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Scattershot Symphony Episode #21: Breaking Tradition

Scattershot Symphony – The Music of Peter Link
A Podcast


Episode #21 – Breaking Traditions

Click to View Episode #21 Transcript


View Episode Previews

Episode #21 Preview — Breaking Tradition (The River)

Sundown: A Musical Fable of the Old West

Episode #21 Preview — Breaking Tradition (King of Hearts)

Says Peter Link:

In order to break traditions, one first has to know the traditions.

The traditions of songwriting are the fundamentals developed over the centuries from Beethoven to George Gershwin to Billy Joel to Adele.  Writing for the theater always gave me license to stretch the rules of the Pop music traditions.

Of course, writing for the theater has its own set of traditions or fundamentals, but they always seemed to come under a much wider umbrella.

This particular Episode 21 takes us to the edge of the cliff in exploring the unknown, but because of the stretch, it is one of my favorite episodes.


Breaking Traditions
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Listen to samples, view lyrics and click through to download. Thanks for listening!

  • Title: The River
  • Artist: Peter Link
  • Lyricist: Baba Olatunji, Peter Link
  • Duration:
    05:29
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    The River
    Music and Lyrics by Peter Link & Baba Olatunji

    Rollin' to the sea
    Come ye to the water
    Lose yourself in me
    Never to go back again

    Omi omi omi lenia
    Oshun oshun awa toro alafia
    Omi omi omi lenia
    Oshun oshun awa toro alafia

    Sunday mornin'
    Wash in the river
    Strange things fill the air
    River run by and smile at me standin' there

    And so I smile right back
    And call to the river
    Sing me up a little song
    River says I don't mind if you sing along

    I been a thousand miles
    Seen a lot of faces
    For a thousand years
    Been a lot of places where no man has gone
    Where there's nothing but the traces of God
    An' I'm rollin' on

    Rollin' to the sea
    Come ye to the water
    Lose yourself in me
    Never to go back again

    Rollin' to the sea
    Come ye to the water
    Lose yourself in me
    Never to go back again

    Wish that I could be like the water
    Rollin' over me
    Searchin' for the peace at the river's end

    Some day soon
    When finally the river's
    Rollin' round the moon
    I will be at peace again

    Omi omi omi lenia
    Oshun oshun awa toro alafia

    God He gives
    The power to the river
    River to the man
    It was so before the world began

    Time won't wait
    It flows with the river
    Don't look back my friend
    Get on in and go to the river's end

    More than a thousand miles
    Rolling on inside you
    And a thousand lies
    Trying to divide you while you carry on
    And she's always there to guide you along
    Still rushing on

    Rollin' to the sea
    Come ye to the water
    Lose yourself in me
    Never to go back again
    Rollin' to the sea
    Come ye to the water
    Lose yourself in me
    Never to go back again

    Wish that I
    Could be like the water
    Rollin' over me
    Searchin' for the peace at the river's end

    Some day soon
    When finally the river's
    Rollin' round the moon
    I will be at peace again
    I will be at peace again
    I will be at peace again

  • Title: I Think On These Things
  • Artist: Jenny Burton
  • Lyricist: Peter Link
  • Duration:
    04:40
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    I Think on These Things
    Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

    When I consider the heavens
    The works of thy fingers
    The moon and the stars
    You ordained

    When I consider a child
    The steps that he's taking
    His light and his joy
    So ingrained

    When I think of the way
    That each breath comes unnoticed
    Sustaining this delicate life

    I am swept off my feet
    In breathless wonder
    At the mystery of life

    When I consider the music
    Of all the great masters
    And know it was you
    They all heard

    And the works of our Shakespeares
    King Davids and Keats
    You gave them each
    Every word

    When I contemplate
    The pure fabric of nature
    Bewildered by all we have learned

    I am swept off my feet
    In breathless wonder
    At the miracle of life

    And I think on these things
    And the wonder life brings
    From the greatest of things to the small
    And though I spend my life
    Searching life's solemn secrets
    I know I'll never know all

    As I ponder the atom
    The boundless vast ether
    The billions of lives
    On this stone

    I consider the gift
    Of God's imagination
    And begin to explore
    The unknown

    But this whimsical world
    It just slips through my fingers
    As I try to hold on to the air

    And I'm swept off my feet
    In breathless wonder
    At the miracle of life

    And I think on these things
    Yes I think on these things
    And the wonder life brings

  • Title: Transformation Suite
  • Artist: Gordon Weiss, Millicent Martin
  • Duration:
    07:56
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    Transformation Suite
    Words by Jacob Brackman
    Music by Peter Link

    [Genevieve]
    Somehow this place is a place I know
    Deja vu, deja vu
    Familiar from so far ago – deja vu
    Not even the shadows have been rearranged
    Everything here is exactly the same
    I know I have been here before – deja vu

    The trunks and the sawdust
    The flags in the breeze
    Siberian tigers
    The flying trapeze
    La la la la la la

    And clowns shot from cannons
    Through circles of fire
    And fat ladies swallowing spears
    With each feat of daring
    Eliciting gasps and cheers
    It's exactly the same after all these years

    [Barber]
    Somehow this place is a place I know
    Deja vu, deja vu
    Familiar from so long ago – deja vu
    Not even the shadows have been rearranged
    Everything here is exactly the same
    I know I have been here before – deja vu

    The candy cane door pole
    The leather, the chrome
    The snip of sharp scissors
    The scent of cologne
    La la la la la la

    Here is young Brutus
    My trusty old doily
    I've missed your protection, my dear
    And the feathery tickle
    Of tresses behind my ears
    It's exactly the same after all these years

    [Barber and Genevieve]
    All these years
    Here I am
    Still the same
    Home again
    It's exactly the same
    After all these years

    [Chorus]
    The air in this town is alive with the feeling
    Funniest feeling I've been here before
    The air in this town is alive with the feeling
    Funniest feeling I've been here before
    It's exactly the same after all these years
    La la la la la la la la

    Music is in the air
    It's breezy
    Strolling around the square
    It's easy

    Time for a promenade
    Life is enchanting in town
    Everyone's down in the street

    [Two Female Lunatics]
    It's a promenade
    What a promenade
    Such a promenade ha ha

    [Chorus]
    Morning's sweet and we're free to greet her
    Free to choose how to pass the day
    Pastry shop never did smell sweeter
    Since the shop keeper's away
    Lovely fetching
    Winsome catching
    Charming tresses
    Disarming dresses
    Fashion perfectly chic dear
    Passion pumped to the peak
    Exciting careers
    We're all magnifique

    What a feast for the eyes
    What a stunning surprise
    To be free and to see
    That there's no one else here
    Who knew that dreams could come true
    After all of these years

  • Title: Cardinal In The Snow
  • Artist: Peter Link
  • Composer: Peter Link
  • Lyricist: Peter Link
  • Duration:
    04:23
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    Cardinal In The Snow
    Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

    There’s nothing quite like
    A cardinal in the snow
    All that white
    And God’s splash of red
    As if He had said
    “Here is my thought for the day.”
    A cardinal in the snow
    Oh a cardinal in the snow
    A cardinal in the snow

    Bird in my window
    More magnificent than the mountains
    More beautiful than the valleys
    And the rivers
    And the wonders of this world
    Bird in my window
    Only for a second or two
    But burned into the scrapbook of my being

    Oh dear God
    Thanks for making it so
    He’s even more beautiful than Marilyn Monroe
    This cardinal in the snow
    Even more so than the willow tree
    Even more so than Van Gogh
    This cardinal in the snow

    Interlude

    A cardinal in the snow
    Oh a cardinal in the snow
    A cardinal in the snow

    Bird in my window
    More delicate than the snowflakes
    A graceful ballerina
    Standing mighty
    A King among his peers
    Bird in my window
    Guardian of his family name
    He’s burned into the mem’ry of my mind

    A cardinal in the snow
    A cardinal in the snow

  • Title: The 23rd Psalm
  • Artist: Julia Wade
  • Composer: Peter Link
  • Source: Ps
  • Duration:
    05:49
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    The 23rd Psalm
    Lyrics from Psalm 23, King David
    Music by Peter Link

    The Lord is my shepherd
    I shall not want

    The Lord is my shepherd
    I shall not want

    He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
    He leadeth me beside the still waters

    He restoreth my soul
    He restoreth my soul

    And He leadeth me
    Yes He leadeth me
    In the paths of righteousness
    For his name's sake

    The Lord is my shepherd
    I shall not want.

    Yea, though I walk through the valley
    Of the shadow of death
    I will fear no evil

    For thou art with me
    Thy rod and thy staff
    Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me

    Yea, though I walk through the valley
    Of the shadow of death
    I will fear no evil
    I will fear no evil

    Thou preparest a table before me
    In the presence of mine enemies
    Thou anointest my head with oil

    Interlude 3

    The Lord is my shepherd
    I shall not want.

    My cup runneth over

    Surely goodness and mercy
    Shall follow me all the days of my life
    And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
    Ever more

    The Lord is my shepherd

  • Title: Poison Water
  • Artist: Steve Blanchard, Peter Link
  • Composer: Peter Link
  • Lyricist: Larry Rosler
  • Duration:
    05:37
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    Poison Water
    Words by Larry Rosler
    Music by Peter Link

    [Doc]
    Lord, you know I tried
    Did my very best
    To turn the other cheek
    As you suggest
    But love your enemy's a hard request
    When he's reaching for his gun

    Here I go again
    And it makes me sad
    To say goodbye
    To all the dreams we had
    So how did something good
    Turn out so bad
    Take a look at what we've done

    Poisoned the water
    Poisoned the water
    Look at us now
    We've poisoned the water
    Poisoned water
    Full of waste
    Let them come and get a taste
    Of poison water

    [Tom]
    Mother of mercy-

    [Doc]
    Relax, Tom. Just relax. We don't want to wake the lady.

