Story Behind The Song

This song features the uniquely percussive sound of the Kazakh dombra, the ancient national instrument of Kazakhstan. Dombras have two strings on a long-necked, lute-like body, usually with a spruce soundboard. Over the past six years, I have been working and traveling in Kazakhstan, collaborating with musicians in Almaty and Astana. "Runaway Bride" is a demo that I hope to re-record later this year in Kazakhstan. In this song, I've tried to capture the uniquely propulsive "horse riding" rhythm characteristic of so many Kazakh songs. Several of my musician friends in Kazakhstan are also interested in blending ancient instruments like the dombra with modern electric guitars and synthesizers.

Lyrics

Runaway Bride for Kazakh Dombra
Words & Music by Timothy Walsh

When you say the word, you whisper so softly that I can hardly believe my own heart.
You say you love me--that you'll run away with me,
and you never want to be apart....and they'll say:

Chorus:
Runaway Bride,
where can they hide?
Over the mountains to the valley of the moon.

Runaway Bride,
where will they ride?
Deep in the forests and they will be there soon.....And I know that you're mine.

I'll meet you at dusk the light in the west will be
luminous as the look in your eye.
We'll head to the east, the rising sun will mark
the place where we'll live and we'll die....and they'll say:

Chorus: Runaway bride, etc....

We'll live in the wild where the river flows from the
snowcapped mountains near the roof of the world.
When there is danger, the howl of the wolf will warn
and we'll vanish and be seen no more in this world....

Chorus: Runaway bride, etc....