Love of a Thousand Lifetimes -The Album
Never making it to production, the album titled Love of a Thousand Lifetimes by Wen B. and Gretchen "Sky" Warnke started out as a love story, our love story. We have since parted ways, after bringing two amazing souls into the world, so unfortunately the album never saw the light of day. When we met, it was fireworks! He had previously written a few songs years before and explained how they had been written and they were waiting for me! One, desperately sad, but hopeful ballad titled "Where Are You?", moved me to tears as he explained it was his song to the Universe to bring me to him. "Inside You," he told me, was his anticipation of us finally coming together. "Wishing Well," and "Beside Myself" were written during our time together. The last song he wrote, "Like a Dream," I simply can't remember where or when that took life. Since we are no longer together, despite the fact he told me they were for me and on our album, I don't feel I have the right to share his songs here. However, the songs that I authored the words, I want to share. I couldn't stand the thought that these beautiful sentiments would never be seen or heard, so my sons are re-recorded them and we are sharing them. Until the music is done, at least you can enjoy the words, and the stories behind each one... I hope you like them.
Love of a Thousand Lifetimes – The Song Digging through my poems that had been written over the years, I found a poem that spoke of finding a love that felt familiar. I showed it to Wen and it became Love of a Thousand Lifetimes. I can remember sitting on the sofa with him on his keyboard and me with my always-present pad of paper while we bent and turned the words to fit a melody he had been working on. I see my time stands still As the centuries fly by The memory of our passion Plays like cinema in my mind I remember the pain and all the sorrow I feel the joy again The comfort here is so familiar I want to be here till the end
Chorus We danced a million dances We danced to one last song Though the tune is fresh and new to me I've heard it for so long your eyes may look different now I've known them all my time I hold you in my arms again My love of a thousand lifetimes
As we danced through the ages Our joining made us whole All unforgotten lessons Now climax in our souls I want to hold you near me I want to be as one I cherish you my destiny Until the dance is done Chorus © 1995 Words by Gretchen "Sky" Warnke
Peace In Vision Wen and I hadn't realized our love yet when this song was written, yet it remains one of the most magical ones for me. He had invited me to see his recording studio and when I got there, he was working on a melody. I commented on how pretty it was and he tossed me a pad of paper and asked me to write lyrics. I didn't think I could, but wrote out the words moving up from deep within me. Later that day, he showed up at my door with a cassette. When he played it, I was awestruck! I told him I couldn't believe those were my words! He dug the crumpled paper out of his pocket and showed me how he had indeed used my words. He had rearranged a few, and added the line "Though I see it in your eyes you're not ready yet for me" cause he was trying to win the attention of my best friend at the time and she was having none of it. I still have that crumpled paper to this day, as it was the first time I heard my words set to music. Awesome!
When I feel the breezes flowing across my flesh That's when I think of you When the spring rain is but mist upon my skin I can feel the spirit of you I feel you... I see you..
As the petals of my heart are floating in the breeze I feel you deep inside my soul Though I see it in your eyes you're not ready yet for me I find peace in the vision, of what is meant to be, and what has to be, and what I know will be
When I stop and taste the flavors of my yesterday lives That's when I think of you When the light shines down from the future on me I can feel the spirit of you I feel you.... I see you..
As the petals of my heart are floating in the breeze I feel you deep inside my soul Though I see it in your eyes you're not ready yet for me I find peace in the vision, of what is meant to be, and what has to be, and what I know will be ©1995 Words by Gretchen "Sky" Warnke and Wen B.
Want to With You This is our sexy song. We literally wanted to write a song about sex. I didn't want it to be so blatant so I sat down and started messing with innuendo; this song emerged. Of course as with a few other songs, Wen had to tweak the words here and there to fit the music, but the recording never came out right as I envisioned it as speeding up and rising to a "climax" near the end. Funny enough, I always pictured Justin Timberlake doing it. ☺ Even sent him a letter asking if he was interested in seeing it.
