J.J. Sheridan is one of Ireland's leading pianists and composers. The son o… Read Full Bio ↴J.J. Sheridan is one of Ireland's leading pianists and composers. The son of professional musicians he started tuition at age 5, and in his late teens was accepted on scholarship to the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. He studied piano there with John O'Sullivan and Valerie Walker, and composition with A.J. Potter. J.J.'s love for his native Irish music started early. His earliest recitals featured his concert arrangements of Irish airs and dances. At 18 he composed on commision "Saint Canice's Mass" which brought him national notices in Irish Media. (Saint Canice's was name of parish catholic church in his home town. The town had recently built a new church and J.J.'s original music was played at the opening dedication.) One year later he won the Esposito Medal at Dublin's Feis Ceoil (Ireland's premier piano competition). In subsequent years his concert programmes featured standard classical repretoire and works of contemporary Irish composers, including Sean O'Riada and T.C. Kelly.

American visitors to Ireland will remember J.J. as one of the stars of "Irish Eyes are Smiling" at the Great Southern Hotel in Killarney from 1977-1982. He also appeared in Jury's Irish Cabaret in Dublin. He toured the USA for the first time in fall of 1982 with stars from Killarney and Dublin cabaret shows. Among the noted venues were Carnegie Hall and Boston Symphony Hall.

J.J. currently resides in Atlanta, GA and continues to enjoy and international career as recitalist and soloist. His one man show "The Art of Turlough O'Carolan" is enjoyed at various colleges and venues throughout the world.

He records exclusively for Trigon Recordings. His many albums include: The Art of Turlough O'Carolan, Irish Piano Classics, Irish Piano Memories, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Piano Album, Sydney Smith - Original Piano Compositions and Transcriptions. and An Irish Piano Christmas.

Memory
J.J. Sheridan Lyrics

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Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
And a rose that is fading
Roses whither away like the sunflower
I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
I am waiting for the day

Midnight, not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?

She is smiling alone in the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

Memory, all alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days, I was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every street lamp
Seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in when the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The street lamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my days in the sun if you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is

Look
A new day has begun

Overall Meaning

J.J. Sheridan's song "Memory" is a powerful ballad that captures the essence of longing and nostalgia. The song is composed of various shifts in time, imagery, and emotion that add depth to the song's message. The lyrics begin with an image of a sunflower and a rose that are fading, evoking a sense of loss and melancholy as the singer yearns for a new day to come. The next stanza takes us to the idea of midnight, where the singer wonders about the moon's memory and watches the leaves wither away. The chorus brings us the central theme of the song, where the singer reminisces about past happiness and longs for it to return to life. The final stanzas of the song are a mix of apprehension and hope, where the singer must wait for the dawn and look forward to a brighter tomorrow.

"Memory" is a song that speaks to a universal experience of memory, nostalgia, and hope. The lyrics evoke strong images such as the dew on the sunflower, the moon smiling alone in the lamplight, or the fatalistic warning of the street lamps. These images add depth and texture to the song, reinforcing the feelings of longing and apprehension that the singer is experiencing. The chorus is the song's most powerful element, with a melody that is both haunting and uplifting. As the singer remembers the time they knew what happiness was, the audience is carried along with them, longing for the memory to live again.

Line by Line Meaning

Daylight, see the dew on the sunflower
Observing the water droplets on the sunflower as the sun rises

And a rose that is fading
Noticing a dying rose

Roses whither away like the sunflower
Realizing the temporary nature of life and beauty

I yearn to turn my face to the dawn
Longing for a fresh start and new beginning

I am waiting for the day
Anticipating a positive change in life

Midnight, not a sound from the pavement
Not hearing any noises from the street at night

Has the moon lost her memory?
Questioning if the world around us remembers past events

She is smiling alone in the lamplight
The moon and night sky are tranquil

The withered leaves collect at my feet
The artist is standing amongst decay and deterioration

And the wind begins to moan
Feeling the start of a dark, ominous atmosphere

Memory, all alone in the moonlight
Reflecting on past experiences and emotions

I can smile at the old days, I was beautiful then
Finding comfort and happiness in looking back at the past

I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Recalling a time of pure joy and contentment

Let the memory live again
Desiring to relive previous times or emotions

Every street lamp seems to beat a fatalistic warning
Seeing danger and foreboding in everyday surroundings

Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
Hearing and feeling the negativity and danger lurking in the night

And soon it will be morning
Looking forward to the end of the darkness and chaos of night

Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
Anticipating the beginning of a new day and fresh start

I must think of a new life
Reflecting on past mistakes and planning for the future

And I mustn't give in when the dawn comes
Resolving to stay strong and move forward regardless of the challenges

Tonight will be a memory too
Realizing that even the present moment will become the past

And a new day will begin
Feeling hopeful for a positive change or new opportunity

Burnt out ends of smoky days
Describing a time of hardship and difficulty

The stale cold smell of morning
Noticing how the air is fresh and different in the morning

The street lamp dies, another night is over
Feeling closure or completion as the darkness subsides

Another day is dawning
Embracing a new beginning and new opportunities

Touch me, it's so easy to leave me
Feeling vulnerable and sensitive to love and affection

All alone with the memory
Being consumed and haunted by past experiences

Of my days in the sun if you touch me
Remembering moments of happiness and light

You'll understand what happiness is
Believing that the source of true happiness lies in human connection and interaction

Look, a new day has begun
Celebrating the arrival of a fresh start and new opportunities

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trevor Nunn, T.S. Eliot, Zdenek Hruby

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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