Darlingside — The God of Loss
Album: Birds SayAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 2275
Length: 3:46
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My father was a carpenter
My mother she died young
I'm the eldest of my brothers
You're the trouble in my blood
Trouble in my blood
I swore that I'd stay humble
Like my father was before
He built the home I live in
Of sand and mud and smoke
Sand and mud and smoke
Yes, we will leave here without a trace
Take a new name and an old shape
I'll be no outlaw, no renegade
Just your faithful god of loss
So meet me by the river
On a boat-shaped piece of earth
We press our bones together
And the spider does its work
With flakes of garlic
And petals from a rose
If it's small enough to carry
You and I can call it home
You and I can call it home
Yes, we will leave here without a trace
Take a new name and an old shape
I'll be no outlaw, no renegade
Just your faithful god of loss
My mother she died young
I'm the eldest of my brothers
You're the trouble in my blood
Trouble in my blood
I swore that I'd stay humble
Like my father was before
He built the home I live in
Of sand and mud and smoke
Sand and mud and smoke
Yes, we will leave here without a trace
Take a new name and an old shape
I'll be no outlaw, no renegade
Just your faithful god of loss
So meet me by the river
On a boat-shaped piece of earth
We press our bones together
And the spider does its work
With flakes of garlic
And petals from a rose
If it's small enough to carry
You and I can call it home
You and I can call it home
Yes, we will leave here without a trace
Take a new name and an old shape
I'll be no outlaw, no renegade
Just your faithful god of loss
Comments (72)add comment
Just beyond logic. Such incredible emotion and musical genius. Stops me in my tracks. Lookimg inward...
aaronm wrote:
I did the same but from 9 to 10!
Bumped from an 8 up to a 9 for making me feel feelings at work.
I did the same but from 9 to 10!
Golly!! I sure do love Darlingside!
Go see them in concert if at all possible. You’ll thank me later.
Go see them in concert if at all possible. You’ll thank me later.
this has got to be the most emotionally powerful piece I can imagine. Image, emotion, it deserves a15.
Wish there was an 11
Thank you radio paradise, you have given me so many different artists to love.
newbolddrive wrote:
Saw these guys at the Vancouver Folk Festival. They almost got lost finding the gig. They were awesome. Loved how they all played around the same mic.
My father was a carpenter ✔
My mother she died young ✔
I'm the eldest of my brothers ✔
There's trouble in my blood ✔
My mother she died young ✔
I'm the eldest of my brothers ✔
There's trouble in my blood ✔
For Sage, from the noon mtg. May you and your children begin to know peace from your loss.
Love seeing them live especially. Unique and sweet.❤️❤️❤️
Mackmoney3000 wrote:
You might want to reconsider how you think about what type of music is Your Type of Music.
This is 100% Not My Type Of Music but dang do I ever get the feels from this track 
You might want to reconsider how you think about what type of music is Your Type of Music.
Love it 🥰
Darlingside are amazing and so unique. especially in person, hope that will happen again soon.
rhlrstn wrote:
Looks like it from their website...
Hey Bill, isn't the Album called "Birds Say"?
Looks like it from their website...
mjbaumann wrote:
I hope your suffering has transformed into joy in appreciation of the opportunity to bear witness to each other's lives.
My wife got sick at age 50, when this came out and I heard it on RP from time to time during her illness. She died a few years later, and this is always appropriate and changing meaning for me...
I hope your suffering has transformed into joy in appreciation of the opportunity to bear witness to each other's lives.
mjbaumann wrote:
I lost my parents before I was able to understand who they were. My siblings were not so lucky if that is what I am. We all have problems that could have stemmed from January 9th, 1972 (I was born the sping of 1970) when the plane my dad was flying crashed on a hill side in Tennessee killing all 4 aboard. I think all them as well as mom and dad...
My wife got sick at age 50, when this came out and I heard it on RP from time to time during her illness. She died a few years later, and this is always appropriate and changing meaning for me...
I lost my parents before I was able to understand who they were. My siblings were not so lucky if that is what I am. We all have problems that could have stemmed from January 9th, 1972 (I was born the sping of 1970) when the plane my dad was flying crashed on a hill side in Tennessee killing all 4 aboard. I think all them as well as mom and dad...
I love Darlingside so much!!! Thank you.
A lot of RP songs have this quality and they are all wonderful!
kbs wrote:
Leave them alone, they've done nothing wrong.
I was afraid a 'Hey' or 'Ho' shout was going to emerge, and was pleased it didn't... I will investigate them further!
Leave them alone, they've done nothing wrong.
mjbaumann wrote:
I am so sorry. I hope your soul is at peace tonight.
My wife got sick at age 50, when this came out and I heard it on RP from time to time during her illness. She died a few years later, and this is always appropriate and changing meaning for me...
I am so sorry. I hope your soul is at peace tonight.
I was afraid a 'Hey' or 'Ho' shout was going to emerge, and was pleased it didn't... I will investigate them further!
