Posted By: Michael Zaneski
If I Have To (Kristi McKeever/Mike Z collab) - 02/03/18 03:02 AM
Hi all,
https://soundcloud.com/michael-zaneski/if-i-have-to-final-v113-hq-mp3
I told Kristi a few months ago that I'd love to work on a song with her that had the kind of minimalist piano that runs through much of Max Richter's work, and specifically "The Leftovers" which he scored and had specific piano motifs that were very simple but effective at evoking a mood of haunting beauty. When she showed me the lyric to "If I Have To" I said "that's it!"
I thought this was a mature, existential, lyrical take on the last days of a romantic relationship and yet there was some light in it, and so I wanted to set this lyric, and have the music follow suit and evoke the same things I was feeling when I read it.
Besides Max Richter, Michel Legrand has always been an inspiration when it comes to romantic songs. There's a classical vibe to scores like "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and songs like "The Windmills of Your Mind" that just sticks with you. Jimmy Webb's syncopated rhythms also provided some inspiration.
All-in-all this was a seriously fun collab that started out as a simple piano/vocal song, but then diving deep into the rabbit hole and staying in the moment with it, became something more than that..
And so we'd like to share it with you..
***************************************************************************************************************************************************************
IF I HAVE TO
So now
Time comes calling
It’s over before I know
And I
Can’t bear to say it
So I’ll just turn and go
These tears
Run thru memories
That I will always hold
Today
Is a stranger
And yesterday feels so old
[ch]
And if I have to
I will say goodbye
Then find my way home
And if I have to
I’ll stop asking why
And live with the unknown
If I have to, I have to
It’s hard
To think of tomorrow
Without your company
You are
The one who always
Brings out the best in me
Oh life
Scatters wishes
In the willow trees
I’ll do
The best I can
To feel each morning breeze
[ch]
And if I have to
I will say goodbye
Then find my way home
And if I have to
I’ll stop asking why
And live with the unknown
If I have to, I have to
[br]
Oh, darkness fades when I remember
And lost dreams occupy my slumber
Like a flower in the pages of my life
You’ve left a deep impression on my mind
Repeat ch
********************************************************************
Lyrics by Kristi McKeever
Music by Mike Zaneski
©2018 All Rights reserved
https:/
I told Kristi a few months ago that I'd love to work on a song with her that had the kind of minimalist piano that runs through much of Max Richter's work, and specifically "The Leftovers" which he scored and had specific piano motifs that were very simple but effective at evoking a mood of haunting beauty. When she showed me the lyric to "If I Have To" I said "that's it!"
I thought this was a mature, existential, lyrical take on the last days of a romantic relationship and yet there was some light in it, and so I wanted to set this lyric, and have the music follow suit and evoke the same things I was feeling when I read it.
Besides Max Richter, Michel Legrand has always been an inspiration when it comes to romantic songs. There's a classical vibe to scores like "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" and songs like "The Windmills of Your Mind" that just sticks with you. Jimmy Webb's syncopated rhythms also provided some inspiration.
All-in-all this was a seriously fun collab that started out as a simple piano/vocal song, but then diving deep into the rabbit hole and staying in the moment with it, became something more than that..
And so we'd like to share it with you..

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************
IF I HAVE TO
So now
Time comes calling
It’s over before I know
And I
Can’t bear to say it
So I’ll just turn and go
These tears
Run thru memories
That I will always hold
Today
Is a stranger
And yesterday feels so old
[ch]
And if I have to
I will say goodbye
Then find my way home
And if I have to
I’ll stop asking why
And live with the unknown
If I have to, I have to
It’s hard
To think of tomorrow
Without your company
You are
The one who always
Brings out the best in me
Oh life
Scatters wishes
In the willow trees
I’ll do
The best I can
To feel each morning breeze
[ch]
And if I have to
I will say goodbye
Then find my way home
And if I have to
I’ll stop asking why
And live with the unknown
If I have to, I have to
[br]
Oh, darkness fades when I remember
And lost dreams occupy my slumber
Like a flower in the pages of my life
You’ve left a deep impression on my mind
Repeat ch
********************************************************************
Lyrics by Kristi McKeever
Music by Mike Zaneski
©2018 All Rights reserved