Strange little tunes sometimes invade the brain in either the early middle or tail end of night. I know the latter is the lightest REM sleep cycle part of the night. The former is the deepest. But in reality, my nighttime psychology tells me that during any time of the darkness hours, it dictates that difficult song captures are involved. Whisper singing, or whistling, into the iPad is paramount…in order that not one living entity on this Green Earth is awoken by my warbling. Or wind whistling. Just before dawn? If it awakens the tiniest of the sleepyhead population from light slumber, I can almost feel guilt free. Yet still I bend my head down to get as close to the inherent iPad microphone as possible in order to keep singing, whistling, humming and guitar volume to a minimum.
So best practice? At 05.30, when a dream song visiting alarm pings the eyelids open, is my preferred scenario. Even to the point where I lose myself and volume of guitar strum heightens. Excitement, when you are capturing a dream song, is addictive. But two closed doors between myself and my sleeping wife are in place. Bedroom and The Den doors of heavy Victorian Scandinavian Pine are Godsends. On waking? I am driven. From frost crusted closed eyelids opening to the gentle invasive outside slowly developing light there exists in this World a madly driven songwriter. And at 05.30, when driven by summer’s seasonal timetable of longest to now shorter days of light, no darkness exists outside the window. In this breaking soft light I stagger to The Den to capture the gift of a tune.
Any time of night though provides that neurological shout of ‘Hey Man….wake yourself up from dream state, because you have the song of all songs’. The reality is? That same day’s later revisit to the ‘Nirvana Song of all Songs’ says to me:
‘Summers! Get real. You dreamt a misnomer. It was a ditty song at best’.
I nod in acquiescence. And yet, a finger prods and then points at me.
‘Oy!’ it poke states…’You believed your dream enough to crawl up from deep slumber to awakened reality. This song was sent to you by the Angels that exist in your deep insightful dream World. This song actually worked within the ‘Dreamscape Orchestra of the Mind’. So get to grips and go re-capture it’.
So getting up out of the bed with purpose must have meant something good existed. Something magikal floating in the mind and the urgent need to chase it down for capture.
After that Dreamscape wake up call? I hit The Den room of technical equipment, with its musical and instrumental opportunities. I clutch sleepily at the woken up iPad, find and hit the Shure MOTIV audio app, look for the red record button and, before finger tapping it, listen intently to the World’s surroundings. All is quiet. ‘Shush’ my whole being says. Am I invading other’s gentle last of their nighttime ablutions before their soon to be wake up alarms? Am I disturbing others’ needs to remain in a state of sleep needed tail end circadian rhythms. The particular rhythms that supply their necessary hormones and inherent chemical production to balance their body functions properly? Probably. So…I find an immediate need to whisper sing, wind whistle or gently strum play an unplugged electric guitar, (that means without an amp because it is far quieter than an acoustic guitar volume) and quietly strum. Why the need for guitar? I have to realistically capture chords thought out in my dream too. All these considerations in not disturbing the larger World at sleep fight with the desperate need to just get on with this activity and get the tune cemented and alive in hard copy land.
In my immediate vicinity? I have a sleeping, has had a hard day at work, wife to consider. So it is a case of laying down ideas performed to their basic, unrealistic result from their dream status level. What comes out of my mouth does not, in any shape or form, result in what my dreamscape mind was perceiving. The guitar? Simply strummed to a basic ‘Less is Best’. But….it has to do. A little capture in a moment of time that, in some small way, cements the next hopeful song.
Here below are some middle to end of night, nearly daytime, excursions from a whole library of middle night tunes. And yes…all of these below are developing subsequently as one single song alongside, quite nicely, the Summers’ brain’s neural synapses. So there are similarities in the totality of all three because I think I missed something important. In reality, they all are similar. They may crash down to one song, but a little subtle change can be important. Catch the vibe, and change the dynamic. Played louder during the day to develop possibilities. These below? Parts probably exist in finished songs now recorded. Thinking about it, the short song ‘A Million with Shotguns’ ditty has bits of these melodies in it. These four same continual ideas here show some promise to expand more.
Lyrics? They don’t exist in dreamland songs. Within the mind’s recesses there exists the simplicity of getting to grips with a musical identity of melody. And maybe, just maybe, a daytime considered lyrical song can develop from out of the visiting sleeping weirdness.
If you, yourself, are a songwriter….you may understand this explanation of how the songwriter’s mind works.
If so, an open arms and magikal welcome to you songwriter’s all. Welcome to my own, and your own, weirdness of the dreamscape musical World.
And maybe a single important song could be realised over our different songwriter awakenings during the weirdness of nighttime deliveries…..
So, another comparison again. During the day? Yes. Different story……loud as needed into the Apple Mac M2 home studio singing and playing acoustic guitar through the Shure SM58 microphone. Very different quality to the iPad examples above.
