We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.
/

about

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s had the experience of walking down the street, feeling miserable because of a terrible thing that’s occurred, only to be admonished by a total stranger to “Cheer up, it might never happen.” You want to grab him (it’s always a him) by the collar, give him a shake and roar “But it has happened! And I’m sad! Okay?”

It was the combination of this phenomenon with my GP’s urging me to take antidepressants as a remedy for grief that made me think I really ought to write a song in defence of sadness. In the old days, there used to be professional mourners to keen and wail at funerals. Now nobody keens or wails any more. Sadness seems to have become a taboo of sorts, in an age when taboos of any kind are thin on the ground. Bring back keening and wailing, I say.

lyrics

Cheer up, it might never happen
Said the stranger in the street
Well, it already did
But that’s life
And loss is nothing new to me
The doctor says I need a little something
To get me through this difficult time
But I’ve got a reason
For my state of mind

Chorus:
It’s only an emotion
There’s no problem here to solve
It’s natural
I’m feeling sad
That’s all

Since when did grief become
An illness to be cured
We don’t wear black any more
We don’t mourn
We don’t talk about it, that’s for sure
We smile like obedient children
And we swallow the pills prescribed
’Cause the power of our anguish
Has us terrified

(Chorus)

And today I saw a funny thing
That made me crack a smile
The colours all seem brighter
And my soul is getting lighter
It just takes a little while

(Chorus)

credits

from I Won​’​t Go Home ’Til Morning, released October 28, 2008
Words & Music by Sarah McQuaid
Sarah – vocals, guitar
Máire Breatnach – fiddle

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Sarah McQuaid image

Sarah McQuaid Penzance, UK

“One of the most instantly recognisable voices in current music … Shades of Joni Mitchell in a jam with Karen Carpenter and Lana Del Rey.” —Neil March, Trust The Doc

“Captivating, unorthodox songwriting … layered satin vocals ... enthralling, harrowing arrangements … a gateway into a true innovator’s soul.” —PopMatters

See sarahmcquaid.com/about for more info. ... more

shows

contact / help

Contact Sarah McQuaid

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

Sarah McQuaid recommends:

If you like Sarah McQuaid, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now