Lead The Way

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My brother Pelham & I have a friend (Yeon) from university, and it’s the type of friendship where we all call each other “brother.” One year for Pelham’s birthday, Yeon suggested he & I write a song about “our brother” as a gift for him.

When brainstorming lyrics, I was reminded of all the ways I’ve followed in my brother’s footsteps, always a couple years behind: we went to the same high school, both did student council, both worked at the same summer camp, both joined InterVarsity at the same university, both started in science fields but somehow ended up in non-science careers… Then Pelham got married, and right on cue, now I am too. And now Pelham is a father… (*audible gulp*)

We have a lot in common, but my life path is still my own — I don’t feel like I’ve just copied my brother. Maybe he’s like the “beta release” of myself: the initial reviews were positive, so they went ahead with version 2.0 … Anyway, a big piece of who I am is because of who he is, and I’m grateful for that.

Musically, this song reminds me of a march or a parade, where a group of people choose to follow a leader, and others follow behind them… It’s a picture of leadership and mentorship: finding positive role models and deciding to follow in their footsteps.

<a href="https://markflowerdew.bandcamp.com/album/lets-go" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Let’s Go by Mark Amadeus Flowerdew</a>

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Lyrics

Lend me your ear
I know you have lots to spare
I still have last year’s
In my memory somewhere
Where should I go next?
Give your gentle truth to me
Do what you do best
Listen closely, then

Oh Brother, Lead the way, Lead the way
I sit and watch your footsteps
And I’ll follow them someday
Lead the way, Lead the way
And each time you leave one footprint more
You’re laying down a footpath for another
Oh Brother, Lead the way

Flowers, you should smell ‘em
for what else can a flower do?
Brothers, you should tell ‘em
just how much they mean to you
You put some words together
and you spell ‘em best you can
You choose the finest letters
J K L M N

Oh Brother, Lead the way, Lead the way
I sit and watch your footsteps
And I’ll follow them someday
Lead the way, Lead the way
And each time you leave one footprint more
You’re laying down a footpath for another
Oh Brother, Lead the way

I’ll play a chord
for this noble brotherhood
And I thank the Lord
like a thankful brother would
Would you bear the cold
to bring me your winter coat?
Would you, when we’re old,
still bring fruit for me?

Oh Brother, Lead the way, Lead the way
I sit and watch your footsteps
And I’ll follow them someday
Lead the way, Lead the way
And each time you leave one footprint more
You’re laying down a footpath for another
Oh Brother, Lead the way

[instrumental]

You lead the way

Credits

Emma Flowerdew: vocals
Mark: vocals, ukulele, mandolin, euphonium, trombones, accordion, ocarina, recorder, percussion, programming, mixing

Written by Mark Amadeus Flowerdew in collaboration with Chu Yeon. Recorded in Mark’s home in Halifax NS.
Mastered by Don Chapman. Cover illustration by Nathan Little, then Mark made it green.
Single released July 30, 2021.

ISRC: CAREH2100004, ISWC: T3064621116, ©&℗ 2021 Mark Amadeus Flowerdew

Thanks Danny for lending me your mandolin! And thanks Charles Austin for giving me your old accordion, I use it a lot ❤
And of course, thanks Pelham for leading the way.