SONGBIRD single + lyric video + art
Get the digital song file of “Songbird” - the second single from my upcoming album - Sky Is Falling (arriving on digital platforms February 29th 2024).
Your download includes both MP3 & WAV audio files for the song, along with the lyric video and the single art!
I wrote “Songbird” after attending the memorial celebration for Vancouver rock’n roll legend, Paul Leahy (No Fun; The Tranvestimentals; Polly). Paul was ridiculously gifted as a guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and iconic stage performer - yet mostly remembered by the oversold funeral crowd of peers and other local music scene giants for his humility, generosity, and deep interpersonal relationships.
With her blessing, the “Songbird” chorus lyrics (“We let you go! We set you free!”) were directly lifted from a powerful call-and-response initiated by Paul’s widow (and Unitarian minister) during her sermon at the service. It was a powerful display of community, compassion, connection - AND a reminder to integrate the pearls of Paul’s wisdom and grace in my own life.
Music & Lyrics by Devon More. SONGBIRD was produced by Adam Scott Bailie and also features:
Erik Mortimer: keyboard
Nathan Detroit Barrett: trumpet
Tim Sars: baritone saxophone
Ross Barrett: tenor saxophone
LYRIC VIDEO features dancer Rachel Helten.
SONGBIRD ~ lyrics
***
some may stumble, some may fall
some may rise above it all
some are humble, some make trouble
some are noble in their struggle
some just never hear that call -
(oo oo oo oooh…)
some walk slowly on the earth’s crust
some fly lonely in the stardust
some will fold and some will bust
some mislead and some will trust
some will love and some will merely lust…
we let you go
we set you free
we send a songbird flying
forward toward harmony
yeah
(ah ah ah aaaah…)
some would lead and some would follow
though some would lead us all astray
some believe greed’s a disease that leaves us weak
we feel the need to plant the seed of change
‘cause we all need air and we need water -
you bet your mama
we all need love to feel okay
(oh oh oh oh oh)
we need to teach our sons and daughters
that we must respect our mother earth
before she shakes us all awake
(too late!)
we let you go
we set you free
we send a songbird flying
forward toward harmony
yeah
(ah ah ah aaaah…)
see when our legends have been lost
and our idols they are false
when our lines are double-crossed
and our brains have all been washed
when our angels start to fall
and our devils become gods
when our heroes turn out flawed
and our leaders they build walls
when the garden
it starts to rot
when the music it all stops -
when that money’s all we’ve got
I think it’s time to move on…
we let you go (we let you go)
we set you free (we set you free)
we let you go (we let you go)
we set you free (we set you free)
we send a songbird flying
forward toward harmony
yeah
(ah ah ah aaaah…)
some will hope and some will pray
some will lie all night awake
some will say it’s all a game
and some will fight it just the same
some may gain
but in the end
we all pay