Gray Summers 
dear Gray,
I think I understand you pretty well, or at least I feel like I do, especially in those quiet nighttime songs you send out, when the world’s asleep but your mind is full and wide open.
there’s something about the way you share. it feels like gifts you unwrap gently and offer up without asking for anything back. inside them, I can hear everything, the whole world tucked into a few lines, the way the whistling and soft chanting start to hint at the place it all came from. and that place feels good, and kind.
I recognize the process somehow. for me, it’s always words, just words waking me up, rattling around, a sound that becomes a shape, that becomes a phrase, and then a melody.
your songwriting posts are always my favorites. I’m looking forward to the next transmission, whenever it comes.
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Cheers cookie. I like the Warts and All part. The song’s birth, developing and adding its parts to the building of a song. It’s an essential part of a songwriter’s holistic presentation towards the finished song itself. So it is nice to share it with others.
I wish I could dream with words as you yourself do cookie. Lyrics are the most difficult part of putting together a song for myself. I do get moments when words do come tumbling down during the daytime. In a natural manner so to speak. But it isn’t often. Your poetic style is amazingly good. And the words marry well with your tunes too. Flow really easily. I suppose if I could conjure up a visual image or scenario in my mind’s eye, I could attach a story to it. But that will never happen. So I have to grasp words out of thin air with no story attached.
Thank the stars for melody I say. That part of the song kind of springs out of nowhere it seems. I will be getting back to the music soon cookie. My VeeDub Bus (1972 Volkswagen hippy camper) will be back shortly. And I am loading it up with the Tascam mixing desk, some guitars and mics and heading out to record in the wonderful open air. Should be fun. All the best. And thank you for your kind words. 💫
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I’m just in awe of you both, Gray and cookie. ❤️
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Thank you Sheila. You also know what putting songs and words together can require when using the subconscious mind. Allowing the spiral flow of energies from the neural synapses. Sometimes it’s based on instinct. Lots of times it is hard work involving searching and trials. With the application of hard work, there are some disappointments along the way. But the one thing a decent song result does, when it feels right, is lift the spirits. Cheers Sheila.
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I sooo agree, Gray. Blessings!
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ah…but there’s such a soothing kind of softness to them all, Gray …(makes sense lol? )…it somehow brings to mind a quiet night stroll …seaside… (😬🤭)
..bold and beautiful to the last one 😋
reminds me of my dad … before my mum passed, he would do his rehearsals in the evenings …but after…lol, odd hours of the mornings we’d hear him …. writing his songs and practicing on his harmonium…weird stuff lol…
🤍🙏
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Thank you Destiny. You speak of your Dad’s harmonium. I found a Hohner Melodica in a charity shop recently. Not quite the rich sound of a harmonium, but similar. I may use it in a future song. I love the sound of the harmonium. My Nan used one too. She was in the Salvation Army and also played harmonica. Playing to patients in hospitals at Christmas time.
Your Dad’s timed practice hours shows an inner yearning to simply let music explode into the Universal atmosphere in order to make it a far better place. Create ‘harmonious’ vibes at whatever the chosen hour. So weirdness has a very harmonising characteristic it seems.
The sea? It exists four or five miles from my house. We see it sparkling in the distance from the front of house windows. Maybe its molecular negative ion filled aroma floats inland to visit my middle of night warbling …… just to see what all the gentle whistling is all about. Interestingly, yes indeed, the sea’s negative ions are very precious for the mind’s emotions.
Loving reading your poetry recently. Glad you are back. Your many comments from your followers are fantastic reads. Their observations are priceless. All the best. 🙏🏽
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his music was soulful…and you could visibly see him lost in it … lol, I miss hearing him and watching him play …
lol, your middle of the night warbling is seriously soothing…and gentle as you say…
thank you, Gray … hoping to be able to hang around longer this time lol …
🤍🙏
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Musicians are very blessed with being able to pick up a guitar, a harmonium, sit at a piano, etc. It is great for bringing calmness to the soul and emotions. It also uplifts too. So win win all round.
My sister was saying to me on the phone that she remembered me sitting and singing quiet songs to her when she was really small. My lack of memories from having my Aphantasia means I cannot recall any of it at all. I did the same with my children. Singing the softer songs by Harry Nilsson. Love Harry. Such a voice he has. Not so much playing musical instruments with the grandchildren regularly as they live at distance. But when they visit, music is played on various guitars, drums, keyboards in the Den. They really enjoy the release of ‘making noise’ and not being asked to be more quiet. 😊 Bet you yourself have lots of memories of your Dad’s tunes. Cheers Destiny. 🙏🏽
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Back in the game, hey Gray. 👏🏻 First class and nothing like a tune with a bit of whistling 😗. We’re waiting on a fine radio broadcaster here to put his second three hour whistling special to air – a Summer’s tune might make the playlist. Cheers Shep
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Good to hear from you. Grabbing little opportunities as I can Shep. Just read this from you and a song from about five years came straight back into my mind. So I quickly badly whistled it into the iPad just now. It’s quite an odd little tune. And then I thought of my Goldfish video I uploaded onto YouTube about 25 years ago. A whistling ditty too. I’m going to try to find it now. But…..I still can’t whistle anymore. Your son is an amazing talent in that skill.
