Darling I Need You (original) by Britt Arnesen music video

This original song, Darling I Need You, didn't make the final cut for my 2021 album Move in Closer. I've decided to publish it here, with a montage of scenes from how we kept music alive here in Montana during the lockdowns.

On this recording, you hear me on piano, acoustic guitar, and vocals. Ron Meissner on electric guitar and Rosie Cerquone on drums. I can't seem to remember whether it was Ron or I who played the electric bass track. Brian Hazard mixed and mastered.

In the starting images, you see the community jewel of Missoula: Free Cycles. This is where my team worked together through social distancing, masking, remote work, and recording across separate rooms with cables through doors and out windows. You see my friend Elijah Jalil, whose album Nothing to Say is, in truth, a companion album to Move in Closer.

The rest of the images are various gigs from the past couple of years as we recover from the rug pull that covid-19 was to musicians. The mandolin player is Matt Sircely from Port Townsend who played the amazing mandolin track on Thunder's Daughter. Then there's my other pals from Pinegrass, Jack Mauer (banjo and dobro) and John Joyner (fiddle). They played on tracks too. I can't wait to record with these and other folks again.

Thank you to Time Machine Media and A. Prince photography for the beautiful images at the beginning of the video. Thanks to the State of Montana for the arts grant that helped pay my studio rent during the shutdown. I made excellent use of that time, and have a lot to show for it, including this piece of music I am presenting now.

I invite you to support my work by following and engaging. Let's grow together.

-Britt

DARLING I NEED YOU
words and music by Britt Arnesen

Am I calling on you, God
Or are you calling on me
Have I been a fool, God
Thinking I know what freedom means
I gave you my heart
To do as you please
Please, darling I need you
Do you need me too?

Love is a flower
At the moment of bloom
But yours lasts forever
Your colors they stay good as new
Paint me in sunshine
All yellow and blue
'Cause darling I need you
And you need me too

Walk and breathe
From your palm I eat
From your cup I drink
Your grace completes me
Darling I need you
And there's no other way

Flow like a river
Wash out my sin
I've been battered by seas, God
My tide's closing in
Give me a boat, God
Won't you build it for two (me and you)
Darling I need you
And you need me too