“Ease” - a song about honoring loss
Losing people is a difficult part of being a part of this world. In the last few years we’ve lost people and things at a rate far from normal. That culmination of loss can take a toll on a person while also providing a perspective on what we should hold the closest and appreciate while we can.
Backstory
What does two plus years of constant loss do to a people? Now that we are standing on this side of a global pandemic some of what couldn’t before is sinking in. I am looking back at a time of self reflection, mourning, and creation, and surprised by the storms we collectively weathered and the things we created when feeling our bleakest.
This song comes from that constant loss on top of losing multiple friends, relationships, and experiences. The experiences can be rescheduled, relationships have the silver lining of hope that they can be repaired, and loved ones that leave this world can be preserved in memory. It can pale in comparison to holding the real thing in your arms, but humans are surprisingly resilient beasts. I became impressed by us from a high level (drill down and there was certainly a lot of greed, hate, and corruption at play too, but let’s set those aside for another day).
This song felt like a shadow that followed me around for months and I didn’t have that final key to unlocking it. When one of my dearest friends passed all these feelings I had seemed to rush out, and I was barley able to lasso it onto paper before it dissipated.
I don’t play this one out very often, because it really hits me every time. Every time I lose something, it seems to latch on to this tune. It get’s heavier by the day, and I feel like I will only be able to play it so many times in my life before it is stronger than I am. It’s a very unusual feeling, and one I haven’t ever experienced with a song yet.
Writing Process
While writing this song I had been listening to songs from one of the greatest musicians I had ever known, Chris Volpe, for a few days straight. A couple that seemed to inspire the vibe of this tune the most where “Shoes” and “It Don’t Take Long”.
When I was learning how to finger pick, I would hang out with Chris and he showed me some really great patterns in the C and G shapes. In “Ease” I wanted to nod to his style, so when I walk down to the Am shape, I used a hammer-on pattern that he would do a lot.
From that I spent some time trying to find a lilting downward lick that took you back in to the verses. I found one in the F shape that fell back down into the C.
The rest came naturally working around that C shape. It was a fast song as far as the progression was concerned.
For the lyrics I wanted to speak to everyone and anyone that had felt loss like me. The idea of finding ease when moving to the next adventure was a device that helped settle my sadness. Regardless of how beautiful your life is here, the reality is that you experience your own palette of hardships, and entering a new place with less of that weight is a beautiful construct. Actuality aside, it’s a calming sentiment and a beautiful respite.
The middle verse is the one that sits with me the most. Sometimes it’s hard talking about the people we don’t have any more, like if we share we will lose our hold on our specific memories. That verse reminds me that I am not alone in that, and by sharing memories, stories, lessons, we received from others, we are keeping their energy alive and passing it along. I think it’s important to do that. I hope one day that I’ve left words too, that are strong enough to deserve a second act through another’s telling.
Voice Memos
Notebook Page.
Jun 2021
I recorded a live version of this song on my album “Now You Know” and am planning on recording an ensemble version this winter.
Lyrics
They never took that song the right way
They never crumbled neath the words
You took your time to flash that smile boy
We took our time to see if you still hurt
You’re dancing on the wind
A whistle in the breeze
Be at ease
Now they all saying that they knew ya
I’m sure that many of em do
I should be out there, sharing with the strangers
But I cant stand to lose the pieces left of you
You’re dancing on the wind
A whistle in the breeze
Be at ease
How do you give pennies to a rich man
How do you give whiskey to the rain
How do you give music, to the one who helped you sing along
And how do you give tribute, when your too scared to say their name
Dancing on the wind
A whistle in the breeze
Be at ease
Dancing on the wind
A whistle in the breeze
Be at ease