What do you get when you lock a group of nine creative and fun people in an empty horse stable for 4 hours?
A song!
The latest iteration of Minnekhada as Muse was known as “Born in a Barn 2” and was held in September of 2024, following on the success of two previous events in the Spring and Summer of 2023 and April of 2024. The goal of this meetup was to work from the ground up, to write, perform and record a complete song in the space of one afternoon.
The rules were simple, everyone gets a voice, regardless of experience level, all decisions are democratic and no one leaves until we have a song….Well, we were a bit flexible on that last one.
We started with a simple premise, everyone throws out a song title and we vote. That’s where “Late in Life” began. Next we worked in teams to come up verses, a chorus and a bridge with no idea yet of a melody. Somehow it worked and 4 hours later we had a real song!
Over the next few months we gathered at Craig’s home studio to lay down the individual tracks. A professional drummer came in to bang out some beats and Craig went to work to arrange and mix the final version.
Huge thanks to everyone that contributed your ideas, voices and instrumental skills, but an extra special thanks to Craig Zurba for all the work after to come up with a very professional sounding song.
We think the song speaks for itself. Enjoy!
Keep scrolling down for the final version of the song
Scott and Adam working out the guitar riffs
First pass at live recording
Craig working his magic on the keys
Late in Life (Still Alive)
Copyright 2024 “The Born in a Barn Crew”
Written and Performed by:
Adam Janis, Benedicte Schioetz, Chris Fowles, Craig Zurba, Gary Redmond, Lara Charles, Rachel Prior-Tsang, Scott Neighbour, Steve Smith
Drums: Frank Dato
Recording, Production and Arranging: Craig Zurba
Lyrics
When I look back on my life
Through the eyes of age
Just when I think my stories done
I start another page
I’ve made mistakes, I’ve loved and lost
Some friends have come and gone
My heart was closed for all those years
Its time for moving on
Chorus
Late in life, my moments arrived
Say goodbye to the fear inside
Not too late, it’s time to shine
Over the hill, see a new sun rise
Fortunes come, fortunes go
Seasons change, wisdom grows
Like a vintage wine, opened just in time
What matters most, is I’m still alive
Still got time, I’m still alive
Lessons learned, under my belt
Seeing through my eyes
Made a change to the way it felt
Moved the finish line
I see the lines in the mirror
This journey all along
New horizons, new reflections
Mind is quiet, voice is strong
CHORUS
Bridge
Never too late to say goodbye
Never too late to learn to cry
Never too late to make amends
Never too late to make new friends
Taking time to find new love
Not too late to rise above
Take the time to re-arrange
Never too late to make a change
CHORUS