B-Side Guys

Shay Martin Lovette’s “Pretty River Rise” meanders through the listener’s consciousness like a stream swollen with melancholy and acceptance. This track from the “True As They Come” EP navigates the delicate passage between life and what lies beyond, with Lovette’s lyrics serving as both map and compass.

The song’s sparse arrangement, deliberately crafted without percussion, allows Lovette’s plaintive vocals to take center stage. His delivery, tinged with a weary resignation, perfectly captures the essence of a soul ready to “slip away smiling.” The absence of drums creates a sense of timelessness, as if the narrator is already floating between worlds.

Alexa Rose’s spectral harmonies weave through the track like wisps of fog over water, adding depth and an otherworldly quality to lines like “Buckle my knees / And carry me.” This ghostly duet underscores the liminal space the song inhabits, blurring the lines between the physical and spiritual realms.

Ryan’s pedal steel serves as the song’s emotional anchor, its mournful cries echoing the narrator’s journey towards acceptance. The instrument’s fluid nature mirrors the river metaphor that runs through the lyrics, creating a sonic current that carries the listener along with the story.

“Pretty River Rise” stands as a testament to Lovette’s songwriting prowess, transforming the deeply personal experience of facing mortality into a universally resonant piece. The repeated refrain “One with the storm / We had to learn to be” encapsulates a lifetime of struggle distilled into a single, powerful image. As the final notes fade, listeners are left with a sense of peace, as if they too have been carried across that great divide, if only for the duration of the song.