I think this is the fastest song I’ve ever written. I read a story about kite adventures and a lasting friendship by a child named Tu Ahn who lives in Vietnam (thanks to the Sing Me A Story Foundation’s website), went to a coffee shop to write all the lyrics, and had the tune in my head when I got back to my piano.
Background: Sing Me A Story is an amazing organization that partners with kids foundations, orphanages, hospitals, etc. across the globe and posts children’s written stories online for any songwriter on the planet to be inspired by. Songwriters then post songs back on www.SingMeAStory.org so these children get to listen to songs inspired by their story.
I love this idea. 50% of the proceeds from selling this track will go to the Blue Dragon Foundation in Vietnam, where Tu Ahn was connected with Sing Me A Story. For more information, check out www.singmeastory.org. To see the story I was inspired by, just search for my name or "Shoeshine Brothers"!
lyrics
Brother and brother, hand in hand
Tip-toed away to the willow lands
Coconut trees swayed in the breeze
Blue dragon eyes as big as the sky
Blue dragon eyes as big as the sky
Out on a string our kite went to sing
A story of birds with golden wings
Brother lets leave here, brother lets play
We’ll fight the impossible just for today
Fight the impossible just for today
And I wont forget you
We’re shoeshine brothers through and through
Shoeshine brothers through and through
Stumblin on stones I let the kite go
And bloodied my knees right down to the bone
Hitting the sand I cried at the pain
You carried me home right through the rain
Carried me home right through the rain
And I wont forget you
We’re shoeshine brothers through and through
Shoeshine brothers through and through
Shoeshine brothers through and through
We’re shoeshine brothers through and through
credits
from Wandering Feet,
released November 17, 2012
Kayla Ringelheim--piano and vocal
Jamie Edwards--keyboards, samples
Lorne Entress--accordion, celestaphone
Jesse Williams--acoustic bass
Irish singer-songwriter Oisin Leech's acoustic folk music is characterized by its muted beauty and intimate, solitary quality. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2024
The haunting new record from Canadian folk artist Avi C. Engel bridges old and new traditions with a minimalist approach. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 24, 2024
From Cork, Ireland, Lewis Barfoot writes mystic, majestic songs derived from regional folk, with an ambient music aura. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 11, 2023