Day 7
NIGHT NIGHT
Thanks for checking out today’s act of treason! It’s Lucky Number Day Seven!
Those moments between the end of the day and our transition into slumber are negotiated in different ways: counting sheep… reading ’til sleep… sipping hot milk… swallowing a pill…
Whatever your way to surrender the day, that’s okay.
On this matter, we’ve nothing to say.
Some of most universally known pieces of music – besides “happy birthday” – are bedtime melodies like “Rock-a-bye-baby,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...” so on.
Sometimes a voice – even one of treason – can be something like a whisper.
THE MUSIC (SONG 7) – “FIREFLY”
“Shine tonight, above my head, around my bed..“
Written by Andrew Roman and Robert Steel
Produced by Elm Treason
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Realm Tones Music
Today’s voice invites you to dream… with childlike scenes, soft and serene… Where the lulling is cool, the feeling is warm… Cradled and stable and sheltered ’til dawn… Here’s the story of an Elm Treason lullaby:
“FIREFLY”
(Listen now. Dream onward!)
LYRICS
Firefly, firefly in the night with the yellow, with the yellow, with the yellow light.
How I’d like to watch you shine tonight. Shine tonight.
Firefly, firefly in the night with the yellow, with the yellow, with the yellow light.
How I’d like to watch you shine tonight. Shine tonight.
Shine tonight, over my head, around my bed.
Shine tonight, over my head, around my bed.
Where you are, blinking star. Where you are, don’t go far.
Firefly, firefly in the night with the yellow, with the yellow, with the yellow light.
How I’d like to watch you shine tonight. Shine tonight.
Shine tonight, over my head, around my bed.
Shine tonight, over my head, around my bed.
Where you are, blinking star. There you are, don’t go far.
Firefly, firefly in the night with the yellow, with the yellow, with the yellow light.
Shine on tonight.
Bobby explains how and why the instrumentation and arrangement matters on this song.
Andy talks about mixing for that lullabye effect.
Copyright 2021 Realm Tones Music, LLC
I like this. Very ingenious!!!
Quirky. Lol.
Hi RD! Great to hear from you. 🙂 This was one, as Bobby mentioned in all the interview stuff, written for his boy. But there was something in it that made us think that this should be an Elm Treason song. Not sure what it was exactly, but I (Andy) especially felt it was a beautiful work – simple but very affecting. And because we were looking to showcase a more diverse range of sounds and vibes on this new album, we figured it should be included… Plus, as we alluded to, when we asked people what they thought of this one as a possible album track, it got the highest marks. You just never know. Plus, Bobby’s skills at arranging orchestral instruments shines bright. THANK YOU so much for the comment.
This is one of those songs that exists as a sanctuary from that mad mad world; the frenzied pace, deadlines, problems and pressures of life. I listen to it myself to get into a calm state to sleep at night. It’s simple yet complex. It sings of a firefly, but on a deeper level it exudes a parent’s love for a child. And it’s got a bassoon in it! How can you beat that?
May it become your sanctuary as well.
E PLURIBUS ULMUS.
Beautiful!
Everything about it!
Well done!????????????????????????????????????????
Sometimes, even ELM TREASON can go delicate, you know???? Thanks, Mark!
Such a beautiful and complex song for a simple lullaby. It’s beautiful. Bobby I bet you are a great teacher. You really describe elements of the song well. You take a real world thing and make it a song. It’s the same with the Q train. I took that ride. I didn’t take a nap after listening though. Thank you for the tranquility.
That’s pretty much the approach, Ruth – whether we dabble into the poetic or the straightforward, whether we swing a tad more abstract or directly on point – we do try to find those little everyday things, those little moments or events that don’t seem like they could necessarily be adventurous, but wind up being pretty interesting… I (Andy) say that, not to make us seem self-important or deluded by our own abilities. We are definitely not! LOL. But we try. In this case, it is incredibly satisfying to take the simple concept of saying goodnight and finding ways through the music and the arrangement to make it come to life. FIREFLY is probably our best example of us doing such a thing. Thank you so much. 🙂
Continuing to totally dig it!!!☝❤????✌????????????????????????????
Hey there, brother! Always GREAT to hear from you, Ted! So glad this journey has been a positive one for you, man. That’s just what we were hoping it’d be for everyone who embarked on the journey! We can’t show our appreciation enough.
Oh, my….
