Fifty-five years ago, Marilyn Bell took a plunge and traversed Lake Ontario. Back then, being a Great Lake swimmer was a big deal; now, it's an astonishing physical feat taken for granted. It's a rapidly forgotten part of history, like a faded map or a tattered photograph. Or a lost channel.
Tony Dekker's Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world - though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still "mining for light in the dark wells," still "tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design."
The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years—with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen — Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.
Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It's easy to hear why. His voice doesn't need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it.
To record LOST CHANNELS, Dekker and company went upstream on the St. Lawrence River to the Thousand Islands, halfway between Toronto and Montreal, a historic and picturesque area that straddles the Canadian/American border, and has been designated a World Biosphere Region. Great Lake Swimmers arrived at the invitation of fan and Thousand Islands photographer/regional historian Ian Coristine (www.1000islandsphotoart.com).
Coristine was able to arrange for the band to record in a number of acoustically unique spaces within the region, including one of the area's most storied landmarks, Singer Castle on Dark Island, near Hammond, NY (www.singercastle.com); as well as the historical Brockville Arts Centre (www.brockvilleartscentre.com); and at St. Brendan’s Church in Rockport, ON.
Additional recording took place at Halla and the Lincoln County Social Club in Toronto and the album was woven into a cohesive whole at the House Of Miracles, in London, ON, with long-time Great Lake Swimmers collaborator, Andy Magoffin.
That the album was created in both rural splendour and urban Ontario makes perfect sense for a band that has always navigated the parallels between natural and urban rhythms. River imagery recurs throughout LOST CHANNELS; the title of the album is a reference to a certain passage of the St. Lawrence, close to the recording locale, where a reconnaissance boat from a British warship went mysteriously missing in 1760. There’s no specific reference to the incident in the lyrics, though there are plenty of night skies, howling winds and raging rivers in almost every song which captures an elusive sense of mystery. As the album closes, Dekker sings the final lyrics—“Like the unstoppable river… Your beauty is gentle/ but forceful, and fast”—before the band ends on a suspended note. There is no resolution there, only eternity, a continuum, an endless river.
LOST CHANNELS also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), with appearances by Erin Aurich on violin; Mike Olsen on cello; and Paul Aucoin on vibraphone; along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on “Everything Is Moving So Fast” and Bob Egan on pedal steel.
Four albums into an already-rich and storied career, Great Lake Swimmers’ live show has won them ever-expanding audiences in the United States and Europe, and of course their native Canada. In 2008 Great Lake Swimmers shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Feist, Bela Fleck & The Sparrow Quartet, Hayden, Goldfrapp, Bill Callahan of Smog, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.
Your Rocky Spine
Great Lake Swimmers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the shapes that your body makes
That your body makes
That your body makes, that your body makes
And the mountains said I will find you here
They whispered the snow and the leaves in my ear
I traced my finger along your trails
And your body was the map, I was lost in it
Falling over your rocky spine
The glaciers made you and now you're mine
Falling over your rocky spine
The glaciers made you and now you're mine
I was moving across your frozen veneer
The sky was dark but you were clear
Could you feel my footsteps?
And would you shatter, would you shatter? Would you?
With your soft fingers between my claws
Like purity against resolve
I could tell then there we were formed from the clay
And came from the rocks for the earth to display
They told me to be careful up there
Where the wind rose up there, in this rage through your hair
They told me to be careful up there
Where the wind rages through your hair
The song 'Your Rocky Spine' by Great Lake Swimmers is a beautiful ode to nature and the power it holds over human emotions. The lyrics talk about the singer's exploration of a lake, its surroundings and the beauty of the mountains that surround it. The singer feels lost in the vastness of the landscape, but finds comfort in the curves and shapes of the body of their companion. It is mentioned that the mountains themselves help in guiding the singer, suggesting that nature can be a guide and comfort to those who seek it.
The second verse mentions how the singer is treading carefully over the frozen surface of the lake. The stark contrast between the dark sky and the clear surface of the lake exemplifies how nature can be both beautiful and powerful. The singer wonders if their companion would shatter under their footsteps, further emphasizing the fragility of nature. The line "Like purity against resolve" indicates the struggle between man-made structures and the beauty of nature. It is said that humans are made of the same material as rocks and clay, and therefore are products of the same earth.
The repeated chorus talks about falling over the rocky spine of the landscape, which was made by glaciers and is now the singer's possession. It signifies the power of nature, how it can shape and mold the landscape but ultimately belongs to no one. The singer also seeks caution from the wind, which represents the unpredictable and uncontrollable aspects of nature. Overall, 'Your Rocky Spine' highlights the connection between humans and nature, how we come from the same earth and are a part of its beauty and power.
Line by Line Meaning
I was lost in the lakes
I was feeling lost and unsure of my way while surrounded by bodies of water.
And the shapes that your body makes
I was drawn to and captivated by the physical contours and features of the landscape.
That your body makes
The previous line is repeated to emphasize the allure of the scenery.
And the mountains said I will find you here
I felt like the towering mountains were guiding me and leading me towards a certain destination.
They whispered the snow and the leaves in my ear
I heard the gentle rustling of the natural elements around me, like the falling snow and leaves, as if they were trying to communicate a hidden message.
I traced my finger along your trails
I followed the paths and routes carved out by the terrain, using my finger to feel my way along.
And your body was the map, I was lost in it
I felt like the landscape itself was a map, and I was so absorbed by it that I lost track of where I was going.
Falling over your rocky spine
I stumbled and fell over the jagged, rocky peaks that make up the landscape.
The glaciers made you and now you're mine
The glaciers that shaped the land are now a part of me, and I have a strong connection to this environment.
I was moving across your frozen veneer
I was traversing the surface layer of the landscape, which was covered in ice and snow.
The sky was dark but you were clear
Even though the sky was overcast or gloomy, the natural environment remained vivid and distinct.
Could you feel my footsteps?
I wondered if the landscape was aware of my presence and movement within it.
And would you shatter, would you shatter? Would you?
I questioned whether the landscape was fragile or delicate, and whether my actions could harm or damage it.
With your soft fingers between my claws
I felt like I was softly and delicately touching the landscape, even though I was wearing gloves or had other barriers between my skin and the environment.
Like purity against resolve
The contrast between the pristine nature of the landscape and my own inner turmoil or determination is stark and noticeable.
I could tell then there we were formed from the clay
I felt like both myself and the landscape were made from the same natural materials, like clay or earth.
And came from the rocks for the earth to display
Both myself and the landscape have emerged from the rocky materials of the planet, and exist in order to represent or showcase the natural wonders of the world.
They told me to be careful up there
I received warnings or cautions from others about venturing too far into the landscape, particularly in dangerous or difficult areas.
Where the wind rose up there, in this rage through your hair
I encountered strong winds that blew through the landscape like a powerful and raging force, creating a sense of wildness and unpredictability.
They told me to be careful up there
Once again, I was cautioned to be mindful of my surroundings while exploring and experiencing the environment.
Where the wind rages through your hair
The repeated line reinforces the sensation of being surrounded by the natural world, and the tumultuous winds that can whip through it and shape it over time.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANTHONY DEKKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind