Today’s song is “Broken Wings” by Greg Cornell & The Cornell Brothers. This Brooklyn-based, four-piece acoustic roots music band plays original songs heavily influenced by bluegrass, country, old-timey and blues.
Cornell’s songs are influenced as much by his literary heroes (Whitman, Emerson, Thoreau) as they are by his musical ones (John Prine, Gram Parson, Levon Helm, Neil Young, 1970’s bluegrass). He writes stories about regret turning to redemption, and holding onto hope through travail.
At its core “Broken Wings” is a love song. A heartfelt, fragile ballad about the desire to find refuge and strength in the arms of a companion and one mans journey to find that comfort.
When asked about the origins and inspiration behind the song Cornell said, “My girlfriend Sarah Johnson wrote the chorus. I filled in the verses with the story of a man who rows and sings every morning on a northern lake; his “holy song” is heard by a white bird in a southern sea, who travels many miles through great hardship to get to him. She arrives, with a broken wing, and he promises to heal and protect her. It’s really about Sarah and me, and all the years we misspent in other relationships, yet we always held out hope.”
“Broken Wings” is off his upcoming sophomore release Come On Home.
This slow blue grass single is a great heartfelt beauty. Fans of John Prine, Gram Parsons, Levon Helm, Neil Young, and Garcia & Grisman will get a kick out of Greg Cornell & The Cornell Brothers music.
Listen below and for more information check out their official website and Facebook page.