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.
Easy Come Easy Go
Great Lake Swimmers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what they say
When they're about to go broke
So try not to choke
Put your arms around me and don't ever let go
Went to see the priest
He was singing the blues
Glossing in songs, and spinning the noose
Polishing coffins, and running out fears
Easy come and easy go
That's what they say
When they're about to go broke
So try not to choke
Put your arms around me and don't ever let go
Call it chance, call it choice
Words at stake, on the breath of your voice
Spinning the magic, as they arrive
Its not fatal, when it's a shallow dive
Easy come and easy go
That's what they say
When they're about to go broke
So try not to choke
Put your arms around me and don't ever let go
The song "Easy Come Easy Go" by the Great Lake Swimmers is a beautiful ode to the fleeting and uncertain nature of life. The opening lines, "Easy come and easy go, that's what they say when they're about to go broke," set the tone for this melancholic yet contemplative song. The chorus repeats this phrase, urging the listener to hold on and not let go, as if to say that in a world of impermanence, it is the moments of connection and love that truly matter.
The second verse takes a bit of a darker turn, introducing religious imagery with the phrase "went to see the priest, he was singing the blues." The priest is "glossing in songs and spinning the noose," which could be interpreted as a commentary on the hypocrisy and corruption that can sometimes be found in religious institutions. However, the verse also speaks to the beauty in the mundane tasks of life, such as "tending the gardens, gathering leaves, and polishing coffins." These seemingly insignificant actions can hold deep meaning and impart a sense of purpose and connection to the world around us.
The bridge of the song introduces the idea of choice and consequence, saying "call it chance, call it choice, words at stake, on the breath of your voice." The line "it's not fatal, when it's a shallow dive" suggests that risks can be taken, but it is important to be aware of the potential consequences before taking the plunge.
Overall, "Easy Come Easy Go" is a powerful reminder to hold on to the people and moments that matter, even in the face of life's uncertainties and impermanence.
Line by Line Meaning
Easy come and easy go
People say that things can go well one minute and terribly wrong the next
That's what they say
This phrase is a common saying that suggests that people can quickly fall from grace
When they're about to go broke
When people are running out of money or resources, they say this phrase to cover up their fears
So try not to choke
Don't give up, even when the going gets tough
Put your arms around me and don't ever let go
Stay close to the person you love and don't let them go, even when times are hard
Went to see the priest
The singer went to a religious figure for guidance and advice
He was singing the blues
Even this religious figure was having a hard time and expressing sadness
Glossing in songs, and spinning the noose
The priest was using language to distract from his own troubles and was getting tangled up in his own words
Tending the gardens, gathering leaves
The priest was also taking care of more mundane daily tasks
Polishing coffins, and running out fears
He was also dealing with the inevitability of death and trying to come to terms with it
Call it chance, call it choice
Life is full of random events, but we also have some control over our own fate
Words at stake, on the breath of your voice
The way we communicate and speak can have a significant impact on the outcome of situations
Spinning the magic, as they arrive
Using words to create illusions or hiding the truth
Its not fatal, when it's a shallow dive
Sometimes things may not be as terrible as they first appear, and we can learn from our mistakes without catastrophic consequences
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Takin' it EZ with DZ
This is one of the best bands out there! Highly, highly underrated and will probably never get the recognition they deserve. They are amazing.
Jordan Smith
Its the natural progression of the band! They can't remain the same forever. It's the same quality they've had since 2005 just seven years in advancement.
HetLevenuiteenDa
I've been listening the new tune from the moment it came out on Youtube, I guess over a thousand views are just mine. Gotta love The Great Lake Swimmers. Can't wait for the whole album! ... Love from Chile <3
Shala Taebi
A Canadian Pride. Love the violin and her haunting voice "put your arms around me and never let go".
Quasimotown
This is one of the greatest songs Fleetwood Mac never made. Heard it on the radio and thought it was a faithful cover of a Christine McVie song. I'm definitely due for a reassessment of Great Lake Swimmers catalog.
Carmen
Tony, keep putting out music like this! you are the best!!
Jerzy Małkowski
Niezłe - czuję relaks!!!
nickelfair
Can't wait for their new album!
CanadianMaid
Just discovered this group. So good!
J H F
Love how they've progressed. Love the old stuff too. Glad they picked up the pace :)