Michael Hedges was a conservatory composition major who applied his classically trained musical background in combination with radical innovation to “reinvent” the steel string acoustic guitar. He combined many unusual techniques on the acoustic guitar with a wide range of musical styles, and was also considered a dynamic performer in concert - in short, a “Paganini” of the guitar.
He is known for extensive use in several pieces of two handed tapping techniques (nearly a contrapuntal style of multiple voices). He used the fingers of his right (typically picking) hand to slap harmonic "chords" at the 12th, 7th or 5th fret (or elsewhere). He made use of right hand hammer-ons, particularly on bass notes, and often used the left hand for melodic or rhythmic hammer-ons and pull offs, as well as unusual strummings, that played, as mentioned, independent voices to the right hand. These techniques tended to convert the guitar into a quasi-keyboard like instrument for certain musical purposes. He also made extensive use of string dampening as employed in classical guitar, and was known to insist strongly on the precise duration of sounds and silences in his pieces. Other facets to his playing were percussive slapping on the guitar body and extensive use of artificial harmonics. He also played guitar-variants like the Harp Guitar (an instrument with additional bass strings that Hedges used to play Bach's Prelude to Cello Suite #1 in G Major in its intended key), and the Trans-Trem Guitar.
Michael Hedges was discovered by William Ackerman who heard him performing in a Palo Alto cafe (the former Varsity Theater) and immediately signed him to a recording contract (1980). For several years Hedges toured and performed in concert with Ackerman. He also appeared on several of Ackerman's albums. In turn William Ackerman produced Hedge's first two albums.
The first two records Michael Hedges made - Breakfast in the Field and Aerial Boundaries - were milestones for the acoustic guitar. He then branched out into singing and performing more popular forms of music, although he would periodically make a return to more guitar-centred music. His record Oracle won the 1998 Grammy for Best New Age Album. Hedges was in fact quite a multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, percussion, tin whistle, harmonica, and flute, among others on his albums. Bassist Michael Manring contributed to many of Michael's records.
Many acoustic guitarists claim a very broad range of influences and will not fit into any genre, but this was truer of Hedges than of any other. His musical education was largely in modern 20th century composition. He listened to Leo Kottke, Bruce Cockburn, Martin Carthy, John Martyn, John Fahey, and the Beatles, but his approach to composition owed much to Stravinsky, Varèse, Webern, and experimental composers such as Morton Feldman. He saw himself as a composer who played guitar, rather than a guitarist who composed music. He was often categorized as New Age due to his association with the Windham Hill record label. Somewhat in reaction to this, he would describe his music as "Heavy Mental", "New Edge", ""Thrash Acoustic", "Deep Tissue Gladiator Guitar" or "Savage Myth Guitar," amongst other terms.
Hedges was killed in a car accident in 1997 at the age of 43. His unfinished last recordings were brought to completion in the album Torched, with the help of his friends David Crosby and Graham Nash.
Follow Through
Michael Hedges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wake up in the morning
And hold it down deep inside
And you can be a dreamer
You can be your dreams come true
Let imagine lead, reality will follow through
Some of us dance to the sound of fortune and fame
Defending their domain
But you can be a dreamer
You can be your dreams come true
Let imagine lead, reality will follow through
If darkness and pressure
Try to turn your story downâ??
Look back, think hard about
How that story really sounds
Then you can be a dreamer
You can be your dreams come true
Let imagine lead, reality will follow through
It will follow you if you follow through
The lyrics of Michael Hedges's song Follow Through urge the listener to remain steadfast in their pursuit of their dreams, despite the challenges that may arise. The song encourages the listener to be a dreamer and to let their imagination guide them as they work towards realizing their aspirations. While some people may be motivated by fame and fortune, the song suggests that the truly dedicated will stay committed to their goals regardless of external rewards.
The lyrics also recognize the obstacles that may come up on the journey towards one's dreams, and provides a strategy for dealing with them. If the darkness and pressure of life tries to deter the dreamer, the song advises that they should reflect on their story and consider how they want it to sound. By maintaining a clear vision of their goals and staying true to their passions, the dreamer can overcome any setbacks and ultimately achieve success.
