I have to share a haunting tune worthy of a thoughtful listen.
Izzy Heltai is an indie/Americana-folk singer/songwriter from North Hampton, Massachusetts. When I opened up my email and listened to this song, I melted at the woeful, contemplative vocals, simple strumming guitar, random singular strikes of a piano, and the powerful underscoring horns. It immediately grabbed my attention, but with repeated plays, I honed in on the lyrics.
We bring so much of ourselves into a relationship. Who we are should enhance the connection. In some cases, the baggage of our negative inner voices can lead to a division. How do you separate those painful inner voices, from your longing heart?
Izzy Heltai explores his perspective and it is heartbreaking, but beautiful.
Izzy Heltai-Marching Song
“Maybe I said
that I don’t want you
Maybe I’ve been kind of difficult
to talk to
Maybe I shouted
or maybe just stared
I didn’t notice
if I did
On and on a marching song gets sung inside my head
I’m walking out the door now
Feels like only yesterday, I learned that I could be here
now here I go leaving
Did I not speak
when you approached me
I forget that I can talk sometimes freely
Feel like I’m drowning
dragging you down
and if I say nothing
you’ll stay on dry land
On and on a marching song gets sung inside my head
I’m walking out the door now
Feels like only yesterday I learned that I could be here
now here I go leaving, again
Ooh again
I couldn’t tell you on the telephone
when you picked up I put it down, I don’t know why
I couldn’t tell you through the telephone
that I’m not myself, I’m not myself
anymore
Oooh ooh anymore
On and on a marching song gets sung inside my head
I’m walking out the door now
Feels like only yesterday I learned that I could be here
now here I go leaving”
Heltai is releasing his latest EP, Only Yesterday on April 12th. It has the same powerful impact as “Marching Song”, despite only four songs, and its quick 15 minute play. I longed for more, but settled for repeated listens.
The promotional materials conveyed,
“his goal was to capture the complexity simple instrumentation can lend to lyrically rich folk songs. ‘Only Yesterday’ is a collection of songs that both pays homage to Izzy’s traditional folk influences and reflects his desire to craft fresh melodies for a contemporary audience, representing where he’s been as well as where he’s going.”
Hope you’ll give him a listen. Does his music hit you hard, like it hits me?
