DARK HORSE
…the definitive lyrics of the songs from the album…
By: Mohammed L. Saavedra
Foreword
• This presentation is made to keep the definitive lyrics
of the songs intended for the compilation named DARK
HORSE.
• The basic chord structure / progression is presented on
the next immediate slide after each lyric sheets.
• Rough draft sample in music video [on a separate
music file] done played on Noel Lumanog 6-strings
nylon guitar using JVC HD Camcorder (playable on Nero
Showtime).
• Short commentary for each song added for additional
references.
Song Titles / Duration
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•
•
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Oriental Pearl
Dark Horse
Jumeirah Jane
Sunburst
Tranquil Train
Folded Sleeves
Cosmic Rainbow
Against The Setting Sun
3:27m
3:04m
2:59m
2:23m
3:34m
3:00m
4:31m
3:29m
Oriental Pearl
Escape from the clutches / of this monstrous poverty.
Rise above the ashes / only way to dignity.
- Islands of oriental pearl / Seven thousand splinter.
Tropical Pacific / the first asian republic.
- Minerals from the mountain / outburst of its fountain.
Winding rivers flow / wash away the sins below.
Our very own---Luzon Visayas Mindanao…
We stand alone---Luzon Visayas Mindanao…
Our native home---Luzon Visayas Mindanao…
- Balding hills and forest / perils of flood at rest. When
mother nature calls / too late for the waterfalls.
Awaken from slumber / work hard to prosperity. A
time to remember / the fruit of our destiny.
Am-Em-F-GAm-C-G-Am
Oriental Pearl is actually the English version of the
“LuzViMinda” which is my other Tagalog folk rock
song composed after adapting the verses from
the poem Buntung-hininga (Sigh).
I prefer to have the more solid sound using acoustic
steel string-guitar, and have a vibrato electric
guitar solos on the instrumental solos along with
the alto sax altogether.
The bass riff intro is actually the basic chord pattern
where I got the tune when I started composing
this version.
Dark Horse
Up above the sky / I wanna fly high. Floating like a majestic falcon.
Roaming Savannah / king of Africa. Walking tall and proud as a lion.
- When will the eagle soar / these hills forevermore? / when will this
fantasy? The brown stallion I see.
- Dark horse victory / Dark horse victory.
Followed the tiger / to make it better. But the stripes simply fade away.
Decades of hard work / from cute tiny stork. Out comes the giant
panda today.
-When will the tamaraw / earn its respectful bow? / when will this
fantasy? The brown stallion I see.
-Dark horse victory / Dark horse victory.
Bb-DM7-FM7-C
CM7-C
CM7-FM7-Dm-G-CM7-FM7
Dark Horse is an adaptation from my short
poem with a slightly long title “The Tamaraw,
The Eagle and The Stallion”.
The finger plucking is done through out the
whole song with the first two broken chords.
Obviously, I prefer to have it played using the 6string nylon guitar with the flute intro,
instrumental solo and fade out solos.
Jumeirah Jane
Just a joke being told copy-cat Jumeirah Jane / slightly hurt / text
reply not to see her again.
Bunch of flowers with apology / I gave at the doorway / smiling
so lovely…
Just a joke being told “you are in love again” / It’s easy to say / just
like the pouring rain.
Frantic moments when you are near / like vibrant colors of life /
all around dear…
- Oh woh woh…Jumeirah Jane, Jumeirah Jane
won’t you show me your subtle smile again.
- Oh woh woh…Jumeirah Jane, Jumeirah Jane
together let’s run away fly high again.
Just a joke being told “I will see you again” / within inside / it’s just
goodbye to hide the pain.
Dress me up in signature labels / Mingle with your high profile
social circles.
GM7-Am
C-G-Am-C-G
• Jumeirah Jane is a song about a fictitious
character, a typical modern sophisticated lady
living, loving, longing at Jumeirah, Dubai.
• I would prefer to have this played using an
acoustic steel guitar, with electric pedal string
vibrato guitar riff solos.
• And lastly a fade out second voice at the last
refrain.
Sunburst
• I miss you / like the sunburst behind a cloudy sky/ the nice
greetings that shows your smile.
• I miss you / like the warmth of a morning sunshine / your
soft touch through my spine.
- Sunburst…Oh sunburst…don’t shy away.
- Sunburst…Oh sunburst…on a cloudy day.
• I miss you / like the breeze gently on my ear / the crazy
laughter / moments we share.
 Just remember one thing / before we say goodbye…
 When you look up to see the clouds / over the sky…
 Think of me / a real friend / that you can rely.
DM7-AM7-GM7-AM7
C#m7-Bm7-E-AM7-A7
• Sunburst is an adaptation from one of my very
old poem titled “I Miss You” remembering a
friend just before I worked abroad.
• The lyrics of the refrain is added years later when
I composed the tune.
• I always like to play around in “major 7th” guitar
chords even if this is done by simply plucking in
broken chords.
