12 Years/7 Birds (Original Song)

EDIT: since so many of you have asked, here are the chords! If you cover this, please credit me and link back to the video. docs.google.com/document/d/1m...
My second of the 3 songs I've written about The Adventure Zone. This is probably the shortest amount of time so far between writing a song and recording/releasing it but I wanted to push it out before the finale starts (!!!!) This Thursday (July 13, 2017)
The Adventure Zone is a great podcast and you should listen to it: www.maximumfun.org/shows/adven...
LYRICS:
I see a woman who sees her best friends
But they never really see her
I see a woman in self-exile
Full of regrets but her heart was never alone
Twelve years
Is a long time to be alone
Twelve years
Is a long time to be alone
I see three men who think they're meeting
For the first time in a bar
But they’re brothers through and through
I see a lover who became a fighter
Rebirth for woman #2
Twelve years
Is a long time to be alone
Twelve years
Is a long time to be alone
I see a man who’s silent save one word
Does he know what’s been taken from his life
I see a child has truth, needs love
He’s a star, burning bright
I see a man or he was one once
Til his soul fell apart and ate everything up
I see seven birds
Migrating north
Twelve years
Is a long time to be alone
Twelve years
Is a long time to be alone
I see a woman who sees her best friends
But they never really see her
I see a woman who sees her family
But they never really see her
The Adventure Zone © Maximum Fun and the McElroy boys
This song © Emma Kantt
The artwork © not me, but I can't find their name! D:

[@poisonmantis4191]

"learn to play this" they said. "it'll be fun" they said. "you won't cry" they said.

[@fenntea7550]

I tried to mouth the words because I love this song so much, but I couldn’t get past the first minute. When it reached “I see three men who think they’re meeting for the first time in a bar, but they’re brothers through and through” I broke fully and started crying. I can’t get through this without crying no matter how many times I listen.

[@bidulestruc2257]

"I see a man or he was one once Til his soul fell apart and ate everything up I see seven birds Migrating north" Is probably my favourite part of the song. You're really skilled, good job!!!

[@ann-xu9qx]

Oh my lord, John's part was so good!!

[@kiplandparker4057]

i played this for my mom and she said that you should keep writing songs because youre really hecking good at it and i agree, because this is great and ive listened to it on repeat for the past three days, thanks

[@bencanchannel]

Kipland Parker awww thank you to you and your mom ❤︎

[@kiplandparker4057]

:3

[@heythereadventurer9190]

This is super good, I watched an animatic and it took me halfway through it to realize it was a song made specifically for TAZ

[@ottbott]

I just finished the Crystal Kingdom chapter and i'm scared for whats to come lmao

[@ieatpaperclipsforbreakfast]

How was it?

[@ottbott]

Dib Membrane incredible

[@bencanchannel]

Hey guys! If you liked this song, and if you’re able to, please consider throwing a few bucks my way at ko-fi.com/benkantt! It’d also be rad if you followed me on my various social medias (see my channel description)!

[@Ani-rq7wv]

emmacan have you ever considered putting this on something like Spotify or bandcamp?

[@quiettypw1832]

NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I LISTEN TO THIS I PEE AND CRY EVERYTIME

[@ieatpaperclipsforbreakfast]

“I see seven birds migrating north” *instant sobbing* I was able to hold it together until I heard that

[@spacecadetmoxievods6235]

Literally brought to tears

[@DeclawedWildcat]

This is gorgeous! Really captures the emotion of the last arc, I love it

[@Ani-rq7wv]

Can I just say this is one of the most beautiful fan songs I’ve ever heard and I had to stop listening half way through today so I didn’t cry and have red eyes for my senior photos. This is a masterpiece and you should be so proud. If it wasn’t so sad I’d play it at my wedding, and I might do that anyways

[@clvrblzzrd8333]

OH MY GOD NEW FAVORITE SONG

[@clvrblzzrd8333]

i really love “ i see a man or he was one once till his soul fell apart and ate everything up” Ɛ> poor john

[@Rorisgay]

This made me CRY. I LOVE THIS SONG. you should be so proud of yourself!!!

