To Be Free

Howdy folks! I have opened the last few ‘Mark Archer’ shows with the instrumental tune found here on Substack called, ‘From Point A to Point Break’, which then moves right into this song as the band quietly meanders in. It's a nice, meditative way for myself, and hopefully the audience, to focus in and engage in what's to follow. We opened the show at the last Riverine this way and I really enjoyed watching the crowd slowly start to realize we had begun and to hear the ambient chatter disappear as the band eventually came in. 

I figured it's about time to record a home version. I layered droning cellos and melodicas on this to get an ethereal dreaminess to it. By barely holding the note with your left hand and holding the bow in a specific angle, you can get a cello to basically sound like it's feeding back, which for me, a primarily acoustic instrument player, is very exciting.  

Special thanks to Damian Caraballo for putting some brushes on a snare to really round everything out. Always the pro, he listened once, did two takes, and called it a day. In and out of the house in under 15 minutes. 

This song came from inherent stubbornness, the need to fix everything by one's self, and the pitfalls that are certain to follow such attitude and behavior.


To Be Free
You felt defeated when you needed a little help
Convinced the world you could beat it by yourself

Oh, careful what you wish for

Reflecting on the loss
And everything it costs

To be free

You once believed you could bend it to your will
The lesson learned in turn was a bitter pill

Oh, careful what you wish for

Reflecting on the loss
And everything it costs

To be free

Reflecting on the cost
And everything you lost

To be free