Sword From The Stone

Album: Songs For The Drunk And Broken Hearted (2021)
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Songfacts®:

  • Mike "Passenger" Rosenberg recorded most of Songs For The Drunk And Broken Hearted pre-coronavirus at his Black Crow Studios in his hometown of Brighton. Wounded with a broken heart after the breakdown of a long-term relationship, he poured his pain into the record.

    Rosenberg was going to release the album in early 2020, but the coronavirus lockdown put paid to his plans. The newly single musician began writing more songs for the record, including this melancholic tune where he addresses his ex, wondering how she's getting on.
  • Passenger inquires in the second verse:

    How are you feeling, sweetheart?
    Are you moving on?
    Are you sleeping ok
    Or do the nights go on and on?


    Rosenberg told American Songwriter that being locked down fueled the song's emotional core. "There's a real isolation and desperation to it," he said. "Being separated from people and being on your own in a way that none of us have really experienced before."
  • During the chorus, Rosenberg admits to finding it the single life difficult and how he is "up and down like a yo-yo." He adds that he's tried to handle being on his own but "can't pull the sword from the stone." Speaking about the contrast between the chorus and verses, Rosenberg said:

    "What I think is really powerful about this song is the verses are very conversational. It's almost like you're writing a letter to someone or speaking to them on the phone. It's almost like small talk. Then, the chorus is this big explosion of honesty. The juxtaposition between the two is a really powerful thing."
  • Passenger also recorded an alternative version for the Patchwork EP. Written and recorded during the COVID lockdown, all profits from the record are going to The Trussell Trust, who support a network of food banks across the United Kingdom.
  • Mike Rosenberg's friendship with Ed Sheeran dates back to when they were both aspiring teenage musicians. Passenger has been the support act for many of Sheeran's concerts over the years, including in 2019 during his Divide tour. They also previously collaborated on an acoustic version of Passenger's 2014 track "Hearts On Fire."
  • When Rosenberg played this song to Sheeran, his pal was very excited about it and suggested he could produce a version that would work as a radio single. The result is the "Shape Of You" hitmaker's debut remix under the alias "Gingerbread Mix." Sheeran created his first-ever effort as a DJ in partnership with producer Joe Rubel, who played on several Divide album tracks.
  • All profits from the Songs For The Drunk And Broken Hearted album tracks are going to Ecologi and Eden Reforestation Project, a nonprofit organization that works in developing countries to rebuild natural landscapes destroyed by deforestation.

Comments: 3

  • Pearl Gamede from South AfricaThis song remind of my Man whom we are in long distance relationship, I love it so much .
  • Lisa W From Austin Tx from UsaI just lost my husband after an 8+ yr cancer journey. I feel like we are talking to one another in these lyrics. He from above and me from below our earths sky.
  • Enya from BelgiumMy question is how beautiful can music be? Whereas this interpretation is so beautiful, I had a very different one. For me this song is a conversation between a grandchild and one of their grandparents. The first verses the grandparents asks how his/her grandchild is. The grandchild answers in a way that is very normal, he/she feels fine and then he or she is not because they feel the emptiness of their grandparent’s passing. Then next verses the grandchild asks them how the folks are and how his/her brother is, probably because the grandchild believes they’re reunited now.
    This song has helped me the last few weeks to help process the loss of my grandfather. Where I’m fine and then I’m not and the time flies but at the same time it’s standing still.
    It’s proof that so many people can interpret a song different from others.
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