RNZ Music is proud to present the brand new single and video from Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders, ‘Stolen River’, from their collaborative album Word Gets Around, which is out today!
‘Stolen River’ is the third single from Lyttleton bluesman Delaney Davidson and country legend Barry Saunders’ album Word Gets Around, which out today.
The video was directed by Christchurch filmmaker Martin Sagadin, who's created stunning clips for artists including Aldous Harding, Marlon Williams and more.
Barry and Delaney will be touring New Zealand throughout May.
Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders | Word Gets Around tour:
- Auckland, Friday, May 3 – Wine Cellar
- Auckland, Saturday, May 4 – Wine Cellar
- Leigh, Sunday, May 5 – Sawmill Café
- Paekakariki, Friday, May 10 – St Peters Hall
- Wellington, Saturday, May 11 – Meow
- Christchurch, Friday, May 17 – Blue Smoke
- Dunedin Saturday, May 18 – The Cook
Tickets available at Under the Radar.
Barry wrote ‘Stolen River’ after going out to Selwyn (just outside of Christchurch) where he grew up.
He saw someone looking at the dry and depleted river bed. They commented, "Looks like someone has stolen the river."
This music video is a response to the way Barry and Delaney believe things have been heading for a while now – the feeling that our natural resources are disappearing in a "Faustian type deal".
"By hoodwinking and short-term thinking, we are setting ourselves up for a major fall," Delaney says.
Barry and Delaney met in a church. They were soundchecking for Marlon Williams and Tami Neilson’s the Churches Tour.
Barry was playing old gospel songs and Delaney his signature blues trance thump.
The connection was immediate.
After touring New Zealand together a number of times, they’ve recorded an album.
“It felt like something that just needed to happen. It felt right,” Saunders says.
“I was just throwing these words and ideas at Delaney and watching them bounce off his head.”
Davidson agrees, “Yes it was all pretty quick, these songs just started appearing out of the kitchen air and we were grabbing them as fast as we could.
“It has a realness and truth to it. An immediacy that is hard to find in music. Real songs about real things.”
‘Stolen River’ Lyrics:
Are we happy happy now
We got all the money in a sack
Whatever’s done somehow
Hard to believe it’ll every be comin’ back
Used to run right through our days
From the white mountain to the sea
Hey lets go down to the stolen river
Look out across the stolen river
You won’t see your reflection there anymore
Some things just happen in slow motion
Yeah they just creep up bit by bit
And while you’re sitting on your hands
Next thing you’re up to your eyes in it
Used to run right through our days
From the white mountain to the sea
Hey lets go down to the stolen river
Look out across the stolen river
You won’t see your reflection there anymore
Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders Photo: Supplied
