Adrianne Lenker's "Sadness As A Gift"

 “Sadness As A Gift” was released on Wednesday with the announcement of Adrianne Lenker’s upcoming solo album, Bright Future. “[It] was made with everything in my heart,” she says referring to the record – a statement that can easily be confirmed upon listening to the latest track. 

Adrianne immediately taps into one of her greatest strengths on this single, which, aside from her incredible lyrical and instrumental talents, I believe, is her ability to build an atmosphere. Recorded fully analog, as her previous solo album, songs (2020), the audio is able to best capture the original, pure feel of the music and the space in which it was recorded. Sounds of bumps, knocks, and creaks can be heard throughout the track, and are preserved so clearly that they sound as if they are coming from your own surroundings. In addition, the layered vocals in the background contribute to the ambiance and add a sense of camaraderie to her words – a new feature amidst what has otherwise been consistently characteristic of her solo work. 

On this new single, and perhaps on the future album as a whole, the sound is much fuller than what she has put out in the past. Although her music typically features guitar as the sole instrument accompanying her voice, “Sadness As A Gift” contains violin, guitar, and soft, muted piano, giving a more joyful feel to the instrumentals. This is similar to the country-inspired sound of the latest Big Thief album, which she has described as the record on which they had the “most fun,” so it's great to see that bleed into her solo work, as well.

handwritten lyrics pictured on her Instagram @adriannelenker

The lyrics (available directly from the songwriter’s website) are a bittersweet love letter to a past partner. With familiar themes on the passage of time and failed relationships, Adrianne Lenker looks back fondly on her time with this person, without negativity, and instead, acceptance: “We could see the sadness as a gift and still / Feel too heavy to hold.”

The line, “The seasons go so fast / Thinking that this one was gonna last,” holds a sorrowful sentiment of her hopes for the relationship. Despite that, I think that likening their partnership to a season is a lovely metaphor, as this highlights its temporary nature in such a beautiful way. 

The best breakup songs, I think, are the ones that showcase the beauty of a person’s love, rather than hatred or resentment, and, as we’ve seen, “Sadness As A Gift” does exactly that. The song ultimately ends on an open ended note with the final line of the chorus – “Maybe the question was too much to ask” – encapsulating the hopefulness and uncertainty she describes with these lyrics. Just as “the question” here might mean something slightly different to each listener, similarly will the reasons to be grateful for “the sadness,” so, in the end, we can see that as a gift.

listen on Spotify