you can guess which materials went in, but the end product is a little different!

Robert

Your listen and likes are much appreciated.

Robert

Robert/Joanne, wonderful, marvelous, excellent, whatever superlative one chooses to use it is justified! You have put together a great song here. The arrangement is just what was needed. Thanks, Torrey.

Torrey,
Many thanks for this- and also for your listen and comments on my Bamboo Flute song. Looking forward to another from you!

Robert

This is really gorgeous. Outstanding song, and mix and great vocals Joanne!!!!

David,
Thank you for listening- I`m glad you enjoyed this.

Robert

Ditto! Floyd got it right. Never heard Joanne sound better, and the song is wonderful!! Take care. Greg

Greg,
Thanks for your listen and comments!

Robert