Gray One
A Poem turned Musical Endeavor
VERSE 1:
Are you the gray man,
across the rocking train?
Eyes darker than the clouds
holding in the rain?
*
PRE-CHORUS 1:
What's your story, stranger -
Did color leave you too?
When did hope become a danger,
and rob the world of you?
*
CHORUS:
Well if that's you today,
I'll remain with you.
'Cause color left me too;
Said it couldn't stay...
*
VERSE 2:
Are you the lost girl,
in the corner of an eye?
Shoulders bent beneath
the weight of the sky?
*
PRE-CHORUS 2:
What's your story, wanderer -
How'd you end up here?
Did 'love' turn out to be a squanderer,
and leave you only fear?
*
CHORUS:
Well if that's you today,
I'll remain with you.
'Cause color left me too;
Seemed it couldn't stay...
*
POST-CHORUS:
So shall we share the gray -
Till a kinder day?
*
OUTRO:
What's your story..?
Are you the gray one..?
Are you the gray one..?
Are you..?
*
*
*
*
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Thank you so much for reading this strange poem! The piece has a two-fold inspiration - one from general scenes and individual characters I have encountered on public transit in the city where I live. I have been here for about a year now, but still find myself struck so often by the harsh and bitter realities of homelessness, alcoholism, and other deep-rooted issues whose affects are on daily display here. Reflections on these sparked the writing of the first section of the song, pertaining to 'the gray man, across the rocking train.' The second main source of inspiration for this piece was some newfound knowledge of a friend's silent struggles with trauma, abuse, and mental health. She is the inspiration for the 'lost girl in the corner of an eye/shoulders bent beneath the weight of the sky.' (NOTE: in the recording of the song embedded in this article, I accidentally said 'lost one' instead of 'lost girl.' Recordings of singing live are harder to get perfect than you would think, when you're not a professional...)
I started this piece as a poem, but quickly felt some musicality blooming in the lilt of the words; as I am pushing myself to explore and share musical composition more this year, I came up with the melody that I am including below. Feel free to give it a listen, if you're interested! :) I originally shared the song on YouTube, but feel compelled to share it with this community too - especially seeing as it began as a poem, which I would have shared here to begin with. As alluded to in my last post, I will also soon be creating a submission for Vocal's "New Year, New Projects" challenge which will pertain to my upcoming/ongoing musical endeavors - so keep an ear out for that, if you'd like!
Anyhow, that's enough rambling for now! Thanks for stopping by, friends; I hope today is kind to you. :)
EDIT on April 24, 2025: I am resubmitting this song to the "Beat" Community on Vocal, so that I can submit it to the Harmonic Verses Challenge. Of all of the musical pieces that I have shared on Vocal, this one felt like it had the clearest sense of narrative - and thus felt appropriate to add into the mix for this particular challenge. Cheers, friends.
About the Creator
Gabriel Huizenga
Twas for love of words that I first joined this site:
Poetry, especially, and dear short stories too;
For to live one's best is to read, and to write!
So find me in words here, and I'll find you 💙
Thanks for stopping by! :)
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Song for a New Year
A BRIEF POINT OF NOTE: I must say from the outset of this that the following is NOT an entry to either the "Soundtrack of the Year" challenge, nor the brand new "New Year, New Projects" challenge! I most unfortunately have not had time to work up a submission for the former, and have only just moments ago learned about the latter. I certainly intend to write something for the new challenge, which I find SO cool - perhaps even pertaining to the subject of this piece!
By Gabriel Huizengaabout a year ago in Beat
'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan7 days ago in Beat
Stanislav Kondrashov Wagner Moura Series: The Brazilian Pulse Behind the Star Power
In the world of international cinema, few actors carry the intensity, political conviction, and magnetic presence of Wagner Moura. While most global audiences know him for his chillingly charismatic portrayal of Pablo Escobar in Narcos, those who follow his work more closely understand that his power as a performer is deeply rooted in Brazil — its politics, its people, and its pulse.
By Stanislav Kondrashov 5 days ago in Beat
Where's the Glory?
In breaking news, rehabilitated Republican Senator Johnnie Johnson (Pronouns: HE, HIM, HIS) called a press conference from the Men’s room of the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport, Concourse B, across from the Ignatius Reilly’s Lucky Dog stand. The Senator had just returned from a sexual reorientation rehabilitation program in Memphis, TN after being publically disgraced at a Buckee’s Truckstop restroom soliciting sex from an undercover cop three months ago. He is a founding member of the Reformed Christians for Christ, a conservative, pro-family and ex-gay advocacy group. In the spirit of being reborn, Senator Johnson invited reporters to marvel at his plans for a major remodeling of airport bathrooms.
By Cathy Schieffelin5 days ago in Humor
Comments (10)
Poignantly beautiful poem and song… every one has a story to share… really like: “ So shall we share the gray - Till a kinder day?”🤗
This song gets pops into my head at least once or twice a week! So lovely <3
Fabulous lyrical poem!!! Loved your line, Eyes darker than the clouds holding in the rain?"
That's beautiful, Gabriel! The melancholy of the poem, the overflowing and at the same time lulling energy of the music. It brought to my mind the song by Damien Rice "Grey Room". "well i've been here before sat on a floor in a grey grey mood where i stay up all night and all that i write is a grey grey tune"
I had listened to the song and thought it strikingly beautiful, yet there’s something about the visual representation of the words that allowed me to catch what my listening ear missed. Reminded me of why I like to “watch” album lyrics when I first listen to it! Anyways, this is phenomenal, Gabriel! You have such a caring heart for people and it is beautiful to behold!
Wonderful read, but hearing it added so much- to experience your vision for it. Excellent!
Great poem, great melody. It starts with melancholy but becomes quite upbeat!
Very, very impressive, Gabriel. Your song is beautiful and the metaphor of the gray man and loss of color as a poetic reference point to trauma and hopelessness is very effective.
This is beautiful, Gabriel. Well done.
Your poem makes me think that even strangers, people who have no connections to each other at all, can find common ground. Very well written, Gabriel!