Track by track 77 How Long

Archive number: 77

Title: How Long

Main Album: Focus Con Proby

Track number: 9

Genre: Jazz Rock Vocal

Studio: EMI Studios, Hilversum, The Netherlands

Length: 05' 16”

Composer: Roselie van Leer, Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Philip Catherine - Electric guitars; Thijs van Leer – Synthesisers, Hammond organ; Bert Ruiter – Bass; Steve Smith - Drums

Producer: Yde de Jong

Engineer: Jan van Vrijaldenhoven/Mike Stavron

Label: LP – EMI

Date of recording/release: Recorded/released 1978 LP – 1978 CD - 1998

Notes: We begin with a fast paced synthesiser-led introduction (00:00-00:55). Proby then comes in with the lyric (00:56-02:49). The lyrics are

How long

Lasts a love

When does a smile begin?

How far Is a dream

From remembering?

And how fast is a train of thought?

And I know how long a moment can last.

How high

Can you see in the sky?

And does it never end?

And I think that the world was meant to be

Much better than we've ever seen or hoped for

And I say that each time you can be

Kind or mild you'll know the joy to make it better

And I think we must, and why don't we start now?

How white

How clear and how bright

Is an angel's light?

And how fast is a train of thought

And I know how long a moment can last.

The backing is quite uniformly fast but occasionally begins to break down. There is then an instrumental break at 02:50-03:21 then Proby resumes (03:22-03:58) with the following:

And I think that the world was meant to be

Much better than we've ever seen or hoped for

And I say that each time you can be

Kind or mild you'll know the joy to make it better

And I think we must, and why don't we start now?

Hear, hear

The best of all, I think love never dies

The final upbeat section (03:59-05:16) is shared by the synthesiser and guitar.