Does he say 'angel' at some point? I only hear "a manger."

I think this is one of James Blunt's better songs.

This is what I hear

uhm, it doesn't have huge impact on me like My fav faded away

does anyone else fear the album is going to sound too overproduced? I suppose that's what happens when you hire a known producer.
Anyway, really looking forward to these new songs, I think they will sound better live. To be fair that happens with a lot of bands and artists for me.

"I don't *want* to change you" not what

So, what are the odds that of the nine songs we know we will hear, any single one of isn't seemingly about Lisa?

We're already 2/2.

I was listening to the Ben Howard show and Damien's new track was actually played right before the show started :)

Edit: Sorry, I managed to skip whole two pages of answers. Only then I found there was no need for my comment.

i don't get the meaning of "Water races" and "Down the waterfall"

I think the more confusing part is looking in a stranger's eye and seeing danger surrounding a manger.

I LOVE this song. Beautiful.

I certainly lean that way after listening to the song. It lacks the edge that I enjoy in so many of his musical offerings and that, for me, was definitely present in MFFF. As for the possiblity of all songs dealing with his past relationship, I don't really mind if it turns out this way, as I can easily picture Damien come up with a good number of songs about the same (certainly dominant) topic of his last decade with different twists.

Possibly water is time and the waterfall is life?

It's on soundcloud
https://soundcloud.com/damienrice/i-...ge-you/s-rMUfO

:p
I know. But I thought it was worth mentioning anyways :)

You think they'll be sending those who pre-ordered it a link to download the single?

I like it well enough. In some ways I prefer it to the radio version of My Favourite Faded Fantasy, since it sounds a bit more like traditional damien rice. I still like the sound of the Faded Fantasy Youtube clip the best.
You can definitely hear the over-production in these songs, there's no reason to put Rick Rubin with Damien Rice (other than that Damien wanted to, apparently)...he often ruins people's distinct sounds. Part of Damien's sound, I think, was the rawness, the frailty and the idea that you might just be listening to a band performing in pub or a rehearsal. That part of the sounds seems to be missing, for the most part.
Looking forward to see what else the album has to offer though.

This is a really good point. I think it's because produced songs by Damien are still a novelty. So much so that it can sound almost unnatural, like hearing your own voice on tape, because we're used to the raw performances. I'm excited to hear what the likes of The Box sounds like on disc but I doubt I'll prefer the studio version to any live option out there.

I guess it's the downside of Damien being such a perfect performer!

I don't hear it OVER produced at ALL. I think the production for both songs so far have been spot on. They are beautifully crafted.

I love the new sound. Reminds me of summer 2007. Not overproduced at all. The wall of strings is incredibly powerful.

not totally sold on this one yet, sounds almost "too nice", and the lyrics don´t blow my mind like previous ones... but maybe it´s a grower, I don´t know, maybe my expectations were too high but I really think MFFF is a much better song both lyrically and musically... and same for the other four I´ve heard live versions of (Bastard, The Box, Trusty & True and Long Way)

but again I didn´t like MFFF in the beginning and now I think it´s the best song ever, and especially the falsetto version :D

The Greatest Bastard, same theme

but Long Long Way I´d say no, and Trusty & True not either

The Box I´d say also not

Only confusing because that's not what is really being said. The line is about discovering a safe refuge in a world where one has come to expect encountering only hostility and alienation. It's similar to the sentiment of "Cold Water" in that in the moment just before freezing to death /drowning your final prayer is for the possibility of deliverance.

As for this song's 'water' section: the idea is that there is an inevitability to the sweep of nature. You do not get to decide who you will fall in love with any more than the water gets to choose its being a slave to gravity.