Mary Barlow

Artist's Statement

outfall - noun; the place where a river or drain empties into a a sea or lake

This song was inspired ultimately by guilt, and my wanting to take responsibility for how I have contributed negatively to the environment. I often personify objects in my original songs. This one was particularly special, because I wrote it as if I was speaking to mother earth. I learn in the song that she feels disconnected from who she once was at the very beginning when she was thriving and healthy. Now, she is dying. There is a part in the song where I talk about how we as a disposable society have made it nearly impossible to revive her. In other words, she has no outfall, and we have built a damn that keeps our earth from ever being the same as she once was. I hope that this song can help people cultivate more empathy for our planet, turn away from a disposable society, and use the resources we already have an abundance of to help our mother planet recognize herself again.

It’s where the river drains into the sea.
That’s where I find distance between you and me.

Cause the water’s too deep for me to see.
Where I’ll go and who I’m gonna be.

Cause the river it flows, and needs somewhere to go,
But what if it’s scared, it will overflow.
And the river it knows, it needs somewhere to go,
But what if it’s scared?

As it searches for an outfall.
Searches for its outfall.
And in the end I see the damn I’ve built
...And damn I know it’s my fault.
And I’m searching for an outfall
Searching for an outfall
And in the end I see the damn I’ve built
...and damn I know it’s my fault.
I need an outfall

It’s safe to say that I’ve been
waiting and wishing and
way too over-prepared

Im the fancy champagne that sits in the closet
Who forgot to be opened and shared
Collecting dust and rust and losing trust
In the people who told her she’s good.
And that she could.

As it searches for an outfall.
Searches for its outfall.
And in the end I see the damn
...I’ve built and know it’s my fault.
And I’m searching for an outfall
Searching for an outfall

where the river meets the sea.
That’s where I introduce me to me,
Who I am, and who I’m scared to be