Whispers of the Hollow
By Lord Alistair Goldie
Key: B minor
Tempo: ~54 BPM
Duration: ~5 minutes
Instruments: Vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Mood: Haunting, smoky, slow blues
Chord Progression
• Verse: Bm | G | A | Bm (4 beats each, 12-bar blues structure)
• Chorus: Em | A | Bm | G (4 beats each)
• Turnaround: F#7 | F#7 | Bm | Bm (4 beats each)
Structure
• Intro: 8 bars (Bm | G | A | Bm, repeat once) – Acoustic guitar strums gently, harmonica plays a slow, mournful melody.
• Verse 1: 12 bars (Bm | G | A | Bm, repeat)
• Chorus: 8 bars (Em | A | Bm | G)
• Verse 2: 12 bars
• Chorus: 8 bars
• Harmonica Solo: 12 bars (over verse progression)
• Verse 3: 12 bars
• Chorus: 8 bars
• Outro: 8 bars (Bm | G | A | Bm, fade with harmonica)
Lyrics
Intro (Instrumental)
(Acoustic guitar strums softly in B minor, harmonica weaves a slow, haunting melody, evoking a desolate, hollow landscape.)
Verse 1
The hollow moans where the cold winds creep,
Carries my sorrow where the shadows sleep.
The night’s too quiet, it won’t let me roam,
Whispers of the hollow call me home.
Chorus
Oh, the dark, it knows my name,
Holds my heart in a lonesome flame.
Every sigh, it fades to gray,
Lost in the whispers of the hollow’s sway.
Verse 2
The trees stand still, but they speak so low,
Tellin’ tales of grief from long ago.
My footsteps echo, they won’t unwind,
These hollow whispers haunt my mind.
Chorus
Oh, the dark, it knows my name,
Holds my heart in a lonesome flame.
Every sigh, it fades to gray,
Lost in the whispers of the hollow’s sway.
Harmonica Solo
(Harmonica plays a haunting, bending melody over the verse progression, with slow, expressive wails. Acoustic guitar maintains a sparse, steady rhythm.)
Verse 3
The stars don’t shine, they just watch me drift,
Through this empty place where my dreams don’t lift.
The hollow’s callin’, it won’t set me free,
Its whispers bind what’s left of me.
Chorus
Oh, the dark, it knows my name,
Holds my heart in a lonesome flame.
Every sigh, it fades to gray,
Lost in the whispers of the hollow’s sway.
Outro (Instrumental)
(Acoustic guitar repeats Bm | G | A | Bm, harmonica plays a fading, mournful melody. The final Bm chord lingers as the harmonica trails off into silence.)
Performance Notes
• Vocals: Sing with a soft, weary tone, slightly raspy to match the smoky, desolate vibe. Let phrases linger on words like “whispers” and “hollow” for emotional depth.
• Acoustic Guitar: Use fingerpicking or gentle strumming, emphasizing the low B string for a deep, resonant sound. Keep the rhythm sparse and deliberate.
• Harmonica: Play in cross-harp style (E harmonica for B minor key), focusing on slow, bending notes to create a haunting, wailing effect.
• Timing: Each verse and chorus takes ~35-40 seconds at 54 BPM, with the harmonica solo lasting ~45 seconds. The intro and outro add ~30 seconds each, totalling ~5 minutes.
