The Hiker

[Gerd Prengel]

Usually I compose in classical style but recently I found some pop-like songs which i wrote 20 years ago or more. This one is from 1978, actually my first composition when I was 17. Yesterday I added an Cello instrumental in the middle. The lyrics are inspired from the Schubert song 'The Wanderer"

www.gerdprengel.de/The_Hiker.mp3

What do you think?

Gerd

[Dane Aubrun]

A nice song. Yes, the cello makes a contrast at around 1'16" before taking up with the oboe again, half a minute later. I liked the way the oboe seemed to anticipate the changing harmony, coming across almost as a syncopation. 

Very well done. It's good to be able to revisit earlier things or write in a completely different, lighter style now and again.

Cheers,

Dane. 

[Jan-Frederik Carl]

Hello Gerd,

a song which shows your fine talent! Somehow it has a folk touch. I don't know how the song sounded before, but I think the cello comes just at the right time when the piece needs some kind of change. And it works well together with the oboe later on.

Regards,

Jan-F.

[Saul Gefen]

Has that South American latin feel to it,

Sounds very nice.

[Gerd Prengel]

Thank you for your response.

"Somehow it has a folk touch", Yes, Jan, when I wrote that in 1978 , 17 years old, I just had bought my first guitar - fully immersed in Bob Dylan and Simon&Garfunkel :-)

[Ingo Lee]

Hi Gerd - This is a good tune, a folk touch yes but I think a good melody with a good sound rises above current styles so it works fine today as well.  Do you have lyrics for this?

[Gerd Prengel]

Ingo Lee said:

Hi Gerd - This is a good tune, a folk touch yes but I think a good melody with a good sound rises above current styles so it works fine today as well.  Do you have lyrics for this?

I am glad you like this song!  Yes, here are my lyrics :

The Hiker (inspired from Der Wander, Georg Lübeck, 1813)

From the valley down below

I climb up rocky mountains where creeks' wild waters flow

Breaking through the misty fog

Far in the distance the barking of a dog

Here the sun seems so cold,

the blossom faded, life is old,

and men’s words mere a hollow noise;

I am a stranger with no choice

Chorus:

Where are you, my beloved country?

Sought, dreamt of, yet never have I known!

The land so green with hope,

the land where my roses bloom - a home!

Where are you, my City of Refuge?

Where I find shelter, some comfort on the way

A place that blows away my sighing

I promise I'll get there some day

Candle of Light

Help me through the night

Till I find an open door

My eyes are wet, my hands are soar.

Come you heavy winds

And fill my sails with might

Till I reach the distant shore

And get to the other side

And I will keep on searching

For the place I would call home

Till my feet would carry me no more

- Or till I would find you at the shore