After moving from Chicago to California at the age of ten, he was involved in various high school bands playing guitars and keyboards, playing baseball in his spare time. He studied music in college and started a progressive rock band named after himself, but he soon discovered the music of Kitaro and was heavily influenced by it. Arkenstone was influenced by writers such as J. R. R. Tolkien and Ian Fleming, and grew up listening to bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Deep Purple, and Yes, as well as listening to classical music.
Arkenstone went solo and found his own sound in New Age music. He says that has been greatly aided by technology: "Technology has produced some wonderful tools for making music. The computer allows me to fully orchestrate my pieces and really fine tune them". His music is primarily instrumental. His albums, typically fantasy themed, often come packaged with literature and art. He worked with fantasy novel writer Mercedes Lackey on a few of his albums. Arkenstone and his ex-wife, Diane, created their own record label called Neo Pacifica. In addition to releasing their own music on the label, they have included other bands such as Earth Trybe, Enaid, and the Marquis Ensemble.
He has also composed music for television; channels such as the History Channel, the Discovery Channel and NBC Sports include his music. He has also written music for trailers and film soundtracks, including the independent film PRISM, as well as computer game soundtracks such as World of Warcraft, Lands of Lore 2 and 3, Earth and Beyond, and Emperor: Battle for Dune; and Starlight Inception. He also features on 20 Years of Narada Piano.
Arkenstone has earned four Grammy nominations for his work: In the Wake of the Wind in 1992, Citizen of the World in 2000, and Atlantis in 2004. 'Fairy Dreams in 2020.
Arkenstone has learned to play a variety of musical instruments, including bouzouki, mandolin, guitar, bass guitar, harp, cello, flute, electronic keyboards, piano, Turkish saz, pennywhistle, melodica, and pan pipes. He also plays drums and percussion and has performed some vocalizations on his albums.
Arkenstone is also involved in the band Troika; their sound is similar to his solo work. The band members like to remain anonymous, although the compositions are credited to Arkenstone.
His theme "The Journey Begins/Kyla's Ride" was used for the FIFA World Cup France '98 broadcastings intro by the Mexican television network Azteca.
His song "Papillon (On the Wings of the Butterfly)" is used as background music in Future World at Epcot in Walt Disney World. His song "The Palace" was once used as background music in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom as well. "The Palace" also used to play in Tokyo Disneyland's Tomorrowland, and another one of his songs, "Valley in the Clouds" was also used.
He signed with Domo Records and re-released the album Echoes of Light and Shadow in 2010.
Arkenstone was a member of the composing team who developed the music for Blizzard Activision's World of Warcraft videogame's Cataclysm expansion. Along with Arkenstone, the team consists of Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford, and Neal Acree.
Only An Ocean Away
David Arkenstone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I walk a hundred streets of neon lights,
Only when I′m crying.
Can you hear me crying.
So many times you always wanted more,
Chasing illusions that you're longing for.
Wish I wasn′t crying.
Can you hear me crying.
There's an ocean between us.
You know where to find me.
You reach out and touch me.
I feel you in my own heart.
More than a lifetime.
Still goes on forever.
But it helps to remember
You're only an ocean away.
Was there a moment when I felt no pain.
I want to feel it in my life again.
Let it be over now.
Oh Oh over now.
′Cause I remember all the days and nights
We used to walk the streets of neon lights
Oh I want you here with me.
Oh be here with me.
There′s an ocean between us.
You know where to find me.
You reach out and touch me.
I feel you in my own heart.
More than a lifetime
Still goes on forever.
But it helps to remember
You're only an ocean away.
The song "Only An Ocean Away" by David Arkenstone seems to depict someone longing for a lost lover, who is separated by an ocean, hence the title. The lyrics are quite emotional, as the singer confesses to crying every day and night, and feeling that the love they used to share is now gone. The singer wishes that they were not always crying, and wonders if their lover can hear their cries.
The chorus of the song is where the title of the song comes to play. The singer admits that there is an ocean between them and their lover, but they should remember that they are only an ocean away. Despite the distance, the singer still feels their lover's presence, and can feel them in their own heart. The longing and sadness in the verses is replaced with hope and reassurance in the chorus, perhaps suggesting that the singer knows that one day they will be reunited with their lover.
Overall, "Only An Ocean Away" is a powerful and emotional ballad that touches upon themes of distance, separation, and longing for a lost love. The singer's words paint a vivid picture of their feelings and the struggles they face, which many listeners can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
I see a shadow every day and night.
I feel a sense of loneliness and fear continuously occupying my mind and heart.
I walk a hundred streets of neon lights,
I roam aimlessly in a city full of bright lights and bustling crowds, trying to distract myself from my pain.
Only when I'm crying.
My tears are the only time I allow myself to be vulnerable and express my true emotions.
Can you hear me crying.
I long for someone to acknowledge my cries and offer me comfort and solace.
So many times you always wanted more,
I have been disillusioned by the countless times I have tried to please others and meet their expectations, never feeling like it is enough.
Chasing illusions that you're longing for.
My efforts to fulfill the desires of others have led me to pursue unrealistic and unattainable goals.
Wish I wasn't crying.
I yearn to be free from the pain and sorrow that causes me to shed tears.
Can you hear me crying.
Despite my attempts to hide my tears, I hope that someone will notice and offer me comfort.
There's an ocean between us.
Despite our physical distance, I am separated from you by something much deeper and more profound than mere miles.
You know where to find me.
Even if we are apart, you will always have a way to contact me and connect with me.
You reach out and touch me.
Through your words or actions, you can still make me feel loved and cared for.
I feel you in my own heart.
Even though we are apart, I carry your love and presence within me at all times.
More than a lifetime.
Our connection and love transcend the physical boundaries of time and space.
Still goes on forever.
Our love will last an eternity and continue to influence us even after we are gone.
But it helps to remember
Even when I feel lost or alone, I find comfort in recalling our shared moments and the love we have for each other.
You're only an ocean away.
No matter how far apart we may be, we are never truly separated because our love bridges the distance between us.
Writer(s): Per Andreasson
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.