From the recording Delta and Dawn (Band Version)
A departure from Michele's usual live vocals and guitar style, this new recording involves more musicians and production; saxes as whales, for example. Whales "Delta" and "Dawn", stranded up a river, made headline news and inspired this song.
Notes:
"Delta and Dawn" was inspired by a news story about two humpback whales, mother "Delta" and baby "Dawn", who were found swimming up the Sacramento River, California, in 2007. Would they inspire us to save the oceans and their creatures? Would this save our planet? Or would they be just another forgotten news story?
My original version, included in my album, "The Word Is Love", was recorded live with just vocals and guitar. I wondered what a new arrangement of the song would sound like, with more instrumentation and sounds. Then, some musicians agreed to help me. I pictured saxes as whales talking under water. Fortunately, the guys were good enough to play for me anyway. Since I was taking engineering classes at school, I decided to engineer and produce the song myself. But for this I needed big help. A big thank you to Professor Chuck Foley for co-producing. Also to Professor Gil Kaupp for mastering. Also special thanks to second engineers Arthur Chivis and Jared Sanchez. Also thanks to the guys who agreed to play for my recording.
Session Players:
Jamaal Howard Tenor Sax
John Yamamoto Bari Sax
Andrew Silva Guitar
Gyashi Greer Drums
Ron George Bass
Second Engineers:
Arthur Chivis
Jared Sanchez
Co-Producer: Chuck Foley
Mastering Engineer: Gil Kaupp
Vocals Songwriter Producer Engineer: Michele Fairbairn
Lyrics
Delta and Dawn (Band Version)
© 2007 Michele Fairbairn
Delta and Dawn
Will the oceans breathe on?
Delta and Dawn
Were you the ocean’s prayer?
Did we forget that God is there?
Did he send
Delta and Dawn
To make us care?
They did their part.
They touched our heart.
Like the fish that swallowed and spit Jonah up,
Did they wake us up
To clean up
What we’ve messed up?
Delta and Dawn
Will the oceans breathe on?
Delta and Dawn
Did we save
Delta and Dawn?
Or are the whales God’s new song
So the planet,
So the planet
Breathes on?
Instrumental
Delta and Dawn
Will the oceans breathe on?
Delta and Dawn
Were you the ocean’s prayer?
Did we forget that God is there?
Did he send
Delta and Dawn
To make us care?
They did their part.
They touched our heart.
Like the fish that swallowed and spit Jonah up,
Did they wake us up
To clean up
What we’ve messed up?
Delta and Dawn
Will the oceans breathe on?
Delta and Dawn
Did we save
Delta and Dawn?
Or are the whales God’s new song
So the planet,
So the planet
Breathes on?
Delta and Dawn