With you I touch the heart With you I soar the sky With you I find complete pleasure With you we feed our souls
Chorus: Want to –with you (repeat) Emotions peak, sparks fly, lighting me inside Feelings like I've never known, I want to ask you why Do spirits really fly? I want to soar the astral plane, with you
Bridge: Want to soar new heights, want to see the light, want to with you, want to with you Want to feel the groove, want to really move, want to with you, want to with you
Exploring you, memorizing all, finding secret places Tasting pleasures never tried. Wonderful sensations. I see the treasures that you hide. I crave them, I want to taste them, I want to crawl inside, with you
Chorus:
Dreams coming true, wishes now fulfilled. Fantasies are realized Never known and never tried, I take the leap of faith; I want to plunge me deep inside I want to be complete, now I want to come, with you
©1996 Words by Gretchen "Sky" Warnke
Keeper of Your Tears This is a poem I wrote when I was like only 16. Maybe a bit older, but still very young at heart. At the time, I believed there was someone out there that could keep me safe. I had found it in my piles of poetry written over the years and though it had merit. I cleaned it up, wrote a chorus and showed it to him. I love this song, it has a cool rhythm and concept, but I think it falls a bit flat and gets boring; it isn't what it could be. Probably the only song that I don't care for the arrangement he did. However, this song is probably the most "me" of all of them... and I still search, for the keeper of my tears.
I see the stories told and untold reflecting back at me the joy and the pain.. the loss and the gain visions of what's deep inside
chorus I cherish each one of them hold them safe here in my heart I will be for you forever the keeper of your tears
the trails that streak down your face are never wasted as before you give me a gift so precious with their crystal clear perfection
I cherish each one of them hold them safe now in my heart I will be for you forever the keeper of your tears
I value you them beyond all others with their magnificent expression I offer you this safety no..... I will not ignore your feelings
I cherish each one of them hold them safe deep in my heart I will be for you forever the keeper of your tears
©1995 Words by Gretchen "Sky" Warnke
***And two additional songs that were going on the album, but we broke up before they could:
Once Again This song is truly special as it was written while we were pregnant with the twins. We were sitting in bed with Wen on the ukulele and me with my pad of paper. I started writing a song about seeing the twins "again" as we both believe in reincarnation and felt these two beings coming back to us. We took my poem and started adding to it as the melody unfolded. After it was done, we taught our other children the song and we would all sit on the bed and sing it hoping the boys in my tummy would hear it and know how very wanted they were.
You came to me visions of the past Singing into the future, the sweetness at long last You floated into my life, perfect and wanted Reunited in forever once again
Chorus: Once again we meet, once again joined together The harmony of our family, share the love Once again we meet, once again joined together We welcome you back with us once again
Buried deep inside my soul, your song plays so familiar Twin sparks of light and love, that dances to this tune Patience is tempting, for the pain is long forgotten Lifting us to the sky once again
Chorus: Once again we meet, once again joined together The harmony of our family, share the love Once again we meet, once again joined together We welcome you back with us once again
©1996 Words by Gretchen "Sky" Warnke and Wen B.
In Our Souls I felt Wen pulling away from me a little bit before the end of our relationship and wrote this poem for him hoping he would remember all we had. Well he liked it enough to put music to it. I can remember him wanting to change the word "tallow" because many wouldn't know what it meant, but it worked for me. Having grown up in a family that were Revolutionary War buffs, I knew what tallow was and thought it worked well in this song.
Please bring it back to me Find a way to make it real Cause I'm missing the passion Are you craving the fire in me?
It can't be gone The candles burning It won't be long The tallow's gone To find a place, for our time. To create the magic in our souls
Want to have you grow with me Don't want to be alone no more Do you find you miss it too? We've got these feeling we can't ignore.
It can't be gone The candles burning It won't be long The tallow's gone To find a place, for our time. To create the magic in our souls It's the magic in our souls
(c)1996 Words by Gretchen "Sky" Warnke |