Time ticks by, the world changes, people change, culture changes and yet – somethings don’t.
The ebb and flow of joy and grief – both experienced in contrast to the other – is a constant that the human condition will never escape. Right now joy’s in short supply and grief seems to be dominating the planet – but if history tells us anything – it’s that this too shall pass.
While we struggle with deadly pandemics and face up to the realities of systemic racism our lives still go on – people fall in love – people fall out of love – people are born – people die – emotional attachments are being formed and broken the same way they have been forever.
And yet – right now – everything seems so much harder – problems that before would have been manageable feel unsurmountable – as if everything is just cumulative and any one small thing could be the straw that breaks our emotional back.
So we look for a way out – drug and alcohol use has skyrocketed as people elect to bend their perception rather than deal with reality, but Freya Ward suggests a healthier approach.
It’s the opening guitar work accompanied by the gorgeous piano that sets up her vocal that caught my ear. There’s something about a “pure” voice that is incredibly hard to get right – it’s been my experience that most come across as too overbearing – too strong and even in some cases shrill – but in the way that Sandy Denny, or even The Staves have shown – if you get it right – it’s perfect.
And Freya Ward gets it right.
There’s something very comforting about this track – there’s a warmth and ease of delivery that makes it super accessible. Who hasn’t just shut off the day – turned over, pulled up the covers and descended into the safety of unconsciousness?
As Freya writes in her submission:
“It’s about trying to cope with a loss, and the feeling when it gets too much and sometimes sleeping is easier, because then you don’t have to feel any more.”
Ain’t that the truth.
