Renowned for her highly evocative original tracks, Middlesbrough’s folk singer-songwriter, Amelia Coburn, releases ‘Please Go Gently’. Now, to say this single managed to instantly stop me in my tracks would be an understatement.
From its first second, Amelia’s raw emotions are palpable. With ukulele in the foreground as well as a piano part courtesy of Harriet Bradshaw, the new release establishes a heartbreaking letter to a lost loved one.
Through ethereal vocals, Amelia delivers one of her ‘most personal and honest songs’ yet. Beginning with ‘By the time you’re reading this, I hope you feel no pain’, heart wrenching lyricism captures an experience so private and intimate,but sadly so universal.
The mesmerising lyric effortlessly communicates the words you wish you could say to someone who always meant, and will always mean so much. The beautiful reflection of love and loss captures words you crave to be able to say, providing comfort to those passed, as well as reassurance for your own mind.
Amongst the pain and the heartbreak, I think we can all relate to just hoping that the person you love so deeply is fortunate enough to pass ‘gently’, longing that the great sadness of their loss can be wrapped up in a blanket of their peace as ‘relief is found is silver lined clouds’.
Captivating right up to the end, Amelia aptly closes the track with ‘My heart has sung to you my love, now it’s goodbye/ Please go gently into that night/ Please go gently into that night’, leaving a long lasting impression as its words resonate so widely.
And while I don’t think there are enough words or superlatives to do this release the justice it so greatly deserves, it’s undoubtedly the most beautiful tribute to the loving memory of Brian Johnston, and a track I so desperately needed to hear.