Lori:
Summer of 2020. We had gone several months apart from seeing Joe, which was a bizarre thing in itself, never mind the general chaos in the world. We decided we should start getting together once a week to take a walk in nature and do a bit of jamming afterward in the laboratory. No pressure to achieve anything other than rediscovering one another with instruments in hand.
The music happened during our first meeting. It had the essence of a new song. I took a turn at writing a melody, along with some words about our baby girl, Ellie. The sounds seemed to be asking for words of love, which came pouring out. I handed things off to Kenny, and after a few hours, I gave a listen to his first vocal. It stunned me, how he captured the essence of being a father through the message in this song and the tone of his voice. I shed a few tears, and when I emerged from the lab, I saw that he had as well. If you are a parent (or a child!) maybe you will relate to the sincerity in this song.
We recorded this take in February 2023 with an aim to release the final version today.
Ellie lent her vocal talents with some very sweet backing vocals, a time capsule of joy.
Kenny played a guitar made by his dad. The tree was an American Chestnut.
Artwork shows Elile with dear pup Jessie
Today is April 5, 2023, Ellie's 10th birthday and we say, HAPPY DAY to our only child. We love you with everything we have.
lyrics
Hey tiny dreamer, looks like for today it’s just you and me
I hope you don’t mind
Get your shoes on girl, let’s get out of this old dusty house
We’ll walk in the shade of the trees and I’ll tell you just what you mean to me
You bring me life, you bring me light
take away my failing sight
I may have been jaded but the feeling’s faded since you’ve come along
Only Child, Only Child, you’re my only child
I can’t be without you now
By my side, by my side, need you by my side
I never wanna let you go
And when we play, I am relieved
You make me care, I still believe
And when they try to make us grieve
They’re never gonna hurt us now, never gonna find us at all
You bring me life, you bring me light
take away my failing sight
I may have been jaded but the feeling’s faded since you’ve come along
credits
released April 5, 2023
Joe Daley: Drums and percussion
Kenny Hohman: Dad-o-caster and lead vocal
Lori Friday: Rickenbacker bass, synthesizer and backing vocal
Ellie Friday-Hohman: Backing vocal
we are family. not by blood, though we've shed some. we have been making music together since we were kids, and travelled
thousands of miles in vans, planes and trains. we live in Troy, NY, where the mayor gave us our very own holiday. our music is rock, or electric blues, or power pop, or psychedelic. we have a deep love for live performance and playing in the moment....more