Letters is many people’s favourite track on the excellent Dear River album from Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. It’s a moving song that deals with the WWII experiences of Emily’s Dutch grandfather, turning them into to a paean for the eternity of love, family roots and remembrance for those who didn’t fare so well. There is a wonderful new video created for you to enjoy which we have the pleasure of premiering on Folk Radio UK below:
Animation by Alice Kirby
I came across Alice’s beautiful work via friend’s recommendation. I really wanted to have an animated video for Letters due to the lyrics which I thought lent themselves well to having some unrealistic and fantastical imagery in order to heighten the story.
Emily on Letters
Since releasing the Dear River album and telling people the story behind the song Letters, I’ve been incredibly moved by people coming up after shows, sending me emails, etc. and sharing their own personal stories of war and loss…
Most of the song is written from the perspective of my Grandfather Reinier and his brother Frans, and their time in exile during the war. They fled Rotterdam, leaving behind their family and their girlfriends (including my Grandmother to be), and hid out for three years in woodlands, farm houses and old factories along the German/Dutch border. During this time they both attempted to get word back home to let their loved ones know they were still alive. Imagine being a mother and not knowing if your sons were alive or dead. Imagine waiting, watching the clock for hours on end, for years on end, waiting for a sign, a message, a letter.
Lyrics to Letters
We were woken by planes
And parachutes falling
Down from the sky
Through the morning light
There were holes in the sides
Of the buildings falling
Down to their knees
Warm the ashen breeze
Our city surrendered and we moved away
I wrote to you letters most every day
We hid in the farms and factories empty
We could only dream of leaving
We fled towns on fire, with stomachs empty
Crossed borderlines, swam the rivers dry
Our prayers they were answered
And we turned to go
I wrote to you letters, I want you to know
We hold onto your words
We listen for years, we listen for years
We inherit the loss
Our blood it is yours, our blood it is yours
We hold onto your words
We listen for years, we listen for years
We inherit the loss
Our blood it is yours, our blood it is yours
And when it was over, we moved far away
I wrote to you letters most every day
More News…
We’ve already brought you the news that the forthcoming tour will be the last Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo tour for the foreseeable future (read it here). Although somewhat sad news, Emily, Gill Sandell, Anna Jenkins and Jo Silverston will all be concentrating on ongoing personal projects and collaborations, and will still likely perform together for one offs and festivals.
Deteremined to make the tour a spectacular, they will also be joined by a rolling cast of special guests singing Frank Turner‘s part on the band’s murder ballad ‘Fields of June’, including Robbie Boyd in London, Jo Dudderidge (The Travelling Band) in Manchester and Jamie Freeman in Lewes.
Going forward, Emily has been working on music for new films The Keeping Room (Sam Worthington, Britt Marling, premiered at the BFI London Film Festival, on general release 1 Jan 2015) and Hec McAdam (her first full feature length soundtrack – the film stars Peter Mullan and Keith Allen).
More good news is that the success of Dear River has lead to Linn repressing the vinyl edition – once again a super high-quality pressing in gatefold sleeve – the band, as always, will be signing albums after each show on the tour.
Back in April, Emily and band released Songs Beneath The River, a four song 10″ vinyl EP that they recorded direct-to-disc especially for Record Store Day.
Special guest opening at all shows is lauded Swedish singer-songwriter Christian Kjellvander, whose latest album The Pitcher received glowing reviews (read ours here) on its release late last year. Emily has become good friends with Christian, and her band Vena Portae included a version of his song ‘Transatlantic’ on their recent debut album.
November Tour Dates
11 Nov – Lewes All Saints
12 Nov – Folkestone Quarterhouse
13 Nov – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
14 Nov – Holmfirth Picturedome
15 Nov – Kendal Brewery Arts
16 Nov – Bristol Lantern
17 Nov – Leeds Brudenell Social Club
18 Nov – Nottingham Bodega
19 Nov – London St James Church
20 Nov – Guildford Boileroom
21 Nov – Manchester Whisky Sessions @ Victoria Warehouse
22 Nov – Stroud Subscription Rooms
23 Nov – Penzance Acorn