[@acaeriastar]

this made me cry aaaaaaa

[@bencanchannel]

tiny bee sorry! 😬

[@acaeriastar]

don't be sorry, its a great song !!!

[@XaeDae]

You you captured the entirety of the stolen centuries emotions the entirety of the depression of the series itself so well im impressed this song almost made me cry and i love it never stop making music

[@valentine4104]

I haven't listened to this song without crying once

[@nrivanwrites]

this is so gorgeous. it makes me tear up every time i hear it. gives me an almost homesick feeling?? such an amazing song.

[@rusty4312]

this made me cry so hard i had enough water to nourish my eight cacti

[@TylerZed]

That was AMAZING! I wish it had been featured in an episode or something. Absolutely beautiful.

[@bencanchannel]

Oh jeez I wish! I wrote it a little too late for that though I think :P

[@pigeonwillson966]

dude you made me cry this is amazing!

[@sasakimirai4318]

ahhh, i'm a bit late to the party but i recently got into the adventure zone, and this song has me completely enchanted! i love your voice so much! i don't know if it would be feasible for you, but it'd be great to be able to listen to this on spotify!!!

[@ekaterinao1709]

Same

[@springandsummer128]

Welp, I uhhhhhhhhhhhhh... I just cried SUPER hard, so there's that. Where in the series is the text about the men meeting in a bar and the woman surrounded by her friends? I recognize is but I can't find it in the transcripts for the life of me. I love the song. I am about to give it like ten more listens

[@bencanchannel]

springandsummer128 if I remember correctly (and GOD I hope I do), Magnus, Merle, and Taako met in a tavern in ep1. The woman surrounded by her friends is Lucretia; she remembers their time together in the Stolen Century but Tres Horny Boys don’t

[@runawaygemm5397]

They met on Craig’s List!

[@overcastart5769]

I want to cover this so badly but i dont know how far i can get without crying

[@jamescurry7172]

aa i keep listening to this and i keep crying pls this is so good

[@wash7045]

this is awesome!! if you ever manage to pop this on spotify ill be sure to put it in my fave music playlist

[@emilymerckx9620]

this.. killed me. i am deceased. holy shit. i am begging you to put this on spotify so that i can listen to it forever.

[@niajhopkins]

WHY AM I WEEPING!!!!!!!!!!!

[@callenjohnson872]

Almost forgot to listen to this today

[@gray7035]

This gave me chills

[@evas5054]

Thank you so much, I forgot how much joy I got out of playing the guitar until I played this song.

[@13LuckyWishes]

OH NO this is beautiful!

[@bencanchannel]

The amazing fishfingersandscarves made an animatic of this! Check it out!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5iTfIF7ip2akJo

[@fivee2673]

Beautiful! X

[@jrouxa]

Boi you got there some good talent ❤ Seriously though, this song is absolutely amazing. It broke my heart and watered my crops at the same time.

[@minecraftdude178]

MY EMOTIONS,,, this is so sad,, I love it thoughhh

[@maps2468]

This song made me cry so much thank you for creating this beautiful tribute to a beautiful thing

[@ghastlygastly6666]

I've listened to this song far too many times, it literally brings me to tears every time. You're so so talented and this is absolutely amazing, seriously. I'm so late with this, but it's fantastic. Good job and good luck!

[@geek179]

This is amazing

[@gammagoop]

Oh my god I’m actually crying this is beautiful

[@amberhale5570]

This is beautiful. How dare you make me feel things.

[@thomasearl3864]

Still visit this song. Listen to it when times get tough. I love it greatly and always will

[@sewingneedles]

This is amazing, it's made me cry the first time i heard it.

[@fishfingersandscarves]

This song is beautiful!

[@fishfingersandscarves]

also hey!! this song is super awesome and cool and i was wondering if i could have permission to make an animatic with it? it's perfect for the tone i was looking for :-)

[@bencanchannel]

Ev holy shit absolutely! I'd be honoured!!

[@fishfingersandscarves]

radical!! i'll link to ur account and the song when i finish it!! :D

[@sandwich6041]

I’ve been listening to this on repeat for a week, I love it so much, thank you for putting this out there holy crap I don’t have words to express how much I love this song.

