**New Series – Folk Alley Lyric Pull featuring ‘Morning When it Comes’ by Humbird
We’re launching a new review-adjacent series on FolkAlley.com. It’s inspired by our Membership Coordinator’s inability to hear lyrics. Emily is always playing music. Sometimes when you think you’re hanging out with her and having a conversation she’s suddenly popping on headphones to listen to music instead. You gotta respect it.
But she’s never heard a lyric in her life. When I asked her if I could call her out like this she replied: “I’VE HEARD AT LEAST ONE LYRIC.”
When I get hyped or sad or wistful over what a song is about and try to express it to her, she stares at me as blankly as the vacuum of space.
For this series, we’ll listen to new albums and share lyrics that land with us in any kind of way. It’ll be personal to the writer so let’s be clear: I’m Sarah LaDuke and I felt these feelings.
Welcome to Folk Alley Lyric Pull – our first album is ‘Morning When it Comes’ by Humbird, coming out 9/25 on Nettwerk.
From the label:
“Written by Siri Undlin (Humbird) while navigating a wave of mental and physical illness, ‘Morning When It Comes’ is a collection of twelve “secular hymns” that draw inspiration from the cosmos to find comfort here on Earth.
With glittering hooks, big-hearted grooves, and clear-voiced melodies, what began as a deeply personal, self-soothing songwriting process in isolation transformed into a grand, universal conversation about stability, surrender, and the power of community.”
All three of the other vocalists are named Sarah. I don’t know what that means but it feels like something. Of course – I am the star of my own movie.
“Daughter of Empire”
🎵Another letter in the mail. Late fee waiting and bread got stale. Sun sets like a dull knife on my wild and precious life.🎵
A polemic on late-stage capitalism and a spirited turning of procrastination into protest. We love this song here at Folk Alley.
“Make Believe”
🎵There are no borders here in my heart of hearts. It’s all one big bang made up of smaller parts. Could it be the searching has no end? So good at forgetting and playing pretend.🎵
Don’t dream it, be it. If at least slowly and with much effort.
***
“Hey, Big Dipper”
🎵Hey North Star, could you just shine through that thick cloud cover, I’m needing you. The map is wrong and the compass, too. I need something steady, something true.🎵
I already had a meltdown about this song when Cindy put it in Fresh Cuts.
“Twelve Month Ringer”
🎵Doing my best, badly. Gave it my all, sadly. Shaking at the very thought of all the “what ifs?” that I got. Trying to heal up – but it’s slow. Stuck in my own head and there’s nowhere else to go. Here’s to the better days ahead.🎵
Sometimes the poetry says “Hey, I’m the chorus.”
***
“Different Speed”
🎵Upside down and backwards we orchestrate our own disasters🎵
A song about slowing down and noticing. Rich Hinman’s lap steel is on this! Always so transportive.
***
“All Water”
🎵Cue it up, play it back. Are we ever more than echoes? Can’t help but hum that tune I’ll sing until my voice goes.🎵
In spite of ourselves.
“February”
🎵Ice inside the window’s frame catch my breath in the glass pane. Dog in the bed – we could use the bulk. Sunrise is thick like a glass of milk.🎵
Sarahs in full-force on “February.”
***
“Self Help Book”
🎵Take a hard look around at the good luck you went and found. Didn’t all come crashing down though your heart made such a thunderous sound.🎵
With some notable exceptions – every book is a self help book.
***
“Blood Moon”
🎵Wax and wane. To lose and gain. The cycle is. And it’s bound to change.🎵
“Moonlight and Tobacco”
🎵Now your romp around the forest floor, waging war on honeysuckle and buckthorn. This rage stemming from the world we mourn you’re like a knight out there – chainsaw for sword.🎵
Songwriting meets rage-weeding and appreciating the people in your life who are there.
***
“Toss and Turn”
🎵I’m about as happy as I am sad. What I have to give is all I have.🎵
***
“Morning When it Comes”
🎵And when day breaks on what night didn’t take to warm your cheeks and the steps you take toward the morning, when it comes.🎵
