Released in 1997
After heavy light years - Fire / Rain
Written by Paul McCartney
Last updated on July 8, 2020
Released in 1997
Written by Paul McCartney
Last updated on July 8, 2020
Album This song officially appears on the Standing Stone Official album.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1997
Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 1994, when Paul McCartney was 52 years old)
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Mar 03 & 04, 1997
"Standing Stone" recording sessions
Apr 30, May 01 & May 02, 1997
This Allegro Energico is the first track of the first movement – entitled “After Heavy Light Years” – of Paul McCartney’s Standing Stone, released in 1997.
After heavy light years
of tenacious trajectory
a ball of fire spat through space
spitting sparks and flames
at new blue universe.
The rains came and came
and extinguished livid flames.
A resistant hiss.
Brooding underground,
a sullen skulking sulk.
Still air hung still.
Silent peaks draped with mist.
A rumbling distance, flash lit
rain soaked slopes; valleys
filled with long quiet lakes.
Still air hung still.
Soothed land lay damp.
Reflecting water skimmed the blue
it was hurled through.
Down low toes of ocean rock
streams of lava froze in shock,
arms locked
round stone lover.
Wept sky swept and grey.
A rainbow bridge
cuts mountain tops.
Souped in pea green
a single cell bulb flicked
to life.
Cell burst,
a shot blot page on time,
and grew to be
all living things.
*Lyrics taken from the whole of Movement I - After Heavy Light Years
Official album • Released in 1997
4:30 • Classical version • A • Allegro energico
Paul McCartney : Executive producer Eddie Klein : Technical engineerPerformed by : London Symphony Orchestra • London Symphony Chorus Keith Smith : Technical engineer John Kurlander : Balance engineer John Fraser : Producer Lawrence Foster : Conductor Richard Rodney Bennett : Musical associate Janice Graham : Orchestra leader Stephen Westrop : Chorusmaster Simon Kiln : Editor David Matthews : Musical associate John Harle : Musical associate Steve Lodder : Musical associate
Session Recording: Mar 03 & 04, 1997 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
Session Recording: Apr 30, May 01 & May 02, 1997 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road
“After heavy light years - Fire / Rain” has been played in 30 concerts.
Berlin • Philharmonie • Germany
Jun 28, 2008 • Part of Standing Stone
Beechworth • Mayday Hills Oval • Australia
Jan 19, 2008 • Part of Standing Stone
Helsinki • Finlandia Hall • Finland
Mar 10, 2005 • Part of Standing Stone
Tel Aviv • Mann Auditorium • Israel
Nov 01, 2002 • Part of Standing Stone
Jun 29, 2002 • Part of Standing Stone
See all concerts where “After heavy light years - Fire / Rain” has been played
Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 2) 1990-2012
This new book by Luca Perasi traces Paul McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1990 to 2012 in the form of 250 song entries, filled with details about the recordings, stories behind the sessions and musical analysis. His pop albums, his forays into classical and avant-garde music, his penchant for covering old standards: a complete book to discover how these languages cross-pollinate and influence each other.
The second volume in a series that has established itself as a unique guide to take the reader on a journey into the astonishing creativity of Paul McCartney.
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