Originally from Rain Dances, Camel’s 5th studio album, I’ve loved this song ever since I first heard it, when I bought the vinyl record from Our Price records in High St. Kensington. It wasn’t until sometime last year that I actually attempted to learn the lyrics.
Sleepless nights, restless days
Memories of her gentle ways
Love locked out looks for a home
A place to find a shelter from the storm
She said you are the air I breathe
The life I love, the dreams I weave
Without a word, with just a touch
Now I realize you meant so much
Been awake so long
I feel like I belong
With the rain
Morning light appears
The feelings of the night
Remain
Somewhere in between
The waking and the dream
Feel you close to me
The music has changed quite a bit over the years. Early versions end with Pete Bardens on keyboard, Andy Latimer on lead guitar and Andy Ward on drums, playing what I used to believe was the best ending to a song that I’d ever heard.
About 20 years ago I got to like the live version on A Live Record, recorded in 1977 at Colston Hall, Bristol. This version has Mel Collins on sax and Andy Latimer on guitar taking turns to play the lead.
Last year I realised that the version recorded live at the Albert Hall in 2018 was even better.
I’ve found several versions on You Tube. Here are just a few, in chronological order of the original recording.
There are quite a few more versions of Unevensong that I haven’t included, some are excerpts, others are cover versions.
The one I really wanted you to see is from Camel Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2018 DVD. It’s just fantastic and has the best ending of all of them. Unfortunately, it gets taken down soon after someone adds it to YouTube.