It was just after the peak of Extinction Rebellion activity, a few months before the Covid pandemic struck. I felt deep love of the earth and a desire to see a paradigm shift in the way we relate to the natural world and indeed the world in general. I was riding difficult inner conflicts, asking myself what I felt was being asked of me as we head into the stormy waters of this unique time in human history. It was then that I re-read an exquisite piece of writing entitled Letter to a Young Activist During Troubled Times, by one of my all-time favourite authors Dr Clarissa Pinkola Estes. The letter struck me anew, rich with symbolic beacons of hopes set amongst the paradoxes of life, reassuring us heartily that we are seaworthy vessels no matter how ragged our flags have become. She says,
“…One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. … Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.”
Perhaps Brave Ships is my glint of gold shining on deck. I only hope I have captured the deepest essence of her message and, in weaving it together with my own, that I might set the world alight with a song.
lyrics
BRAVE SHIPS
V1
Hey when we started out (tai tikka tai yeah)
We were all sweet innocent and bright (tai yeah)
But hey now we’re coming back round (tai tikka tai yeah)
Dragons on the way have singed a few hairs
And sometimes you know I lose sight (tai tikka tai yeah)
Of all of you other ships braving the night (tai yeah)
And sometimes you know I get scared (a hey yeah)
Of reaching for a hand to find it’s not there
Reaching for a hand to find it’s not there
Chorus
Hold on, waves are coming in
Stand firm, waves’ll come, another one and another one
Hold strong, mighty souls were born for storms like these
Storms like these…
Remembering…
V2
Hey when we started out (tai tikka tai yeah)
We were all sweet innocent and bright (tai yeah)
But hey now we’re coming back, back round (hey yeah)
We’re ragged at the edges, dragged back through a hedge
And sometimes you know I lose sight (tai tikka tai yeah)
Of all of you other ships braving the night (tai yeah)
And sometimes you know I get scared (a hey yeah)
Of reaching for a hand to find it’s not there
Reaching for a hand to find it’s not there
Chorus
Bridge
So remember your soul, remember your soul
Remember who you are and why you came,
Remember who you are
Oh remember your soul
Middle 8
And though we always do our best but it never seems to be enough
And we’re losing everything
And everything so hard, wading through the dark paths of the heart
Still we’re losing everything
And God it’s such a mess, so much suffering
Feels like I’m trying to bail us out with a teaspoon
But it’s not just me, there’s a whole fleet coming up behind and it’s what we’re here for
No it’s not just me there’s a whole fleet coming up behind and it’s what we’re built for
Coz if the ocean was calm every day
You would never find the courage of the man who was drowning
And if you never burnt down to the ground
You could never rise up from the ashes you were down in
And if you wanna know more push off from the shore
Without the promise of a happy ending
And if you wanna know love
Bow down to the shadow of the truth that you’ve been defending
Yeah if you wanna know love
Bow down to the shadow of the truth that you’ve been defending
If you wanna know love…
Just do what you do, just be what you are, imperfectly you
It’s the world you were meant for
Just do what you do, just be what you are, imperfectly you
It’s the world you were meant for
Keep on doing what you, just be what you are
It’s the world you were meant for
Keep on doing what you, just be what you are
It’s the world you were meant for
Chorus
Bridge 2
So remember your soul, remember your soul
Remember your strength, remember your deepest tears
Remember your fire and know that you’re needed here
Remember your soul, remember your soul
Outro
Push off from the shore and keep your head above the water
Look around and celebrate all those who are there with you
We are brave ships sailing the wide waters of the unknown
And we were made for these times
credits
from Brave Ships (Single + B-side),
track released January 27, 2021
Written by Ruth Blake
Recorded, Produced & Mixed by Damien Mahoney in his attic studio ‘Padded Cell’ in Old Trafford, Manchester
Mastered by Shawn Joseph (Portishead, Jonny Greenwood, PJ Harvey, Bat for Lashes, Peter Green)
All Vocals and acoustic guitar - Ruth Blake
Drums - Rob Turner (Gogo Penguin)
Fretless bass - Dave Tompkins (Johnny Dangerously, Mike Hope's Jazzmahoot, Mojito)
Cello, viola, violin - Alan Keary (Shunya)
Guitar, Harmonium and piano - Pete Barrett (Colourfield, John Cooper Clark & Pauline Murray)
Ruth’s gently evocative music is born out of her own passion for self-knowledge; driven to explore the deepest essence of
her humanity and her interconnectedness with the great web of life. In her music she blends the numinous with the human, weaving hypnotic guitar riffs and tender poetry with rambunctious offbeat grooves and playful word-smithery....more
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