Liz:
I have an orchid plant in my office that has been totally neglected during the pandemic. In fact during the week of Christmas it died from no water. I poured some water in Jan. Now, miraculously I have a blooming orchid. It is my inspiration!
Kate:
I’ve always loved seeing orchids at botanical gardens. They’re very sensitive and require special treatment, but when they thrive their bloom and scent is unlike any other flower. I thought her analogies with humanity surviving a pandemic were poignant and powerful. Thank you so much, Liz! (Pretty awesome you wrote these during a skirmish!!)
Piano/Vocal demo by Kate Stanton
(I hear a chamber orchestra playing in my head for the spaces, a lovely harp, and a chorus singing the “we will survive” lines). Dreams or maybe reality with some good MIDI programming? :)
An Orchid Waits lyrics by Elizabeth Petty
V1
once crowded
now sparse
once noisy
now not
once vibrant
now still
no one around
in this ghost town
ghost town
of our times
C
where life remains
lives have changed
an orchid waits
an orchid waits
an orchid waits
then blooms and thrives
before my eyes
as if to say
we will survive
V2
once smiles
now masks
once touches
now nods
once gathered
now gone
with no one
around
here in this ghost town
ghost town
of our times
C
where life remains
lives have changed
an orchid waits
an orchid waits
an orchid waits
then blooms and thrives
before my eyes as if to say
we will survive
B
the beauty of the orchid flower
is enhanced by the surprise
of its return after near demise
C
where life remains
lives have changed
an orchid waits
an orchid waits
an orchid waits
then blooms and thrives
before my eyes as if to say
we will survive
@ambroise Apr 2022
Wow this is gorgeous. Got me the goosebump at "We will survive".
Love the balance in the piano between dark low chords and dancing high ornementation notes. Like a close-up on a colourfull touch of hope on a grimm background.
@audrey Apr 2022
I heard this on John Nicholson's "Songwriters and Original Songs" podcast and just had to come here and let you know how much I love this song. What beautiful lyrics and enthralling melody and, of course, your gorgeous singing brings it all home. Just beautiful!!
@oswlek Mar 2022
Saw @andrea's recommendation and had to come by for another listen. Got chills at 2:06 when the arpeggios came in.
I'd love to stay in touch and possibly do a project away from FAWM, if you are interested. Feel free to email me at {my username}[email protected] :-)
@timfatchen Mar 2022
Yes, I can see the desire for the choir, orchestra, the works, but: this is like crystal (or, a single orchid versus a Flower Show room absolutely full of orchid sprays, orchid arrangements, orchids overhead, orchids underfoot...) Liz, i look in wonder at your lyrics. In some respects it's why i stay clear during FAWM to some degree, or at least limit my looking because AS you know, the damn things snatch me and if I let them, that'd be my entire ouput. Kate, I would download this at bar 2 if it were downloadable and you have NO IDEA the rage envy and lethal desire to posses which that voice and presentation raises in my composer's soul. I'm being serious here. Not at all Flying Tadpole.
@tjeff Mar 2022
I also get the Tori Amos vibe, but also Kate Bush. This sounds so good, an excellent sparse production - gorgeous vocals. I like the stretched out vocal notes so much - a great touch to the idea of an orchid waiting. Also those occasional harmonies - such a nice touch. Excellent title and lyric, I especially like "with no one around .... ghost town of our times."
@berni1954 Mar 2022
Nice touch of early Tori Amos about this. That's great praise from me. I think the "Little earthquakes" album is an absolute masterpiece.
When Liz writes these "telegraphic" lines, I don't usually know how to approach them, but listening to some of the arrangements, like this one, I begin to see how I might approach them next year. She's such a prolific lyricist and I've yet to see her produce a dud. Amazing.
@wobbiewobbit Mar 2022
this is so beautiful. the idea, the lyrical putting that idea across and the music and delivery which is perfect for it. stunning collab. truly beautiful
@crisp1 Mar 2022
Love taking a simple thing like a plant in your office and using it as the basis for a lyric -- so cool and such a good lyric! Kate's music and vocals are magical, transporting, healing. Fantastic! I love this.
@andygetch Mar 2022
Fabulous inspiration. The beauty and delicate composition of the orchid makes for a transformative metaphor that is strikingly delivered with the piano playing and singing. Super collab!
@mariekevinkmusic Mar 2022
Beautiful. Just beautiful. The lyrics are so sparse and yet say so much.
