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.