Overall, Follow Through is an uplifting and empowering song that encourages listeners to stay true to themselves and remain focused on their dreams, even when the going gets tough.
Line by Line Meaning
Make up a story when you go to sleep tonight
Create an inspiring narrative for yourself at night
Wake up in the morning
Get a good rest and prepare yourself for the new day
And hold it down deep inside
Keep the story in your thoughts and emotions
And you can be a dreamer
You have the potential to develop grand ideas
You can be your dreams come true
You have the power to achieve your goals
Let imagine lead, reality will follow through
Let your imagination guide you to action and reality will follow suit
Some of us dance to the sound of fortune and fame
Some are motivated by wealth and prestige
Others want to march all around
Others seek to protect and expand their territory
Defending their domain
Maintaining ownership and control over what they have
But you can be a dreamer
You can choose to think big and aim high
If darkness and pressure try to turn your story down
If challenges and stress make you doubt your narrative
Look back, think hard about
Reflect on the core elements of your story
How that story really sounds
How authentic and compelling it is
Then you can be a dreamer
Once you clear your mind and heart, you can resume your visionary role
It will follow you if you follow through
If you act on your dreams, reality will be shaped accordingly
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laura Sefchik
Follow Through🥳
Make up a story when you go to sleep tonight📒
Wake up in the morning and hold it down deep inside🙏🏻
And you can be a dreamer😴
You can be your dreams come true
Just let imagine lead, reality will follow through
Some of us dance to the sound of fortune and fame 💃
Others want to march all around defending their domain
You can be a dreamer
You can be your dreams come true 😴
Just let imagine lead, reality will follow through🥳
If darkness and pressure try to turn your story down😈
Look back, think hard about how that story really sounds
And then you can be a dreamer 😴
You can be your dreams come true, coming true
Just let imagine lead, reality will follow through🥳
Make up a story when you go to sleep tonight📒
Wake up in the morning and hold it down deep inside🙏🏻
And you can be a dreamer😴
You can be your dreams come true, coming true
Let imagine lead, reality - it'll follow through
It'll follow you
It will follow through🥳
Ricardo323
Make up a story when you go to sleep tonight
Wake up in the morning and hold it down deep inside
And you can be a dreamer
You can be your dreams come true
Let imagine lead, reality will follow through
Some of us dance to the sound of fortune and fame
Others want to march all around defending their domain
But you can be a dreamer
You can be your dreams come true
Let imagine lead, reality will follow through
If darkness and pressure try to turn your story down—
look back, think hard about how that story really sounds
Then you can be a dreamer
You can be your dreams come true
Let imagine lead, reality will follow through
It will follow you if you follow through
WhiteLakeDan
This is almost 30 years ago and yet, no one has been able to come close to - let alone surpass - Michael Hedges. Science had Einstein. Guitar playing had MH. RIP.
Matthew Vincent
I got to see him play once, Taproot tour. Once. Only once.
...and yet...once. Blessed.
Chris .J
Great way to put it!!
Ian Edmonds
It's not his inventiveness or technical facility that grab me now. Though both are outstanding. It was his message and emotion that carried him to legendary status.
Just so inspiring.
Luv and Peace.
John Grunwell
Absolutely not.
John Grunwell
So so so true. I saw him 5-6 times in high school and college (I was a senior when he died), and I still haven't heard any of his acolytes or acolytes twice-removed come anywhere close to touching the universe he inhabited. He was one of the great musicians of the 20th century, and definitely (to my knowledge, in the West) one of the top 5 most unique. We are lucky to have shared the (double) planet with this guy. He was a shaman-magician-musical-master.
I remember having a conversation with a friend, after having seen a fantastic concert by a Norwegian Sami musician named Mari Boine, and my friend remarked how Boine's guitarist had "transcended guitar." My response was surely "Oh! Have you heard MICHAEL HEDGES!?"
GediSpock
I've just listened to that at least 20 times.
Amazing.
Pure brilliance.
kwrenbeth
U can b a dreamer, my friend
Alexa Dvorson
and here xoxoxoox
Jennifer Harris
same here