I gotta say. I might just fall in love with this lullaby. (They’re a guilty pleasure) I’m a terrible insomniac and as soon as I put this on, my earbuds exploded with the sounds of the night, all around me. How delightful! I felt transported back to my great granny’s summer porch, sleeping on an old feather bed, those sounds all around, the smell of fresh cut grass, and honeysuckle fresh in the air. Bobby, I imagine you’re an exemplary teacher. You have a remarkable gift of description, to transference, it really blows my mind. I guess y’all really DID bring the noise, after all, Andy. Fantastic job. It’s simple, and sweet. I adore it. Loud love from ya girl over in the midwest. ✌❤????
It’s very true – perhaps to our intial surprise – that in the very early “testing” of potential tracks, this track consistently rated highest. It’s “change of pace” vibe from the rest of the album certainly sets it apart, but I (Andy) think it is the simplicity of its message, its universality. The song has a lot of space. It affords the listener the opportunity to weave in and out of it, allowing it to embrace you. And it has the power to transport you to a specific time and feeling, like going back to your Great-Grandma’s porch…. Thank you so very much for your wonderful feedback. You can’t know how important and meaningful that is to us.
Your rating bar is bias.lol. Um yes ok- arhh my kids are about to have kids so there is a plus for me, as for kids when mine started answering me back I lost all enthusiasm I sorry to say. It has taken me until – well – recently to start having tolerance with teen agers , babies on the other hand , love them , I mean I go clucky. So since finally I may become a grandfather I concede. This is a great lullaby, I’ll use it. Promise.
As for your colour yellow, I had just come back from a time away in the bush to visit a old friend of mine. I had rarely seen fireflies all through my life (we do have them, maybe yellow as well) but the first night I go to bed, turned of the light and – Man — I had ten or so fireflies in the room with a bright red light. Fabulous I was like a kid I tell ya, didn’t go to sleep for ages. Firefly shine on tonite.
Our rating bar definitely has a BAD ATTITUDE! LOL! I (Andy) must confess…I didn’t like teenagers even when I was one. LOLOL. So, I feel ya…. but BABIES? yes, I fully admit I’m a sucker for babies. I also LOVE your personal recollection of the bright red lights in the room with you. What a fantastic vision that must have been! Wow.
Love this reminds me of the Beatles
THAT is high praise, indeed, Shirley! Truly is. Wow. Thank you. So pleased you like this one.
This!!!!!
Joe! Looks like FIREFLY conneted with you, brother! 🙂 That makes our day.
This was done so intimately. It has everything you mentioned in it. The feeling is one of dreamy, sleepy, excitement of being ready to catch your dreams in the night. I really enjoyed this melody. You gave spark to a new song so brilliantly. Thank you for the share.
Thank you for giving this one such an intimate and personal listening. There is a magic sometimes in simplicity. Yet, to craft that simplicity is, oftentimes, a complex matter…I (Andy) say this NOT to build ourselves up, but to point out that simplicity can be as intricate and multi-faceted below the surface as even the most conspicuously complex work above. Thank you, Alice.
My Brothers, I must say that I hear a wonderful mix of Beatles and CSN&Y in this wonderfully written and composed masterpiece! If I had 10 thumbs, they would all be pointing up!
This is one of those songs that we had to figure where it would fit on the album. We were surprised at first how well the song was received in early “testing.” But it didn’t take long before we realized we had to include it. Thank you for the sensational words, brother. An Elm Treason lullabye!
Love it!! Lullabies are lovely.
Hi Rancine! We were pleasantly surprised, we must say, that this song ranked highest in “pre-release” previews. So we KNEW it had to be on the record. THANK YOU so much!!
This song was beautiful. I wish my girls were young once again, so that they could experience this amazing lullaby.
Thank you, Don. This song is simply one of the prettiest songs I’ve heard…When Bobby presented it to me (Andy), it blew my mind. It’s simplicity is exquisite. It’s sentiment is universal. It’s imagery is perfect.
What a great idea, wish I had more teachers like Bobby growing up!
He *IS* outstanding at his job.
Each of your perspectives of how this came together, musically are remarkable. Like Bobby said, you paint a picture with music. I think this approach is part of what separates Elm Treason from the pack. Your songs seem to have lives, if you will. I envision Firefly in a movie soundtrack. Like in a Pixar film. Bedtime magic for the 5 year old star of the movie.