Steven Lee Ebert’s “Hole in the Moon,” from his debut album “If Dreams Were Horses”, is a haunting ballad that cuts deep with its raw emotion. Written after the passing of his childhood sweetheart, Debra Weyermann, the track conveys a poignant sense of loss and longing. Ebert’s songwriting here is deeply personal, offering listeners a window into the heartbreak of losing the love of one’s life.
The song’s core emotion is reflected in its tender lyrics, especially in the touching chorus:
“If I live a thousand lifetimes
But have just one to choose,
One life to live all over,
I’d choose this one with you.”
These words alone encapsulate the depth of Ebert’s grief and love, giving “Hole in the Moon” a timeless quality that resonates with anyone who has ever loved and lost. The song’s title metaphorically captures the void left by Weyermann’s absence, suggesting that even the moon—typically a symbol of beauty and constancy—now feels incomplete without her.
Musically, the track leans into Ebert’s Americana and Western roots, featuring gentle acoustic guitar lines that flow delicately beneath his soft vocals. The arrangement is sparse yet rich, with Bradley Kopp’s production allowing every note to breathe and every lyric to linger. The simplicity of the instrumentation, primarily acoustic guitar and subtle backing elements, enhances the song’s intimacy.
Kopp’s acoustic guitar work adds a layer of warmth, while Richard Bowden’s fiddle playing brings a nostalgic, almost mournful touch to the composition. The fiddle, in particular, elevates the song, emphasizing the sorrowful undertones without overwhelming the listener. The restrained use of instrumentation mirrors the deep sense of solitude conveyed in the lyrics.
The beauty of “Hole in the Moon” lies in its quiet power. It’s not a song that overwhelms you with flashy production or dramatic crescendos. Instead, it seeps into your soul, pulling at your heartstrings with every strum and every word. Ebert’s voice, though gentle, carries the weight of his years of experience and life lived—its warmth and honesty making the song feel like a private conversation between him and the listener.
In “Hole in the Moon,” Ebert crafts a deeply emotional narrative, one that’s both a tribute to lost love and a reflection on the inevitable void left behind. The song, much like the rest of If Dreams Were Horses, is an intimate portrait of a man who has lived, loved, and lost, but continues to find solace in the music he creates.
