Tag: John Fullbright

John Fullbright and the Other Song Called “Happy”

John Fullbright Happy In 2013, while everyone was dancing to Pharrell Williams’s song “Happy” from Despicable Me 2 (2013), another artist quietly released a song with the same name. Singer-songwriter John Fullbright’s “Happy” may not be quite as upbeat and instantly memorable as Williams’s song of the same name, but it is an outstanding song you should check out.

This “Happy” begins with just Fullbright and an acoustic guitar, and while he struggles to find happiness, you sense that happiness is not so easy to find.

Tonight I’d rather think of you,
and try to close my eyes,
and I’ll just wonder
what’s so bad about happy?

“Happy” appeared on the album Songs (2013), an album that got great reviews. The Okahoma=born Fullbright brings an honesty to his songwriting, so it is not surprising that he counts Townes Van Zandt as one of his influences. We have featured a few of Fullbright’s songs in other Chimesfreedom posts, and we expect we will be inspired to do so again. But for now, we are just whistling his song, “Happy.”

What do you think of Fullbright’s “Happy”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    What Did the Sea Say to the Shore?

    The Sea & the ShoreOne of the most beautiful songs of 2013 is “The Sea & the Shore,” written by Amy Speace and Robby Hecht. On the album How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat (2013), Speace performs the song with John Fullbright, who we had previously featured covering Steve Earle’s “Me and the Eagle.”

    “The Sea & the Shore” recounts a conversation between the water and the land, although of course it is about more than that. The verses open with the Sea and the Shore exchanging verses, with the Shore reminding the Sea it had left and the Sea reminding the Shore of the promise to return. The song mirrors a breakup between a man and a woman, using beautiful imagery. As things happen in the human world, the song ends in heartbreak.

    So the Sea took one last look and turned away,
    And the Shore was more than strong enough to stay;
    And castles melted back into the sand;
    Driftwood drifted up onto the land;
    Rocks rose up proud in shinny skin;
    Shells began their gossiping again.

    On Fullbright’s website, he explains that the video was filmed on a “bitterly cold day in Nashville this past January.” I agree with him that it was worth it.

    What do you think of “The Sea & the Shore”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Me and the Eagle

    The eagle looked down on the river below,
    And he wrapped his wings round him and he fell like a stone.
    And the big salmon fought but the talons held true,
    And he shuddered as the world turned from silver to blue.
    I stood there in awe though I’d seen it before,
    I was born in these mountains and I’ll die here for sure

    “Me and the Eagle”

    Horse Whisperer Soundtrack

    The lyrics above are to Steve Earle’s song, “Me and the Eagle,” which is from the soundtrack of songs from and inspired by The Horse Whisperer. This song perfectly captures the horse whisperer character that Robert Redford plays in the movie. The movie is pretty good, and the the soundtrack album is excellent, including songs by Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, and Dwight Yoakam.

    The film also featured the song “A Soft Place to Fall,” which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song (and should have won). “A Soft Place to Fall” was co-written by and performed by an outstanding new artist who many years later would marry Steve Earle, Allison Moorer.

    I like that people post their own versions of songs on YouTube because there is something especially democratic about it.  And occasionally you find nice gems.  Below is John Fullbright’s rendition of Steve Earle’s “Me and the Eagle.”  I had not heard of the guy until seeing his videos on YouTube, and he does a moving cover of this song. Check out the young Oklahoman’s website. I am going to have to listen to more of his music.

    Some mornings will find me up above the timberline,
    Lonesome don’t seem like much once you’re this high.
    When it’s all said and done I usually find,
    Me and the eagle are of the same mind.

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