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Silver Birch

by Little Wise

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Gatefold CD wallet including lyrics booklet with original artwork by Australian watercolour artist Richard Roper.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Silver Birch via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Limited edition deluxe 180gm vinyl pressed in Melbourne, Australia. Includes limited edition A3 double-sided art/lyric poster with full colour artwork by Richard Roper; Indigo Printing on high quality card. On Sale Oct - Dec 2017!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Silver Birch via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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    edition of 150 

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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 7 Little Wise releases available on Bandcamp and save 15%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Heart Beats Quicker (single), I want to really see you, and you see me – a live EP, Want it All, Want it All (single), 100 Degrees, Silver Birch, and Sweet Rain Falling (EP). , and , .

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1.
Sometimes 03:34
Sometimes Sometimes you gotta pretend Go though the motions Til you get to the end Out of that illusion You’ll find something real Sometimes you gotta make friends Even with the enemy In our midst Out of the chains of resentment Forgiveness sets you free Sometimes You gotta will it to be right Sometimes Sometimes you gotta begin What starts with a whisper Can bring down the walls The perfect moment Waits for no one at all Sometimes You gotta float until you fly Sometimes Sometimes you gotta give in Lay down your burden Bow your to the sky Open your arms to your brother Open up your eyes Sometimes You gotta leave it all behind Sometimes Sometimes You gotta will it to be right You gotta leave it all behind You gotta float until you fly
2.
Under Water 03:38
Under Water She said I spent my life swimming in a straight line Kept my head above water most of the time Now there’s too much weight for these two arms Let the tide wash over and soak these scars When you’re under water, everything moves in slow motion When you’re under water, moving through time and space She said I’ve been swimming now since the age of six years And my father’s voice still rings in my ears He said don’t let that water get into your eyes You gotta keep them closed and let the world pass by But when you’re under water, everything moves in slow motion When you’re under water, moving through time and space When you’re under water, everything moves in slow motion When you’re under water, moving through time and space Drowning’s never felt so free This is where I’m supposed to be I’m sinking but I’m thinking clearly now It’s crystal, everything I see I used to swim to get away from me I was swimming to get away from me But when you’re under water, everything moves in slow motion When you’re under water, moving through time and space When you’re under water, everything moves in slow motion When you’re under water, moving through time and space
3.
Grab a Hold 04:25
Grab a Hold She’s angry at the waiter again He says ‘hold on a minute’ And disappears for ten She’s not used to eating alone With no one to distract her Doubts are spinning out of control She takes another bite as she closes her eyes The weight of her past decisions pulls tight No end is in sight as it dawns on her why She deserves everything and more in this life She is perfect She is whole She sees her chance To grab a hold She is weightless And she knows To grab a hold you’ve got to let it go Leave the calculations aside Let the others worry Leave those doubts behind Take the time that you need Soak yourself completely In life’s eternal Future in new light As a spark flickers inside Looking beyond just what’s in front of your eyes She is perfect She is whole She sees her chance To grab a hold She is weightless And she knows To grab a hold you’ve got to let it go To grab a hold you’ve got to let it go
4.
Then Again 04:46
Then Again Moments of clarity don’t come no more That red guitar just hangs on my wall Ever since I heard the worst of news I shuffle my feet as the day goes by Another day ends with the longest of sighs I miss those sweet summers that never end Then again there’s the open road in front of me Then again there’s the owls that are nesting in my tree Then again there’s my love, she watches over me Well I guess that’s why they call it bittersweet Well I caught the blues just like you caught the flu From my head down to the soles of my shoes I’m a little girl once again, please hold me And my life, it’s like a river And the current it’s just getting quicker Hold me nearer, hold me dearer, draw me in Then again there’s the open road in front of me Then again there’s the owls that are nesting in my tree Then again there’s my love, she watches over me Well I guess that’s why they call it bittersweet
5.
Don’t Hurry Back Sorrow comes out of the woodwork Sorrow comes out of the stone My kids are all but grown up now Don’t you know, the shop is closed Couldn’t compete with the big store down the road Thanks for your letter and your phone call You always had quite the nerve I don’t mean to sound ungrateful You always gave more than I deserve I always take more than I deserve Don’t hurry back Why do it tomorrow When you can do it further down the track Don’t hurry back You’ve got a good thing going on there Do you wanna mess with that? You know it’s not long til I’ll be drinking At the RSL like my old man These days I have time for thinking A little too much time on hand But not enough to do it all again I’m letting go of times gone by I suggest you do the same But it always comes around again Don’t hurry back Why do it tomorrow When you can do it further down the track Don’t hurry back You’ve got a good thing going on there Don’t wanna mess with that Sorrow comes out of the woodwork Sorrow comes out of the stone
6.
Silver Birch 06:38
