Scattershot Symphony #31

Goin’ Home – On Heaven and Beyond – Part Two

Welcome to:

Scattershot Symphony

The Music of Peter Link

(That’s me.)

This week being the thirty first episode of this podcast, I prefer to let the music do the talkin’.  However, if you need to know more about me, please visit Wikipedia.com – Peter Link.   

This episode is entitled

Goin’ Home – On Heaven and Beyond – Part Two

Let us continue … and continue … and continue …

This project could not be complete without this next song. It was written late in the game when I realized that I needed to better balance the present with the future and face the realities of my own transition. Though this song is dedicated to Julia, my wife, it’s one that each of us can sing once we’ve experienced the love of a mate. 

As positive as I am about moving on, as good as I feel about eternal life, as resolute as I am about the next chapter, let’s face it. Leaving this planet, leaving this incredible experience that I’ve had, leaving the music, the laughs, the triumphs, the birds, the passion, the friends, Haagen Daz, and chocolate, the hopes, the miracles, well, … well …

“What Could Have Been”

Quote: “You sometimes see the earth dry and barren: but no sooner do
we send down rain upon it, than it begins to stir and swell, putting forth every kind of radiant bloom. That is because Allah is Truth:
He gives life to the dead and has power over all things.” – The Koran

I’ve always said that the real star of the Going Home CD is the choir. They are, without a doubt, the driving force behind most every song and, of course, a very central force in most Gospel music. Here I’m fortunate to be able to work with some of the best vocalists on the planet. 

Angela Clemmons, Margaret Dorn, Vaneese Thomas, Jenny Burton, Julia Wade, Catherine Russell, Keith Fluitt, Darryl Tookes, John James, Kevin Osborne. If you know anything about the great studio singers in NYC in the last 4 decades, you know that these folks were part of the cream of the crop.

Living in NYC offers me this real possibility every time I compose a new song. It’s a song- writer’s dream. And it’s in this next climactic moment of the album that they really get a chance to show their stuff. The session that day of recording, working with this group of hugely talented people was one I shall always remember for what they each brought to the music. 

Also, my session with trumpeter, Barry Danielian, was an absolute joy – a visit from Louis Armstrong, and Gabriel and all them horn blowin’ folks up beyond them pearly gates. When given the choice back in the third grade, I opted for the trumpet to play in the school band. It was never mastered, but carried proudly back and forth to school for several years even when we did not have band practice. So, to work with this master in this studio was a childhood dream come true. 

This song, for me, has it all – the positivity, the hope, the drive, the divine energies and the apocalyptic imagery. It was simply one of my favorite songs to explore and develop in my life. Enjoy! 

The Choir

“In Dat Great Gittin’ Up Morning”

Quote: “there’s a hell of a good universe next door; let’s go.” – 

e.e. cummings

Another” “Death will be a great relief. No more interviews.” 

– Katharine Hepburn

Yet another: “Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room, I shall be able to see.” – Helen Keller

One more? “Life is a great sunrise. I do not see why death should not be an even greater one.” – Vladimir Nabokov

I had the great pleasure of producing Tom Tipton’s “Best of…” CD several years ago. On it, we decided to add four new songs to his treasure trove of songs from his past albums. This next song was one of them. 

Another session I’ll never forget is the vocal session that I had with Tom when, at the age of 76, he came into my studio and sang this song to my orchestration. That day Tom leapt far beyond my imagination in his artistry and totally captured the joys and fears and sorrows of a man facing the end of his life. It is, in every way, our title song. 

Goin’ Home

Quote: “Death is the sound of distant thunder at a picnic.” – W. H. Auden

“It is impossible to experience one’s death objectively, 

and still carry a tune.” – Woody Allen

“Death is a very dull, dreary affair, and my advice to you is to have nothing whatsoever to do with it.” -Somerset Maugham

You all know by now that two of my favorite singers in life are Julia Wade and Jenny Burton. It seems only right to have them lead us through this next song – first Julia, then Jenny.

Here is a song known by people all over the world. It seemed only right to preface and set this song high in the clouds on Heaven’s Highway as the saints from all religions march by arm in arm in oneness. 

Why not an apocalyptic New Orleans style parade as our Channel 7 girl on the spot (Julia) reports this mind-blowing event. Stand with her, wave your flags, pick out your favorite Saints and blow them a kiss or two. If you’re lucky, you might even get an autograph. Here comes Louis Armstrong leadin’ the parade now… 

“When The Saints Go Marching In”

Here’s a little exercise that I enjoyed putting together – guaranteed to provide a little revelation and put a smile on your face and tear in your eye. It’s called …

Famous Last Words

Ludwig van Beethoven, 18th century German composer, having just been given Last Rites: “Friends applaud, the comedy is over.” 

Alexander Graham Bell: “So little done, so much to do.” 

Buddha:  And now, O priests, I take my leave of you; all the elements of being are transitory. Work out your salvation with diligence.” 

Noel Coward: “Good night, my darlings. I’ll see you in the morning.” 

Emily Dickinson, 19th century poet: “I must go in, the fog is rising.” 

Thomas Edison, inventor: “It’s very beautiful over there 

Edmund Gwenn, English stage actor: “Dying is easy. Comedy is difficult.” 

James Madison, U.S. President, after his niece asked him at breakfast if anything was wrong: 

“Nothing more than a change of mind, my dear.” 

And lastly, my all time favorite …

Steven Jobs:
“Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow.” 

Tears and hope… A wrenching way to end this CD of joyful celebration, but when I first heard Julie Gold’s heart-breakingly beautiful song, I just couldn’t resist adding it to this paean to life and death.                                               paean = pee-in

I especially love her lyric, “I can tell you’re out there / Staring through my pane”. Is it p-a-i-n or window pane? I’ll let you decide. It’s a gorgeous and truly original melody that I haven’t been able to get out of my consciousness for years now. 

Also… How grand it is to have a wife who can sing so hauntingly, such a farewell… 

Julia Wade

Come To Me As A Bird

So there ya’ have it!  Oh  well, if you insist … Here’s a few more:

Quote:

“The first thing which I can record concerning myself is that I was born. These are wonderful words. This life, to which neither time nor eternity can bring diminution – this everlasting living soul, began. My mind loses itself in these depths.” – Groucho Marx 

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.” – Henry Van Dyke 

“Death is one moment, and life is so many of them.” – Tennessee Williams 

“Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force.” 

– Yoda, Star Wars 

“To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow…” – William Shakespeare 

Also, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts … etc.

A very special thanks also to Stuart Barefoot, our Associate Producer for all your invaluable knowledge and good vibes.

And a posthumous thanks to Ludwig Van Beethoven for your opening 4 bars. 

Julia

(over playout music)

This podcast is presented with loving care by the staff at Watchfire Music. If you liked what you heard, we got lots more where that came from. In the meantime, you can find the songs you just heard on watchfiremusic.com. There you can purchase the singles or albums and have access to all the lyrics. Also, there you will find all previous podcasts and future scheduling.

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