Manhattan Sonata - Music

Look guys! More music! SERIOUS music!

This past weekend has been fall break, and many of my friends had gone home, and with very little homework, I've had a lot of time on my hands. This (mostly) is the product of that time. Actually, it only took me about 4 hours, plus a little bit of tweaking. I'm rather proud of that, as it usually takes a WHOLE lot longer to write something. It's encouraging that this went so quickly and turned out so well.

I have no idea why I chose to write on the topic of losing your childhood, as I don't really relate to it all that well. Perhaps I relate to it more than I think, because this came so easily for me. Essentially the song is a reflection of a man in his 20's looking back and wishing for the innocence of his childhood that he can never get back. It's mildly serious topic, and I think the music reflects that fairly well without going over the top. I'm also rather proud of these lyrics, as I feel like they're some of the most natural and organic one's that I've written (and which is also my weak point when it comes to songwriting). Hopefully this shows encouraging things.

Keep in mind that this is just an initial listening of it, once again off of my computer. I tried to pick the least jarring instrument possible (cello, in this case) to voice the vocal line. Once again, just try and imagine a singer. I promise that once I get access to some half-way decent recording equipment I'll get some real singers to do this stuff. Also, I'm definitely going to be orchestrating this piece, as I feel it's a keeper. More will come on those topics later. For now, I hope you enjoy "No Getting Back." Lyrics after the video.

Oh, and you know you love the adorable picture I chose. Don't lie.



No Getting Back
Music and Lyrics by Berkley M. Todd

When I was younger
I could sail across the ocean
I could jump to Australia
I could fly all the way to Mars

There was no stopping
All the things I could accomplish
Just a seven-year-old child
Left alone in his backyard

But not now
Not now
Oh...

I can remember
Building forts made out of cardboard
Dying Easter eggs with Mom
And hiding them out on the lawn

Time flew so quickly
As that seven-year-old boy
And now I wonder where those
Years have gone

But there's no getting back
To rocketships and magic
No more time
For playing in the snow
I spend my days
Wishing I could find a way to
Twenty years ago
Oh...

I'm not complaining
I've got the greatest friends
A nice apartment in the Village
And a job that I don't mind

It's just sometimes
I miss the innocence and wonder
Of the childhood
I left behind

But there's no getting back
To fairytales and pirates
Years pass by
With so much to outgrow
I spend my days
Wishing I could just get back to
Twenty years ago

I don't know when it happened
But there must have been a day
When someone said "start growing up
It's time to act your age"

And somewhere in that moment
A different life began
You lost the boy you swore you'd stay
It was not part of your plan

You became a man

And there's no getting back
No more imagination
No more time
For the kid that you let go
Yet every day
Is one more looking back to
Twenty years ago

Yes, twenty years ago

Oh...