On May 13, 2015, my brother-in-law Eduardo Fortuny Loret de Mola was killed in a road accident, to the great sorrow of all who knew and loved him, in particular his widow and two sons. I wrote this song in the aftemath of his all too soon passing away, but the time never seemed right to try and record it ... until now when Enna, his wife, read the lyrics and expressed her wish to hear a recorded version. It would also have been his 60th birthday this year. I took both as a sign that it was time, and thanks to the monumental musical and production abilities of Sergio Aguilar, here it is.
The song, needless to say, but I will say it, is dedicated to Eduardo, and all who loved him.
Hallelujah is a transliteration of Hebrew: הַלְלוּ (hallū yāh), which means "praise ye Jah!" (from הַלְלוּ, "praise ye!" [8] and יָהּ, "Jah".)[9][10][11] The word hallēl in Hebrew means a joyous praise in song. The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of YHWH (Yahweh or Jehovah in modern English).
~ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallelujah
“For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.”
― Kahlil Gibran, artist and poet.
"The song is ended
But the melody lingers on
You and the song are gone
But the melody lingers on."
~ Irving Berlin, songwriter.
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”
~ Terry Pratchett, English author.
There is a time to be born and a time to die
~ Ecclesiastes 3:2
lyrics
Lyrics:
Last night I dreamed my brother strode with Jesus by his side
With heavenly strength to move them on, they walked the ocean tide
I cried, “Dear brother, hold your haste, we all must journey home.”
“Jordan calls me,” was all he said, I knew myself alone
I knew myself alone
Hal-le-lu …. Hal-le-lu …. Hal-le-lu …. Hal-le-lu
Last night I dreamed my brother rode in tandem with James Dean
Along the streets and the highways that to this world are unseen
I cried, “Dear brother, promise me, you’ll meet me when I come.”
He smiled his smile, and raised his hand, I felt my world undone
I felt my world undone
Hal-le-lu …. Hal-le-lu …. Hal-le-lu …. Hal-le-lu
Now I’m awakened, oh, let me dream that dream once more
Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu … yah
Now I’m awakened, oh, let me dream that dream once more
Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu … yah
And take me over Jordan, see my brother walk upon its shore
Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu … yah
Yeah, take me over Jordan, for I am tired and so heartsore
Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu, Hal-le-lu … yah
credits
from One Singer Left to Mourn,
track released June 7, 2023
Music: Michael Sellers; Sergio Aguilar
Lyrics: Michael Sellers
Vocals: Michael Sellers; Beto Quintero
Guitars & bass, piano, musical arrangement, & production: Sergio Aguilar
Drums: Rodrigo Uribe
Album Cover photo: Michael Sellers
Cover design: Loretta Sellers Fortuny
Soulful guitar interplay form the heart of this lovely Americana collaboration from Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2018
