Edendale

Album: Death Valley (2020)
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Songfacts®:

  • David Haerle runs the Los Angeles country/bluegrass label CMH Records, which his father founded. He released his first album in 2018, which was followed by Death Valley in 2020. "Edendale" was released as a single ahead of the album.

    "Edendale is the historic name for the section of LA that is now Silver Lake, Los Feliz and Echo Park," Haerle explained. "I began living in this area at the age of 3. For me, Edendale isn't just the physical place but a state of mind. A personal Eden. It's that internal space in our head and heart where we find peace.

    The song questions how we often equate achievement, approval or winning, with happiness and security. I think it's always a good idea to question any inner belief that goes something like, 'I'll be happy when/if... or 'I can relax and be at peace when/if...' Nothing is certain in this world, so learning to accept uncertainty is a real blessing. Sometimes there is a price to be paid for the choices we make. Is it worth it? Another good question to ask.

    In the song's chorus, I'm referring to selling our peace of mind in exchange for false beliefs about the true nature of happiness and contentment. Here's the good news: if we find that we've gotten away from our Edendale, we're welcome back anytime we want."

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