    [Tom]
    But I'm unarmed. You know China Mary don't allow no guns in her rooms. You ain't gonna shoot an unarmed man, are ya? Are ya?

    [Doc]
    I'm here to extend an invitation: you meet me later today, and we'll settle the score for all time.

    [Morgan]
    Virg, what they done to Kate ain't right.

    [Virgil]
    And what they do to one of us, they do to all.

    [Morgan]
    We should end it now

    [Virgil]
    We should do it quick
    And when we do it, dammit, make it stick

    [Morgan]
    A little piece of lead should do the trick

    [Virgil]
    That's the gospel truth my son

    [Tom]
    Gentlemen, this time Doc Holliday has called out the wrong man.

    [Ike]
    The wrong house, Tom, the wrong house.

    [Frank]
    Turn your back on wolves
    This is what you git

    [Ike]
    You touch a rattlesnake
    And you get bit

    [Tom & Ike]
    The talking's over now we finish it
    Take a look at what they've done

    [Clantons, McLaurys, Morgan & Virgil]
    Poisoned the water
    Poisoned the water
    Look at them now
    They've poisoned the water
    Poisoned water
    Full of waste
    Let them come and get a taste
    Of poison water

    [Wyatt]
    You hear that?

    [Wyatt]
    It's the sound of hearts beatin' faster right before a kill. I love that sound. I'll round up the boys, Doc. Don't be long.

    [Kate]
    Doc, it's not too late
    Not for us
    Cause I know
    We can make it, Doc
    Please don't go
    What of all those dreams
    Of getting out
    Cutting ties

    [Woman in Black]
    They were only pretty lies
    Just a pack of pretty lies

    [Kate]
    I ain't going to bury you. If you go down there, I gotta walk out on you.

    [Doc]
    I have no choice, Kate.

    [Woman in Black]
    See the minute hand
    Moving on the clock
    Too late to close the door
    And turn the lock
    It's what you wanted
    Are you ready, Doc?

    [Earps]
    Yeah, today they're gonna pay

    [Clantons & McLaurys]
    Yeah, today they're gonna pay

    [All]
    At a place they call OK
    Cause they
    Poisoned the water
    Poisoned the water
    We know just who poisoned the water
    Poisoned water's got to kill
    Let them come and drink their fill
    Of poisoned water

    Let the water go
    Let that poison flow

  • Title: The Evidence Of Things Unseen
  • Artist: Julia Wade
  • Composer: Peter Link
  • Lyricist: Peter Link, Dora Redman
  • Source: The Bible
  • Duration:
    05:07
  • Sample:
  • Lyrics:

    The Evidence of Things Unseen
    Lyrics by Dora Redman and Peter Link
    Music by Peter Link

    And so he spoke
    "They need not depart.
    Give ye them food to eat."
    Give them food for thought,
    The food of light,
    The light of sustenance
    Don't send them away in their time of need
    Feed the flock

    But his disciples were not in the mind of Jesus
    They struggled to raise their faith
    And though miracles had abounded throughout the days
    They were stuck in the world's worn out ways

    They knew not God's law of infinite abundance
    And I watched as they muttered amongst themselves hmm
    "Feed them with what? There's nothing to eat"
    No apples, no almonds, no meat

    Then a boy stepped forth
    With a basket of bread and two fishes
    Well you know the rest
    The five thousand were fed
    And we all saw the power of his wishes
    And the evidence of things unseen
    Oh yes the evidence of things unseen

    You ask, "What is that evidence?"
    It's the substance of faith
    And no seeming dreams that lie in between

    There, by his prayer
    Pulled out of thin air
    In a miracle of such routine
    (As I witnessed so often, again and again)
    Was the evidence of things unseen
    Yes, the evidence of things unseen

    Yes a boy stepped forth
    With the spirit of "Nothing can stop me"
    A boy, just a boy
    And five thousand were fed
    And we all felt the power and the glory
    Of the evidence of things unseen
    Oh yes the evidence of things unseen

    And right there, by his prayer
    Pulled out of thin air
    In a miracle of such routine
    (As I witnessed so often, again and again)
    Was the evidence of things unseen

    The man
    The miracle
    The son of God
    Hallelu!!!
    And all this from two fishes
    And five loaves of bread


It Was Very Good
Performed by Julia Wade and Peter Link
Music and Lyrics by Peter Link

Lyrics


Click to Learn More About Peter Link and Scattershot Symphony

2 thoughts on “Scattershot Symphony Episode #21: Breaking Tradition

  1. I must admit I’m very grateful to have the music I’ve done as a watchfire artist still going out there in to world! I enjoyed the 21st podcast and especially the pieces that venture into the magical world of theater.
    Also, a wonderful layer hidden betwixt the songs of this podcast is the hint of a new and different kind of Scattershot series with a wonderful new character in the works at Watchfire music.
    Nice to meet you Thyme Quinn!

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