My conversation with singer-songwriter Aaron Burdett
Episode 026-027
August 8, 2018
Episode 026-027
The Universal Language of Music with Aaron Burdett
Interview with Aaron Burdett, musician and singer / songwriter
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you already know about Aaron Burdett. Last summer I made three blog posts about him and his music. The first one was in July 2017 and it features the song that Aaron performs in podcast episode [026].
Three or Four Minutes is off of his CD, Breathing Underwater. You can find the lyrics in that blog post if you’d like to sing along – a great way to practice your English.
Last August, I linked to Aaron’s performance of Pennies on the Tracks at TEDxTryon.
Have you ever laid a small coin on a railroad track to see how it is flattened when the train runs over it? The railroad can be a dangerous place and the building of the famous Saluda Grade was deadly.
You can find the lyrics to that song in the blog post, too. In the next post, I featured another song off of Aaron’s latest CD, Refuge.
It’s a Living is a song that many of us can relate to at some point in our lives. That’s one of the reasons I like Aaron’s music so much. He tells stories about life and every day living. The lyrics are like poetry to me, his voice both strong and tender, and he’s a great guitar player.
In Episode 026, Aaron and I talk about the universal language of music and how it can touch us and change our concept of time, kind of like what happens when you are in deep conversation. You have no idea of time passing or what’s going on in the physical space around you. Or when you are immersed in a good book and escape to a place and time that touches your soul. Language can do that and so can the mysterious language that we call music. Put the two together and it can have a powerful effect.
In Episode 027, Aaron shares a bit about his creative process and also about performing. I think what he says is very applicable to language learning. At the end of the episode he gifts us with one of my favorite songs, Looking for Light, also off of the Refuge album. With his kind permission, I’ve posted the lyrics below.
It was a true pleasure to have Aaron on the podcast right here in my studio (living room). And it’s an even greater pleasure to share his music with all of you listening in.
Visit Aaron’s website at www.aaronburdett.com
You can find his music on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and many other vendors of good music.
With Episode 027, I had to upgrade my Soundcloud account again so if you like the podcast, please consider becoming a Patron and joining the Conversations with Kate Patreon community.
This is Kate. Remember that every day is a gift. Thanks for listening.
Looking for Light
Looking for light in the midst of dark times
hold close to what I find
Only takes a spark to keep it going
Shadows long and the night comes on
Have to have a heart of stone
Not to feel it hurting
Didn’t get a sunrise today
Just a thick cloud of gray
The mist and the rain keep on falling
Got my eyes peeled for signs
And my wheels between the lines
Of this twisted road I’m traveling
Looking for a light in the midst of dark times
No telling what I’ll find
Peering around a darkened corner
Leave no stone unturned
No lessons unlearned
As you’re getting where you’re going
Chorus/refrain
In the end, nothing’s as bad as it seems when first brought to light
The months and years they roll over the ragged edges that cut so deep at the time
Let the pain pass, and we’re left with the scars that we all have
As the signs of a well lived life
My mind races faster than the night could pass
I’m up in the small hours making big plans
To pull it all together and make it all right
And put my worries to bed like my babies in the night
These days are brighter than before
Times of famine times of war, a day like this is a blessing
Lies from the talking heads repeating what the tv said
can fill a day with fears that have no bearing on me
Chorus/refrain
In the end, nothing’s as bad as it seems when first brought to light
The months and years they roll over the ragged edges that cut so deep at the time
Let the pain pass, and we’re left with the scars that we all have
To show for a well lived life
Looking for a light in the midst of dark times
hold close to what I find
Only takes a spark to keep it going
Shadows long and the night comes on
Have to have a heart of stone
Not to feel it hurting
© Aaron Burdett, used with permission
Interesting links
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