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Nathaniel Rateliff
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Julie Davis
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James Han
Early Spring Till
Nathaniel Rateliff Lyrics
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Best to land, not to crash, pulling out too late
Call on everyone you ever knew, and plead
Well I've been the bum who's underfed
I've been the one who should've said
Maybe I'm wrong and I've always been that way
Have you fallen from where glory sprouts
Are you cut off in fields and pressed down
Like an early spring till that don't come around
I think I've been there
I think I'm waiting too long
You tried this panting and poured
You set a course to cross me out
Are you tired and broken, once so stout
Are you full of the feeling, don't doubt it when it's gone
I could cut off this reel and leave now
I could fill up with air and scream so loud
I think I'm going to
collapse
I think I'm waiting too long
Nathaniel Rateliff's song "Early Spring Till" is a powerful expression of regret, self-reflection, and desperation. The lyrics describe a person who feels lost, disconnected, and unsure of themselves. As the songwriter describes the feeling of falling, he reflects on how important it is to land properly in order to avoid crashing. The song suggests that we should reach out to others for help and that sometimes our pride can prevent us from doing so. The chorus speaks to the feeling of being stuck, unable to grow or move forward, like an early spring until that doesn't come around. In the end, the songwriter recognizes that he is on the verge of collapse, but he's still waiting too long to reach out for help, and it may be too late.
One interesting fact about the song is that Nathaniel Rateliff wrote it while he was in the middle of the pandemic. He recorded it remotely with producer Brad Cook, and the video was made with a socially-distanced film crew. The song was released on February 26, 2021, around the time that Covid-19 cases were surging in the United States.
Another interesting fact is that "Early Spring Till" is one of the first songs that Nathaniel Rateliff has released since he started focusing on his solo career. He is best known for his work with the band Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, but in recent years he has been branching out on his own.
The song was featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered" podcast, where it received a lot of attention and praise. Listeners were particularly drawn to the raw emotion in Nathaniel Rateliff's voice and the powerful lyrics that describe the feeling of being lost and alone.
According to an interview with Rolling Stone, Nathaniel Rateliff wrote the song after he had a dream that he was drowning in a river. He woke up feeling like he was trapped and needed to reach out for help.
The song has a haunting quality to it, with a slow, melancholy melody that matches the intensity of the lyrics. The use of strings adds to the emotional impact of the song, and Nathaniel Rateliff's voice is both powerful and vulnerable.
"Early Spring Till" is a song that speaks to many people who are struggling to find their way through difficult times. Its message is one of hope and resilience, reminding us that even when we feel lost, we can still reach out for help and find our way back to solid ground.
Chords:
Verse: F#m, D, A, E (x2)
Chorus: F#m, D, A, E (x2)
Bridge: D, Bm, E, A (x2)
Line by Line Meaning
I was out there missing steps, when you swung around to me
I was stumbling in life, but you entered my world and caught my attention.
Best to land, not to crash, pulling out too late
It's important to make wise choices and not wait until it's too late to act.
Call on everyone you ever knew, and plead
When in need, it's natural to seek help from friends and acquaintances.
Well I've been the bum who's underfed
I've experienced times of poverty and hunger.
I've been the one who should've said
I've regretted not speaking up when I should have.
Maybe I'm wrong and I've always been that way
Perhaps I'm flawed and have always been that way.
Are you tied to your field, wrung out
Are you feeling stuck in a situation where you've exhausted all your energy?
Have you fallen from where glory sprouts
Have you lost the spark that once led to success and happiness?
Are you cut off in fields and pressed down
Are you weighed down and oppressed by your current circumstances?
Like an early spring till that don't come around
Like the hope of a new beginning in spring that never materializes.
I think I've been there
I can relate to those feelings and experiences.
I think I'm waiting too long
I believe I'm procrastinating and delaying my progress.
You tried this panting and poured
You attempted to exert yourself, but it didn't yield the desired results.
You set a course to cross me out
You made a deliberate decision to exclude or harm me.
Are you tired and broken, once so stout
Are you exhausted and defeated, even though you were once strong?
Are you full of the feeling, don't doubt it when it's gone
Are you experiencing intense emotions that you know won't last forever?
I could cut off this reel and leave now
I could end this cycle and move on right now.
I could fill up with air and scream so loud
I could release my emotions and express myself without holding back.
I think I'm going to
I'm inclined to take action and make a change.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: NATHANIEL DAVID RATELIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind