THE ARROW OF TIME

Debut Album by Brendan Graham

The Arrow of Time marks a special moment in my journey—my debut album, released to celebrate my 80th birthday. Until now, I have been the songwriter behind the songs, never the voice on the albums. What better way to honour this milestone than by collaborating with the extraordinary artists who have brought my words to life?

Creating this album has been a joyful and deeply emotional experience, filled with gratitude for the incredible people I’ve met along the way. I hope these songs continue to find a place in your heart, just as they have in mine.”

Scroll to read more about the making of The Arrow of Time, and view images from our recording days at Ventry Studio. Downloadable version of the CD booklet, including song lyrics available here

Brendan Graham

1 Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids (revisited) with Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan (3.31)

2 I Want To Go To Venice (3.41)

3 Hurry Home (4.00)

4 The Voice (revisited) with Eimear Quinn (3.45)

5 The Songman (4.45)

6 Turn To Me (3.31)

7 The Deepening Silence (3.20)

8 Did I Not Love You? (3.02)

9 Sleepsong (4.04)

10 You Raise Me Up (revisited) with Rolf Løvland (3.19)

11 What If There’s No Tomorrow? (4.38)

The Arrow of Time – Sleeve Notes

A State of Chassis

When Captain Boyle, 100 years ago, stated in the 1924 production of O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock, “The whole worl’s in a terrible state o’ chassis”, I wondered, when writing some of these songs, if the Captain even knew the half of it!

Time

The whole notion of ‘time’ and what it is or isn’t, has long intrigued me. And, with more of it behind me, than before me, that intrigue has deepened. I realised, when gathering these songs that, I had, over the years subconsciously dealt with ‘time’ in songs like Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids, The Voice...even in You Raise Me Up. Does time itself keep moving or is it we who keep moving through time?

‘Before’ Time and ‘After’ Time

And what about the ‘before’ time - that feeling we sometimes get of having had a previous existence or the sense about some people that we already ‘knew’ them in another ‘time’? Then, there’s the after ‘time’ as we know it – is there ‘life’ after life…a ‘consciousness’ that still exists in some yet unknown form?

And what about the ‘before’ time - that feeling we sometimes get of having had a previous existence or the sense about some people that we already ‘knew’ them in another ‘time’?

Then, there’s the after ‘time’ as we know it – is there ‘life’ after life…a ‘consciousness’ that still exists in some yet unknown form?

Professor Brian Cox

Professor Brian Cox’s brilliant exploration of our Universe and its journey out of chaos...but back to chaos, by virtue of the Arrow of Time, gave me the title for this song gathering... but no answers...only more questions.

Credits

Brendan Graham - Vocals

Feargal Murray - Piano/keyboards

Paul Moore - Upright Bass

Anto Drennan - Guitars/mandolin

Paul Byrne - Drums, 2,11

Guy Rickarby - Drums, 1

Denis Carey - Accordion

Lynda O’Connor - Violin

Gerald Peregrine - Cello

Brendan Doyle - Clarinet

Eoin O’Callaghan - Soundscapes - ‘The Deepening Silence’ & ‘The Songman’

Sharon Gaynor - Backing Vocals

Carly Coonagh - Backing Vocals and featured on ‘The Songman’

Special Guests:

Paul Harrington & Charlie Mc Gettigan - ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’ (Revisited)

Eimear Quinn -‘The Voice’ (Revisited)

Rolf Løvland - Piano, ‘You Raise Me Up’ (Revisited)

Neil Martin - Cello, ‘The Songman’

Dave McCune – Guitar, ‘Last Chord’ on ‘What If There’s No Tomorrow?’

Camille O’Sullivan - ‘Last Breath’ on ‘What If There’s No Tomorrow?’

Produced/Arranged: Feargal Murray

Engineered/Edited/Co-Produced: Dave McCune

Recorded at: Ventry Studios, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Mixed by: Brian Masterson at Soundscape, Dublin

Mastered by: Bob Katz at Digital Domain

CD Design & Photography: Conor Gallagher (Eyecon Design)

CD Production: Debra Dowler at debracommunications@gmail.com

CD Cover Front & Back Photographs: Brian Wilson, Mayo Dark Skies

In Studio Photography & Video: Eric Campbell

Digital & Online Marketing: Janine Nallen/groundsong.ie

PR/Media: Niamh Kearney / kearney.niamh@gmail.com

℗&© HALF DOOR SONGS 2025

Thank You

I thank all those gifted and generous musicians who, through their time and talent, shepherded me through this new and exciting minefield of life. A very special mention to Feargal Murray and Dave McCune, who were with me every step of the journey.

To Paul & Charlie, Eimear and Rolf, thank you for then and now – the memories...and the revisiting of them.

My co-writers, who entrusted their own creative skills to me.

All at my publishers at Peermusic UK, in particular Nigel Elderton and Ralph W Peer.

Niamh Kearney, who came on board after her spell with Team Power of 1, to helm me through PR, website and media.

Conor Gallagher, Eyecon Design, for his caring design and Brian Wilson for permission to use the photography from his Mayo Dark Skies series as the album front and back cover image.

The many other artistes and friends who encouraged me to go down this road.

I thank my family, always supportive of my scratchings and scribblings, and Donna, who helped me with the song notes.

I thank especially my wife Mary, who always gave me the space and the time to embark on wherever the ‘arrow’ might or might not lead me. I dedicate this album - and indeed my life’s work - to her.

And I thank the great SONGMAN in the sky who, from time to time, gifts me a glimpse of something, which alone I could never have glimpsed.