So, this is two songs. Love Song, then...wait for it, 2 minutes later, She Has Gone to Heaven. Love Song was recorded live with the cellist, and we did it in two takes. Kyle noticed how the song speeds up a bit, but I kind of like that--it's real.
She Has Gone to Heaven was recorded live also, in a pub during normal business hours, so there were a bunch of people singing along--a crew from KLM airlines. I wanted to use take 2, but Kyle just loved this take-it's a bit wacky as there was some poltergeist in my amp during this take. Sometimes I close shows with this and people have been known to tear up.
I was very distraught when my great Aunt Ethel died (95, so yes, she did live a good long life) but it's hard nonetheless. And the story/song is basically "true"
Fun Fact: this song sealed the deal for mastering engineer Greg Calbi. He didn't know what to make of me during the sessions, he thought I was so quiet. Then he heard this song, said, "Is that a Carter Sister's song?" and after I told him I wrote it, well...the rest is history. (ok, he stopped giving me the side eye, but we have been friends ever since.)
lyrics
Love Song:
I want to write about happiness
I want to sing about love
But my heart has been torn apart
And my world has turned upside down
The tears I cry coat my spirit
But it’s hard to suffer so
When I just want to laugh
I force the pen to the paper
Desperate longing deep in the well
But I did not want to cry
I lay my head down on the table
For I am spent without an afterglow
For me or someone else
No I did not ask for this
I only want to see the sky
I have to smile because you don’t understand
So I break down behind the door
Oh please don’t make me stay here long
The fear I have is the fear you have
The fear I have is the fear you have
A calm moment can I find
Let it out let it out
I will submit but who to follow
There’s no one here to guide me
History is full of failure
And the voices are too weak
So here it is
Here’s your answer please
I just wanted to write a love song
_____________
She Has Gone to Heaven:
She has gone to heaven
If ever a heaven there was
She has gone to heaven
To reside with the angels above
She has gone to heaven
There’s no other place she could be
She has gone to heaven
From there she will look down on me
I made myself a small shrine
With a candle I lit in her name
Cause ever since she left me
My life has not been the same
She has gone to heaven
I can feel it in my heart
She has gone to heaven
Death can not keep us apart
She stayed the hand of violence
And saved my pretty blue eye
The only way to repay her
Is to join her when I die
She has gone to heaven
There’s no other place she could be
She has gone to heaven
From there she will look down on me
She came to me in a vision
And smiled when she looked at me
I knew just what she was thinking
She was happy I could still see
She has gone to heaven
I can feel it in my heart
She has gone to heaven
Death can not keep us apart
She has gone to heaven
If ever a heaven there was
She has gone to heaven
To reside with the angels above
She has gone to heaven
So lift up your glasses for me
Here’s to my Great Aunt Ethel
Heaven is where you should be
credits
from Action Hero Superstar,
released January 29, 2001
Love Song written by Leslie Nuss
Produced and Mixed by Kyle Kelso
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Co-Produced by Marc Jordan
Leslie Nuss: vocals, guitar
Dawn Buckholz: cello
She Has Gone to Heaven written by Leslie Nuss
Produced and Mixed by Kyle Kelso
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Co-Produced by Marc Jordan
Leslie Nuss: vocals, guitar
O'Flaherty Family Singers: chorus
Multi-Dimensional artist who makes and wears her own clothes, paints. Inward and outward looking, ethereal, indie artist who has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Elizabeth Fraser and the Cranberries...
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