This is very, very good indeed.
My wife got sick at age 50, when this came out and I heard it on RP from time to time during her illness. She died a few years later, and this is always appropriate and changing meaning for me...
This is 100% Not My Type Of Music but dang do I ever get the feels from this track
"We were in Nowhere, Massachusetts..."
Oh wait, different song.
Oh wait, different song.
Jelani wrote:
What he said 😁
Great song. Too sappy of a presentation.
What he said 😁
LPCity wrote:
... and improved upon the sentiment.
Someone listened to John Prine's "Grandpa was a carpenter".
Grandpa was a carpenter
Built houses, stores and banks
Chain smoked camel cigarettes
Hammered nails in planks.
Grandpa was a carpenter
Built houses, stores and banks
Chain smoked camel cigarettes
Hammered nails in planks.
... and improved upon the sentiment.
Uh, so now that Wikipedia stuff has been added to Darlingside on RP, kinda wish that had never happened but whatever I won't digress... knew it: This group had Williams College written all over it. Hell, it could have been the entire The Affair soundtrack. LOLZ. 
Great song. Too sappy of a presentation.
This song gets my attention every time I hear it. Pulls me in.
hwdubois wrote:
Same. Just now.
7 to 9... feels
Same. Just now.
7 to 9... feels
Lovely song that puts me in a philosophical mood.
"To philosophize is to learn to die." Michel Montaigne
"To philosophize is to learn to die." Michel Montaigne
Hey Bill, isn't the Album called "Birds Say"?
Really like this song and seeing them perform it in this NPR Tiny Desk Concert:
https://www.npr.org/2018/05/04/608149267/darlingside-tiny-desk-concert
It's all I can do to not turn it up too loud. Would never've heard it if not for RP. Thank you!
https://www.npr.org/2018/05/04/608149267/darlingside-tiny-desk-concert
It's all I can do to not turn it up too loud. Would never've heard it if not for RP. Thank you!
aaronm wrote:
Same. Just now.
Bumped from an 8 up to a 9 for making me feel feelings at work.
Same. Just now.
thanks for the woodstock link, poetdancer. terrific cover.
Going to see these guys in San Francisco on Saturday. Heard about them from RP and have seen them twice already - they're great live. And I love their videos too. They also do a fantastic cover of Woodstock with Heather Maloney -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyotn-3qycM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyotn-3qycM
drizzy77 wrote:
lovely - thanks for posting
A beautiful song with poetic depth . There's a gorgeous "paper cut" animation to accompany the song, worth your time. "If it's small enough to carry, you and I can call it home."
https://youtu.be/28KduHrvCxM
https://youtu.be/28KduHrvCxM
lovely - thanks for posting
LPCity wrote:
Who could blame them if they did? That's a good song. The sentiment and feeling of this song seem different than those of John's song though, maybe less direct or personal.
Someone listened to John Prine's "Grandpa was a carpenter".
Grandpa was a carpenter
Built houses, stores and banks
Chain smoked camel cigarettes
Hammered nails in planks.
Grandpa was a carpenter
Built houses, stores and banks
Chain smoked camel cigarettes
Hammered nails in planks.
Who could blame them if they did? That's a good song. The sentiment and feeling of this song seem different than those of John's song though, maybe less direct or personal.
Go see them live if you have a chance. Beautiful harmonies, and friendly guys too!
A beautiful song with poetic depth . There's a gorgeous "paper cut" animation to accompany the song, worth your time. "If it's small enough to carry, you and I can call it home."
https://youtu.be/28KduHrvCxM
https://youtu.be/28KduHrvCxM
Yes, they can pull it off live, too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAtPeX6Xuxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAtPeX6Xuxo
Saw these guys at the Vancouver Folk Festival. They almost got lost finding the gig. They were awesome. Loved how they all played around the same mic.
Still beautiful.
Near tears. A song about loss indeed.
Someone listened to John Prine's "Grandpa was a carpenter".
Grandpa was a carpenter
Built houses, stores and banks
Chain smoked camel cigarettes
Hammered nails in planks.
Grandpa was a carpenter
Built houses, stores and banks
Chain smoked camel cigarettes
Hammered nails in planks.
ohhh
the
feels
(bumped 8 to 9)
Actually thought this was an old Paul McCartney song post Beatles. Not necessarily a compliment...
There is something reminiscent of an old Irish ballad about this melody - I think that might be why I like it.
Bumped from an 8 up to a 9 for making me feel feelings at work.
On_The_Beach wrote:
Or the Barr Brothers.
Somewhat reminiscent of Gregory Alan Isakov in that beautiful/melancholy kinda way.
Or the Barr Brothers.
First time I've heard this one. Beautiful harmonies, nice production.
I REALLY needed to hear this song today! Thank you for playing it at just the right time, RP!
Hear this way too often.
songs like 1970s — beautiful
Somewhat reminiscent of Gregory Alan Isakov in that beautiful/melancholy kinda way.
