Carry on… Jon

Album: Dancer and the Moon (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The closing track of the album is a tribute to guitarist and songwriter Ritchie Blackmore's Deep Purple bandmate, Jon Lord, who died July 16, 2012.

    Blackmore described the song's origins in the album's liner notes. "We had a blizzard in New York and we were totally marooned at the house. For days we had nothing to do, so I said to the producer, 'I have an idea for an instrumental,' and as I recorded it it gave off a melancholy feel. I thought it would be a good way of Jon and pulling an organ solo reminiscent of his style. It was a tip of the hat to Jon Lord."
  • In a 2013 interview with The New Jersey Star-Ledger, Blackmore said: "I wrote it on the spur of the moment. I had a very melancholy kind of tune. Then I started thinking about Jon. I thought maybe we should do an organ part at the end, as a tip of the hat to Jon. Pat Regan is an accomplished organist. We put the organ sound on, and off he went. I guided him on a few things, like riffs and how Jon played syncopation with his right hand."

    He added: "it was a throwaway idea that turned into something. It was something to Jon, a way of saying thanks for the years. It's hard to talk about, when someone says, 'What did you think of Jon?' I'd rather play a tune. We wouldn't have put it on if we hadn't been snowed in. Maybe Jon caused the blizzard."

Comments: 2

  • Steve G from TexasAndi, sorry, but you obviously didn’t follow DP. This is an honest and heartfelt tribute to Jon, may he RIP.
  • Andi from AlbaniaThis melody that Blackmore claims to have composed is nothing but "Gary Moore - The Loner"! Blackmore has been a great guitarist, but not a composer
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.