My lovely friend, Irena who frequents Malta and inspired the song.
If Malta
About three years ago, after getting Steve Behal’s song “You and Me” all finished up, he and I got the idea of collaborating on something new. So, we sat at the computer and we threw out lyrics. For some reason, Steve made the theme immediately something about Malta and it had a lamenting tone to it. I had met Irena a year or so before and Steve had met her later on as well. She was frequenting Malta so the source of this lyric seemed to revolve around her and that.
If you listen to the few songs here authored by Steve and compare them to my lyrics, he is (far) more abstract with his imagery than I am. I am a tad jealous! We jotted down a dozen lines or so and walked away. At least a year later, I read what we had done and could make no sense of it at all. I rewrote and wrote more. I sent my effort to Steve. He demolished it with more abstract stuff. We went back and forth. I kept trying to beat some sense into the story but also did my best to keep his signature brain spaghetti alive. Even the title was not always “If Malta” but here it is.
I took considerable literary license with my actual relationship with Irena and ended up with this story. I call it the story of that woman who came into your life like an emotional hurricane bowling you over with beauty, grace, charm and all the things that make you want to rearrange your whole life around her. Then… it doesn’t happen. You both move on and you are left wondering why and what if.
Enjoy!
If Malta
Am Esus Em
My plan was mangled by the sight of her
Am Esus Em
My mind entangled at the might of her
Am Esus Asus
Breath’s still warm inside of me
C E7 Am E7
Stealing every bit of my energy
Beauty too deep to fully digest
Forever engraved in my groin and chest
A voice said “go” but I didn’t hear
If Malta was the answer, it wasn’t clear Am Am
G C
If Malta was the answer, it wasn’t clear
Dm E7 Am E7
Oh, it’s cold in here, so much fear
She was a vision beyond conception
So far from the reach of my eyes
Flowers and wine, attempted treaties
Small bribes inviting alternative realities
Burning tears shed for memory gone blind
Wind blown rainbows shift and entwine
At the corner, footsteps fade
Gone as distant as dying. So far way
If Malta was the answer, it wasn’t clear
Oh, it’s cold in here, so much fear
Inadequate dreams define my sleep
Ancient ghosts stay rooted deep
Nothing can stop my sweet reflections
That paint nothing but offensive deceptions
If Malta was the answer, it wasn’t clear
The squaring of the circles has left me here