MOURNING AIR
From the album 'Portishead'
[4:11]
LYRICS:
Did I see a moment with
you
In a half lit world
I'm frightened to believe
But I must try
If I stumble if I fall
I'm reaching out in this mourning air, ohh
Have I got the strength to ask
Beyond the window
I feel this fear alone
Until we have
Total honesty
If I tremble or fall
I'm reaching out in this mourning air, ohh
Should I feel a moment with you
To softly whisper
I crave nothing else so much
Longing to reveal
Total honesty
I can feel your touch
I'm reaching out in this mourning air, ohh
CREDITS:
Written by
G Barrow/B Gibbons/A Utley
Musicians
A Utley : Guitar & bass
J Cornick : Trombone
COMMENTS:
The first track written
after 'Dummy'. Geoff
One of the oldest tracks, glad it made it. Dave
Written at a happy Christmas time. Adrian
That's a track that we wrote at the end of
'95 and it's been round a long time. It went
on the Bosnian Help album, the Warchild album
and we just thought it was still in keeping
with what we do. It was going to be a
10-track album but we believed it still held
what we wrote it for. Geoff
OTHER VERSIONS:
Mourning Air
(War Child)
Available on 'Help'. Apparently this is a
slightly different version to the one on
"Portishead".
INFORMATION:
On September 4th 1995
some of the best bands and musicians in
Britain entered studios all over Europe.
Their intention was that by the end of the
day they would each have recorded a track for
the 'Help' album, with the aim of raising
money for and focusing attention on the
children caught up in the war in former
Yugoslavia.
Portishead recorded
'Mourning Air' - a track they have played
live but never before committed to tape. Beth
Gibbons said: "We feel invigorated and
empowered to be permitted to contribute to
this project. We are as guilty the next for
allowing ourselves to become so immune to the
casualties of distant wars that seemingly
sanction the sacrifice of children. Can we
really ignore our responsibilities by
condoning this ritual which masquerades as
politics and is no better than a human
slaughterhouse?"
Recording location:
State of Art, Bristol
