I Saw A Light
Writing
I had the chorus to this song since 2006. I actually had written verses for it as well but much different verses in structure than the final version. The verses were in a minor key and I could never write lyrics that I thought went well with it so the song remained stalled.
In Berlin in 2008, I started playing the song again but instead of the verses, I only played the chorus chords over and over. Then, a new melody hit me and some words starting coming out. I realized that I had written new verses unexpectedly. So, I quickly recorded it on my MacBook so I wouldn't forget the new melody. I really liked the new version but still couldn't tap into enough lyrics to finish it.
Here is part of that scratch demo before the verse lyrics were written:
I actually wasn't planning to record this for the new album as it still remained unfinished months later. But, on March 25th, 2009 at my rehearsal space, I started playing it and the words poured out.
I spent the nights with the alcoholics
I didn't know what to think of this line but I loved the image I got as soon as I sang it.
I took the money with a Judas kiss
Another strong line I thought
I fell in love before and all that promised
But it was never like this
It was never like this
Now I knew what the song was about for me and finished off the rest of the lyrics there and then.
Recording
I had a great feeling about this song and felt straight away that I wanted it to close the album. It felt like a great bookend to the first track "From Whence I Came" and also to the album as a whole.
When we recorded it, we did it a bit faster than my original demo and Peter and Dave played it with more of a 60's soul feel. I really liked that and thought we really captured the mood of the song.
This was a hard song for me to sing in the studio for some reason. I ended up re-singing the lead vocal when we were doing overdubs a few weeks later. In the end, I had to sit at the mixing desk holding the microphone in my hand with the music blaring through the speakers to tap into the feel for the vocal.
Fab helped me arrange the organ part that I played on the track. I love the round sound of that organ. We struggled against temptation to put loads of extra instruments in this but in the end we felt like less was more and to let the song breathe.
For the backing vocal in the bridge and the outro I heard it playing when we were listening to the playback. The thing is, it wasn't there. We hadn't written that part, let alone recorded it. But every time we listened back, I kept hearing this voice singing "Pulling me on, yes you're pulling me on". When that type of thing happens, you know you are on to something. The song is calling to you. So minutes later, I was singing and recording the part for real.
Track Information
Eric:
Electric Guitar (Hohner Semi-Hollow body through amp recorded with a mic in one room, and I played in another room where two mics picked up the small acoustic sound of the guitar and the sound of my pick on the strings), Acoustic guitar (live with the band), Electric Guitar (Washburn with weird tuning), organ, Lead Vocal (sung at the mixing board using drum room microphone), Backing Vocals ("Pulling me on, yes you're pulling me on" part and second verse harmony)
Fab:
Backing Vocals
Dave Hingerty:
Drums
Peter Cheevers:
Bass
Tom Fanore:
Percussion
Lyrics
I Saw a Light
I spent the nights with the alcoholics
I took the money with a Judas kiss
I was in love before and all it promised
But it was never like this, it was never like this
Something took a hold, pulling me on for tomorrow
Chorus:
I saw a light above your head
And felt the waves beneath your bed
I saw a light above your head
I reach out, I’m home
I watched the years disappear in sadness
I felt the knife and the same mistakes
I was in love and thought there’d be no other
I wasn’t counting on this
I never counted on this
Something took a hold, pulling me on for tomorrow
Pulling me on, yes you're pulling me on
Pulling me on, yes you're pulling me on
Something took a hold, pulling me on for tomorrow
Chorus
Chorus