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The Kindness of a Friend

Writer's picture: Joanna EdenJoanna Eden

Updated: Jul 7, 2024

Lyrics and thoughts about Joanna's first single from the album 'The Road to Paysandu'


Original cover art by Evi Antonio @eviantonioart


JOANNA'S THOUGHTS ABOUT THE KINDNESS OF A FRIEND

The Kindness of a Friend started from an awkward moment.  It was a gift to a friend.. to appease my guilt when they were really, really generous one Christmas… and I wasn’t!  I decided that when their birthday came around I wouldn’t let my comparative poverty stand in the way.  I would write them a song!  (I’ve always found it much easier writing songs than having money!)


I’ve been on the receiving end of so much generosity and kindness in recent years.  I now know that it definitely comes around so I’m working really hard on being present and staying connected with people (as a natural introvert it’s often easy to let that slip!) and sharing my gifts the best I can! 


I’m so proud that I’ve written a really joyous song!  Generosity of spirit and kindness - what’s not to like, right?   So I took inspiration from records that make me happy.

I wanted to play a keyboard that came right out of a Donny Hathaway record and the sing-along chorus comes out of my love (maybe via Stevie Wonder’s) for Brazilian samba and Cuban salsa coros!  That’s probably why I have 2 South Americans in my band.  



Andrés Lafone on bass grew up on Santana and The Meters and gives that gloriously funky bubbling bass-line that just makes you move!  

Guitarist Guillermo Hill knows just when to be rhythmic and when to let a beautiful jazzy lick fly!  His solos are always groovy events but definitely not without emotion.  They’re always a story.


Both Andrés and Guillermo agree that George Double on drums must have some South American blood.  He has a lightness of touch and rhythmic dynamism that lends itself so well to my more latin flavoured material but he also brings the funk (maybe from his years playing in British fusion legend John Etheridge’s organ trio and touring with UK soul artist Mica Paris).  George does exactly what’s needed.  He sits on the groove so effortlessly and just makes everyone shine!


There’s a place just when the bridge of ‘Kindness’ comes in, which gives me Carpenters vibes.  Just a sudden wave of warmth and good will.  Working on the production with Andrés and the incredible engineer Steve Stewart at the Waves Studio was a joy!… he just mixes so deftly and brings the music and the lyrics together. 


It’s about celebrating the abundance in friendship and for me that’s all wrapped up in the warmth of this recording…  wrapped with a great big, heavy velvet bow by the incredible artist Evi Antonio’s artwork for this single! Thank you all!!


LYRICS

I didn't know what to get ya

To spoil you but I bet you never had a song

So you can sing along

From the very first time I met ya

You've been giving and you know I let ya

Together we're stronger than before

Sometimes you gotta lean upon the kindness of a friend

We'll make it in the end

If only life will lend

The Kindness of a Friend

The holiday can really send ya

Especially when you're feeling tender

From blowing in the cold and winter rain

And watching pouring down the drain

Then somebody comes along to show ya

That to love you is to know you never have a penny to your name

But they can really love you just the same from start to end

And we don't need to spend a dime to comprehend

The kindness of a friend, la la la...

You never know what's gonna hit ya

Cos life is gonna paint your picture

And it don't always draw a sunny day

You don't know what's in store along the way, around the bend

We'll make it in the end

If only life will lend

The kindness of a friend… la la la!



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