2021 SONG DRAFT- ROUND 8 PICK9-HINOEUMA SELECTS- ‘WITNESS’- SARAH MCLACHLAN

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Modern Vinyl Image One
Image Credit: Modern Vinyl

I remember when I heard Possession on the radio the first time. I was driving home from work and I was immediately in love. The music was stunning, her voice was stunning and I was captivated. Who is she, I thought to myself (I had no idea that Sarah McLachlan had two previous albums). I found the Fumbling Towards Ecstasy CD as fast as I could. It is a fantastic album. There is not a bad song on it.

When Surfacing came out in July 1997, I snatched it, too. It was released to coincide with the Lilith Fair. Though Fumbling Towards Ecstasy remains my favorite of her albums, Witness is my favorite single. The sixth track, it was never released as a single, has no chart information what-so-ever and it remains in the shadow of Building A Mystery, Sweet Surrender, Adia and, in particular, Angel. The album is one of two that reached #2 on the Billboard 200. It was the #1 album on Billboard’s Canadian Albums chart on August 2, 1997 and on Canada’s RPM Top Albums/CDs chart on July 28, 1997.

As an odd bit of trivia, this album is mentioned in the Starr Report, Ken Starr‘s investigation of the Monica Lewinsky Scandal, as was Altoid Mints, the movie Titanic, Billie Holliday, Elvis, Spinach Dip, Starbucks and Leaves of Grass. Monica apparently liked track #5.

This song speaks to me on so many levels. It’s a beautiful piece with beautiful lyrics… ~Vic

Sarah Recording YouTube Image Two
Image Credit: YouTube

Make me a witness
Take me out
Out of darkness
Out of doubt

I won’t weigh you down
With good intention
Won’t make fire out of clay
Or other inventions

Will we burn in heaven
Like we do down here
Will the change come
While we’re waiting

Everyone is waiting

And, when we’re done
Soul searching
As we carried the weight
And died for the cause
Is misery made beautiful
Right before our eyes
Will mercy be revealed
Or blind us where we stand

Additional:
Lilith Fair @ 20 (Billboard Article/Gil Kaufman/07-05-2017)
Official Instagram
Official Website
Sarah McLachlan Named In Starr Report (MTV News/09-16-1998)
Starr Report Unearths New Bedfellows (The Hartford Courant/Rock Critic Roger Catlin/09-17-1998)
The Pop Life: Musical Damage In Starr Report (The New York Times/Neil Strauss/09-24-1998/Web Archive)

No Official Video

Live From Mirrorball

Sarah Discussing The Surfacing CD

18 responses to “2021 SONG DRAFT- ROUND 8 PICK9-HINOEUMA SELECTS- ‘WITNESS’- SARAH MCLACHLAN”

  2. Nice song and interesting to hear in the interview about her songwriting process. I thought she also did, “If God was One of Us” but that is Joan Osborne (but their voices sound similar.)

  3. good song I’d forgotten about. I was a fan of hers back when ‘Vox’ was getting airplay up my way as an indie single…what a voice! I think ‘Fumbling Towards Ecstasy’ was her crowning achievement but this album had some really good tunes on it too.

    • I agree. I didn’t even hear any of her first two albums until 2010. I neglected to say this in my post but, my second fave song, where she was a guest singer, is Silence by Delerium.

  4. Pingback: Hans 2021 Song Draft: Round Eight-Pick Nine-Witness-Sarah McLachlan (1997) « Cosmic Observation·

  5. I really enjoy several of her songs. Her voice is an amazing musical instrument. This one I hadn’t listened to as much, but I am appreciating it now. I love this addition to the draft.

  6. I was not familiar with this song, though I know her hit singles well. She has a gorgeous voice and is a phenomenal songwriter. I think “Building a Mystery” is my favorite of her songs, but “Witness” is a terrific selection.

  8. It’s been a long long time since I heard this one…Building a Mystery is the one I identify her with but I liked this one also.

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