Forever and Anon
If I, ever and anon, feel lonely by your side
And I begin to doubt, as certain as the tide
You turn that smile on, and I see you again
Like when we were new
The flow, the ebb
It all begins and ends with you, the rock that I cling to
Ever and anon, I’m lost in reverie
Of lonelier poets’ nostalgia for life I never lived
Whenever I am gone, it’s where you’ll find me:
Inventing memories
And love, whenever and anon it’s crowded in your head
A maze inside your heart, a question at the center
I’ll open every door and measure every breath
And I will remind you
I’ve followed the path
Of fear before; that map was torn in two
And still led back to you
Ever and anon, I’m lost in melody
A lonelier voice’s cathartic, ritual soliloquy
Ever since I was young, I’ve been listening
For that harmony
Wherever and anon, if I’m where I belong
Sweet serendipity, stumble into me
I felt sure long before I ever spoke the truth
Withheld it long enough for doubt to take its root
I wandered far beyond the evidence to prove
Whether I was wrong, as if I always knew
Forever and anon, as long as I’m here with you
My love, I believe, I’m holding onto
The trust that, whatever and anon, by loosening my grip
I’m strengthening my hold on the most precious gift:
A friend to grow old with
If I, ever and anon, feel lonely by your side
And I begin to doubt, as certain as the tide
You turn that smile on, and I see you again
Like when we were new
The flow, the ebb
It all begins and ends with you, the rock that I cling to
Ever and anon, I’m lost in reverie
Of lonelier poets’ nostalgia for life I never lived
Whenever I am gone, it’s where you’ll find me:
Inventing memories
And love, whenever and anon it’s crowded in your head
A maze inside your heart, a question at the center
I’ll open every door and measure every breath
And I will remind you
I’ve followed the path
Of fear before; that map was torn in two
And still led back to you
Ever and anon, I’m lost in melody
A lonelier voice’s cathartic, ritual soliloquy
Ever since I was young, I’ve been listening
For that harmony:
"Wherever and anon, if I’m where I belong
Sweet serendipity, stumble into me"
I felt sure long before I ever spoke the truth
Withheld it long enough for doubt to take its root
I wandered far beyond the evidence to prove
Whether I was wrong, as if I always knew
Forever and anon, as long as I’m here with you
My love, I believe, I’m holding onto
The trust that, whatever and anon, by loosening my grip
I’m strengthening my hold on the most precious gift:
A friend to grow old with
"Forever and Anon" reads like a conversation but is a mostly internal monologue. The speaker is navigating doubts on either side of their romantic relationship, though not always aloud. Addressing their lifelong habit of futilely imagining alternate pasts and futures, and their skepticism toward the goodness of the present moment, they ultimately resolve to trust in what may come—the final line reiterating the intention expressed in the song "Happier Words."
Of the record (The future isn't what it used to be.), I think this song changed the most throughout its creative process. Similar to "Home," it surprised me with the way its production steered toward such a typical rock-band arrangement—despite that, throughout the record, the "drum kit" is actually made entirely (except the cymbals) from my own found-percussion samples.
