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about
This song is for my dear friend, Darren Clark. He was one of the most wonderful, kind, and wickedly funny people I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending time with. We bonded over many things, but music was his heartfelt passion. I’ll always cherish the time we spent sharing songs, with vinyl records strewn across the floor, or the endless back and forth of recommendations on long car journeys.
A creative soul, Darren was a keen writer and illustrator and, despite coming from Lancashire, had a great love of the Scots language. He reflected this in his poetry, and whilst trying to translate his poem “Love is” for his family, I was drawn to turn it into a song. Particular thanks to the kindness and talent of Boo Hewerdine for making the idea happen in real life, I’m forever grateful.
This song, with Darren’s words full of beautiful ideas of what love meant to him, was played at his funeral.
I hope that listening to this song helps his friends and family feel connected to Darren, as it has for me in the few weeks since his passing. It’s set as “pay what you want” (with the first 200 downloads being free, if that’s used up even 1p will give you access), and anything raised from its sale will go to a charity close to Darren’s heart, the Edinburgh Cat and Dog home.
lyrics
Love is
Love is a sunrise
A kite lifting into the air
Love is a mountaintop
And a night broken by day
Love is a steady hand
And love is a hill
It’s the wish on an eyelash,
Waved into the wind
Love is the clarity
That hits with delirious force
Love is the friendships, I hold close
Love is the warm toes
Love is the toast
The paring of slippers, and cheese
with the one I love most
Love is the holding tight
Then Wholeheartedly letting it go
Love is the friendships, I hold close
I close my eyes
I see fireworks bursting the night
We are apart but never alone
I close my eyes
Yet I still see your secret smile
We are alone, but never apart
Love is the highland walks
Love is old and it’s new
It’s watching the rain fall
Whilst you’re lost in a view
Love is the laughter
That reflects in the eye of good souls
Love is the friendships, I hold close
credits
released March 5, 2021
Inspired by the words of Darren Clark. Crafted into a song by Lindsay Strachan. Musical production by Boo Hewerdine. Mixed by Mark Freegard.
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