Falling

A song consists basically of a melody and lyrics. Add to that the nuances of arrangement and use of different musical instruments to create the emotive atmosphere for the songs message. The best songs are probably when all the elements combine and the sum becomes more than just the addition of its parts.

However, some songs have such powerful melodies and words that often the simplest presentation is best and where more complex arrangements and use of instruments merely detract from the songs elemental beauty. It would be like having the freshest fish but cooking it and smothering it with a strong tomato sauce until the natural sweetness of the fish is lost and overwhelmed.

And so in this manner, I occasionally come across a song which I like and which I find that the lyrics are special enough to hold my attention on their own. Many of Leonard Cohen's songs fit this category and I have posted on them before. More recently, I came across a song by Gretchen Peters which fits the bill too.

I have to say that I know next to nothing about Gretchen Peters other than that she is a singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. However this lyrics of this song just speaks volumes to me. The song has three verses and each verse seems to tell a totally separate story linked only by the fact that each of them is about an aviator and each of them is about parting. It is called the "Aviator's Song"

you fell out of the sky when you were 21

your bomber took a bullet from a german gun

did you think about your wife

your brief and tender life

did you pray to anyone?

chorus
how does it feel when you’re falling

can you hear sweet angels calling

is it empty up in space

did you touch god’s holy face

did you tremble, did you cry

did you fall or did you fly

you fell out of your life when you were 43

you saw her and you thought she was your destiny

you wandered from the path

and we cursed your aftermath

but that’s ancient history

chorus

you make it so damn hard to love you

i don’t know why i even try

and all i ever wanted of you

to take me with you when you fly

you fell out of my life one last time today

i held your hand and watched you as you slipped away

you cast your pilot’s eye to the endless open sky

and i sent you on your way

chorus


(Gretchen Peters was selected as the Folkwax 2007 Artiste of the Year. Keep an eye out for her as her star continues to climb. In the meantime, her songs (including The Aviator's Song) is playing on the LGS Radio located on the sidebar).