With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, sons and daughters everywhere are looking for unique ways to say thanks to their moms. Jazz singer/storyteller Kate Schutt found a way to honor her late mother who lost her life to ovarian cancer in 2015. As her mother’s caregiver for nearly five years, Schutt wrote several songs about the emotional roller coaster she and her mother went through. Schutt compiled these songs in her upcoming album, ‘Bright Nowhere’ – the title inspired by Seamus Heaney’s poem, “Clearances” – scheduled for release on April 30th, and today PopWrapped are delighted to premiere “Roll the Stone Back” from the collection.
Asked about the inspiration to and for the song, Schutt shares: “We all have a picture of a friend or a loved one that perfectly captures who they are—their spirit, their personality. I’m not talking about a portrait, nothing posed or precious. It’s a snapshot, usually. They’re mid-laugh, head thrown back, or maybe they’re jumping off a wall, or in the midst of a silly dance. You see the photo and it’s as if you see their soul.”
She adds: “I wrote “Roll the Stone Back” about a picture I have of my mom that’s like that. The camera captured her real self, as the lyrics note: “that look, that love it’s so damn true. With a light so bright it’s so damn you. Damn you!” And I say “damn you” because I penned the song after she died. Every time I see that picture of her I miss her so damn much. Damn her for going and dying on me! The chorus refers to the biblical story of resurrection. There’s a way in which every time I see that photograph, she’s not dead. She’s alive. Again.”
Despite the downhearted subject matter, “Roll the Stone Back” is an uplifting track. A rousing choir, confident vocals, ebullient instrumentals and handclaps accompany Schutt’s lyrics about fond memories of her mother’s smile, while jazzy piano riffs add more exuberance to the track.
Give “Roll the Stone Back” a listen below and for more information on Kate Schutt, visit her website, give her page a like on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Header photo credit: Kisha Bari.