The music is a perfect match *chef's kiss*, not to mention to vocals. Actually, reminds me a little bit of Jewel's voice (remember her from the 90s). Anyway, get a publisher and some big star will sing this into the charts. It is honestly amazing.
@berty38 Mar 2022
This is really pretty. I really like your voice, Kate! I think the lyrics really capture the beauty of a flower, Liz. Plants to amazing things sometimes. I like the sparseness of the arrangement. The use of harmony really stood out and sounded like a magical surprise on top of what already felt like a really touching solo performance---highlighting the important we will surprise line. #tit4tat
@bethdesombre Mar 2022
This is absolutely beautiful. I love the simple minimalist structure of the verses, and the chorus is lovely and gives hope. An orchid's persistence (and ability to come back from looking so bleak and hopeless) is such a great metaphor for life's difficulties, and framing it as "an orchid waits" is such a nice way to put it. The vocals and the music on this are gorgeous. #tit4tat
@sph Mar 2022
Beautiful, sparse in piano and text and then this captivating vocal.
Thank you both for this collab
@karlsburg25 Mar 2022
oh my lord i love march listenig where i get to these sort of speical beauties. Oh my lord this has to be one of the most beautiful heartfel vocals i've heard this year on FAWM. And i adore and orchid liz. Thank you for this. The delicacy of the music perfectly matched the lyrics.
@driftwood1 Mar 2022
Lovely tune, really brings the lyric to life, and a strong lyric. A topical message without hitting the listener over the head. The piano and voice sound amazing and the pauses in the flow add a nice tension. #tit4tat
@quoththellama Mar 2022
This is gorgeous. The writing is captivating and Kate's vocals were a perfect fit. I love the tone of your voice in this song Kate! Really fantastic collab, you two!
@ferry0123 Feb 2022
A coming together of great talents. The whole idea of 'an orchid waits' is has divine proportions..patience and compassion combined! I love how you sing this, Kate. You sense how to sing every single syllable. Great work, ladies!
@kenficara Feb 2022
Stately and gorgeous; this has the feel of early Kate Bush, both in the vocal/piano feel and also in the way the song progresses almost as a suite. And what singing!
@kenmattsson Feb 2022
OMG. I was caught from the first word sung. Damn girl, you've got pipes! So much emotion in this. Love the harmonies, love everything. Getting all the feels from this one. Ethereal and grounded at the same time. Wow.
@andrea Feb 2022
I was not prepared for the emotional impact of this song. I am crying and want to listen again. I was doing ok until I hit this part:
'an orchid waits
then blooms and thrives
before my eyes
as if to say
we will survive'
I avoid songs about covid but didn't see this coming. I am overwhelmed.
This is absolutely beautiful: Liz's lyrics, the metaphor of hope, the lovely music, and Kate's vocals.
Thanks for putting me through this wonderful song ;)
@jamkar Feb 2022
Such lovely phrasing of excellent vocals. Outstanding instrument accents. I love those harmonies. A lifetime is captured in these exceptional lyrics. The title steered me in because I fancy orchids.
@nancycunning Feb 2022
Liz - I love how much space you left in these lyrics to give the listener space to see and absorb the images and the emotions.
Kate-beautiful music and singing. It feels just right for the words.
Great work!
@plushbaby Feb 2022
Great interpretation of the lyrics, love the way they inform the nimble verse melody and it is of course beautifully sung. It really feels as if you were watching that orchid spring back to life!
Absolutely love the 'We will survive' parts and can deffo see your vision for them! Really lovely song :)
@geoff61 Feb 2022
very nice this.
@oswlek Feb 2022
Terrific. The lyric is moving in its own right, such a brilliant metaphor, and putting as "an orchid waits" is just a brilliant turn of phrase. It's totally fresh, yet simple and immediately understandable.
The piano and vocal are great. Powerful performance. It's easy to imagine this playing to a film's moody montage. There's definitely a visual quality about it, where the music and lyric come together to make clear images pop into my mind while listening.
Excellent work, both of you.
@jerrypettit Feb 2022
Wow...
Great lyrics @kahlo2013 . My new favorite vocal of yours @katestantonsings . Not sure why--maybe more "intimate" than usual, less, I don't know, "operatic"? Great, great harmonies--love the piano. This is one of the best songs I've heard this season! Great job, you two!
@heliosonorous Feb 2022
Wow, what a great performance, really like the melody and vocal phrasing in here, nice lyrics and metaphor, powerful work!
