Feb 2022 folk acoustic soft thoughtful watership-down
ZeCoop: I had written a gentle acoustic song with @owl's wonderful voice in mind - I have really loved writing songs with her each year. This was quite different than anything we've done together before. I kept it simple with a single take on my 6 string acoustic guitar, played with a felt pick (since I can't finger pick). I added three different shakers and sent it off. What came back was a beautiful and thoughtful song based on Watership Down, which I have loved for a long time. Her beautiful voice and lovely uke part really completed this simple song perfectly. I am so thankful for the amazing artists like Owl, here on FAWM!! <3
owl: It's always a pleasure collaborating with Zecoop and this is one of my favorite songs we've done together! Really pleased with the dreamy simplicity of it--his guitar + shaker combo was lovely and I just added a few little ukulele embellishments here and there.
Although Watership Down seems like a book that would be extremely up my alley, I actually never read it as a kid and I'm probably about 3/4 through now. I am loving it, but one thing that's been bothering me is a major plot point that basically revolves around kidnapping some female rabbits in order to have them bear babies for the male rabbits who are the main characters in the book. The female rabbits so far seem to be basically portrayed as passive baby machines who are necessary for the long-term well being of the warren (again, though, I haven't finished the book yet, maybe there's a female rabbit hero I just haven't come across yet!) They are rabbits and have a totally different worldview from humans, so I mean, that makes it sort of OK, but it's also a book for children and represents human society in many ways, so to me, there are some Handmaid's Tale type vibes to the "let's get us some women" part of the plot. So this song is from the point of view of one of the lady rabbits they're trying to bring to the other warren.
The rabbits in the book have their own language--"silflay" is the act of grazing outside.
Efrafa is the name of a particular rabbit warren.
Heartsease and persicary are both plants mentioned in the book, and I liked their names.
Just a beautiful day
Go outside as the sun goes down
For silflay
For silflay
I think I'd like to leave this place
Wander like a cloud above the clover and the Queen Anne's lace
For silflay
For silflay
You tell me that you want me to run with you
Away from Efrafa
Where the heartsease and persicary bloom
Beyond Efrafa
But what do you want from me?
You don't want me to run free
Just bear your babies
Settle into your dream
Of a nest and a family
It's a beautiful day
To be nothing more than a rabbit out in the meadow
For silflay
For silflay
For silflay
For silflay
@mikedebenham Mar 2022
Wonderful collaboration. Beautiful singing and a sensitive arrangement, those gentle shakers add a lot. I think a relative gave me Watership Down when I was about 9 because it had nice bunnies on the front - a pretty harrowing age to read it, and the gender dynamics probably sailed over my head. I remember being deeply moved, though.
@elainedimasi Mar 2022
Oh when I saw "silflay" I had to confirm the watership-down tag and come listen!
I read it as a junior high school student and a double digit number of times after. I think there was a feeling of ambivalence just beneath my ability to perceive it, the doubt in the doe rabbits about endangering themselves with the outsider heroes. I love that you gave her a voice here.
The music is so suited for simple thoughts about being here, being there, in the meadows and downs. Terrific collab.
@richaaaay Mar 2022
I love this. The simple production is perfect. The guitar and shaker set a delicate backdrop for Owl’s wonderful vocals. This is delightful. Bravo you two.
@balancelost Mar 2022
I'm always amazed at Owl's ability to turn the most unlikely source material into a wonderful lyric. The melodies here on both the vocals and the guitar are exquisite. Sonically it's so gentle and warming.
@ayehahmur Mar 2022
Oh lovely. Beautiful guitar melody, and to pair it with this sad reflection on an (alleged) children's classic* os really clever. Love those long yearning harmonies on "silfay", and the botanical reference are a beautiful addition.
*haven't read it either, the movie scarred me enough as a kid
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022
I admit I have not read the book, but appreciate the explanation because it brings us into the meaning more. I love the dreamy melody and vocal, the harmony and uke really add to the atmosphere. Beautiful collaboration! (Owl, not sure you would be interested, but Johanna Warren's first cd "Fates" kept coming to my mind in style and thought it might be interesting to you..)
@helenseviltwin Feb 2022
This is one of those songs where I'm really surprised it's a collaboration, because it all sounds so perfect together it's hard to believe it wasn't just a spontaneous song that appeared from the ether. Lovely work both!
