The wizard left his humble shelter just after dusk. Soon after, a light breeze swooped through, jostling his straggly hair. A few hundred yards from his house, the wizard sat down in a secluded spot and on a solitary tree stump. He began to think. He thought about his life, his family, his home. He thought about the world, the worlds beyond, and the whispers of love that always seemed to be buzzing in his ears. And he began to softly sing, the notes dissipating in the night air….

I don’t know where the songs come from. Oh, I can tell the story of how each one came to live with me. I can share the event that made me open to each one. But where they actually come from, I don’t know. Of songs that I have written, I can tell of the struggles I went through to tame the notes, the rhythms, the feelings. I can tell of the fight some put up, presenting me with difficult chord changes, unreachable pitch ranges, and notes that refused to play nicely with other notes. Finally, many submitted to being played, performed, and written down. They became “my” songs. On a good day those songs will go out and be charming to others. On some days they may have meaning only to me. But they have meaning, and I give them a home.

“Stars Tonight” is a gentle tune that found its way into my fingers on an early spring evening. I wanted to write a song for the upcoming wedding of my niece Amy and her husband Kevin. I was thinking about a young man courting his new love. I actually sat down at a digital recorder and strummed a C major 7 chord followed by a G minor. The combination provides an open sound, just perfect for the whimsical thoughts of new love. I imagined a warm summer night, as two lovers looked into the stars and dreamed aloud of what might be in store for them. The questions are simple and tentative…. “Could it be that you’ve fallen in love with me?” The statements are definite but not aggressive: “My love’s forever with you.”

When I write a song for someone else, I use the reservoir of emotions within myself. What would it be like if I were in that situation? Then I go from there. I followed the melody of “Stars Tonight” with simple harmonies and a slightly bluesy guitar lead. I recorded the song that way and sent it to Kevin and Amy. But I kept playing the song for myself. I liked the feel. I liked the way I felt when I played it.

When Patty and I started dating some years ago, I played her this song. And she was taken by its compelling simplicity. Soon we started thinking of ways that she could replace the guitar part with a trumpet line following the same general melody. Very quickly she was able to produce the trumpet line, and when she did the song took on a different character. Now it was stronger and more intense, sweeping the listener along with it. I loved it.

When we put together Sound Traveler the CD, we had to choose a song to kick it off. I knew I wanted something that sounded good, had a strong emotional component, and featured the trumpet. “Stars Tonight” fit the bill. The CD starts off with those two chords and that silky trumpet. I didn’t know what others would think about the song, but I knew it was one I would listen to, one that would make me dream, and one that reflects the magic that songwriting (or maybe song-capturing) is for me.

Stars Tonight

Trumpet intro

Hey, look into the stars tonight
Tell me if you’re feelin’ like I am

Ahhh, look into my eyes and see
Is this where you want to be on and on

Could it be (Could it be)
That you’ve fallen in love with me (you’ve fallen in love)
I’m in love with you (you)
I’m in love with you (you)
Look into the stars

Tell me why (tell me why)
I feel this way (I feel this way)
Tell me why (tell me why)
I want to stay (I want to stay)
Tell me why (tell me why)
I don’t want to go away no no no no never from you (you)
From you (you) from you (you)

Trumpet break

(Trumpet echoes)
Tell me why it seems I’m always looking in your eyes
I never want to go away … away … again

Ooooo, Look into the stars tonight
Tell me if you’re feelin’ like I do
Ooooo Look into my eyes and see
Is this where you want to be on and on.

Tell me, could it be that you’ve fallen in love with me
My love’s forever with you, with you, with you (Words and Lyrics: Bob Tatum Performed by Sound Traveler on the CD Sound Traveler)

Check the schedule for the next couple of weeks. Sound Traveler has performances in Cocoa, Port Canaveral, Merritt Island, and on the Indian River Queen. It will be busy but surely fun as well! — Bob Tatum

2 Comments to “SongTravelin’ 8.26.11 – “Stars Tonight” from the CD Sound Traveler”

• September 12, 2011 at 1:09 am
  Patty says:

  Still love this song! Looking forward to seeing the photography show Bob is putting together to go with the music/lyrics. Hoping to premiere it soon!
• September 13, 2011 at 4:25 pm
  Bob says:

  I have a lot of work to do on the photography show for the CD, but we are working in that direction.