IF YOU SEE A TEAR ON THE MOON TONIGHT

IF YOU SEE A TEAR ON THE MOON TONIGHT
This song documents my musing on nothingness, how little and insignificant we are, and yet the interconnectedness of things. Inspired by a
friend (Margaret Terreau) who spent some time telling me how to read
the sky, I bought binoculars and tried to figure out the stars, constellations and the planets. I am a Libran and my old live-in girlfriend’s star is
‘right beside Libra.’ I guess that makes me a romantic, eh? The song
wasn’t about our break-up, because we were v. much in love when I
wrote it, but it ended up being a prophesy, because seven years later
there was ‘no love left in ours’ from her point-of-view. Do you REALLY
want to know what that song is all about? It’s my effort to write a sweeping, romantic, memorable melody. That’s what I love about Paul McCartney and the Beatles in general. ‘Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, tomorrow I’ll miss you…’ I can still remember the first time I heard ‘All my
Loving’ and the melody haunts me still. It amazes me how few songwriters today forget Rule #1 of songwriting: Write a catchy, unforgettable
melody, and the rest is easy.
Was it an honour to have Linda sing this song? Pure genius and a dream,
a real dream to hear her wrap that magnificent voice around my melody.
She caresses that song. And Dana, that little ‘just-born’ thing, now suddenly a woman playing guitar on my song. Unbelievable.
Thank you all.
Quand tu regards les cieux soir après soir, tu finis par comprendre comment t’es petit et insignifiant, mais peut-être aussi comment on fait tous
partie de la même chose. Cette chanson, c’est ma fascination avec les
étoiles, les constellations, les planètes. Bien sur, il décrit autant ma fascination avec une fille, un amour qui n’est plus. Donc, oui, je suis une
romantique. Dans la chanson et la vie, ma copine avait l’étoile dans la
constellation à côté de la mienne! Linda chantait ça pour me montrer que
la mélodie était aussi bonne que j’ai pu l’imaginer. Quand je pense aux
meilleurs chansons d’amour de Paul McCartney et les Beatles, c’est souvent les mélodies inoubliables, hantant, qui avance la chose le plus. Trop
souvent, les chansonniers, même les pros, oublie le règle numéro un:
écrire une mélodie inoubliable, et le reste est facile.
Thomas
Not Just Another Guy
I can almost see you by your window, staring up at Mars
You've always lived your life by the movements of the stars
And I remember nights spent lying on the beach
Tried to touch the milky way, but it was always out of reach
One by one the mysteries disappear
As we pierce the starry dome
And when you're a million miles away
Will you remember who's at home?
If you see a tear in a moonlit sky
(You'll know) I'm not just another guy
Are you sure you saw a star go shooting by?
Cause I'm not just another guy
There's not many things in life that you can really feel
But once I held your love, and I know that was as real as the
Northern Lights that fade and shimmer as they die
So here's a little clue: connect the dots up in the sky
If you see a tear in a moonlit sky
(You'll know) I'm not just another guy
Are you sure you saw a star go shooting by?
Cause I'm not just another guy
See me high in the southern sky all summer
With the seven sisters
In the long days of June or in a winter moon, you'll know
I'll always miss you
And still you worry and you wonder: "Is there life beyond the stars"?
Well, that can't worry me - while there is no love left in ours
So while you're still by your window, I'll send you a sign
And when you look up in the sky tonight, the love you'll see is mine
If you see a tear in a moonlit sky
(You'll know) I'm not just another guy
Are you sure you saw a star go shooting by?
Cause I'm not just another guy
copyright Thomas Bachelder, 1987.