Music & Lyrics by Tyler Jameson Newton
Performed & Recorded by Tye Newton
Produced & Mixed by Tye Newton
Consultation & Mastering by Justin Newton
Art direction by Tye Newton
Cover art design by Tye Newton
Photography by Tye Newton
Forever and Anon
Forever and Anon
If I, ever and anon, feel lonely by your side
And I begin to doubt, as certain as the tide
You turn that smile on, and I see you again
Like when we were new
The flow, the ebb
It all begins and ends with you, the rock that I cling to
Ever and anon, I’m lost in reverie
Of lonelier poets’ nostalgia for life I never lived
Whenever I am gone, it’s where you’ll find me:
Inventing memories
And love, whenever and anon it’s crowded in your head
A maze inside your heart, a question at the center
I’ll open every door and measure every breath
And I will remind you
I’ve followed the path
Of fear before; that map was torn in two
And still led back to you
Ever and anon, I’m lost in melody
A lonelier voice’s cathartic, ritual soliloquy
Ever since I was young, I’ve been listening
For that harmony
Wherever and anon, if I’m where I belong
Sweet serendipity, stumble into me
I felt sure long before I ever spoke the truth
Withheld it long enough for doubt to take its root
I wandered far beyond the evidence to prove
Whether I was wrong, as if I always knew
Forever and anon, as long as I’m here with you
My love, I believe, I’m holding onto
The trust that, whatever and anon, by loosening my grip
I’m strengthening my hold on the most precious gift:
A friend to grow old with
Forever and Anon [Short Intro]
If I, ever and anon, feel lonely by your side
And I begin to doubt, as certain as the tide
You turn that smile on, and I see you again
Like when we were new
The flow, the ebb
It all begins and ends with you, the rock that I cling to
Ever and anon, I’m lost in reverie
Of lonelier poets’ nostalgia for life I never lived
Whenever I am gone, it’s where you’ll find me:
Inventing memories
And love, whenever and anon it’s crowded in your head
A maze inside your heart, a question at the center
I’ll open every door and measure every breath
And I will remind you
I’ve followed the path
Of fear before; that map was torn in two
And still led back to you
Ever and anon, I’m lost in melody
A lonelier voice’s cathartic, ritual soliloquy
Ever since I was young, I’ve been listening
For that harmony:
"Wherever and anon, if I’m where I belong
Sweet serendipity, stumble into me"
I felt sure long before I ever spoke the truth
Withheld it long enough for doubt to take its root
I wandered far beyond the evidence to prove
Whether I was wrong, as if I always knew
Forever and anon, as long as I’m here with you
My love, I believe, I’m holding onto
The trust that, whatever and anon, by loosening my grip
I’m strengthening my hold on the most precious gift:
A friend to grow old with
Music & Lyrics by Tyler Jameson Newton
Performed & Recorded by Tye Newton
Produced & Mixed by Tye Newton
Consultation & Mastering by Justin Newton
Art direction by Tye Newton
Cover art design by Tye Newton
Photography by Tye Newton
Lovelorn Lullaby
This is home, warmth, love, happiness
Time, gratitude
It’s my home with you
And I see you when I look around
In every inch of my life
I see the way I’ve felt with you
Glowing in this light
I can see, hear, feel us laughing and
Loving, singing, planning, dancing
It’s a dream
Falling asleep here with you missing
In our empty apartment
Feels like giving up
I’m so tired but I’m not ready
I’m not ready
It was "no more nightmares
Sleep easier, now we're home"
"We’re really living the dream, aren’t we?"
And now it’s "goodbye sweet dreams"
Our foundation crumbles as I sleep
The nightmare is awake, not me
Not me
Here is our home, new again; bare walls, patient with potential
The gold hardwood floor still waiting for the shadow of our black faux leather sofa
The forsaken guest room door ajar, beyond the dark, unwanted television
The bright, open kitchen wishing for the soundtrack of Elbow and Damien
Rising through the stairway landing where we’ll integrate our friends’ art on display
The old brick and space left naked for the photographs we’ll take but never frame
The hollow of the walk-in closet where we’ll laugh at how even your jeans fit me
In the nook with the red Japanese chair, the deluge will lull us both to sleep
The skylight in the vacant corner of the loft will cast our bed like a cathedral
Where I will sneak snapshots of you dreaming blissfully in that summer sun cascade
Nearby, the gas stove—sitting cold—will drive the winter from our bones
Beside the gap for the piano and the strings we’ll tune to summon the spring
And we will choose our favorite sad songs, substituting words to make them happy
Recorded evidence of our love, compellingly performed but incomplete
And we will learn to synchronize our walk and let the music move us in time
And I will try to lead you, hand in hand, cheek to cheek, your chest pressed to mine
We’ll embrace until the dance is over, then we will leave no trace of it behind
Only the bats in the ceiling will remember that vinyl record skipping in my mind
But I’ve already carved the shape of you into the songs and rhythms of my life
It’s too late to separate the future from the dream
Releases