[@ahobbit1273]

Oh wow, this is devastating and beautiful. Balance still has such a special place in my heart, and these lyrics encapsulate these characters so well.

[@Riolu91]

I thought I was done crying about this thing. I guess not.

[@giannaaaaa2299]

This song is so amazing!! Your voice is so beautiful and the emotion is so clear in this song. You are so talented oh my goodness!! The lyrics and guitar aaaaaa

[@ros7444]

This is beautiful

[@con9734]

this is an amazing song, it really really is! the lyrics are beautiful, and i love the effects you used on johns part!

[@vazak11]

Feels!

[@exrandu2655]

I listen to this approximately every two weeks and cry. Thank you for this.

[@spacetrashpile7199]

THIS IS SO GOOD HOLY SHIT???? AMAZING JOB!!

[@claudiag.9307]

I'm so happy that I found this holy heck you're so talented!!!

[@itsbeenyearsplsdropit1018]

This is spectacular

[@gr3nd3l_]

THIS IS AMAZING I LOVE IT SO MUCH WELL DONE DUDE

[@xushibeetle]

FUCKING CRYING, SENT SOME MONEY TOO, PLEASE KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK

[@joopsnargis2730]

This song is absolutely beautiful, thank you so much for sharing it. I sing it in my head almost every day ❤️

[@MrDuda-gu3uz]

Car alho menina!! Esa musica é muito provavelmente a melhor coisa q eu já ouvi!! A letra é genial e diferente de muitas musicas feitas para fandoms a letra nao fica estranha na melodia e isso faz ela ficar tão melhor. Eu amo a pessoa q fez isso.

[@laceyjs92]

I love love this song, can't wait to hear more of your work

[@mikemezz7448]

Damn you have a beautiful voice.

[@isneezelightning]

Hey this song is amazing!!! It gave me chills

[@BAmbre-ud3xe]

This is amazing !

[@nukerwolf7788]

Love it

[@torir4618]

So beautiful!! Made me tear up!!

[@exenzer6007]

Years after first hearing this, I still think about it and love it just as much as before.

[@Omni77120]

This can also summarize the StarWars movies and books. I see a lover (Anakin) turned a fighter ( to Vader by Palpatine) for woman #2 (Padme) I see a man to one word sworn to wonder does he ( obi-won kinobi) know what's been taken from his life I see a child (Luke) that holds truth, needs love, he's a star and it's burning bright I see a man ( Palpatine) or he was one once till his soul fell apart and ate everything up. I see seven birds ( Luke, Liea, Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, other robot man, and maybe someone else on the Falcon escaping) migrating north.

[@callihoi1031]

I NEED THIS ON SPOTIFY 😭 😭

[@bencanchannel]

It's not on Spotify but it is on Bandcamp :D afairmotormaid.bandcamp.com/album/the-balance-sessions

[@avadouglass5285]

god the emotion portrayed in this is really amazing.

[@ryntalkstoomuch4686]

Have the mcelboys seen this yet?! Because holy shit they need to

[@zenplease]

So amazing! You're voice is beautiful!

[@sophiat3366]

:0000 from a fellow songwriter this is really fucking amazing!!!

[@kattcritical4442]

I most definitely cried when I started listening to this. It's so good though; you did an amazing job with this song!

[@SilvermoonForestclan]

Oof these lyrics hitting harder after spending a matter of months isolated because of current global events

[@clvrblzzrd8333]

the one dislike is john

[@bencanchannel]

EvergrowingSkeletons I can live with that XD

[@justinberling4946]

...C R I N K L E T I N K L E S...

[@pixiesugar]

this song is so good it made me cry listening to it for the first time. i got tears on my peanur butter and jelly sandwich but its ok because this song is amazing and emotional and perfect

[@Myce_Mycologic]

As a drummer I can't help but wonder what it would sound like with drums? To me, it sounds like drums would be out of place but I want to learn it so I have an excuse to listen to it more haha. Great job!

[@maggienewson8859]

hoooooooooooooly shit? fuck off with this good shit???? wow.

