FAWM: "The Mountain, Me, and You"

The Mountain, Me, and You

Liner Notes

FAWM 2026 / Song 3 Instrument: laminate concert ukulele tuned low GCEA

All of my FAWM songs are drafts but some feel more “done” than others. I’m not settled in how I want to play this one, and the melody may yet change.

See all my originals here: https://tinyurl.com/seligsongs

#ukulele #singersongwriter #personwithukulele #girlwithukulele #acousticonetake #fuc #uke #acoustic #americanasati

Lyrics

The Mountain, Me, and You

Morning on the mountain All the air was grey and blue I tried to hold the birdsong In my breathing while it grew Everything a little damp With night’s long sorrow, too Only ground and sky and dry and dew The mountain, me, and you

I remember everything, I know where lost things go They’re secret in the snow of pages I’m afraid to write They’re on the edge-side of the coin we spin, it’s Heads or tails, you lose - we’re only winning If we somehow get the thing to land upright

Climbing down the slope when Lightning gathers at the peak Headed for the treeline I think I would be a tree But nothing can be copied It will always come out new The ground and sky and dry and dew The mountain, me, and you

My fingertips erode Because I touched my tears For all these years My feet becoming sand, The dust of me Worn down by every hand That’s ever held me here

The ground and sky and dry and dew The mountain, me, and you

Comments

@alicelimoges 2d

WOW. Joni Mitchell vibes, especially the second to last line of the verse. What a beautiful and creative work of art!

@newukenewyork 2d

I am always honored to hear anything of mine has a shade of her. Thank you.

@mizupics 2d

I love it! Am definitely showing the ukulele player in our band!

@newukenewyork 2d

Thank you!!

@fb2studios 3d

this is gorgeous = really evocative and wonderfully performed - go TeamUke!! (i have two myself)

@newukenewyork 3d

Yay! TeamUke learns quickly that ukuleles are much more versatile than TeamNoUke often gives them credit for. ;) Thank you. for listening.

@triads 3d

I really like how you color grade every phrase with your voice, and put dynamics and contrast into the accompanyment on the uke. The story is quite epic also. Perhaps you could develop it more by considering how you color grade your chord choices on the uke - similar to how you use your voice to create shade and light in your storysinging?

@newukenewyork 3d

Thanks. I don't know "color grade" but I think you mean adding notes to the chords, rather than simple major/minor? That's a thought, and I do often do that. I'll play around with it. Thanks very much for the kind words.

@jerrypettit 5d

Is it possible that your voice is even better?!! Amazing!! Really, really nice song and I'm looking forward to hearing a lot more from you! ❤️

@newukenewyork 5d

Thanks, Jerry! I really do appreciate your encouragement and that you take the time to listen. :)

@csecooney 5d

This is so beautiful, so human. I love the new strangeness of the refrain. I love the line about the secret in the snow of the pages.

Do you know the folk singer Anne Hills? She's my friend's godmother, and it occurs to me you might like her album based on the writing of Opal Whitely, called "Beauty Attends." And probably all her stuff.

@newukenewyork 5d

Thank you for the kind words -- and for the recommendation! I'm listening to "Cloudships" by Anne Hills right now, and it's lovely -- I DO like it, as you suspected I might. ;) I'm sure I'll listen to more.

@scootmo 5d

I liked the different rhythms you incorporated. Nice voice and uke playing, I hope to do few songs on uke this year!

@newukenewyork 5d

Thank you very much! I hope you will pull the uke out!

@whispermouse 5d

Nice melancholy start to the B part, with the upward turn at the end of the section. That low tuned G sounds sweet! I also really like the imagery in the third verse with erode/sand/dust - great stuff.

@newukenewyork 5d

Thanks very much for your thoughtful comment. Much appreciated!

@mikeb 5d

Wonderful melody! The switch to minors in the chorus makes it really stand out. Great imagery overall!

@newukenewyork 5d

Thanks so much, Mikeb! I appreciate your response.

@alyxanderjames 5d

Oh wow, these lyrics are so immediately evocative! I don't know that I can pick a favorite, but "I tried to hold the birdsong/In my breathing while it grew" really grabbed me at the top. Lovely all the way through!

@newukenewyork 5d

I really appreciate the response — and I’m glad to know you like that line. Thank you. 🙂

@williamjames 5d

This really has potential galore. I love the first two sections especially. The lyrics are quite nice very thoughtful and meditative.

@newukenewyork 5d

Thank you so much for letting me know your thoughts. 😊

@bobjestes 6d

I’m drawn to the very different rhythms from each different section in the song. Gives some interesting movement. The lyrics are very visual and inviting. I must admit I’ll have to listen to this a few times to get my head around it, but that’s not a bad thing.

@newukenewyork 6d

Thanks for the comment. You know, there are parts of it I'm puzzling over, myself. ;)

@rubberbandage 6d

Wow, gorgeous melodic movement and I just adore the richness of your voice and your vibrato in combination with the ukulele.

I loved this line especially:

But nothing can be copied It will always come out new

Unrelated, your cat is living their best life 😸

@newukenewyork 6d

Thank you so much! I really appreciate the comment and knowing the line that struck you.

Re: that happy cat. We have two and they take turns snoozing in the background of many of my videos -- especially when it's as cold in our apartment as it is this week and I don't get the fuzzy blanket folded up. ;)

@adambeiter 6d

I adore the way that the feel switches to a more syncopated groove for the modulation - what a clever and intuitive choice, and it's reinforced so well by that glorious build into the "somehow" line. Your voice has this super effective balance of folk and classical influences that is just the perfect delivery for an optimistic and nuanced song like this. Not to mention that's one of the coolest designed ukes I've ever seen!

@newukenewyork 6d

Thanks so much for weighing in, because that switch was making me feel very unsettled in this song, and I appreciate that it works for you! And thank you for the kind words about my voice. :) The uke is a fun pineapple one by Ohana that I won in a random drawing!