I wrote "Wings" about four years ago. I was asleep in my freshman dorm room when I woke up with the lyrics, "But, on the day she caught me between the bridge & the sea, I swear I saw her wings", in my head. After quickly working out a simple ascending chord progression to fit the words, I decided it would be nice as the very last moment of a song. Through all my failed attempts to construct and record this song over the years, the notion that it would conclude with that moment motivated me to keep chipping away at it. Those lyrics are the oldest unchanged lyrics on the album, and I'm so glad I saw that idea through.
Fun fact: The birds chirping at the end of the song was not intentional, and I didn't notice they were there until I was mixing the guitar track recordings. A very fitting, happy accident, I would say.
lyrics
This world is tearing out her teeth.
She swears her heart don't bleed;
Never this bad.
Curse of the species, she maintains,
with hope that we might change
or spend these lives afraid.
She says, "Good luck finding me again."
Because she knows how I find what I don't seek.
But, on this bridge across the sea, I stand.
& who will save me from Sir Isaac's dream? This land of the free?
Her colors run from rain, but I think she's painting me.
----
I miss the blue September sky, the candles of July
& the fire in my eyes.
I've read some lips within the dark,
I've heard some breaking hearts & I've seen the scars.
If we fall below that damn trap door, that hole we dug in the floor,
then she found out what that lever was for.
But I recall dreams of stealing cars; Drives to where I'm far away.
What a wonderful place to be lost.
& when the highways all got crossed
& the wheels had all fall off,
I dreamed I'd take me a walk.
----
She says, "Good luck trying to breathe again."
Because she knows how I'd smoke these lungs to sleep.
So every night I try to dream again, but how could I sleep?
If dead men never weep, then how could I believe?
But, on the day she caught me between the bridge & the sea,
I swear I saw her wings.
credits
from Violins,
released March 19, 2018
Vocal harmonies sung by Marli Delaney, whistles whistled by Jay Tiernan.
Samples recorded of my grandparents from a 1940's-era phonograph.
All instrumentation performed & produced by Brady O'Keefe.
Music & lyrics by Brady O'Keefe.
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Brady O'Keefe.
Located in
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