What inspired me to write this song was my isolation due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, my determination that I had to get out of here, my depression and rage, and me feeling like I was being held back. The inspiration was coming from a place inside me that was really turning depression into anger that I was being thwarted. Summer 2020 I was taking a songwriting class at MI and my assignment was to brainstorm a list of song titles and then pick one and write a song for it. I picked “Hunter”. I laid down a chord progression I had been practicing for my Keyboard Essentials 1 class and recorded some initial vocals over it. “I’m a hunter for, destiny fulfillment. Searching to find, never ending freedom.” I was in full “let’s go!” summertime, optimistic, active, full-bodied mode due to multiple factors including the warm weather due to it being summer in Massachusetts, and also maybe the novelty of those early months of Covid. I was also experiencing 2020 cabin fever, and had a tense relationship with my mom over this. Then, during my first day working on this song, I got an email in my MI student email account advertising upcoming American Idol auditions for MI students, and then I looked down at the bottom and saw that I was outside the age requirement. Not that I necessarily had auditioning for AI on my mind, but seeing that made me depressed because it felt like an outside limitation was being placed on me. So then I had an emotional moment where I was thinking, “well, whatever, I don’t need them anyway, I’ll die trying and it’s not gonna make or break me”. This led me to spontaneously come up with an idea interpolating part of Dylan Thomas’ poem “Do not go gentle into that good night” with the words “rage against the dying of the light”. In this case the dying of the light meant my being denied opportunities like this on account of my age. It was like my wounded warrior battle cry of bruised determination. I was really loving the way my voice was sounding as I was recording with these new EQ and compressor plugins/techniques I had learned so I was then inspired to write a typically dramatic bridge. Then later, in September, I had to quickly finish the song to submit as part of a final project requirement at MI so I had to quickly come up with a second verse. In finishing this song, I enlisted the superb mixing and mastering talents of Rob Murray, a mixing and mastering engineer I found via SoundBetter.
lyrics
[Verse 1]
I’m a hunter for
destiny fulfillment
seeking to find
neverending freedom
You’re in my way
but you won’t admit it
I’m an open wound
That’s something I can live with
Obstacles I climb on top of them
or dig around them
and swim my way through the brine
Searching for a brand new confidence
and I think I found it
and now it’s time to get what’s mine
[Chorus]
Hangin’ around with you
Now there’s nothing left to do
Can’t be your caged-up angel
though you love me through and through
They’ve already counted me out this time
Doesn’t matter I can take it
Anybody wants to doubt it’s fine
The strength in me is ancient
And I will ra-r-r-rage r-r—r-r-rage
against the dying of the light
as the game g-g-game g-game g-game game
goes into overtime
and I will ra-r-r-rage r-r—r-r-rage
against the dying of the light
as the game g-g-game g-game g-game game
goes into overtime
[Verse 2]
Could have lost my life
over something petty
‘bout a hundred times
Thanks for the protection
What did I expect?
I was livin’ reckless
Now I grab my life
by its goddamn necklace
Up all night just trying to get it right
and it’s so precarious
feels like I'm dancin' through the fire
Oh my god here comes the pressure now
and it's all around me
but I do this all the time
[Chorus]
I was hangin’ around with you
there was nothing left to do
Couldn’t stay your caged-up angel
Though you love me through and through
They’ve already counted me out this time
Doesn’t matter I can take it
Anybody wants to doubt it’s fine
The strength in me is ancient
And I will ra-r-r-rage r-r—r-r-rage
against the dying of the light
as the game g-g-game g-game g-game game
goes into overtime
and I will ra-r-r-rage r-r—r-r-rage
against the dying of the light
as the game g-g-game g-game g-game game
goes into overtime
[Bridge]
Keep it goin’ goin’, goin’ goin’
You’re the champion
You’re the only only, only only
thing blocking you from the sun
You either want it want it, gotta have it
or you’ll find an excuse
You don’t need permission, you know you run it, run it
There ain’t no time to lose
[Chorus]
And I will ra-r-r-rage r-r—r-r-rage
against the dying of the light
as the game g-g-game g-game g-game game
goes into overtime
and I will ra-r-r-rage r-r—r-r-rage
against the dying of the light
as the game g-g-game g-game g-game game
goes into overtime
credits
from Hunter - Single,
released March 30, 2021
Vocals by Reuben Walton
Vocal production by Reuben Walton
Lyrics by Reuben Walton and Dylan Thomas
Melody by Reuben Walton
Underlying chords by Reuben Walton
Programmed by Reuben Walton
Produced by Reuben Walton
Recorded by Reuben Walton
Mixed by Reuben Walton and Rob Murray
Mastered by Rob Murray
Edited by Reuben Walton and Rob Murray
Artwork by Reuben Walton
Reuben Walton is a singer/songwriter and music producer based in Falmouth, MA. He is a graduate of Musicians Institute in
Hollywood's Independent Artist program and their Electronic Music Production program, as well as UMass Lowell’s Music Business undergraduate program.
In 2019 he put out a self-titled EP working with producer AVLI Music and is now regularly releasing new music....more
Super dreamy and spacey, just the way I like it. Beautiful music, recommended for fans of Best Coast, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, and other bands. Check 'em out! "D'Arrest" is my favorite! Reuben Walton
