Brian was always a big fan of my music (as he was of all his friend's creative pursuits). I still remember giving him some headphones at one of Nick's parties, and playing a song that I had just recorded, and him essentially being reduced to writhing on the floor and screaming, "Man!" and, "Holy F*ck, Brick!" (admittedly, some alcohol may have been involved). After that I felt a thousand feet tall and thought for sure that the song was going to cure world hunger.
There was no better audience than Brian.
In early 2007, while Brian was the rolling in the depths of a creative mania he sent me some song lyrics he had just written. They were inspired by Ulysses by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. ("Tho' much is taken, much abides")
Later that day I turned the lyrics into a song, and that weekend recorded a demo with the incredible Marianne Corless playing piano and singing.
You can listen to the recording here. You can also download the song here if you like. There is also an earlier version of the song near the end of this blog post.
Song: Much Abides
Lyrics: Brian Hendricks
Vocals and piano: Marianne Corless
Music, production and additional instruments: Brick Blair
Backstory and Correspondence
I had totally forgotten about this song until this weekend, when I was flying back from Brian's funeral. I dug back through my email to remind myself of how it had come together, and thought I would share the correspondence.
We had talked earlier in the day about the song. The conversation begins with him sending me the lyrics.
From: brian hendricks
To: Brick Blair
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 2:13 PM
Subject: Much Abides
Much Abides
You took my baby
You took my pride
You took my hope
You took my mind
There’s a time to cry
And there’s a time to hide
Much is taken
But Much abides
I gave my baby
I gave my pride
I gave my hope
I gave my mind
There’s a time to live
And there’s a time to die
Much is given
But Much abides
You took my baby
I gave my pride
You took my hope
I gave my mind
The truths have been spoken
And the lies have been lied
Much is taken
But much abides
Much is taken
But much abides
From: Brick Blair
To: brian hendricks
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 9:32 PM
RE: Much Abides
Awesome. Might try to work something up around this.
Exciting times, glad to hear!
BB
From: Brick Blair
To: brian hendricks
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:04 PM
Subject: Try this
[ Brian calls me moments later, raving about how it is the best song ever created, by anyone, ever, in any genre, at any point in history. Our email conversation picks up the next day ]
From: brian hendricks
To: Brick Blair
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 12:30 PM
Subject: RE: Try this
Wondering if 'much survives' might work better than 'much abides'?
From: Brick Blair
To: brian hendricks
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 1:50 PM
Subject: RE: Try this
I feel like abides moves it into an almost hymn-like feel, as it is kind of an anachronistic word associated with hymns, whereas survives is a little more concrete and less evocative. Just a thought.
Plus, it reminds me of the Big Lebowksi, i.e., "The Dude Abides"
From: brian hendricks
To: Brick Blair
ent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 2:59 PM
Subject: RE: Try this
Yeah, I think so. Just trying to avoid a major plagiarism suit from those fucking Tennysons! cheers, b
From: Brick Blair
To: brian hendricks
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 5:20 PM
Subject: RE: Try this
They are litigious, those bastards.
Got the music written for the bridge. Gonna record this weekend.
From: Brick Blair
To: brian hendricks
Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 0:03 AM
Subject: New Version
Well, here is the full track.
The change in arrangement was spontaneous - I have always wanted to work with Marianne on a song, but nothing ever came together. I had her in the studio recording a piano part for me and thought, what the hell, maybe she should sing it, so I worked with her a good chunk of the day.
I think it is pretty solid - sad and sexy at the same time. It really moves me. I spent a lot of time on the arrangement and figuring out various subtle instrument and harmony parts that I think work together well. This producer/writer thing is fun.
Hope you like, give me a call after you listen!
From: brian hendricks
To: Brick Blair
ent: Sunday, February 04, 2007 9:38 AM
Subject: RE: New version
Holy fuck and wow. amazing. Off to golf but will call tonight. b
From: Brick Blair
To: brian hendricks
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2007 12:47 PM
Subject: RE: New version
Here are the re-arranged lyrics.
BB
-------------
Much Abides
You took my baby
You took my pride
You took my hope
You took my mind
I gave my baby
I gave my pride
I gave my hope
I gave my mind
There’s a time to cry
There’s a time to hide
Much is taken, but, much abides
You took my baby
I gave my pride
You took my hope
I gave my mind
The truths have been spoken
The lies have been lied
Much is taken, but, much abides
Whatever is taken is always given
Just as we're dying, so, we are livin’
You took my baby
You took my pride
You took my hope
You took my mind
There’s a time to live
And there’s a time to die
Much is given, but, much abides
Much is taken, but, much abides
Much is given, but, much abides
© Brian Hendricks, Brick Blair 2007