The fourth song of my imaginary demo album The Ghosts That Haunt Me is “Gates of Dawn.”

While I was still in Orlando I was in what I thought was a lasting relationship. I was wrong. We moved to NYC together but before I could unpack she was going on dates with another guy. Yeah, I know how to pick them. So I loaded up the car and moved to Los Angeles.

Soon after I was there, an old high school friend came west and was couch surfing. He rode my couch for several months. (And that is not a euphemism). He brought with him a ton of recording equipment which was set up in my living room. I didn’t know how to use any of it but spent hours fumbling around trying to figure it out.

In the imaginary documentary of the making of the imaginary demo album The Ghosts That Haunt Me, this would be the big moment when I switch from acoustic guitar to keyboards. Sort of like when Bob Dylan went he from acoustic guitar to electric guitar. Because Dylan and I are so incredibly similar.

“Gates of Dawn” was my attempt to overcome the inherent sadness that came with the breakup and how to moved on with my life. I originally wrote it on my guitar but always heard a piano in my head. My high school mate said he’d play the piano for me. I think I drove him crazy because I went note for note. Yes, one note at a time. I could hear it all in my head but wasn’t that good of a piano player. Going note for note was painstaking but after we finished we both were really happy with the result.

Again, there aren’t any special effects on the song nor did I spend too much time mixing it because I just wanted to hear the basic idea of the song.

And I’ve always wanted Van Morrison to sing it.

Anyway, here’s “Gates of Dawn.

Gates of Dawn

I can still feel you in my arms

I can still smell your sweet perfume

I can still hear you whispering

“I love you”

I wonder how I’ll make it through

Another night that lasts too long

But the sun will rise to greet another day

And I’ll dance alone at the gates of dawn

There’s a voice singing out to me

From the mystic of my soul

Took me from your warm embrace

Into the cold

Sometimes it’s too much for me

Was I right, was I wrong

But the sun will rise to greet another day

And I’ll dance alone at the gates of dawn

Tonight I can see your face

In every star I wish upon

But when I rise to greet another day

I’ll dance alone at the gates of dawn

I’ll dance alone at the gates of dawn

I’ll dance alone at the gates of dawn

I’ll dance alone at the gates of dawn