@shortdan Feb 2022
Really lovely collab. The instrumentation all sounds wonderful and the vocals are absolutely dreamy as per usual. Very nice indeed :)
@nancycunning Feb 2022
Oh, I love this beautiful song about a beautiful day. The guitar and ukelele gambol together like rabbits. And then the idea of telling the story from the lady rabbit's point of view, keeping all the calm beauty, but with this edge of I'ma Do What? I don't think so...My dad read me the book when I was 6 or 7, maybe the kidnapping babymakers parts went over my head, but I do remember that playing in the sunshine feeling. Great collaboration.
@davidtaro Feb 2022
Genius idea. What a beautiful dreamy melody laid over the top of some gorgeous simple acoustic/shakers. I need to look into that felt pick, sounds intriguing! And just for the record, I’m not sure the ‘well it’s about rabbits not humans’ defence stands up - so this song is an important counterpoint to the novel (as well as being a great song).
@crisp1 Feb 2022
Wonderful collaboration. I remember the book is chock full of botany -- a ton of flowers I didn't know and never looked up because it was what? the 70s? and it would've taken a ton of work. But I also remember it being this exciting and sprawling epic that I really enjoyed even though the characters were rabbits. I don't specifically recall the Paul Anka-ish treatment of the female characters, but you're probably right about that. This is a sweet song but I like the bite of protest you included.
@gm7 Feb 2022
Yes..i am a fan of just guitar and vocal songs. This is great and your guitar playing is stellar adding the counter melody and bass line..not easy to do. AND @Owl what a soothing and clear voice! It is a beautiful day to hear a beautiful collab. This is a winner.
@danvaillancourt Feb 2022
Yes... YES! Love the guitar part and that repeating fat bass note keeping beat and holding down the low end. Percussion is a nice touch. Wowsy... the vocal is amazing! You could sing about absolutely anything and sound like the coolest person in the room. The little uke lead parts are so nice. I have a few felt picks kicking around that I got to show one of my uke students at one point, I have never tried on a guitar, I may have to now!
@thelowestbitter Feb 2022
I did not know felt picks were a thing! That guitar sounds great though, this is a fantastic collab. Love your vocals in this Owl, brilliant even by your always high standards. Have never read Watership Down but you're right that's pretty messed up.
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
This is just delightful. The simplicity of the (superbly-played) music leaves so much space for the brilliant vocals. Just excellent. As for Watershed Down - I couldn't read the book; I found the film horrific and I carry that trauma to the present day.
@rayboneor Feb 2022
First of all, that guitar is perfect in its apparent simplicity. (I say apparent, because I would be out of my mind happy if I could play like that.) Anyway, I just love the way that low note gently beats at the heart of the song while everything else dances. It's all super beautiful, what else is there to say. I, too, want to go out and silflay amidst the Queen Anne's Lace, which is one of my favorite flowers. It's a different kind of owl sound. I don't know why, but your voice sounds different to me in this style of song.
@sailingmagpie Feb 2022
Beautiful song. The sparseness works well and really puts the vocals front and centre. The little uke bits add just enough variety. I prefer this to Garfunkel's Bright Eyes.
@nicetrip Feb 2022
So tender and soulful. Vocal and guitar part work together perfectly. Vocal doubling in bridge is extra hit. It sounds great!
@guatecoop Feb 2022
holy moly.....this one is absolutely great. Your collabs together are wonderful, but this one seems to take it even higher. So heartfelt and delicate. Each element (even the guitar fretboard squeaks) just add a sense of warmth and comfort. zecoop, your sounds on this are new from you and are so good.... Owl, your melodies and words are always great, but this year it seems like you are going to new heights. Great song and collab!
@lenigmusx1 Feb 2022
Oh yeah! I saw Owl as a collaborator and had to listen. This song is perfect. What a great recording. Some Judy Collins here for sure. What a lyric this is just pure beauty in every sense. If I were in a beautiful meadow somewhere in Manitoba in July with a pure mountain Stream flowing in the background this is the sound track I would expect. This track has film soundtrack written all over it. I would attempt to submit if I were you. Masterful work!
@emkaydeebee Feb 2022
What can I say, this is just perfection!
@musicsongwriter Feb 2022
Very beautiful song and collaboration, warm and loving. Loving the music, lyrics, guitar playing and vocals. Everything is truly beautiful and fresh.
@kenficara Feb 2022
What a beautiful guitar line — you take a simple fingerpicking pattern and do a lot to it. And ️ Watership Down!
@majordanby Feb 2022
Wow, this is a lovely collaboration to show the best of each of your skills. I was carried away by the softness and chilled sound. So very nice.
