Variations On A Cloud

Variations on a Cloud
Written by	Joe Hawley, Rob Cantor
Appears on	Hawaii: Part II, Variations On A Cloud EP
Sung by	Joe Hawley, Rob Cantor
Duration	3:10
Genre	World
Language	English
Links:	Youtube Spotify Bandcamp (Hidden Track) Instrumental (Bandcamp)

Variations on a Cloud is a song by Joe Hawley and Rob Cantor under the musical project ミラクルミュージカル. It was given out on 9/11/12 as a bonus to customers who pre-ordered copies of Hawaii: Part II. It was listed as the "zeroth" track of Hawaii: Part II, and, originally, the song did not come included with a download of Hawaii: Part II, but now does, if one were to purchase it through the Miracle Musical Bandcamp page.

History

Conception

It is unknown when, specifically, the song was written, but an instrumental can be heard in a Tally Hall's Internet Show outtake named People Making People. This was likely a comedy routine done by Joe Hawley around 2007, as this is when most of Tally Hall's Internet Show was shot. The song features musical themes from Murders, Isle Unto Thyself, Dream Sweet In Sea Major, and Ruler Of Everything. The song was based on the September 11th 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attack, which likely had a big effect on Joe's life.

Pre-streaming release

Variations was released on the 11th of September 2012 as a digital download bonus for those who had pre-ordered Hawaii: Part II. The song was not available anywhere else, even after the release of the album on 12th December 2012.

For a brief period the song could be obtained by purchasing a physical postcard from the (now defunct) merch page on the official site, which included a download code for the song along with a code for Hawaii Part: II, and a hand-drawn doodle signed by Joe Hawley.

Release to streaming services

On the 11th of September 2015 a music video for Variations On A Cloud was uploaded to YouTube. The video is in memoriam to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack. The video splices together videos and pictures of the attack, overlaid with pictures and videos of clouds, in greyscale. The vocalists of the song are represented through colourful puppet characters. The video originally had comments of confusion from fans, many not knowing if it was supposed to be a joke or a genuine memoriam; comments were disabled on the video and all other Miracle Musical videos.

On June 23rd 2016, Joe Hawley would perform at Sonic Lunch 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At this performance he would play Variations On A Cloud solo, with the song transitioning to a cover of Jump by Van Halen with the backing track sampling John Lennon's Imagine. This references a mashup of the two tracks made by Mister Buzz from 2014

Vinyl Release

On June 18th, 2019, an announcement was made that fans would be able to pre-order a 7-inch, 45rpm white vinyl of 'Variations On A Cloud', with the B-side containing White Ball (8​-​Bit) and Dream Sweet In Sea Major (8​-​Bit). In addition to the vinyl, fans would also receive a limited edition embroidered wool hat, embroidered with the ミラクルミュージカル insignia. Pre-orders were done through annarbortees.com, a T-shirt company based in Tally Hall's hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Removal From Services

On August 13, 2021, Variations on a Cloud was removed from streaming services, causing confusion from fans. However, the song was then brought back on September 11 2021, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the 9th anniversary of the songs release, very likely an intentional move by Joe Hawley or another member.

On June 4th 2022, the video for the song was removed for violating YouTube’s community guidelines. As a result, the comments were reactivated on the Miracle Musical YouTube channel.

Trivia

• Joe's vocals for Variations were recorded in a barn, in a covered boat

Lyrics

Both of us see a cloud
Or whatever we may believe
Being it may be proud
Or whatever we want to see

OK, jump

Cirrus in [Cumulus] light [dark] you lie [vow]
Give us varying [colorful] shades of grey
Floating inside [outside] the sky
Show us everything [nothing] everyday [in any way]

OK, jump to end it all
Let this one be to break the fall

It's a little bit of magic to end the world
[But I thought you knew me truly?]
Something different than we started with in the world
[Does it even matter to me?]

I was in the hearing
Bumming a humble clearing from Caligula
In his Shangri-La La La

It's a little bit of magic to end the world
[But I thought you knew me truly?]
Something different than we started with in the world
[Does it even matter to me?]

Miracle worker I saw you begin it
Walking the water [so soft on the rain]
See what you see in the surface [a limit]
Ladies and gentlemen, please

Why don't we keep it coming back
And coming back
And coming back

Why don't we keep it coming back
And coming back
[Join if you wish]

Keep it coming back
And coming back
And coming back

Why don't we keep it coming back
And coming back

We've been to this scene [These days it's hard to find friends]
Aboriginal meme [But opportunities bend]
Had a smotherful mother full of meddle and steam [And we spend the chance sleeping on the top of the fence]

Can't believe what we've seen
Won't be burned to the ground
Though we make ourselves castles
Every tide we're around

Do you like how I walk? Do you like how I talk? (It's a little bit of magic to end the world)
Do you like how my face has learned to tick like a clock? [But I thought you knew me truly]
I have a wonderful life, I know a powerful Bob (Something different than we started with in the world)
He eulogizes me for being geocentric (ha ha ha ha!) [Does it even matter to me?] 

Keep it coming back
And coming back
And coming back

Why don't we keep it coming back
And coming back
And coming back
And coming

External Links

YouTube (Audio Only)
iTunes / Apple Music