In The Woods

"In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life—no disgrace, no calamity—which nature cannot repair."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

written and recorded - November 2020
© Richard Coffey - All Rights Reserved

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In the Woods
by Rich Coffey

In the woods return to reason
Renew your faith in nature’s care
Feel the harmony all around you
Quiet moments will repair

Sunbeams filter through the canopy
Leaves are rustling in the breeze
Birds are singing of their happiness
Overhead, throughout the trees

In the woods discovery starts
The spirit shines, renewing hearts

Chipmunks scurry through the branches
Skittish deer stand in alert
Fallen giants are recycled
Slowly crumbling into dirt

Gather strength from the earth
Decay transforms into rebirth

“Behind nature, throughout nature, [the one] spirit is present, it does not act upon us from without, that is, in space and time, but spiritually, through ourselves. That spirit, the Supreme Being, does not build up nature around us, but puts it forth through us, as the life of the tree puts forth new branches and leaves through the pores of old.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Frogs are croaking in the distance
As you wander towards the stream
Turtles basking in the sunlight
Peace pervades this woodland scene.

In the woods without… within…
The spirit lives… let faith begin

Written Feb 11th, 2018

Copper Creek - Pequonnock Valley Park
Trumbull, CT
Photo: Rich Coffey

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In The Woods

Lyrics:
This song is directly based on the page’s featured quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson and the eloquent words recited in the bridge are of course noted as Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words as well.

The concept of “God” has many flavors to people. Some folks need a weekly visit to monumental gothic edifice to believe - organized religion is tailor made for them. On a more personal level, Ralph Waldo Emerson passionately believed in experiencing God through nature: "He is within each one of us and can be sought and nurtured through closer contact with nature."

Music:
There’s a child-like quality to the melody—imagine it sung by a children’s church choir! :-). The song’s simple, almost nursery-rhyme quality is reinforced by an angelic harp and lush strings. A short section of antiphonal passing tones in the vocals on the refrain enhance the lilting, dreamlike quality of the song.

Due to the tinny thin sound of the original recording, the vocals were re-recorded in November 2020.

Photo:
The photo was taken in Pequonnock Valley Park in Trumbull, CT. It is a gorgeous area I often frequent to mountain bike.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

In The Woods

Music/Photo Details

In The Woods