@taracraig Feb 2022
Haha used an emoji which didn’t come through. Your phrasing on “ghost town in our times” is absolutely fabulous.
@taracraig Feb 2022
Stunning! Kate your vocal performance is incredible and the piano a perfect companion. The choice to leave the arrangement sparse but bring in harmony on “we will survive” is so fitting. Your phrasing on “ghost town in our times” is . Wonderful work both of you!!
@richaaaay Feb 2022
The simplicity of this is stunningly effective. The space provided by the tender metaphorical lyrics and musical composition allows this song to flourish like that dormant inspirational orchid. Kate, your vocals are perfect for this. The piano composition is also perfectly fitting.
@bandybum Feb 2022
Wow, absolutely excellent. Just captures a beautiful sentiment perfectly. Belongs in a movie scene?
Great work, guys!
@davidtaro Feb 2022
As others have said, the metaphor is brilliant. I love the way Liz’s lines are so spare and pared down. You can’t really go wrong with the inherent beauty in an orchid re-emerging combined with Kate’s angelic vocals. Such lovely harmonies on ‘we will survive’. Love some of the little high high piano flourishes. And agree with @nadine about using pads rather than a full orchestral arrangement. There’s something very delicate about the song (unsurprisingly given the subject matter) which you wouldn’t want to overwhelm. Great collab guys!
@radiobenedetto Feb 2022
I love the restrained beauty of this. The space plays a big part in it. I don’t hear a chamber orchestra to my ear but this is coming from a guy who just put a baroque string arrangement to trappy hip hop beats. I’d like to hear what you hear. The revitalization of an orchid is a terrific lyrical touchstone.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
This is 2 in a row Kahlo lyrics, couldn't be more different than the last alternative one! I liked this one when i read it! Kate you’ve just got the voice for this, well probably mostly anything. It reminds me of someone and not just the obvious Kate to Kate but it escapes me! Lovely stuff.
@dock Feb 2022
Very poetic and beautiful.
@feb21sundari Feb 2022
A wonderful encouraging lyric- I like the calm mood in the song which reflects some of the loneliness many are feeling right now.
@n24 Feb 2022
Lovely delivery on the vocals, I love the very gentle harmony on the ‘we will survive.’ I’m really hearing the orchestral vibe and the chorus coming in strong. It’s a beautiful idea for song, I love the comparison to the pandemic and resilience, it’s very encouraging! Thank you both :)
@jayjay Feb 2022
Just so beautiful in every way
@gm7 Feb 2022
Kate Love the vocal delivery on this one...very controlled. Very lovely indeed. And your piano playing is excellent....sigh! I will never get to that point.
@djevans53 Feb 2022
Beautiful thoughts and inspiration. Love the melody and vocals, so haunting.
@wolfkier Feb 2022
*sigh*
@musicsongwriter Feb 2022
Pure magic in every way! Beautiful, poetic, atmospheric lyrics and music. Brilliant choice of the key, harmonies, beautiful playing and singing. So pure, magical and unique. Your song takes us in a world of beauty and harmony.
@billwhite51 Feb 2022
liz and kate. what a combo. i just saw a movie with liz taylor and kate hepburn. and now this.. im overwhelmed. the lyrics are pure poetry, the whole world is waiting to bloom and thrive again. a collab for zeitgeist 2022, so gloriously written and performed.
@dzdandcunfsd Feb 2022
Your vision for this could easily be reality. There's a ton of great virtual instruments out there now... many for free. Its not my cup of tea as I don't even like editing things I'd pull my hair out staring at a DAW screen for hours, forget about days and weeks. Really wonderful story about an orchid's survival and an even better metaphor. Great collab you two!
I really love this how it sits though being somewhat "stripped down" its really moving and intimate, and you captured this lyric perfectly(I too am always amazed at Liz's ability to crank out things like this so quickly)
@nadine Feb 2022
I wanted to sign out for today, but then I found this wonderful song. I'm so happy that the orchid inspired @kahlo2013 to write great lyrics. @katestantonsings phrasing is just beautiful and I enjoyed the adlibs. I appreciate that you went more into the soul direction. The vibe of the whole song reminds me a lot of Porcelain. Maybe it's because of the piano? The chord progression? However, I loved your song. Great collab!
My arranger heart soars for some simple pads with a twist. A whole chamber orchestra may distract from the beautiful message of this song. Why? Because I'd program different lines of melody for every instrument. But maybe this is also because I thought of Moby - Porcelain.