Wilfred Josephs
The music in Martin’s Day completes the film–tying everything together just beautifully–and is something that slowly penetrates your mind and heart…and once it’s got you, it doesn’t let go. British composer Wilfred Josephs wrote the theme music to Martin’s Day. Conducted by Marcus Dods, the work is a beautiful, classical-sounding piece, used during the exciting, action-packed scenes as well as during Martin’s sentimental flashbacks of the lake. Joseph’s music throughout the movie is subtle, but so very beautiful, with a range from suspenseful and climactic, to fun and silly, and at many times, melancholy and emotional. While the entire movie score has such a wide range of symphonic masterpieces, each one–though sometimes very different from one another–are all tied together for a congruent soundtrack. I couldn’t imagine a better piece of music out there that would help set the tone and tell the story, and like fine wine, the score seems to digest better and better after each viewing of the film. A masterpiece!

Oh, how I wish the full soundtrack to Martin’s Day, including the full score was available. I’m making it one of my life’s missions to find it! The credits say: Music Recorded at Olympic Sound Studios, Barnes, London, England. According to Wikipedia: Olympic Sound Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio best known for the many rock, pop and sound stage recordings made during late 1960s onwards. It was a highly respected studio used by the music industry’s rock and pop bands. The eclectic list of musicians who recorded there include the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles and the studios were considered as important as Abbey Road Studios. The studio’s sound mixing desks became famous when the technology and design they pioneered was later manufactured commercially.

I must go there! I must find someone who worked on the score. Stay tuned.

Link: The Wilfred Josephs Society.

The other main song in the movie is actually sung by Steckert throughout the story. From the beginning if the film when Steckert is in his jail cell, to the very end, and all throughout the movie, he is singing a song with the words, “I’m going back…to where I come from…” Sometimes he sings the chorus, other times different verses, and still other times he is simply humming the tune to this mysterious song. It was driving me crazy wondering what this catchy little tune was, and finally I just sat down and began my research. Turns out the song is called “Going Back to Where I Come From” by Carson Robison. By the time you finish Martin’s Day, you will me humming that lil’ ditty and it will be tough to get it out of your head!

Actually, turns out this is one pretty popular song, with literally dozens of artists performing their own remakes. You’ll also find ordinary folk singing their covers of the song all over YouTube. Go HERE to see everything that comes up when you do a YouTube search for this songs. I will say, out of all the artists who perform this song, Martin Steckert and Martin Kingsley do it best, wouldn’t you agree?

GOIN’ BACK TO WHERE I CAME FROM – lyrics

Goin’ back to where I came from,
Where the honeysuckle smells so sweet,
it darn near makes you sick,
I used to think my life was humdrum,
but I finally learned a lesson that is bound to stick
There ain’t no use in my pretendin’
’cause a town like this is no place for a guy like
me to end in,
Goin’ back to where I came from,
where the mockingbird is singin’ in the lilac bush.

I used to go down to the station,
every evening just to watch the pullman train
come rollin’ in,
And then one night, that great temptation
got the best of me and led me to a life of sin.
I took my hat, and fourteen dollars,
and I went to all the trouble of the life
that always follers
When you’re rich, and huntin’ romance,
but my huntin’ days are over, I can tell you that.

I met a gal in Kansas City,
She winked at me and asked me if I’d like to step around
And I said, “Yep, that’s what I’m here for.”
So she said she’d show me all the hottest spots in town.
But there were things she had to fix-up
So she took my fourteen dollars,
But there must have been a mix-up
She’s been gone since thursday evening,
and I’ve got a hunch I’ll never see that girl again.

When I grow up, and have a grandson,
I’ll tell him ’bout my romancin’
And watch his eyes bug out,
But chances are he won’t believe me,
And he’ll do the same durn thing when he grows up,
No doubt.
But he can’t say I didn’t warn him
What’ll happen when he meets up with them city girls,
goldurn ’em
Goin’ back to where I came from,
where the mockingbird is singin’ in the lilac bush.

There are only four other specific songs featured in Martin’s Day: Four songs (besides “I’m Goin’ Back to Whur I Come From”) that aren’t original to the movie. Three of them I have identified; I still need help with one.

Let’ start with the very first piece of music from the film: the old-time song playing on the record player at the house on the lake. I’m dying to know what it is. Any clue?

Bo Berry
The next pre-existing song in the film comes out of a radio at the breakfast table where that Canadian cop is eating Froot Loops, right before the car-theft scene.

Here’s that song, in full: “Bo Berry” by Miki Antony and Dave Rowberry.

Sweet Southern Comfort
And then there’s “Sweet Southern Comfort” by Irene Chanter, the song faintly playing on the radio in the background at Steck’s ex’s house. You’ll miss it if you’re not paying close  attention. Just another example of one of the thousand-and-one small details that so masterfully put together this story and all its emotion.

Both “Sweet Southern Comfort” and “Bo Berry” belong to the Bruton Music Ltd. music catalog.