Larry Karpenko‘s new song “Fare Thee Well,” is a heartfelt kind of tune that speaks to anyone who’s ever loved and lost. This track arises from a deeply personal place – Larry poured his heart into this one – inspired by the life of his dear friend Sharlene, a real-life hero who touched so many lives with her kindness and spirit of adventure. Sharlene’s time as a missionary in Africa and her courageous battle with cancer are woven into every note, making this song a beautiful way to say goodbye while cherishing the good times.
Karpenko, a man with a gift for storytelling through music, made “Fare Thee Well” as a poem about young love and longing. The way he’s put this track together is pretty incredible. He’s layered a 3/4 beat over a 4/4 rhythm, creating this tension that just melts away in the chorus. It’s like you can feel the weight of the words, but then there’s this release that washes over you.
The recording took place at Kreation Records, a small, independent studio in Southern California known for its creative atmosphere. Here, Karpenko finally got to use this piano riff he’d been sitting on for over 20 years – talk about patience! The incorporation of various software synthesizers gave the song this rich, nostalgic feel that reminds me a bit of Peter Gabriel. You can definitely hear Gabriel’s influence in Larry’s style. This song is a piece of Larry’s soul, and you can feel that when you listen to it.
“Fare Thee Well” isn’t simply a tear-jerker – it’s a freaking masterpiece in how it’s put together! The way they layered those vocals is Genius (with a capital ‘G’). It’s like they’re giving you space to just sit with the song, and that fade-out at the end? Brilliant. It’s like the song’s saying, “Hey, this love story? It isn’t over even when you can’t hear it anymore.”
Karpenko’s pitching up for his epic performance of “The River” arranged for orchestra, brass, choir, and bells in May, but “Fare Thee Well” is the real MVP here. It’s like a reminder that we humans? We’re tough as nails, no matter what. It’s got us all looking at our own stories of loving and losing. Larry Karpenko, you’ve given us a rock ballad for the ages. Can’t wait to see what you do next!