T H E o D A Y o O Fo Y O U R o R E T U R N

I was really impressed by the film of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' starring Ethan Hawk, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert DeNiro. Hawk's character is an artist who draws and paints all the major events and characters in his life, these images exaggerate the things he remembers as being important and emphasise the way things made him feel, rather than how they actually were. This is a great device for visually expressing emotions in a very poetic way. I wanted to write a song that, in the same way, expressed in a very unreserved way the things I wanted to say. The deep emotions, the romantic metaphors and the driving groove. My initial inspiration had been a trip a friend was taking to India and Africa but when Susie and I sat down to work on it she wrote a verse and hook based on how it made her feel and we broadened the meaning and emotion. The big idea for me was the journey but for Sus it was the longing and the waiting, looking forward to the reunion.

As with many songs, the first draft had all the main ingredients but there were lots of details to sort out and a few phrases that just weren't right. Susie came up with all the best solutions and we have found that it is one of the songs that people have wanted to talk to us about.In terms of influences, I had been listening to the songs 'Desert Rose' by Sting and 'Secret World' by Peter Gabriel.D.

1. THE DAY OF YOUR RETURN by DANIEL GOODMAN and SUSIE BEATTIE

Were you a star alone that light the evening heaven
One star in all the hosts that dance at night
I know that I would feel your absence like a vacuum
If you would fail to rise one time

But you are all the stars and suns and moons above me
And you are all the light I'm standing in
Within the love of one who knows and has surrendered
To give the life that we delight to know

For you are all the love and beauty I remember
Through all the turns your journey takes
And you must know that I am longing for your presence
For the day of your return
And I am waiting.
For you are all the love and beauty I remember
Through all the turns your journey takes
And you must know that I am longing for your presence
For the day of your return
And I am waiting,yes I am waiting

Were I to realise the greatness of your passion
How pure and sacred is your love for me
How vast and infinite the depths of your compassion
So much greater than I've ever seen
For you are all the love and beauty I remember
Through all the turns your journey takes
And you must know that I am longing for your presence
For the day of your return

And I am waiting, for the day of your return
Yes I am waiting, for the day of your return
My heart is aching, for the day of your return
When you are all the light I'm standing in

LISTEN to a sample.