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• the CD comes in a protective sleeve and has a four-panel gatefold case with a plastic tray for the disc & a pocket for the six-page lyric booklet
• artwork, design, photography, hand lettering, and layout by Lauren Oxford (with help from Emma Oxford)
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At the risk of overexplaining, I wrote this song at John McCutcheon's songwriting camp in August 2021 for my friend Cat. It was our final exercise––everyone paired up and listened to their partner talk about something meaningful and significant to them, and then wrote a song about or for that person (and vice versa). At this point, Cat and I had already been friends for six or so years, and had even written each other a song already. As kind of a second mom to me, and as a sort of daughter she never had to her, I remember thinking, "What could we possibly share that we don't already know?" when we were the only two people left standing without a partner.
But then she told me all about her mother, Maria, whom I only knew a little bit about, and I was kind of awestruck by her and her story. I also learned so much more about Cat's childhood, and about her, really. In the 15 or so years since Maria's death in a gliding accident, however, Cat had never been able to finish a song for her. So, that's what this is––an attempt to tell a tiny piece of the story of Maria's magnificent life, and a rumination of sorts on how things live on.
cat’s talked to me about her mom before
a snapshot of a moment, a thing she used to say
it always made me smile, but i never pressed for more
i knew when she was ready, she’d find her way
but i couldn’t have prepared myself for the story of maria—
her passion for adventure, her levelheadedness,
a woman full of courage and good ideas—
i’ll try my best to tell it, and it begins with this:
she was barely old enough to understand
the changing world, her mom’s command
to never touch the windows
then they pasted them with paper
and she couldn’t even look out anymore
and so she learned the sacrifice of war:
one night, while she was fast asleep,
the nazis came and did a sweep
and took away her father
in the morning light, she woke to find
him gone, and even after he returned,
she’d seek him out of deep concern
even though i never met her,
all these things i know about her—
how could i not see her in you?
she was always there beside you,
a steady hand to hold and guide you
it’s so clear she’s soaring still
in the heart that beats inside you
maria grew up tall and wise,
fell in love and married job, and in the sky
from the plane’s round window,
saw their new home like a welcome mat,
all wilderness and endless green expanse
like a promise, like a chance
even though i never met her,
all these things i know about her—
how could i not see her in you?
she was always there beside you,
a steady hand to hold and guide you
it’s so clear she’s soaring still
in the heart that beats inside you
in portland, they raised you and jake,
led hiking trips and swam in crater lake
and then took to the air
she was trying for her silver badge,
soaring in her glider up above
she was doing what she loved.
even though i never met her,
all these things i know about her—
how could i not see her in you?
she was always there beside you,
a steady hand to hold and guide you
it’s so clear she’s soaring still
in the heart that beats inside you
you talked to me about her some before
a snapshot of a moment, a thing she used to say
it always made me smile, but i never pressed for more
i knew when you were ready, you’d find the way
until you never did, at least not how you wanted to
pen hovering above a page that’s blurred
trying until giving up, a writer through and through
who simply couldn’t ever find the words
but now… even though i never met her,
all these things i know about her—
how could i not see her in you?
and you were always there beside me,
a steady hand to hold and guide me
it’s so clear she’s soaring still
in the heart that beats inside me
credits
from Lauren Oxford,
released October 28, 2022
written August 2021
Lauren Oxford: lead vocals, ukulele
Dr. Cat Faber: mandolin, octave mandolin
Betsy Tinney: cello
Lauren Oxford is a songwriter, folksinger, and filker who lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her wife Emma &
their three cats. Her debut album combines soul-bearing, heartfelt lyricism and lush, thoughtful orchestration, courtesy of some of her dearest friends.
She is also a member of folk “queertet” The Starlight Darlins, whose first EP is also available on Bandcamp. (see link below)...more
three treasured friends who are brilliant songwriters and me. four part harmonies with femme voices, live around one mic, one take each. unpolished, raw, old folk sound. also we're all queer <3 Lauren Oxford
karine polwart's voice is one of the wonders of my world, and her lyricism and instrumentation speak to me in ways few other artists' do. Lauren Oxford
the one song i covered is by joan shelley, if that says anything about how much i adore this artist. this is my favorite album of hers for purely sentimental reasons, but all of them are this good. Lauren Oxford
West Virginia country-folk singer-songwriter Trae Sheehan aims to find a balance between the traditional and the modern on his new LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 29, 2020
