This week, I came to the conclusion that probably the best thing about music is that there is so much to learn. You could spend your whole life acquiring musical knowledge and not make much of a dent. Another joy is that new music is produced all the time, so you can always discover a new band.
Morningsiders are a relatively new discovery of mine, having heard their 2022 album I’ve Got a Song, I fell in love with the song “Waterfall”. What can I say – I love some horns and strings and this cute 5-piece folk band from NYC make great music.
I found “Be Good” on 2019’s A Little Lift, as it’s always good to dig back into an artist’s back catalog when you find something you like. The intro pulled me in with those gorgeous layers of strings. The song doesn’t hang around for long in the verse before setting off at the 0:40 mark with the chorus. The violin moves from pizzicato to spiccato, which helps build the momentum. I google’d those violin terms – I knew pizzicato beacuse my song “Cavern” has a section of pizzicato, but was unsure about the other. And what a great time we live in that I can educate myself on these things so easily. I may not have it right – but a correction from anyone is just another learning opportunity ☺️
In the chorus, the trumpet picks up with the main riff. The lyrics echo a sentiment I think we can all relate to:
Now the words come too slow
Don’t know what to say but I should
Don’t care which way I go
I just want to be good
Now the words come too slow
I know I’ll be misunderstood
Don’t care which way I go
I just want to be good
Morningsiders – “Be Good”
Feeling like you’re not able to say what you want in the spur of the moment. Feeling you should be better at this. Worrying you’ll be misunderstood – yet at the heart of it, you just want to be a good person.
In comparison to “Defibrilation” from last week, this song leans on the chorus, designed to get stuck in your head. The second verse is as short as the first, but you can really sense what’s going on for the person:
Had a moment where I wondered who was actually wrong
And I knew it was time to run, run away
And I knew that everything would come to an end today
Morningsiders – “Be Good”
I know for myself that if you can’t communicate well with someone, the relationship is unlikely to work long-term. Sometimes it’s better to walk away because that will do the most good.
The second chorus gives way to a musical section where the trumpet comes to the front, the drums kick up a notch and there’s a tambourine in the back. The music drops down for the chorus, with the violins swirling and before the cymbals kick off and the band comes back in. It’s a really beautiful moment.
The final chorus is bookended by an instrumental section, the trumpet leading again with a new riff that extends over the chorus itself and into the outro. I love an instrumental outro and this one is so pretty. It’s just the trumpet and the guitar and the bass are back but softer than in the start of the song. And there you have it.
I should probably also say that Morningsiders have 3 songs that have the word ‘good’ in them across 2 albums:
- Be Good
- How Good It Is
- This Could Be Good
Never be afraid of using the same words 😁
I really recommend giving Morningisders a listen if you’ve not heard them before. Perfect for a drive (or motorcycle) or during Sunday breakfast, perhaps even late at night talking to an old friend on the phone. And remember – learning new things keeps your brain alive, so don’t be afraid to try something new ❤️