As the Dawn Breaks

Album: Truelove Gutter (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track from English alternative pop singer-songwriter Richard Hawley's sixth album, Truelove Gutter.
  • The song opens with the celestial wailing of the glass harmonica, the water phone and the Cristal Baschet. The glass harmonica is an instrument based on the haunting tone you get when rubbing a wet finger around the rim of a wine glass. It was rationalised into its mechanical form by Benjamin Franklin in 1761 and was inspired by his love of water. On Truelove Gutter it is played by French classical musician Thomas Bloch, who has worked with Radiohead and Vanessa Paradis.
  • Hawley told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle that he wanted to create the sound dropping a microphone in a car engine might create at the start of this track, but he didn't know how to do it. He discussed the problem with David Coulter, who plays the musical saw on the album. Hawley continued, "I explained this sound to him, the car engine thing. He went in his bag and pulled out a CD. It was him and Thomas Bloch playing an instrument called the Cristal Baschet. It was exactly the sound I'd been hearing. I could have kissed him."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.