From the pen of one of the most compelling songwriters of modern times, this is the song that Danny Schmidt serenaded to his then-to-be wife, Carrie Elkin, as a marriage proposal. Known on the video clip as ‘engagement song’, as it had only just been written at the time of this show, it subsequently appeared on a duet album of relationship songs that Schmidt and Elkin released (“For Keeps”– 2014) as ‘Kiss Me Now’. It is simply one of the most engagingly romantic songs of recent times, employing words that you might wish you had used in your own similar circumstances.
“If my lips can’t make it simple, if my eyes can’t make it plain
Kiss me now, but answer me tomorrow”
“Am I still the man you want now that I’m the man you know?”
The song is relatively short but the backstory is amusing to listen to, so is left in for context.
Danny Schmidt ranks high among the very best songwriters of the 21st century – his writing is erudite, poetic and contemporary. His songs are sung in a warm and intimate, sometimes slightly breathy, voice which sets him apart from, say, James Taylor or Paul Simon, with whom he has been compared. His subject matter is vast – he writes romantic songs (relationships and the value of commitment) songs about money (and the concept of wealth), the working environment, the economy, family, politics, health (and the passing of time) or the natural (or unnatural) environment. All with consummate ease, apparently, although his explanations of how some of his songs came to pass suggests a more convoluted process. He is indeed, though, a master-craftsman whose closest poetic peer is probably Leonard Cohen. He is also a superb guitarist, which becomes most apparent when he performs solo. Your writer had the pleasure of seeing him a few years back play in a pub in Essex to an audience of not more than 30, seated in luxury armchairs as he bewitched his punters with his talent and his charm, for 90 minutes. And then went into a Q and A session.
Schmidt has never apparently sought a major profile and associated wealth – indeed he had a pile of debt accrued during his twenties that he only managed to clear with proceeds from the sales of his debut album ‘Live at the Prism Coffeehouse’, in 2001 when he was 30. He is in may ways the epitome of the wandering troubadour (except that now he has a young child and is more homebound). Some of his songs need time to absorb, with their sometimes complicated metaphors or literary connections, or hidden meanings, but in due time you’ll be drawn in and the repeat button will be pressed. Make a start with “Instead the Forest Rose to Sing” (2009) move on to “Standard Deviation” (2019) and then track back to ‘Parables and Primes ‘(2005), for a cross-section of his talents before becoming a completist.
In the meantime, enjoy this glorious love song.
