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about
Fusing modern pop with effusive orchestration, Hummingbird is a sanguine rhapsody filled with heart, hope, symbolism, and the power to transport through a broad spectrum of emotions and time.
Writing Hummingbird was a cathartic response to the loss of Allison's father, Doug Midgley. His death had been preceded by vocal chord paralysis, which reduced the talented singer-songwriter’s voice to a breathy whisper for the final years of his life. The treasured guitar he left behind, a Gibson Hummingbird, became a symbol through which Allison could feel his love. Unable to play the guitar herself when the lyrics were written, this song evolved out of Allison's earnest wish to carry out the musical legacy of her beloved dad. The dark and mournful words took on a more optimistic tone when Andrew Tokuda, a.k.a. Digital Droo, began building and arranging the song 22 years later. Andrew constructed the song in quasi-movements to portray the evolution of grief to remembrance and depict the passing of time. Hummingbird was officially released on December’s Fourth Day; the 23rd anniversary of Doug Midgley’s passing.
A note from Andrew Tokuda, the producer: I originally approached this song from a mixer's perspective–to improve the sonic quality of the provided tracks. Really mundane, technical stuff. While working with the song, however, the lyrics really hit home, and inspired me to write and arrange a whole new ending–one that conveyed a feeling of acceptance, hope, and a reminder to LIVE one's life as our lost loved ones would want us to live. What started out as a service-for-a-client became a passion project, and I'm proud of what the song has become.
lyrics
Hummingbird
Winter got too cold
So Daddy flew away
He found warmth in the sky
On December’s fourth day
Six strings between two hearts
A permanent legacy
He left his hummingbird behind
And it’s still singing
Hummingbird
Sing your song through me
Hummingbird
A melodic memory
Lives in me
The evenings got too still
So Daddy couldn’t stay
He chased his voice into the wind
On December’s fourth day
A hallowed body lingers
Lost for you are gone
You left your hummingbird behind
and I will still sing your song
Hummingbird
Sing your song through me
Hummingbird
A melodic memory
Lives in me
I listen to the wind
And find your voice is never gone
Your music is my friend
My purpose is your song
Hummingbird
Singing songs through me
Hummingbird
Forever in your memory
If you’re gone before I wake
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
I’ll be the voice you need
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
Your wings can carry me
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
I’ll be the voice you need
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
Your wings can carry me
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
Sing your song through me
If you’re gone before I wake
Sing your song through me
credits
released December 4, 2018
Composer - Andrew Hideki Tokuda
Lyricist - Allison Todd-Midgley Gosalvez
Allison is a Silicon Valley pop singer and songwriter. Inspired by the legacy of love left by her late father, Doug Midgley, she seeks to honor and promote the power of lyrics to transcend a lifetime.
Digital Droo paints dynamic soundscapes with purposeful ingenuity. His driving beats and gripping hooks transport me to surprising places and make me feel feels every time. He is a true artist! Allison2020
Red Heaven's music is expressive and thought provoking. To listen is to make emotion tangible. The songs are viscous yet stirring with blues and worldly influence. I feel like I learn from every song. Allison2020
Delivering a complete range of style and emotion, On & On: remastered by Doug Midgley is a work of art. Soulful and honest, my Dad's music has served as a compass for my life and creativity. Allison2020