In my post on Beck’s (aka Beck David Hansen, b. 1970) song “Heart Is a Drum,” I talk about Parlour Coffee in Winnipeg, the shop where I used to have my morning coffee when I was working. Parlour was also where I first heard Beck’s Grammy-winning (album of the year) Morning Phase (2014). The album started playing just as I walked in one morning. It was a dreamy feeling, being in my favourite shop, listening to fantastic music.
Today’s selection is the closing track from that same album. Thinking about “Waking Light,” a quote from a post a few days ago, where Future Islands singer Samuel T. Herring talks about ending a record with “Hit the Coast” came to mind: “It made sense to end on this kind of triumphant note.” “Waking Light” ends Beck’s album on precisely the same kind of high Herring speaks of.
“Waking Light” has been on my list to post for a while, so here it is…
“Waking light, it grew from the shadow
Brace yourself to the morning low
Night is gone, long way turning
You’ve waited long enough to know
When the memory leaves you
Somewhere you can’t make it home
When the morning comes to meet you
Lay me down in waking light
No one sees you here, roots are all covered
There’s such a life to go and how much can you show?
Day is gone on a landslide of rhythm
It’s in your lamplight burning low
When the memory leaves you
Somewhere you can’t make it home
When the morning comes to meet you
Rest your eyes in waking light
When the memory leaves you
Somewhere you can’t make it home
When the morning comes to meet you
Open your eyes with waking light”
“Waking Light,” by Beck Hansen.
Lyrics retrieved from AZLyrics.com.
The song is such a terrific ending to an outstanding album and always leaves me with a light, hopeful, positive feeling. I hope it does the same for you.
Now you know a little about why this is my Song of the Day for Today. Thanks for joining me here. Please enjoy.
Here’s the audio from Beck’s official YouTube channel. If you like the song, please purchase it to support the artist, and remember to give the video a thumb’s up.
With my best wishes,
Steve
Song of the Day for Today 