Through journaling and conversation Emerson decided to go on a pilgrimage in search of his lost “creative self.” His free-wheeling imaginative side he called “Emerson,” while his business persona, he thought of as “Dale.” As Emerson, he felt young, alive and energetic. So he decided to follow his intuition and return to the time and place that had inspired him 25 years earlier.

in the early 70s, a time when he felt a clear sense of freedom and creativity, he was in Barcelona studying the work of Antoní Gaudí. Following his memories and instincts, he made arrangements to return to Barcelona. He took a traveling guitar and wrote this song after several full days of following the magical trail throughout the city. It was an emotional tribute to his own essence, the architect Gaudí, and the city of Barcelona.

Back Story

Music

Lyrics

Barcelona is a place I go
To make life easy and to take life slow
Where broken china rests on rich red soil
And spires soar higher than one can see
So I’m taking you there with me
I’m holding you close to me
Together we will be free
In Barcelona

I’m taking you there with me
I’m holding you close to me
Together we will be free

My home is yours
And I’ll take you where I’m going
I’ll tell you what I’m knowing too
There is a place in the box beneath the staircase
In the attic or a friends face too
In Catalonia

It took me a lifetime
To find this path back home, to me
I pieced it together
After spending time on my own

I just barely made it
In time to find the window at dawn
My soul was so hungry
It was nothing but skin and bone
My soul was so empty
It was nothing but skin and bone

From Never Sleep, track released 01 January 2003
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics and vocals
Emerson Martlage – Music, guitar and vocals
Tom Tomasello – Producer/Arranger
Jim Bruno – Vocal producer
Mr Toad’s San Francisco – Mastering
Inspiration – Barcelona, Spain