Keep the light in your eyes
From "Keep the light in your eyes" (2001)
About
a divorce
When two people who have been together for some years part, there is often a defined turningpoint.
A situation where one - or both - suddenly become aware that the break is inevitable
It can be in the middle of an argue, where one suddenly stops arguing back, and just looks back with a glance that can't be misunderstood. It can be the crossing of a line that was crucial for the confidence that made up the last glue of the relation.
With a little luck, after some time a reflection that is less affected by pain and anger, kicks in. From there on, you can try placing the experience and the relation on an appropriate shelf . With even more luck, you can become thankful for what you have learned from the journey and maybe even able to wish the other "a good onward journey" with a "keep the light in your eyes".
Live-version from Danish national TV (starts 13:55)
The album "Keep the light in your eyes" (2001)
Hugo Rasmussen and I had met a few years before we made the album ”Keep the light in your eyes”.
We clicked immediately both personally and musically, and shortly after we began playing and touring together.
In the beginning it was a mix of my own songs and other peoples works, mainly in the jazzy genre and some Cornelis Vreeswijk tunes. In exactly those two genres, Hugo probably was the best choice in the country having played a lot with Cornelis and with people like Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, Svend Asmussen and Harry "Sweets" Edison
Later we played more of my songs got into the reoertoire, and on the album we ended up with seven homegrown songs, two Cornelis, one Bo Kaspers Orkester and two american traditionals.
The album was recorded as a pure duo-album at my own ”Village Pond Studio” in three days in 2000 with Jørgen Knub as a recording engineer. ”The water is wide” was recorded at Sweet Silence with Flemming Rasmussen as engineer and Jesper Nordenstrøm on the grand piano.
At the time I was working for Denmark Radio as both guitarist, arranger and producer, and they generously let us borrow some nice stuff like Neuman mics and Tubetec preamps and comps.
At the same time I was producing and arranging an album with Denmark Radio Sinfonietta and a rhythgroup consisting of Klaus Menzer, Jon Bruland, Rune Harder Olesen, Jesper Nordenstrøm og myself. Solo artists were Poul Dissing, Alberte, Kaya Brüel and me.
Talking with the leader of the orchestra Kim Bohr, we found out that the orchestra had two days off later that month, and as they were paid monthly and the studio was free, we thought I t would be a nice idea to try to put some strings on my duo-album.
I was myself too busy with the other album to make arrangements, so we started looking for someone skilled with good taste and who had a good sense of both the singersongwriter style and the more jazzy stuff.
We found Bo Sylvén who had been playing gutar in the Denmark Radio Big Band and who had arranged stuff for the swedish star Monica Zetterlund (who had made some great recordings with Bill Evans).
That turned out to be at very good choice. I had been a little nervous that the arrangements should become too ”big” and drowm the delicacy of a a voice a guitar and a double bass. But everybody wree very happy with his work. In opinion he succeeded in creating a larger space for the duo and expanded the listening experience without taking over the scene – but listen for your self.
My conductor was Frans Rasmussen who I also worked with on the other album with the orchestra, and he was equally great:competent, dedicated and with a very good sense of when to relax the musicians (in the breaks) and when to focus.
Engineers at these recordings at Radiohuset (which is now the conservatory) were Jan Oldrup and Niels-Erik Lund.
Keep the light in your eyes
(Music & lyrics Lysdal)
She got out of bed
Washed her face and her hair
Her moves were alarmingly calm
She'd hidden her tears
For a year and she knew
This was the day after love
Keep the light in your eyes
Keep the sun in your heart
I'm glad you were here
Now live all your dreams and let me go
She said "I know that your heart is precious and fine
But you're killing it all with your pride
My love is my life and my life is my love
And I'm fading away by your side"
Keep the light…..
"I'll change all the things you want me to change
I'll do all the things you want me to do
I'll be anyone you want me to
Yes I'll even change my name"
But love comes by itself
Or it doesn't come at all
It doesn't obey your demands
Talking 'bout love
Is like writing in sand
The sea will soon wash it away
But the love we had
Will stay in my mind
Like a smell that triggers the past
Keep the light in......
Keep the light in your eyes
Keep your eyes on the road
Trust your heart as your guide
Live all your dreams and let them grow
Credits
As 99% of all recorded music is streamed, credits about the musicians, technicians, photographers etc. are gone.
So here is a list of the guilty ones, responsible for what you are hearing and seeing (and I am honored to work with them all)
MUSICIANS ON "KEEP THE LIGHT IN YOUR EYES"
Jens Lysdal Vocal, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slideguitar, mandolin, bozouki & darbuka
Hugo Rasmussen Double bass (Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Cornelis Vreeswijk)
Jesper Nordenstrøm - Keys (Bo kaspers orkester, Mike Stern, Lisa Nilsson, CV Jørgensen)
Radiounderholdningsorkesteret RUO (Danish Chamber Orchestra)
TECHNICAL CREDITS AND MORE
Orchestral arrangements: Bo Sylvén
Conductor:Frans Rasmussen
Recorded by Jørgen Knub in Village Pond Studios
"The water is wide" recorded by Flemming Rasmussen in Sweet Silence" studios
Dubs recorded by Jens Lysdal in Village Pond Studios.
Radiounderholdningsorkesteret (Danish Chamber Orchestra), recorded at Denmark Radio , Studio 1 by Jan Oldrup and Niels-Erik Lund
Mixed by Jørgen Knub at Dandisc, Cph,
Tracks 1,5,8,10 & 12 mixed by Jørgen Knub at Denmark Radio, Studio 1, assisting engineer Jan Oldrup
Mastered by Lehnert Kjeldsen at Dandisc
PRODUCED BY JENS LYSDAL
Photo by Thomas Ellestad
Cover design:Typefaze