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Ugly Broken Dreams (Irish Waltz Lament)

by Stephen Leigh

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The lyrics to this song keep referring to a tune “Irish Waltz Lament,” evidently penned by the narrator of this song and repeatedly being played by him on a homemade CD (to which he sings along). It’s also a song that his girlfriend absolutely loathes.

Now, this song is neither Irish, nor a waltz, but I suppose in some way it is a lament. We’ll let you listeners decide.

The song’s mix does, however, have one track with an Irish Bouzouki, which I recently picked up and have been playing with since. Bouzouki (otherwise known as an Octave Mandolin) goes well with the general open drone of the DADGAD tuning of the guitars and the fretless bass line. Alas, the drums are only a software track until I can convince Devon to put together a real drum track for this!

But I like the song, and Denise said it’s given her an earworm she’s yet to get rid of. May it do the same for you!

lyrics

Ugly Broken Dreams (aka Irish Waltz Lament) - Stephen Leigh

Wipers beat an insistent 4/4 against my
Irish waltz lament
Tires lift up gutter white-caps just to
break against shores of fractured cement

CHORUS
A day of storms and a
A day of changes
A day of shattered sentiments
A day of loss and a
A day of pain
A day of ugly broken dreams

We’d been arguing all that day
You and I were both too headstrong
I was watching the rain, not you.
On my window, wet streaks flowed out long

Were you lost in some random thought
Or just listening to that sad, sad song
My Irish waltz lament, I saw you
grimace as I sang along

CHORUS

Taking out my CD disc, you pulled the car
off into some bookstore lot
Showing me the disc, you threw it out
I went after it without a thought

The rain was pouring cold on my face,
I heard the door locks click behind my back
Your stare through the window matched the rain
I just watched you as you drove away

I took an Uber home, called you on my cell
Your recording was the final torment
Leave a message at the beep, you said
Oh, I sang you my Irish waltz lament

CHORUS (first time through quiet)
REPEAT CHORUS

credits

released November 13, 2022
All vocals, actual instruments, and mix by Stephen Leigh. Drum track software via Logic Pro. Photo by Stephen Leigh

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about

Stephen Leigh image

Stephen Leigh Cincinnati, Ohio

I've been playing music since the late 1960's (damn, I'm OLD!) in various groups in and around the Greater Cincinnati area. I'm a vocalist who plays guitar and bass (we'll skip the time I fronted a wedding band as the singer).

Gear: Eastman E10D, Eastman E20D, Eastman E6D-TC Ltd, Roscoe 5-string LG3005 bass, (fretless)

Photo: Guy Allen ... more

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