“Golden Embers” by Mandolin Orange

In “Golden Embers,” North Carolina folk duo Mandolin Orange blends haunting vocals with guitar and violin to celebrate the value of shared grief and solace. Andrew Marlin wrote the song — along with others on the album “Tides of a Teardrop” — in memory of his mother, who died when he was 18 from complications following surgery. It begins with an acknowledgement of loss — and the difficulty that many have in addressing it:

“Just like an old friend
Kinder than expected
That Cadillac came and gave our girl a ride
Loss has no end
It binds to our connection
And we don’t speak of it, we don’t even try”

Yet the song takes a hopeful turn when Marlin, together with instrumentalist Emily Frantz, moves into the chorus:

“If you could help me to share the trouble
That you’ve got burning in you, then you can help me
And in our time together
Her memory will ever shine like golden embers in the night”

“Golden Embers” recognizes the importance of memorializing our loved ones and reaching out for connection along the way. Marlin took his usual stream-of-consciousness approach to writing the songs on “Tides of a Teardrop,” which was released in February of 2019. And he was surprised to realize they focused so much on the loss of his mother, according to a statement on the band’s website.

Yet, perhaps acknowledging and grieving that loss with others — including Frantz and his touring band, who also perform on the album — is what will allow Marlin to move on.

“I associated the grief and the loss with remembering my mom,” said Marlin, who feels the album’s sense of space gives it a cosmic, almost spiritual, quality. “I feel like I’ve mourned long enough. I’m ready to bring forth some happier memories now, just to remember her as a living being.”

You can watch Mandolin Orange perform “Golden Embers” live in the video below.