I had never heard of the phrase “water wings” until I watched the British cartoon “Kipper” with my 2-year-old. When I was growing up, we called the little inflatable arm cuffs “float-ies”, but as with most things word related: the british win.
“Water wings” seemed like a wonderfully descriptive phrase to base a song around, so I started writing.
My first visual was someone on a sea shore, looking out on the water.
They are worried.
The lyrics start:
Though the water wings may keep you up
and your lungs may fill you up with air
Your spirit’s growing darker by the hour
and your clothes are getting heavier by the day
They hope:
but they will find you
they will find you
when the day comes back
The character’s worry runs deeper as more instrumentation sets in:
Though the water wings may keep you up
and the river may carry you to the shore
your running out of your hope
and your spirit’s getting a little heavier by the day
Then another hope:
but they will find you
they will find you
when the day comes back
With the drum and cello drop, the story speeds across the sea, until we find the one who is sinking:
it feels like I’m going to fall
it feels like a cannon ball
it’s getting dark and cold
and it feels like a cannon ball
We know very little about the relationship between the two characters, but by having a children’s word like “water wings” associated with the one in the water there is a sense of innocence conveyed. An innocence about to be lost.
Check out “The Sparrow” from “The Spring Hollow Sessions” for the twin to this song.
lyrics
Though the water wings may keep you up
and your lungs may fill you up with air
Your spirit’s growing darker by the hour
and your clothes are getting heavier by the day
but they will find you
they will find you
when the day comes back
Though the water wings may keep you up
and the river may carry you to the shore
your running out of your hope
and your spirit’s getting a little heavier by the day
but they will find you
they will find you
when the day comes back
it feels like I’m going to fall
it feels like a cannon ball
it’s getting dark and cold
and it feels like a cannon ball
This debut from the Melbourne-based folk-rock band tackles environmental issues, self-determination, and relationships. Bandcamp New & Notable May 26, 2023
Recorded on the Grecian isle of Hydra, this is blissed-out psych pop with stacked falsetto harmonies and luscious arrangements. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 9, 2023