Writing on Water

by Jen Kearney

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about

I wrote this song in April of 2020 after reading an interview with a Boston doctor when the first wave hit here and there was a serious lack of Personal Protective Equipment. He said he was working overnight shifts treating COVID patients in the Intensive Care Unit with “Four used masks, a homemade face shield and an updated will”. Immediately following, I watched footage of people on the news physically fighting each other over toilet paper.

Obviously so much more has happened in this country and the world since then. A mind-boggling number of people are gone. I honestly don’t think any of us are coming out of this thing the same people we were before and hopefully that is a positive thing. Many veils are down and so much has been exposed. There is an undeniable mirror up to our collective humanity. Hopefully we are looking deeply. There’s still so much work to do to heal. I hope that what we have learned from this time will stick and won’t feel fleeting as if we are “writing on water”. I don’t mean to seem too precious, but that’s what this song is trying to say. I’m a songwriter trying to make sense of things and contribute to the collective soundtrack and I hope this song connects with you.

lyrics

The wind is strong today
Nobody’s outside but the birds of prey
They circle gracefully
While we stay inside and wait

Word came down that day
Them knights had no armor to stand in harm’s way
But the king sent them out
And his minions are shouting
They want it all back to normal today

Have we learned anything at all
Are we writing on water or are the the veils gonna fall
Have we learned at all
Have we learned anything at all

So it’s crossed fingers on washed hands
Needle drop on canceled plans
Wait on your government check
And just hope for the best

And for the lives it’s cost
No words can shoulder,
no grammar can hold
All the prayers and thoughts
And apologies for loss just don’t feel like enough

Just don’t feel like enough at all
Are we writing on water or are the veils gonna fall
Have we learned at all
Have we learned anything

Maybe another Phoenix gonna rise
Maybe we’ll feed the good wolf inside
Maybe we’ll go back to the garden and thrive
Maybe we’ll bloom at exactly the right time
Maybe I’ll hold your face in my hands again
But until then take this lullaby

We may be distant
We can still be light
Like the old stars
We’re all made of

We may be distant
We can still be wise
Like the billion-year-old stars
We’re all made of

We may be distant
We can still be light
Like the old stars
we’re all made of

We may be distant, baby
We can still be light
So please keep your light on

credits

released March 12, 2021
The song credits:
Jen Kearney- Vocals, Synths, Fender Rhodes
Peter MacLean- Drums
Domenic Volpe Davis- Bass
Steve Fell- Guitar
Aaron Bellamy- Guitar
Amy Bellamy- B3 organ
Yahuba Garcia- Percussion

Written by Jen Kearney.
Produced by Jen Kearney and Aaron Bellamy
Recorded at A1 Productions, Wonka Sound, and in my closet.
Mixed by Aaron Bellamy
Mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East
Video by Joan Hathaway
Special thanks to Bob Nash at Wonka Sound for the home studio build and home recording advice.

license

about

Jen Kearney Boston, Massachusetts

Boston’s Jen Kearney has spent some time seasoning her particular style of original music. Her sound is truly an amalgamation of musical styles including Soul, R&B, Funk, Rock, and Latin. Kearney’s music and attention to lyrics and has met critical acclaim nationally and internationally.
Kearney is set to release an EP entitled “Atlantic” in March of 2022 and a full-length LP later in the year. ... more