Heard this band first here on RP and am so glad I did! Saw them in San Francisco last month, and really loved the show. Great harmonies, and friendly guys too.
Superb harmony.
Depends if you're mountain biking or sitting at a quiet lake
ecomaniac wrote:
I believe the median might be a better measure of 'popularity' of a given track than the mean. This song is a good example. The arithmetic mean is 6.85, but the median is just 3 votes shy of an 8 (out of 112 total votes). So the mean of 6.85, a value that represents "pretty good", is undervaluing this song's apparent appreciation.
The median has the effect of dampening those extreme votes. I kinda like the idea of chronic "1" and "10" voters getting somewhat muted by this approach as they seem to be less perceptive or experienced or open-minded wrt music, imho. But RP's well balanced, eclectic mix might change that in time.
I'll give a track 2 or 3 listens before voting, but I find this one pretty enjoyable so far.
ecomaniac wrote:
I believe the median might be a better measure of 'popularity' of a given track than the mean. This song is a good example. The arithmetic mean is 6.85, but the median is just 3 votes shy of an 8 (out of 112 total votes). So the mean of 6.85, a value that represents "pretty good", is undervaluing this song's apparent appreciation.
The median has the effect of dampening those extreme votes. I kinda like the idea of chronic "1" and "10" voters getting somewhat muted by this approach as they seem to be less perceptive or experienced or open-minded wrt music, imho. But RP's well balanced, eclectic mix might change that in time.
I'll give a track 2 or 3 listens before voting, but I find this one pretty enjoyable so far.
bmccaul wrote:
I believe the median might be a better measure of 'popularity' of a given track than the mean. This song is a good example. The arithmetic mean is 6.85, but the median is just 3 votes shy of an 8 (out of 112 total votes). So the mean of 6.85, a value that represents "pretty good", is undervaluing this song's apparent appreciation.
The median has the effect of dampening those extreme votes. I kinda like the idea of chronic "1" and "10" voters getting somewhat muted by this approach as they seem to be less perceptive or experienced or open-minded wrt music, imho. But RP's well balanced, eclectic mix might change that in time.
I'll give a track 2 or 3 listens before voting, but I find this one pretty enjoyable so far.
So far there are 7 ratings. 7s, 8, 9s... but one 1 rating, bringing down the average to 6. something. Really? A 1? What can possibly inspire such dislike for at worst, an innocuous song, and at best, a cool-harmony ballad?
I believe the median might be a better measure of 'popularity' of a given track than the mean. This song is a good example. The arithmetic mean is 6.85, but the median is just 3 votes shy of an 8 (out of 112 total votes). So the mean of 6.85, a value that represents "pretty good", is undervaluing this song's apparent appreciation.
The median has the effect of dampening those extreme votes. I kinda like the idea of chronic "1" and "10" voters getting somewhat muted by this approach as they seem to be less perceptive or experienced or open-minded wrt music, imho. But RP's well balanced, eclectic mix might change that in time.
I'll give a track 2 or 3 listens before voting, but I find this one pretty enjoyable so far.
I'm upgrading this one from a 9 to a 10. Yes, I like it that much.
bmccaul wrote:
Some people don't like acoustic guitar stuff, some people cringe at the sound of a banjo, some people don't like songs with a tempo below 150 bpm. Who knows?
So far there are 7 ratings. 7s, 8, 9s... but one 1 rating, bringing down the average to 6. something. Really? A 1? What can possibly inspire such dislike for at worst, an innocuous song, and at best, a cool-harmony ballad?
Some people don't like acoustic guitar stuff, some people cringe at the sound of a banjo, some people don't like songs with a tempo below 150 bpm. Who knows?
That's a lovely and uplifting piece of work, even on a subject that's a bit melancholy.
Love them. Keep playing Darlingside, Bill.
bmccaul wrote:
So far there are 7 ratings. 7s, 8, 9s... but one 1 rating, bringing down the average to 6. something. Really? A 1? What can possibly inspire such dislike for at worst, an innocuous song, and at best, a cool-harmony ballad?
Maybe someone has a complete hatred of 'cool-harmony', or even of ballads in general.
...or perhaps they just do binary ratings.
saw these guys open for Patty Griffin this spring and I thought they were pretty good opening act
sweet strong little song, it got me just at that melancholy moment and sure is appreciated, thank you
They're on tour -
https://www.darlingside.com/shows/
I've already put their San Francisco show in November on my calendar.
https://www.darlingside.com/shows/
I've already put their San Francisco show in November on my calendar.
So far there are 7 ratings. 7s, 8, 9s... but one 1 rating, bringing down the average to 6. something. Really? A 1? What can possibly inspire such dislike for at worst, an innocuous song, and at best, a cool-harmony ballad?
Shame there isn't a "request song" option. This is actually a very good song. C'mon Bill....there's lots of decent newer songs in the library that haven't been played yet. Please find the time to play some of them.
I realize the genre is getting crowded, but I really like the sounds on this album.