Grandfather Clock
Jul 5, 2020
Ryan
Walkabout
My grandfather passed away on Friday. He was, simply, my all-time favorite person. I wish I could tell each of you about him for hours.
“Grandfather Clock” is a voice memo of a meditation for him, live from my childhood bedroom. The ending, which I “composed” (thought of) first, is the sound of me running down the stairs in my parents’ home in Massachusetts, jumping down the last few steps to rattle the chimes of their old grandfather clock—a gift to them from my grandpa. When I ran down them as a kid and heard the sound, I was always reminded of him.
Note: Yeah, I know. The majority of my songs are about my family. *shrugs* Love’m.
Looking for feedback on
Listen to some Chet Baker and have a cold Miller Lite for Grandpa.
Discussion
Ben July 16, 2020 10:23pm
Sorry, Ryan <3
This is beautiful and I feel like you really nailed it by putting the walking component at the end, as its own part. It fits and makes sense and works well and caps the song off very meaningfully. If it was my song I probably would’ve made the footsteps the beat and used the chime as a sample and my song would’ve sucked.
It also really takes me back to my childhood. While I didn’t have a grandfatherfather clock, you know damn well I took some liberties with those last 3-5 steps on each descent. Honestly jumping those last steps is the stairs-equivalent of running through a doorway and slam-dunking on the trim of the doorway as you pass through.
I gotchu on the Chet and MLs.
Ryan July 17, 2020 5:22pm
Thanks, Ben. Yeah I was a little surprised at how “right” it felt to have the stairs and clanging clock in there, separate from the rest of the music. Didn’t have another choice with only a phone to record, but I was happy it worked. Glad you felt the same.
Ugh, yes—doorway dunks.
nick July 10, 2020 10:45am
You KNOW I’m pourin’ one out for gramps ❤
Ryan July 17, 2020 5:20pm
<3
alechutson July 7, 2020 2:01pm
This is a very sweet and unrefined tribute. Beautiful meditation and story, I am sorry for your loss Ryan.
Ryan July 9, 2020 9:00am
Thanks, Alec. Felt good to play.
Carseat July 5, 2020 9:34pm
Oh my goodness. Thank you for sharing this with us. I wish you and your family some peace and happiness. I would drink to him but I’m only 18 so I’ll raise my bottle of kombucha for him.
Ryan July 9, 2020 9:00am
Haha, thanks Darcy.