My New Baby & The Saudade Muse

It was a tough decision to leave behind Charlotte, the Martin DM guitar I've had since I was 17, but with a $200 airline luggage cost (for any items after the first 2) in concert with fears of damage on the way over, it seemed like the best thing to do.  A work colleague graciously lent me a beater for a while, but I had my eyes open for something more substantive.  I stalked the local music store (a 2 minute walk from our place) for a week or so, trying several guitars over and over until my new baby won out.  Made of smooth mahogany and sporting a sweet warm sound and easy action, I'm stoked to have added her to the family.  She will, of course, need a name... so feel free to post your suggestions.

Yesterday, after over 4 weeks in Portugal, a land of longing and bittersweet melancholy (which translates roughly to "saudade"), the local muse graced us and I wrote a song for the first time in many months.  I patched together a track and turned it into a slideshow to make it easier to put on the blog (if anyone knows how to just put a mp3 on blogger, I'd love to hear how).   The lyrics are below... filled with a lot of Bay Area nostalgia for Friday nights with friends at 575 Montclair and beyond.  Pardon the shoddy recording... going to have to get myself a legitimate microphone one of these years. 

   

Where We Belong

©Matt Nolan 9/14/13

Nose of basil, garlic and wine

The light sinks down, the room fills with sighs

Candles dancing towards each friendly smile

We’re feeding them and they’re feeling fine

It’s Friday night so there’s sleep in our eyes

But there’s no need to look at the time

Because we know we’re all here and we’re near

To where we belong

Pieced together like a child-wrapped gift

The people we find to call home

It starts with an inkling and builds until you’re leaving

Then it hurts like breaking a bone

All along you knew it would come

Because the sun shines to hot to be borne

But it’s Friday night now and we’re all feeling fine

So there’s no need to look at the time

Because we know we’re all here and we’re near

To where we belong

A new Monday comes with new daughters and sons

And the sky is just as bright around the world

But there’s part of me here that’s darker, that’s clear,

Watching the waves you once gazed at

Singing old songs and laughing old laughs

Nose of basil, garlic and wine

The light sinks down, the room fills with sighs

Candles dancing towards each friendly smile

We’re feeding them and they’re feeling fine

It’s Friday night so there’s sleep in our eyes

But there’s no need to look at the time

Because we know we’re all here and we’re near

To where we belong