Isabel was written in the summer of 1994. I had just finished college and previously lost touch with a very good friend I had there. For reasons that I don’t quite remember, I believed that she was on her way to self destruction. While messing around with an acoustic that I borrowed from a friend the song basically came out as if I had it my mind forever. I wanted a 70’s feel but with a whinny sad singing effort as if I was singing at a funeral.

Her real name was Michelle. But I didn’t want to use her real name in the song plus it didn’t work well with the syllable count on the verse anyway. So I chose the name Isabel by inspiration from a co-worker who was another troubled girl I knew. The name worked well and the remaining lyrics flowed out in about 15 minutes. I felt that I finally put this troubled thought to rest.

I decided to record the song six years later since it was so simple in structure yet complex in atmosphere. A Fender Bassman in the tremolo setting going though an vintage analog delay is responsible for the fluttering guitar sound in the background. After 3 years, it still gives me the tingles when I listen to the recording.

Deep down inside though, I always hoped that my observations and predictions about the inspiration for this song were wrong.