Ships Passing in the Night - A Minstrel's Ballad

A dark medieval ballad for the ages! Come hear the bardcore song of this stranger's mystery.

Behold, my long awaited 2500 subscriber special! Tis a mournful tale, but these are the stories that need to be told. It tells of a chance meeting between two strangers. Tis an original song made to call attention to the opportunity we often take for granted. We have the chance to be kind to people every day, but so often we take the passive rout and say nothing. I'll be the first to admit my guilt of this. I encourage you to make use of the chance you get with people, all people, to spread kindness. Who knows, you might just brighten the day of someone who is going through a very hard time. You only have just one chance.

Instruments used:
Rogue RM100-A Mandolin
Gold Tone OM-800+ Octave Mandolin
Roosebeck Delux Prima Balalaika
Francesco Cervini HV-200 Violin
Mollenhauer Alto Recorder
Sonola Rivoli Special Accordion
Cosmic Productions Tambourine
Tama Quality Bass Drum
Indonesian Rain Stick
Vocals by Mark Berglin

Lyrics:
Intro:
Oh stranger, what is your story
If I had just one more chance

Verse 1:
I was playing in a tavern one night
'twas an empty place not a soul in sight
when a man walked in and grabbed a seat
and ordered a drink and both hard and sweet

On his back was a purple cloak
and a clean black shirt as dark as smoke
Though he smiled 'twas a vain disguise
for a sadness lay behind his eyes

Chorus 1:
Oh stranger, what is your name
Oh stranger, what is your story
If I had just one more chance I would have shone my light
but far away we're sailing now like
ships passing in the night

Verse 2:
Just for a moment we shared a glance
but I looked away and closed my stance
clearly this man hath need of a friend
even so I froze lest I offend

One tear fell as he left his seat
I had missed my chance this soul to meet
my heart raced as I knew right then
I may never see him alive again

Chorus 1:

Verse 3:
Swift I ran to catch up with him
As I feared his fate may turn out grim
down the road and across a bridge
which lead right over a chasms ridge

black threads torn on the bridges rail
I discovered as my face turned pale
where this stranger went I know
as a purple cloak was there below

Chorus 2:
Oh stranger, what was your name
Oh stranger, what was your story
You might've had just one more day if I had shone my light
but far away we're sailing now like
ships passing in the night

Speed: 85
Timing: 4/4
Key: Am

Chords:
Verse
|A C A |CEmEm A|A C A |CEmEm A|
Chorus
|A |G G D A|A |G G D A|
|C Em A |C Em A |C Em A |C D |A

Music I used as inspiration:

This song is heavily inspired by the following quote:
“Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another,
Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Tales of a Wayside Inn

Performed, written, and edited by Mark Berglin

[MarkTheMinstrel]

The deep and dark tales are the stories that need to be told the most.
Remember to be kind, as you never know what someone else is going through.

[Tamales]

Your mission if you chose to accept it.

1) go to a dive bar with your Bard uniform and stand in a corner and start playing.

2) Livestream it

3) get a billion followers

[christianfreedom-seeker]

It would have been a huge hit in England in the 1600's!

[samusmustacheyouaquestion]

Oh dear minstrel stay awhile and share an ale with your tales.

This hits man

[RobertRedBard]

The vocal harmonies are ambitious - especially the parallel organum part. Bravo👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[lerinowstudios]

Singing and playing at the same time is just a nice talent. Appreciate that!!

[LondonWythano]

Well done good sir. Keep am intrigued as to what befell this stranger. Either way, a great message: you never know how being kind will affect someone.

[jumpjoy]

A good reminder, and catchy tune (as always)

[fly_speck_cafe]

New Year starting out good for me. Now. 👍

[ValfreyjaAndTheHarp]

Really emotional and heart-wrenching tale, great work. This is an important concept to think about. I found the Balalaika super neat, do you enjoy playing it??