“Who knows the dangers we might meet?”
I describe this song as Epic Orchestral Rock. By that I mean it has an ambition that doesn’t hide from the limelight. There’s plenty going on.
The music was written on piano which I don’t often do and it took me just one night to get it to a point where I was happy with it. Very spontaneous (some of my songs have taken decades to complete). I then worked on a proper recording of the music and added in Cellos, Violins, Violas, and a number of different acoustic guitar parts. The last one was the jangly Rickenbacker that I’d used on Bringing the Harvest Home. I was really happy with the music but couldn’t for the life of me think of a theme for the lyrics and I also found the end of the chorus gave me really issues.
Then one day I was listening to a book about the SAS and their motto “Seize the Day”. I found that “We shall seize the day” fitted perfectly at the end of the chorus. I then knew that this needed to be an upbeat and uplifting song and not my usual “Singalonga Despondency”. My family tease me that I never write anything cheerful.
The next book I listened to was To Rule the Waves by Arthur Herman, about the British Navy and Herrmann’s The Great Age of Discovery about great explorers. These chaps must’ve had balls of steel. Heading out into the unknown. Makes our over scrutinized lives seem rather small in comparison. They certainly knew how to Seize the Day.
One night I woke up at 3am and the rest of the words just fell onto the paper.
The next day I sang the lyrics through a few times whilst driving my car and when I got home that evening I recorded a guide vocal fully intending to re-record it later, but I didn’t and that’s why in the third verse I actually sing the wrong words. I wrote “Francis Drake and the Golden Hind” but for some reason I sang “Raleigh, Drake, the Golden Hind”. I was so pleased with the feel of the vocals I had on the guide track that I didn’t replace them.
Initially I didn’t play this song live because it has so much going on orchestrally but eventually I realised I could sing the cello break (See the video at the bottom of the page of the actual moment of realisation) and it has now become my favourite acoustic live track.
I hope you like it.
Stuart
Seize the Day HQ Audio Download
I have used this painting as the base for the artwork to go with the single. For more information about the painting click here.
Seize the Day
Throw the dice and say your prayers
The World is yours, if you dare
Who knows the dangers we might meet?
Crashing waves or the guns of the mighty Spanish Fleet
It’s the great adventure of our time
I’ve got the chance to know what is or isn’t mine
Chorus
And this ripple will become a mighty wave
No-one knows if their souls are ever safe
So, they should seize the day
Carpe diem
Carpe diem
Verse
In a burning sun on a breathless sea
With thoughts of home and a waiting Virgin Queen
Francis Drake and the Golden Hind
Lived on hope of all the treasure he might find
Who knows the dangers we might meet
Words by Stuart James Wright (Copyright 2018 Stuart Wright Music)