"Song for a Friend" was written on the afternoon of August 12th 2018 for my friend Dan Leatherman who passed away earlier that day. The words came out faster than any other song I have ever written and was composed in about 10 minutes line for line as seen in the lyrics below. After recording and arrangingΒ all the instruments plusΒ all of the production and mixing of the song,Β I realized that writing this was the only way I could cope with the thought and reality of losing Dan. In hindsight, the song breaks down into three parts. Part one: Verse 1 and 2 reflects on the shock of hearing the news and my last conversation with Dan the night before. Part two:Β The bridge touches on when I met Dan in Jr. High and the fun we had right into and throughΒ high school and beyond.Β Part three: The chorusΒ is a celebration of Dan's life and what he meant to me and how much I will miss him.Β
In my last conversation with Dan, he sent me the picture below and said, "guess who I'm listening to"? I zoomed in and it was ELO's Out of the Blue (our favorite album in high school). I replied back, "looking good Danny boy". Dan introduced me to ELO in the 70's and I am forever indebted to him for that. Dan also did some voicing on our first album that was somewhat ELO (Agnes)Β inspired. Dan was a great friend, son, father,Β husband and will never be forgotten by anyone who was lucky enough to have met him. ~Hildy
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I HEARD THE NEWS THIS MORNIN'
THAT YOU HAD GONE AWAY
I WASN'T REALLY READY FOR IT, BUT THE NEWS CAME ANYWAY,Β OH THE TEARS IN MY HEART
TALKED TO YOU THE OTHER NITE
YOU WERE LISTENING TO OUT OF THE BLUE
YOU SENT ME A WONDERFUL PICTURE
MY LAST ONE OF YOU, OH THE TEARS IN MY HEART
I MET YOU IN JUNIOR HIGH (WEST JR. HIGH)
WE LAUGHED OUR WAY INTO HIGH SCHOOL
HEAD EAST, BOSTON AND ELO
OUR FRIENDS AND MUSIC GOT US THROUGH
OH DANNY BOY
I ALREADY MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW, MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW
OH DANNY BOY
OH THE JOY AND LAUGHTER YOU GAVE TO ME, OH THE SMILES YOU BROUGHT TO ME
OH DANNY BOY
THERE'S A TIME TO BE SAD AND I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF, FOR THE WAY I FEEL RIGHT NOW
OH DANNY BOY
OH I'LL NEVER FORGET ALL THOSE GREAT TIMES I HAD WITH YOU, ALL THOSE GREAT TIMES I HAD WITH YOU
~ACOUSTIC GUITAR SOLO~
OH DANNY BOY
I ALREADY MISS YOU MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW, MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW
OH DANNY BOY
OH THE JOY AND LAUGHTER YOU GAVE TO ME (OH THE JOY YOU GAVE TO ME) OH THE SMILES YOU BROUGHT TO ME
OH DANNY BOY
THERE'S A TIME TO BE SAD AND I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF (FOR THE WAY I FEEL RIGHT NOW) Β FOR THE WAY I FEEL RIGHT NOW
OH DANNY BOY
OH I'LL NEVER FORGET ALL THOSE GREAT TIMES I HAD WITH YOU (ALL THOSE GREAT TIMES I HAD WITH YOU) ALL THOSE GREAT TIMES I HAD WITH YOU
WITH YOU...
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WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY MICHAEL LAINE HILDEBRANDT
ENGINEERED BY HILDY
MICHAEL LAINE HILDEBRANDT: ORCHESTRATION, BASS GUITAR, DRUMS/ PERCUSSION VOCALS AND BACKING VOCALS
SPECIAL THANKS TO DOUGLAS HILDEBRANDT: ALL GUITARS PLUS THE INTRO GUITARS HE PERSONALLY WROTE FOR DAN
RECORDED AND MIXED AT BLUE VIOLIN STUDIOS: LEWISVILLE, TEXAS USA
MASTERED BY BILLY STULL AT MASTERPIECE MASTERING: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS USA
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Copyright 2018Β Out Of This World Music BMI