Hastang of Yesteryears

This is part 9 of an 11-part series. Guile takes a whimsical journey down memory lane, retracing the bumpy pseudo-pathways that led to the final version of Hastang’s current tracks.

• There was a girl and a boy. They were friends for a long time, until they realized that they are meant to be together. The guy finally decided that it’s time to talk about their feelings. So, by mutual consent, they agreed to meet at a certain time to “talk”. Unfortunately, on the way to their meeting place, the guy has a fatal accident. And still, the girl waits. That’s the story of this song. Honest. Tessa claims it really happened. Or, at least that was the original concept. Official lyricist Yan helped Tessa develop the song further, transcending the core story and reaching out to encompass a broader sense of yearning.
• But why “Murray”? Funny how things happen. A week before we commence recording, Murray gets involved in a vehicular accident (shattered shouldered blade which meant a year of limb rehabilitation. Thankfully, Gaw came to the rescue by joining the band as lead guitarist three days later). The song is, in a way, dedicated to Murray “MoiMoi” Suson, who remains, to date, our favorite sessionist.
• The original version of this song ran over seven minutes. So we got rid of a stanza in the verse part and shortened the intro.
• A recurring line in this song, “But now the day has come, and I’ve become undone…” is a tribute to one of Yan’s favorite books, “She’s Come Undone” by Wally Lamb.

Waiting for Murray

Lyrics by Tessa Manto and Julie Ann Yan Redoble
Music & Arrangement by Hastang

You said you’d talk to me today,
Face to face, when the day ends.
You said you wanna see me today
in that place, where the shadows bend

I wait and still there’s no sign of you,
my patience stretched to its limit.
Alone in silence, enveloped by your absence.
Oh where has the day gone …

If this is love, why not surrender;
Why not give in and begin?
If this is love, why not come over;
Let’s talk it over tonight

Maybe this isn’t how I thought this would be;
Maybe you’re just not brave enough to fight for me…

I lie awake
and see your face;
My life was primed for this moment,
all paths leading to this day.

But now the day has come,
And I’ve become undone…

If this is love, why not surrender;
Why not give in and begin?
If this is love, why not come over;
Let’s talk it over tonight.

Maybe today, I’ll finally see
That this day will never be…

Never be…

Never be…

Never be.

Hastang is a Cebu-based, female-fronted indie band composed of members Ria (vocals), Guile (bass), Gaw (guitars), and Makoy (drums).
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