• The soothing sound of flute or bamboo flute is
perhaps more fitting throughout the song.
Tranquil Train
• When the world is turning in confusion / man is at the edge of
desolation / a wake-up call to catch the tranquil train / before
it’s too late to avoid the pain.
• When roof over your head start crumbling down / face of your
money is just a funny clown / no need to plan or even wait for
the rain / the sooner the better to catch the train.
- Tranquil Train…Tranquil Train / Piercing through the foggy
fears/ riders calm within.
- Tranquil Train…Tranquil Train / Take me I want to go / where
justice is whiter than snow.
• When food on the table taste really bland / and water
shortage on the other hand / Ensure you are inside the
tranquil train / before you lose your mind to roll your brain.
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C-G-F-E-Am
• When I was trying to finalize this song by simply
strumming the basic chord pattern, I deliberately
omitted the last eight lines of the poem of the same
name (Tranquil Train) to come up with this song.
• A simple finger plucking styling as an intro of the basic
chord structure to pave way for a more bolder
strumming later on.
• I would always love to play this on acoustic steel guitar
with the instrumental electric guitar vibrato riffs
preferred. And as usual to have signature alto or
baritone saxophone solos throughout the song.
Folded Sleeves
• Like a shooting star you come and go / golden memories of long
ago / why does our love have to end this way ? / tragic winter
sonata in May.
• Hey, old friend do you still remember / good times we shared
together ? / distance between us grown apart / even a single hello
could start.
 Folded sleeves / polyester ties / falling leaves / from tangerine
skies.
 Free your mind / leave the past behind / Oh woh woh woh woh /
oh woh woh woh.
• Oh, guiding shadow where are you now ? / show me the way
whenever somehow / alone sailing in this cruel world / keep it
steady don’t fall overboard.
 Never stay / to your broken dreams / break away / from this
hopeless schemes.
 Hold on tight / with your guiding light / Oh woh woh woh woh / oh
woh woh woh.
Am-Em-F-G-Am
Am-G
• Folded Sleeves was actually a poem I wrote last
year entitled “Folded Sleeves / Polyester Ties” I
dropped the ‘polyester ties’ to differentiate it.
• Streamlining the song, I omitted the last six
verses of the poem itself.
• Although plucking the strings throughout the
song, I decided to fast pace during the refrain.
• Though I normally pluck this tune on nylon strings
sometimes I feel like wanting to try it on steel
strings for a change. And as usual with either
flute or soprano sax accompaniment.
Cosmic Rainbow
• I thought it was a rainstorm / this coming dusty sandstorm / chequered
yellow warning / False alarm !
• Close my eyes from worry / be myself, be happy / bending rules, broken
meaning / Safe no harm !
 Dancing cosmic rainbow / purely entertaining / keep me company /
indeed a friend to me.
 Cast away the fears / you bring me joyful tears.
 Dancing cosmic rainbow / Cosmic rainbow.
• I thought I was in heaven / life in a high-tech garden / relied on plastic
money / All the fun !
• Cold nights under the moonlight / floating grey clouds at daylight / behind
each tragic story / a smiling sun !
 Dazzling cosmic rainbow / fully tantalizing / images I see / always sets me
free.
 Cast away the fears / you bring me joyful tears.
 Dancing cosmic rainbow / Cosmic Rainbow.
GM7-DM7-Am-D7-G
G-Gm-F#m-Bm
• Cosmic Rainbow is intended for a full
strumming acoustic guitar song but I had to
improvise a little bit on the chorus chords.
• As I always like to have a combination of guitar
and saxophone, I prefer to have the soprano
sax intro, instrumental solos and fade out at
the end of the song.
• Perhaps an electric piano jazzing along will
bring out a more solid structured sound.
Against The Setting Sun
• It’s amazing / the only love that you bring / simply the
look in your eye / forever charming smile / enlighten
the sky.
• You turn me on / the day our love was born / geckograsping tight / you’re never out of sight / the truth
that I like.
 (Don’t you know) my life before you came along /
sometimes easy, no ups or down / southbound against
the setting sun.
• So delightful / whenever you play it cool / mindgames
we always play / keep us alive to stay / beat the blues
away.
 (Now my life) with you beside cruising along /
sometimes easy, an endless fun / homebound against
the setting sun.
AM7-DM7-Bm7-E
DM7-C#m7-Bm7-AM7
• Again this song is an adaptation from my poem titled
“Along SZR” which I wrote last year, the tune is based
on my very old composition Tagalog Jazz-Folk Rock
song way…way back then. When we used to call our
group HAPLOS (Soft Touch) along with my friends.
• Therefore, I may aptly called this the English version of
“Ating Pag-ibig” (Our Love) that particular song.
• I would like to experiment on the sound of some ethnic
instruments such as the kulintang and hegalong and
maybe come up with a neo-ethnic jazz-samba (bossa
nova) effect, and of course along with the usual alto
saxophone and electric piano jamming along.