Tim Devereaux wrote this one and kindly allowed us to record it. He explains “I watched as a friend of mine, a woman, struggled with her feelings for a man. I was inspired to put into words what (I thought) she was trying to say. She was the muse. As it's a song lyric, I tried to make the language as attractive as possible, as applicable as possible, without using too much in the way of code. I merged a lot of cold atmosphere - blue grey sky, winter winds, whispering - with major chords; the minor chords, paradoxically, dominating the sense of intimacy, being above shame, and the Sun rise. Richard Thompson wrote a song called 'Dimming of the Day'; in part the title of the song is my response, with the greatest respect, to Richard.” Dawning came to The Innocent Bystanders via an amazing British singer named Suzanne Cook. Suzanne was kind enough to reach out and say some nice things about our music. Steve S listened and loved Suzanne’s songs, especially her magical performance of this one. Steve had recently lost his Dad. And while Dawning of the Day describes a relationship between a younger couple, Steve S heard something in it that captured the relationship that his Mom and Dad shared in his father’s final months. Words can have many meanings.
lyrics
If nothing is what it seems, maybe I’m dreaming
In make believe, I’ve seen you cry
And time, it don’t mean a thing
When your blue grey eyes reflect the sky
OO SHA LA LA LA, OO SHA LA LA LA, SHA LA LA LA LAY
OO SHA LA LA LA, OO SHA LA LA LA, SHA LA LA LA LAY
Winter winds that all surround you
Like whispered echoes cross your mind
And who will catch you when your falling
Hang On, I’m waiting by your side
OO SHA LA LA LA, OO SHA LA LA LA, SHA LA LA LA LAY
OO SHA LA LA LA, OO SHA LA LA LA, SHA LA LA LA LAY
And who will catch you when your falling
Hang On, I’m waiting by your side
By your side, here I lay
Till the dawning of the day
And I won’t I won’t I won’t I won’t feel no sham
When you rise up with the sun and slip away
(Oh Hear Me Sing)
OO SHA LA LA LA, OO SHA LA LA LA, SHA LA LA LA LAY
credits
from Book of Life,
track released October 25, 2021
Vocals: Debbie Darroch; Ben Nieberg
Drums: Steve Berenson
Acoustic Guitars: Ben Nieberg, Steve Semeraro
Electric & Acoustic Guitars: Steve Semeraro
Bass Guitar: Donny Samporna
Saxophone: Jessica LaFave
Words & Music: Tim Devereaux
Cover Photograph: Steve Semeraro
Recorded & Mixed by Ben Moore at Singing Serpent Studios
Mastered by John Golden
Produced by Ben Moore & The Innocent Bystanders
Jackie Wilson, the sax player from Buck-O-Nine, Wild-&-Innocent era Bruce Springsteen, and Grace Slick start a golf round as a foursome. At the turn, Phil Spector asks to play through and things get outta hand.
Slugger breakup record to top all breakup records. "You only say you love me when your lonely." And "I love the way she left me It reminds me I'm not always supposed to be happy." Wow! The Innocent Bystanders