I’m getting the VeeDub Bus back soon. New posh carburettor. And tidied up a bit. Currently looking at one of those battery driven power banks for outdoor song/music recording. Run the Tascam mixing desk, guitars and mics through it and capture record various stuff onto the SD card it holds. Sunny here and very hot currently. So fingers crossed it continues.
Hope you are well Shep. All the best.
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It’s a battle mate, but we keep fighting the good fight. Wet and cold here – must be in a different hemisphere. May as well use all that sunshine you’re receiving. VeeDub plan sounds grand. Lach’s over for a few days (Uni break & footy) and you’ve just given me an idea. I’m thinking of some sort of percussion on the next single (no whistling). He did learn drums from Glyn Dowding (Stars). I’d love to put a theremin on something down the track. Btw there’s another post from you ‘The Whistling Song for’ that has an error download. All the best to you and yours. S
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It’s a battle here too Shep with waiting now for Angie to have an Ultrasound Scan on her heart. A heart murmur from when really young, after being listened to now, got the Dr. spooked. Thinks it may be the plumbing. So checking out her heart valves. Getting older is a crazy ride it seems.
Been looking at prices of the Bluetti make for power energy system choices. Pretty awesome stuff. Can feel a definite plan developing for outdoor recordings.
I put the Whistling Goldfish song from my YouTube upload onto the blog yesterday. But realised I had done it on a previous blog a few years ago. I didn’t want to repeat the past, so I binned it this morning.
Lach playing percussion tunes with his hands in air space sounds spot on. Be great to add more rhythm/tune sound choice onto your already rhythmic harp vibe. Weaving familial sound again is a great idea. I love using my GarageBand library ‘percussion’ choices with various cultural beats as more of an option than the straight up rock drum-set beats.
Cheers Shep.
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Great stuff despite the low volume. It seems like I missed many of your recent posts. Listening now !
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The low volume is something that has to occur if a song enters my mind and it is in the middle of the night. I sing quietly into my iPad internal microphone to simply capture a melody. If I don’t….in the morning it has probably gone. My wife needs her sleep as she works long days.
This WordPress songwriting theme is a case of showing the ‘warts and all’ processes of how songs start in their infancy and through to being recorded on the Mac home studio system. I suppose by being open to how songs get there is encouraging others. I’m not a great engineer or producer with my limited skills. But it is fun trying. I was a bass player primarily in the 1970s and early 1980s. I then sold my bass to buy a potters’ kiln. So, decades since the early 1980s when I played bass last, it is only recently that I began playing again. About two years now.
Thank you for taking a listen Victor. Hopefully you will come to hear some other uploads here on the blog that are more the finished article.
Cheers.
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Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t sleep, I’m playing my electric guitar just without connecting it to anything. that’s relaxing me very well 😉 I’m continuing listening to your songs Gray 😉
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Your guitar bringing calm. That is good to know Victor. Sleep problems and it being difficult to achieve a decent amount of hours is something I can relate to. So understand your conundrum. It is currently 2 in the morning here in the UK and my mind is still active. Writing a blog to finish and upload tomorrow has been my last few hours activity. I also grab at achieving a quiet middle of night nature, as you yourself experience, by playing the electric guitar off amp. Simply strumming gently? It brings calm and draws you into finding a satisfactory sleep experience.
Songs do arrive at times in middle of night, but not this time. Do you write your own tunes? If not….you should try. It’s very therapeutic.
Thank you for taking time to listen to some of my songs. It is very much appreciated Victor.
All the best.
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To your question. Yes i only play my own tunes, coming to my fingers when i take a guitar every day to.play something. I never tried to learn to play some favorite song. It’ sounds very boring. But i also understand that learning to play other songs is a great way to learn techniques and in whole things play guitar.
I love your songs. The way you come to the final destination
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Thank you Victor. When a teenager, my friends and myself did play others’ songs to perform at pubs, clubs, etc. It was what the audience wanted. Familiarity. In 1977, punk rock changed everything. I wrote songs before all this, but punk gave a new impetus to play all your own songs in front of willing audiences.
Like yourself, I only learnt to play by myself. But the songs are more important than my skills in improving guitar techniques. If we are happy at the level that brings joy to life by simply playing guitar and producing our own songs, which speak of our inherent stories and melodies…..nothing can beat that feeling. Good for one’s soul.
Thank you for listening to the songs Victor.
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Exactly, it’s why I’m learning and playing guitar, didgeridoo and a Stylophone 😉 Everything is just for myself and for my joy ;-). Well sometimes i use my own tunes in my slideshows, but the main reason for doing that is my personal joy;-)
thank you for your responses Gray !
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That is a great place to be. To sit and simply play. After the band split, decades were spent simply picking up the acoustic guitar and using it for therapy. Writing little songs, with no expectations that they had a particular place to go. Nice you are also using other instruments too. I had a go on the didgeridoo a long time ago, but was absolutely hopeless on it. Good luck learning. It has a unique ethereal sound.
Thank you for your responses too.
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