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Island of Light
youtu.be/Qxs0MkHWNfk

This is the story of Camille Pissarro on the island of St. Thomas. Pissarro's paintings of the island of light have influenced the history of art, bringing his impressions to France and there contributing to the new movement of impressionism. The changing light of the tropical seas around the birthplace of Camille has played a lasting role in masterpieces such as "Railway Bridge at Pontoise” and "Hay harvest at Eragny-sur-Epte".

The music for this song has gone through some incarnations before we nailed it with these lyrics. At first we were working on a song about the mythical Irish sailor saint Brendan the navigator. But the musical flow directed us more into tropical Caribbean atmospheres.
We were lucky to have Kellie Rowley sing in the chorus. Dan played his new Pedal Steel guitar on this, enhancing the Caribbean feel.

Picture shown here is the Antillian Landscape Saint Thomas, 1856 - from www.the-athenaeum.org/art/list.php?m…a&s=tu&aid=444

If you like to learn more about Pissarro we can recommend these websites:
www.camille-pissarro.org

theculturetrip.com/caribbean/us-vi…arribean-light/

www.theartstory.org/artist-pissarro-camille.htm

lyrics

Painted the harbour
of st Thomas
catching the light
that moves on the sea

from the colour of the dawn
you can tell
if rain will come.

I'm drawn to set up
cloth & brushes,
Speaking with my
paint

Island of light
Island of light

When I was 11
my father sent me
to Paris
To learn,
learn from the world
paying his dues
but painting my blues

When I was 16
Came back to St. Thomas
To work in my father's firm
As I was roaming
on the island shore
I took another turn
To Venezuela

island of light
island of light

How to catch
the light I see
reflected on the waves

from these waters
where colours
giving us sight right through time

Island of light
(painting the waves)
Island of light
(lifting the hue)
Island of light
(looking through mist)

credits

from Songs of the Sea, released April 6, 2016
Dick Vestdijk: song, vocals, violin,
Dan Lockhart: pedal steel
Kellie Rowley: vocals
Lyrics in collaboration

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