As I get ready to play a few Dirk Darmstaedter Acoustic shows over the next few weeks—and plan the next edition of Dirk’s Saturday Songs livestream (dates coming your way very soon!)—I’ve been digging through some past Saturday Songs videos. While browsing, I came across this acoustic version of "The Sea Before Us," a track from my 2019 album, Strange Companions.
This one has a bit of a story.
The song was originally written for the audiobook version of Mayday – Seenotretter über ihre dramatischsten Einsätze (Mayday – Sea Rescuers on Their Most Dramatic Missions), a collection of real-life rescue stories on the high seas, released by Ankerherz Verlag. The book is a tribute to the bravery and intensity of those missions, and it was put together by my friend and sometime collaborator, journalist Stefan Krücken. (I've been on many a boat on the high seas with Stefan and his crew on pretty intense Ankerherz tours!)
The lyrics to "The Sea Before Us" were inspired by news stories of migrant ships attempting to reach Europe, often not making it, lost on the high seas. The sense of utter hopelessness, of having to leave your home and family behind for the distant and uncertain promise of a better future shaped the core of the song.
At the time, Stefan asked me if I had a song about the ocean that could be included in the audiobook. I said “no”—totally forgetting that "We Are Waves" (released in 2007!) already existed. But I promised him I’d write and record something new within the week. I’ve always liked working on a deadline. I like pressure (sometimes, not always). Things happen fast — and sometimes that’s when the best things appear. That’s how The Sea Before Us came to life. To this day, it’s one of the songs I’m most proud of.
The full-band version on Strange Companions has its own energy, but over the years, I’ve grown especially fond of playing this one solo. There’s something about the stripped-down arrangement that brings out the song’s weight even more.
It’s Sunday morning here in northern Germany. It’s grey and rainy outside. I’ve just had my coffee and thought I’d leave you with this version of the song for today.
Thanks for listening—and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
— Dirk
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