Music Maps — Saturn

*Music Maps is a writing exercise where songs inspire me to write either real or fictional moments — song is always posted below*

“Saturn” is quite possibly one of the most important songs in my adult life. The moment I heard it in my bookstore, I stopped where I was and listened to the whole emotionally moving and sweet song. I have written about SLEEPING AT LAST as a musician before so I won’t get into what Ryan’s music collectively means to me but I’ll focus on this one arrangement.

A new version of “Saturn” was released this week and it features Tim Fain on violin. The song has been re-recorded with new vocals and and most of the cellos have been removed and the booming drums have been taken out. It’s almost what we would call a “stripped down” edition. Ryan simplified the song to boost the violin playing and the emotional feel of the song. It works. Listening to it for the first time was like that moment I had in the bookstore — it felt brand new again and hit me harder than I thought it would.

The thing is, “Saturn” is not a complicated song, structurally. It’s essentially 4 chords with a melody that defines it. It’s somber in tone but the lyrics are incredibly uplifting while a sense of loss haunts every line. The growing urgency in every line Ryan sings as he seems to call out for peace.