Carolyn, a recent single from singer-songwriter David Haerle, follows the journey love takes, from its beginning to the long heartache that lingers after love is gone. The song is built upon Jon Lee Keenan’s pulsing bass, over which Haerle creates a fabulous groove. Also striking is Haerle’s lead guitar; there are a couple of melodic, bluesy solos with his fast fingers ranging round the frets that are truly compelling to watch and listen to.
Haerle says of Carolyn: “A song that looks back upon a first romantic relationship, the joy and bliss of young love, and the deep feelings of loss and pain that ensue in the aftermath of a breakup. The events described in this song are based in part on my own first relationship, harking all the way back to my 7th and 8th grade school years, with some artistic license taken. Who can forget the moment they first learned that their feelings of romantic love for another were reciprocated? I wouldn’t trade the world for that memory.”
Directed by Kim Debus, the beautifully shot video, rendered in moody black and white, locates Haerle’s heartfelt narrative of lost love in the desolation of the desert. Under big skies, that vast expanse contrasts with Haerle’s inward reflections and reinforces the sense of isolation. Debus shares: “David Haerle’s song ‘Carolyn’ was immediately captivating in its sensual rhythm, expressive guitar solos, and haunting themes of lost love and the emotional and mental strain of letting go. The sultry but pleading vocal tone and lyrical storytelling swept me into the concepts of using a desolate landscape as a backdrop for his aloneness and a large picture window through which he searches for any trace of her. I am hopeful that the song and video will remind us all of the deep process of longing for another, the promise of correcting bad choices, and of the impact of great loss. In a society where lack of personal connection and disposable dating are plundering relationships, I wanted to illuminate how precious love is and of the often indelible consequences of our actions and words.”
Caroyln follows previous singles The Hills of Silver Lake and Tucumcari Tonite!. All three songs are personal and nostalgic journeys into Haerle’s past. With more singles planned, Haerle will be releasing his fourth album soon.
