there are always brazilian boys to discover
I’m freshly home from the radiant heat of Austin, feeling simultaneously drained and energized, emptied and full. As I drove home from the airport today on a suddenly warm spring day, all the windows in the car open and the plains wide around me, I played this song on repeat for about an hour (because I do that).
For as many times as I have heard this song, it hit me fresh today; it sums up everything I am feeling right now, a celebration of long days left to breathe and breathe deeply. It explodes with an irrefutable joy, from the opening intricate handclap percussion to the final chimey tones that sound like stars coming out one at a time. The vibrancy of the string section threatens to overwhelm, and the bright golden horn cadences sound like a mariachi band coming to take me away to an adventure.
Borders can’t keep me if Rio will have me.
Rio – Hey Marseilles
Silhouette seasons and faraway reasons are all I have now
borders can’t keep me if Rio will have me, to dance and to drown
take to the harbor like sails to set
sleep for the evening and failed regret
hold on to skylines of pale and cold
clouds on horizons and love to grow old
On the way I will go
where the days left to breathe
are not gone
are still long
I am traveling on
Love is a hazard in lower Manhattan
you cannot escape, and mustn’t be saddened
by men who abandon your eyes for another’s;
there are always Brazilian boys to discover
So set your sights straight now and don’t forget pain
drink ’til the morning becomes yesterday
think of the shorelines you have yet to see
men who will hold you with eyes you believe
Hey Marseilles are from Seattle, and have a superb album out called To Travels and Trunks. I have a huge crush.
Name: Heather Browne
….it’s sorta refreshing to know I’m not the only one who has single song drives from time to time with songs I’ve heard a million times. I think of it like getting re-acquainted with an old friend and learning once more why you forged a friendship in the first place.
Your words on the song are spot on. That song is just so refreshing each time I hear it.
Adam — March 21, 2011 @ 8:16 pm
ahh, I had this song on repeat earlier today as well! funny coincidence. it’s just so perfect for the warm weather and feeling adventurous.
(fantastic blog, by the way. your taste is amazing!)
Jess — March 21, 2011 @ 9:24 pm
OMGOMGOMG I have found my soul sister. I found Your stomp/clap mix and when I started my bi-annual 2 minute jog i scrolled through the songs and 80 percent of those bad-boys were already on my ‘shake the booty out of your pants’ mix. Where have you been all my life????. Thank you for living. Thank you for promoting good music. xoxo.
Kris
Kris — March 22, 2011 @ 3:08 pm
Check out their NPR Tiny Desk video podcast if you haven’t seen it yet. Very good. I bought the album a few months ago. I enjoy your blog.
Richard — March 22, 2011 @ 9:06 pm
This band is really a breath of fresh air!! Hadn’t heard of them till I read your blog. Watched the Tiny Desk Video and I’m hooked.
Great blog…keep up the good work.
Jonno — March 24, 2011 @ 3:46 pm
[...] Hey Marseilles apparently knows how to get straight to my heart. Starting with some hand claps, going into strums, violin, piano, and eventually breaking out into full band? It’s like a summer salad that’s topped with every single thing you could possibly want from the salad bar. This song is definitely going to make it on some driving-to-work playlists. Spotted at Fuel/Friends. [...]
Hey Marseilles – “Rio” | Sunset In The Rearview — April 10, 2011 @ 3:50 pm