From the recording Dear Friend (WAVs)
Sarah: This one is written with far-away friends in mind, that we've met over the years of moving cities and travelling for music. It felt especially pertinent during pandemic lockdowns, when even local friends felt far away. It's pretty simple lyrically, meant to be a letter with little updates and reflections, and tuning into the sense that we can feel close to our loved ones even when they're far away. It's amazing how we've never lived in the same town as some of our closest friends. We incorporated the sound of rain that some friends recorded as it fell upon their cabin-like rooftop in Rockport, Maine. We tried a tea kettle too, though it turns out a whistling tea kettle is a little jarring! Still, this gives you an idea of the cozy atmosphere we were going for.
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Dear friend, I'm thinking of you
April showers are pouring down
As I sit to write this letter
Spring is coming round
I’ve been keeping warm with ginger tea
Trying to move the chill in the air
I’ve been dreaming of weaving
Maytime flowers in my baby's hair
How've you been, how's your lady
Are you writing good poems these days?
I've always liked the one you gave me
Of dead sunflowers in Spain
How'd it go last night in Toronto?
Did you pluck the heart of your cello?
Did you see the woman crying
In the shadows of the back row?
Did you feel your heart beating?
And the whole world breathing?
Late last night I had a dream
I was walking along in a forest
In a clearing ahead there was endless ummer
And people singing in chorus
Do you remember when we were kids
Come November we’d greet the winter
We had too much fun to feel the cold
Or worry about getting old
We felt our hearts beating
And the whole world breathing
Even though I'm far away
And the hours get shorter every day
I think of you often, it makes me smile
And the space between us melts awhile
I feel our hearts beating
And the whole world breathing
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Song written by Sarah Frank and Luke Fraser
vocals, fiddle - Sarah Frank
vocals, mandolin - Luke Fraser
vocals, harp - Ellen Gibling
cello - Catherine Little
bass - Scott Kingsley
recording, mixing - Graeme Campbell
mastering - J. LaPointe
album art - Bee Stanton and Linda Wei-Chun
Rain sounds recorded by Geof Lyon in Rockport, MA
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One-Stop, The Bombadils Music,
music@thebombadils.com,
1-904-495-1150,
ISRC: CA7W42200011
Instrumental version available,
Female lead vocal with male harmonies,
Fiddle/violin solo section, mandolin solo section,
Harp, strings, bass
Mid-tempo,
Friendship, long distance friends, long time friends, letter writing, human connection, nostalgic, reminiscent, childhood, RIYL Punch Brothers, Sarah Jarosz, Patty Griffin, Joni Mitchell, Alison Krauss
Composed and published by Sarah Frank (SOCAN) 50% and Luke Fraser (SOCAN) 50%
Master owned by The Bombadils Music (Sarah Frank and Luke Fraser)