“When We Go” by Freedom Baby – A Song Review

          There is an irony to a song in which the lyrics explore death while the arrangement brings the song to life. That describes “When We Go” by Toronto’s Freedom Baby. The track begins with a lonely ukulele. The intro is layered, as first one and then another trumpet blanket the ukulele before percussion enters. But the early layering is not what “brings the song to life.” In fact, the ukulele and horns are stripped away when melancholy vocals start the death and dying considerations.

     “When We Go” comes alive in an exceptional manner for reasons that are apparent with the first listen of the song. From the 1:47 mark, the song becomes an almost continuous crescendo as harmonization and instruments are added, until the outro again brings the energy down. In explaining the song, Freedom Baby states:

  “The song is an ode to death and dying; both an acceptance of the loss of loved ones and a hopeful questioning of the ideas of rebirth and existence beyond a physical death. We wanted the instrumental elements to relay this depth of emotion. The cycle of death and rebirth is often seen as a heavy and philosophical topic, but we felt that it captured our direction in terms of our musical style as well as our personal thoughts and inspiration.”

     Eric Reid and Brianna Bordihn launched Freedom Baby in 2007 as a free-time bedroom project. The project is now a full-time, nine-member ensemble. "When We Go" is the first single from the band's upcoming EP.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freedombabyband

Bandcamp: https://freedombaby.bandcamp.com/releases

Lyrics of “When We Go” by Freedom Baby

When we go

I hope our bodies in the air

And our eyes in the clouds

I know

When we go

I hope our bodies find a place

To float in outer space

I know

And how you’ll grow

When we put you in the ground

Let the water drown out the cold

When we go

I hope our bodies find a place

To float in outer space

I know [Repeat 2x]