Silver Birch You told me about the time when you gave birth to me When you left the house those birch trees were bare and skinny Your baby girl was born ten years after your last So you wrapped me up and took me home and those silver trees greeted us with green leaves Through sleepless nights you nursed me, your touch soothed my cry My sisters watching over me and dad by your side As the years moved along you grew me up wise Times of doubting, times of trying, but peace most of the time I am an old soul But I have young bones As the years brought us closer at once everything turned A dark cloud of sickness became your concern Through sleepless nights we nursed you, our touch soothed your cry Me and my sisters watching over you, dad always by your side I am an old soul But I have young bones I am an old soul But I have young bones You didn’t finish what you started, you left before your time There was so much here for you and love filled your life I’d call you if I could and tell you all the news Tell you how those birch trees are greening and how I miss you still I am an old soul But I have young bones And somehow this feeling in my throat Gets a little too much to handle Oh silver birch, you anointed my birth But as you burst into green Slender and lean I am missing a part of me You are a part of me You are a part of me I’ve got your ring on my finger, got your hands, got your eyes With courage I go back to where your body lies As I leave with a tear and a word and a smile I look over my shoulder and see sapling birch trees standing in line I am an old soul But I have young bones I am an old soul But I have young bones
7.
Favourite Song Co-written with John Flanagan Guest vocals by Sal Kimber I caught your eyes across the room Now I know you feel the way I do I dance with him eyes locked on you It’s been years since I’ve felt love so new I never wanted to be anything but true You are my favourite song to dance to You are the secret tune that I keep locked away You are my favourite song to dance to You are the secret tune that I keep locked away I thought I had my plans laid out The picture now is clouded in my mind You dance with him eyes locked on me We’re alone for one moment in time I never wanted to be anything but true How can I change my life Cos right now I want to hold you You are my favourite song to dance to You are the secret tune that I keep locked away You are my favourite song to dance to You are the secret tune that I keep locked away You are the ringing of the church bells You are the purest hymn that echoes through the night You are my favourite song to dance to You are the secret tune that I keep locked away
8.
As One 04:21
As One We’re no good at talking Talking on the phone I am always distracted You can never get time alone I never thought I would love you I never thought we could open that door I never thought I would love you We took a long drive and said it all And I do appreciate And I do appreciate That you and me were made That you and me were made As one We sat for hours in your living room Talking and smoking and playing songs You touched my hand and I woke up I couldn’t wait to get you on your own Now I sit alone in our living room Scratching tones at the end of the line I don’t want to speak, I need to be with you I need to get you home and on your own And I do appreciate And I do appreciate That you and me were made That you and me were made And I do appreciate And I do appreciate That you and me were made That you and me were made As one As one
9.
Precious 04:45
Precious I’m not usually one for adventure More of the stay at home kind But I got shaken up good as ever I went out of my way just to find A way to switch of altogether Or to switch on a part of my mind So I left my home, left my shelter You gotta change up these things from time to time I got no seatbelt, got no life jacket only Got my name, got a few dollars on me I wear no hard hat, got no bulletproof vest on I cling to this life like the last day of spring How precious it is Now I’m here where there’s grace in the chaos And the street chokes with volume and fumes But my mind is quiet and still here Free of the clutter that used to consume I got no seatbelt, got no life jacket only Got my name, got a few dollars on me I wear no hard hat, got no bulletproof vest on I cling to this life like the last day of spring How precious it is So I’m checking out in order to check in Signing off in order to sign in Trying to gain on the distance I strayed From myself, from the here and the now I got no seatbelt, got no life jacket only Got my name, got a few dollars on me I wear no hard hat, got no bulletproof vest on I cling to this life like the last day of spring Like a baby’s tight grip Like a lover’s last kiss How precious it is
10.
Stairs 05:04
Stairs When I think back now Those stairs were the lifeblood The beating heart Of my family home Second only to The kitchen table Where conversation Was tangled threads out of control Twenty-something years Life goes up, goes down them Sometimes I trip, I stumble But I don’t fall In sleeping bags as kids We would slide down them It’s a wonder that I survived Those stairs at all If I could climb them now I’d climb them all the way up to you And I would tell you all about How we’re all doing now And how we pass the days It’s funny but I guess life goes on somehow When I’m in doubt I let my feet go walking Somehow time again I end up at Bracken Road I stare up as all the memories Echo through me Like pouring sand I cannot grab a hold I recall you loved The view outside your bedroom High amongst the Birch You made your home If I could climb them now I’d climb them all the way up to you And I would tell you all about How we’re all doing now And how we pass the days It’s funny but I guess life goes on somehow And when one day I have a house to call my own A warm and loving home When I quit this life of roaming around If I could climb them now I’d climb them all the way up to you And I would ask you all about How we’re all doing now And how we pass the days It’s funny but I guess life goes on somehow It’s funny but I guess life goes on somehow

credits

released November 11, 2016

An independent release © Little Wise 2016. All rights reserved.
This album is supported by Creative Partnerships Australia through MATCH.

All songs written by Sophie Klein, except ‘Favourite Song’ written by Sophie Klein and John Flanagan.

Recorded, mixed and produced by MEJU.
Mastered by John Ruberto (Mastersound).
Additional engineering by Richard Stolz and Luke Mullan.
Recorded at Bracken Road, Woodstock Studios and Salong Kontrolli.

Sophie Klein: vocals, guitars, bass

Ben Franz: Pedal Steel
Daniel Hobson: Bass guitar
Jude Perl: Piano, backing vocals
Kalju Tonuma: Backing vocals, percussion, guitars, other sounds
Liat Sifris: Backing vocals
Megan Bernard: Backing vocals, guitars, bass, organ, keys, other sounds
Paddy Montgomery: Mandolin
Pam Zaharias: Drums
Rosie Burgess: Backing vocals, bass guitar
Sal Kimber: Guest vocals on ‘Favourite Song’
Sam Lohs: Backing vocals

Artwork by Richard Roper.
Design by Roger Wadia & Matthew Colin.
Photography by Caitlin Bryan.
Studio photography by Alice Chipkin and Sophie Klein.


Thank you to MEJU and all the beautiful musicians, artists & technicians who contributed to this project. Thank you and big love to Liat, my darling family and my dearest friends for all your love, support and encouragement always.

Special thanks to Creative Partnerships Australia and all the wonderful crowdfunders who made this possible.

Our VIP passengers on The Little Wise Express:
Jude; Julie M; John G; Alison & Michael; Joel L; David; Di; Margot; Tamara; Doris; Lou & Barry; Ronli & Michael; Eitan & Rachel; Beck & Leigh; Deidre & Jacob; Dalit & Raph; Adiva & Michae; Lynn; Adam & Jess; Marion; Mark & Tim; Diane L; Esther C; Michael F; Simone O; Leon; Jo & Mitra; Helen G.

Stay in touch:
info@littlewise.com.au
www.littlewise.com.au

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Little Wise Melbourne, Australia

Little Wise makes music for the drifters and the dreamers. Brimming with melodic hooks and a piercing, heart-on-sleeve lyricism, she conjures a magnetic collision of vintage Americana and modern folk-rock. “Little Wise sings with the wisdom of an old soul” (triple j). ... more

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