Watership Down was a favourite movie of mine growing up but I’ve never read the book. I like how you’ve managed to gently critique the plot with delicately a phrased question. Really beautiful!
@paulh1237 Feb 2022
I feel bad for never having picked up on this! (I mean, not that I've read the book.. the cartoon scarred me too heavily). This is beautiful! Harmonies are great as always, the whole thing is really patient and gentle and there is something wonderful about the line "I think I'd like to leave this place
Wander like a cloud above the clover and the Queen Anne's lace"
@nadine Feb 2022
Beautiful minimalism. One guitar, one uke, three shakers and vocals layers is just the perfect arrangement for this song. I love the vocals! Never heard of this book but sounds fun.
@melaniepegge Feb 2022
This is a real soothing beauty of a song!
@p3t3h4rv3y Feb 2022
great song, super start to Monday
@tan482 Feb 2022
OOh this is such a beautiful collab. So relaxing and transporting.
@tawny249 Feb 2022
This is relaxing and a touch sad, but really lovely. You told an entire story very quickly, so kudos for that, and I think the basic shakers and accompaniment go well with the clear vocals. I've never read Watership Down...maybe someday.
@loveonamixtape Feb 2022
Oh gosh, you two, this is gorgeous. The guitar playing is so pretty and @owl's always lovely vocals, harmonies and lyrics are perfect. I love how stripped down this is, with the simple arrangement, those ukulele touches, and in the storytelling, too - everything is just enough and doesn't need any more, totally lagom. A FAWM favorite so far!
@kembole Feb 2022
Perfect! Doesn't really leave much to say. Well built song, great parts that feel different enough to keep the listener interested and waiting for more. The only nitpick is that every part was so good that I was missing a _clear_ refrain or buildup. Well done!
@vomvorton Feb 2022
I bought some felt picks last February and at least a couple of times a week one of my cats will steal one and run off with it. She loves felt. I am kinda gobsmacked at the idea of playing this guitar part with one, that seems almost impossibly difficult to me! It's a lovely gentle sound and the uke melodies are such a great addition. Beautiful lyric and melody, I've never actually read Watership Down but I did watch (or possibly rewatch, my memory is terrible) the film last year and damn, it's brutal. I feel like a song inspired by the film version would need to be considerably more metal. But then again, "Bright Eyes". In summary, Watership Down is a land of many contrasts, good night.
@ericlord Feb 2022
Beautiful!! When the harmonies kick in it's just marvelous!!
@fonte Feb 2022
Ahhh I lovvvve this. What a beautiful song, beautiful production. Guitar and vocals are both gorgeous. Really cool, great job!
@frenchcricket Feb 2022
For a long time i cited Watership Down as my favourite book… and i read it as an adult. Didn’t pick up on the conservative themes, though! This is just lovely. The pace of it is just perfect, i feel so transported into the rabbit world
@cabinmonster Feb 2022
Just listening here in my bed, and this just made me feel as though I had been wrapped head to toe in cotton wool and rocked like a baby. It's beautiful and so soothing. Right now it's like when you've taken the last bit of a delicious meal and dont want to eat/taste anything because you want the taste to linger in your mouth. I don't want to listen to another song now. Just want to drift away and let that linger in my minds-ear.
@kendrakinsey Feb 2022
So tender ️ Kind of reminds me of Allison krauss
@karlsburg25 Feb 2022
Oh woooow . Listening in the van and fell into a world of acoustic vocal bliss . Want to say more but driving . Simply stunning
@gilhari Feb 2022
really gorgeous... watership down was an incredibly impactful book in my youth... what can I say the vocals and music here are wonderful and this is a joy to listen to.
@bachelorb Feb 2022
Really nice ! I loved the simplicity of the instruments, and the deep lyrics. It really allowed me to "live" the song when my eyes were closed. The uke melody was on point.
I also was today years old when I learned about felt picks.... I need to get out more......
@carleybaer Feb 2022
I saw the title and my heart jumped! I love Watership Down, ever since my dad used to read it to me and my sister when we were little. I like how the shakers almost evoke the image of rabbits crunching on greens. The picking is very pastoral and idyllic, perfect for the setting and the subject, and @owl's voice is so sweet and soothing. Nice work you two!
@metalfoot Feb 2022
So very, very, very pretty. What a splendid collaboration all around!
@judypie Feb 2022
Oh you guys, could this be any more beautiful? I highly doubt it! I can’t deal. So good <3 I am excited to listen to this in summer time laying in a meadow!