[@denseflounder36sure26]

Is there a karaoke version of this anywhere?

[@JDDragon2009]

Hi I know you posted the chords already, but would you mind listing the strumming patterns you used if you could?

[@luckypeach39]

This is amazing! Would you ever consider releasing the chords? I would love to learn how to play this! Seriously the lyrics made me cry 💕 please keep up the amazing work!

[@bencanchannel]

luckypeach39 yes! The chords are here: docs.google.com/document/d/1m9A7CbfSsvCfHe5gnd4n6Id6ihk0bKw4NoFXJuaJ9ZQ it might be slightly different from what I actually played but pretty close

[@luckypeach39]

emmacan oh gosh! Thank you for such a quick reply

[@toxikrulzok1217]

Who else can't make it through the whole song before crying?! Yeah, me neither.

[@veronicaveronica3915]

Does anyone know a instrumental version?

[@christophermalhas4499]

THIS IS THE BEST SONG I HAVE EVER HEARD!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE MAKE MORE TAZ SONGS

[@bencanchannel]

You're in luck! I have four of them! kzbin.info/aero/PLo-tS4diVl_-RarBRJ2oYH9yYPIxV4tnE

[@allyssajanca1455]

I love this song so much! It is so heartbreaking though ;0; But, I did have one question.. in the line "I see a lover who became a fighter Rebirth for woman #2" Who is this talking about? Everyone I can think of in the show only really had one lover. Barry and Lup, Magnus and Julia. My only guess is "women #2" is referring to the fact that Lup got a new body from the weird green goo thingy or that I am missing something completely XD

[@socialexecution]

i would love to play this on uke D: i wish the chords would transfer but i dont know enough about music to do it

[@ambroseandersonmusic]

They do!! You might have to use a capo to get it in the right key, but almost all guitar chords transfer over!

[@iarec00l97]

fuck man this is so good wtf the fuck it made me wEEP

[@WolfSkater63]

I love this song, it almost brought me to tears, I have just one question, why in the line about Barry does it say for woman #2?

[@bencanchannel]

So in the first verse there's the woman who sees her best friends (Lucretia) and the woman in self-exile (Lup). So Lup is the 2nd woman mentioned, and Barry did all that for her, therefore, he did it for woman #2. If that makes sense?

[@WolfSkater63]

ah okay, I was interpreting it weirdly, as if it was the second woman that Barry loved, thank you for clearing that up!

[@rachelm.4741]

emmacan I feel kinda dumb; I haven't understood that the first verse was about *both* Lucretia and Lup. Despite having listened to this song countless times (because I fricking love it; good job!), I somehow thought the first verse was only about one woman: Lucretia.

[@finnthefakehuman6529]

Would you consider posting the chords you used for this song? It is such a gorgeous song and I would LOVE to do a cover of it :D

[@bencanchannel]

FinntheFakeHuman I think what I played is slightly different from what I wrote but here they are! If you cover, please credit me/link back to the original! docs.google.com/document/d/1m9A7CbfSsvCfHe5gnd4n6Id6ihk0bKw4NoFXJuaJ9ZQ

[@finnthefakehuman6529]

Thank you so much! And I will most definitely credit you and your awesome work!

[@nightshadecat]

I'm sorry, could someone explain the "woman #2"? Line i get it's referring to Lup bc context but I'm unclear on what it's supposed to be saying

[@JV-ic6to]

So in the first verse there's the woman who sees her best friends (Lucretia) and the woman in self-exile (Lup). So Lup is the 2nd woman mentioned, and Barry did all that for her, therefore, he did it for woman #2. If that makes sense?

[@nedwardnobqop6568]

Bluejeans’ Lament

[@jelliefishr2336]

Question: is this from the voidfishes' perspective?

[@bencanchannel]

Huh! I never really meant it that way but you know, that makes a lot of sense. So sure, it totally can be.

[@kelynpearl8639]

Bruh…

[@travisdicks3773]

I wish to inform you of the fact that this is one of my favorite songs. Not just one of my favorite fan songs but one of my Favorite Songs, and I sing it all the time.