DAY ONE-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-TWO
Golan Heights
Pearl and the Beard is going on tour ON SATURDAY and coming to a midwestern town NEAR YOU!
We are teaming up with some incredible people (Anna Vogelzang and Holy Ghost Tent Revival just to name a few)… and I cannot tell you how excited I am to hit the road. I think it’s a want to see new people and things… (oh, and let us not forget THRIFT!!!)
So, I have been writing a song today about a sheep… or a lamb, I guess. This entire song started with this line, and I didn’t even end up using it: I have a straw hat and it was fitted for you.
Initially, I wanted it to be quite dark and old, but it just wasn’t coming together. In my mind, I saw a far away place (Israel of all places…) out on an open plain covered by a deep starry sky. Soon, a storm comes. The speaker is the man to the “Lady”.
I decided that the sound that a lamb or sheep makes is very forward sounding in the throat, and I tried to imitate it somewhat, however, I could only attempt it a few times as it’s a bit uncomfortable, and I’m unfamiliar on how to do it correctly. (I am totally abusing the etymology dictionary on this song: I love it! And you can dedicate a word to someone on it! Nice.)
Recording: As far as the vocal goes – a few weeks ago, Pearl and the Beard played a Joe’s Pub festival, and, performing right before us, was a Balkan woman’s quartet called Black Sea Hotel. The way they were singing was really intriguing to me so I had that in my mind. John Houx was also a huge reference for this song as well. His voice is just awesome.
This is the third take and, though I wanted to add cello, I stopped at just a few vocal overdubs to save some time. Always a work in progress. I was unsure how to end it, but wanted to record it – so the very, very end is a bit improvised lyrically, but it fits the purpose quite nicely for what this song was meant for today.
Be well! I hope you are easily staying cool if it is hot where you are and, if it is cold where you are, I envy you completely!
Lady, My Lamb
(Headphones/speakers recommended rather than internal laptop speakers)
YESSSSSSS! balkan singing is the FUNNNNNESSSSSTTTTTT!