02 - And Why Wouldn't You Try

Previously on Lost...

Okay, no.  Here's the idea.  Feature a song a day for every day of the most magnificent season of Autumn.  The songs are ones that capture the thoughts/ideas/images/feelings of the season for me.  It's my "Autumnal Playlist" if you will.

Song 02/Day 02

Today's Song: "Weather to Fly"
by Elbow from the album Seldom Seen Kid

Most of the "new" music I come across is from TV Shows, Movies, Movie Trailers, or Commercials/Ads.  I cannot stand listening to the radio when I want to listen to music.  Because on my 15 minute drive to work I will hear 25 ads/jingles, 5 station promos, 2 DJs and an assistant, and possibly 2 full songs.

I got turned on to the band Elbow, back in 2008, because of the trailer for the movie Burn After Reading.  You know, that Cohen Brothers movie with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, that was just them messing with us...and not letting us know they were messing with us.

Anyway, the trailer for that movie used a bit of music that I absolutely loved.  It was this great guitar riff that played out over all the huge name actors in the film.  I looked it up, and the song was Grounds for Divorce, by Elbow.  I first thought it was some odd American band from out West.  Soon discovered they were actually British.  I found their stuff on iTunes...and bought all 4 albums (at the time) instantly.

I fell in love with their sound/style/lyrics.  The fourth album, Seldom Seen Kid carried Grounds which I played repeatedly until I thought I should give a listen to the rest of the album.  Markedly different in tone, Weather to Fly grabbed my attention almost immediately.

Like Fake Empire it starts out with piano and slowly builds as the song progresses.  In my mind it has a similar imagery effect as well.  I have a feeling a lot of these songs are going to carry images of road trips, journeys, or people going somewhere...or nowhere.

This time it's not a trip into the city.  It is a guy leaving a farm.  Walking down a gravel road past golden fields ready for harvest.  As he walks he slowly gains companions as they make their way into the wilderness and the mountains in the distance.

The song has nothing to really do with that...but it's the images I get from the sounds.  The song really deals with a couple.  At least I think it does.  It could probably go for a few different interpretations.

The couple is fairly recently gotten together.  Early days, as it were.  They are learning about each other individually and as a couple.  It's the montage scene in movies.  Only, somehow deeper in context and feeling.  It actually makes me think of a graphic novel I read recently called, 12 Reasons Why I Love Her, by Jamie S. Rich (writer) and Joelle Jones (artist.)

(I linked to Amazon, but if you can find a local Comic Shop who can get it for you...go that route and support your local Comic Store!)

My two favorite lines in the song (of which there are many) are:

So in looking to stray from the line
we decided instead
we should pull out the thread that was
stitching us into this tapestry vile,

It harkens me back to the old mythologies where there were the three hags weaving out the fate of the world on their loom.  This couple decided they didn't like where things were going so they cut their thread and broke loose from the plan.  It's all romantic and robust.

One of the other lines I like is:

We have the driver and time on our hands
One little room and the biggest of plans

Again, it plays to the idea of not being subject to the devices others have laid out for you.  At least that's my take on it.  The one little room, and the biggest of plans.  Man, I know that feeling.  Dreaming big despite the seemingly small surroundings.

The song just takes me out into the beginning of an adventure.  Be it setting off on a journey across the land or the journey of a new relationship.  It's got a mellow but emphatic "take life by the horns," feel to it.

So there it is.  Song 02/Day 02 - Weather to Fly by Elbow.

PS - this song taught me how to pronounce the word "row."  Not as in row your boat...but an argument...row.  Like "ow" but with an r.  Okay...I'm gone before I get all piratey.

-Jesse