I’ve been really slow in posting this. It is my adaption of William Blake’s poem “Auguries of Innocence” and I did it more than six months ago. It is very long and I recorded it in my home studio and created a video. It took a very long time, but I think it was worth it!
I have always been impressed and inspired by the work of Blake. Two years ago I went to an excellent exhibition of his work in London. It showed it in the original context of the books he printed, and for the first time I really felt I understood what he was trying to say. Before then I was only guessing. Previously, the pictures tended to be isolated from the poems. I had his poetry in a book without illustrations, and I had seen the pictures in art books. The meanings totally change, and become clear, when they are brought together and seen as a whole.
This is the poem that was the inspiration for Jim Morrison of the Doors and used in his song “End of the Night”. I have spoken most of it and sang the ending lines which are powerful and iconic:
Every night and every morn, some to misery are born
Every morn and every night, some are born to sweet delight
Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night
Here’s my version of Woody Guthrie’s song “Slipknot” all about the evils of capital punishment.
I recently posted a piano arrangement of this. Well, I had a request to do a vocal version. So here it is, recorded in my home studio with me playing all the instruments. It is a wonderfully evocative song that I first learnt when I was at school.
While I am in lock down from the dreaded Corona Virus I have decided to compose pieces and arrangements for the piano. A new venture for me. Hope you like it!
Here are some more recent recordings by Kenny Wilson on Soundcloud. You can also find them on Spotify, YouTube Music and Apple Music as well. Give them a listen!
