Uploaded November 2014 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
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Animation by Alice Kirby
I came across Alice's beautiful work via friend's recommendation. I really wanted to have an animated video for Letters due to the lyrics which I thought lent themselves well to having some unrealistic and fantastical imagery in order to heighten the story.
Since releasing the Dear River album and telling people the story behind the song Letters, I've been incredibly moved by people coming up after shows, sending me emails, etc. and sharing their own personal stories of war and loss...
Most of the song is written from the perspective of my Grandfather Reinier and his brother Frans, and their time in exile during the war. They fled Rotterdam, leaving behind their family and their girlfriends (including my Grandmother to be), and hid out for three years in woodlands, farm houses and old factories along the German/Dutch border. During this time they both attempted to get word back home to let their loved ones know they were still alive. Imagine being a mother and not knowing if your sons were alive or dead. Imagine waiting, watching the clock for hours on end, for years on end, waiting for a sign, a message, a letter.
LETTERS
We were woken by planes
And parachutes falling
Down from the sky
Through the morning light
There were holes in the sides
Of the buildings falling
Down to their knees
Warm the ashen breeze
Our city surrendered and we moved away
I wrote to you letters most every day
We hid in the farms and factories empty
We could only dream of leaving
We fled towns on fire, with stomachs empty
Crossed borderlines, swam the rivers dry
Our prayers they were answered
And we turned to go
I wrote to you letters, I want you to know
We hold onto your words
We listen for years, we listen for years
We inherit the loss
Our blood it is yours, our blood it is yours
We hold onto your words
We listen for years, we listen for years
We inherit the loss
Our blood it is yours, our blood it is yours
And when it was over, we moved far away
I wrote to you letters most every day
To see Emily Barker tour dates and buy tickets, click here: http://smarturl.it/ebytlive
More about Emily Barker here:
emilybarker.com
facebook.com/emilybarkerhalo
twitter.com/emilybarkerhalo
instagram.com/emilybarkerhalo
Subscribe to Emily's channel for more live videos: http://smarturl.it/halo-youtube
Animation by Alice Kirby
I came across Alice's beautiful work via friend's recommendation. I really wanted to have an animated video for Letters due to the lyrics which I thought lent themselves well to having some unrealistic and fantastical imagery in order to heighten the story.
Since releasing the Dear River album and telling people the story behind the song Letters, I've been incredibly moved by people coming up after shows, sending me emails, etc. and sharing their own personal stories of war and loss...
Most of the song is written from the perspective of my Grandfather Reinier and his brother Frans, and their time in exile during the war. They fled Rotterdam, leaving behind their family and their girlfriends (including my Grandmother to be), and hid out for three years in woodlands, farm houses and old factories along the German/Dutch border. During this time they both attempted to get word back home to let their loved ones know they were still alive. Imagine being a mother and not knowing if your sons were alive or dead. Imagine waiting, watching the clock for hours on end, for years on end, waiting for a sign, a message, a letter.
LETTERS
We were woken by planes
And parachutes falling
Down from the sky
Through the morning light
There were holes in the sides
Of the buildings falling
Down to their knees
Warm the ashen breeze
Our city surrendered and we moved away
I wrote to you letters most every day
We hid in the farms and factories empty
We could only dream of leaving
We fled towns on fire, with stomachs empty
Crossed borderlines, swam the rivers dry
Our prayers they were answered
And we turned to go
I wrote to you letters, I want you to know
We hold onto your words
We listen for years, we listen for years
We inherit the loss
Our blood it is yours, our blood it is yours
We hold onto your words
We listen for years, we listen for years
We inherit the loss
Our blood it is yours, our blood it is yours
And when it was over, we moved far away
I wrote to you letters most every day
To see Emily Barker tour dates and buy tickets, click here: http://smarturl.it/ebytlive
More about Emily Barker here:
emilybarker.com
facebook.com/emilybarkerhalo
twitter.com/emilybarkerhalo
instagram.com/emilybarkerhalo
