Heavy Hands - Where the Water Tastes Like Wine Soundtrack

Album available on Bandcamp: ryanike.bandcamp.com/album/wh...
Featuring:
Joshua Du Chene - Guitar, vocals
Site: joshuaduchene.audio
/ joshuaducheneaudio
Instagram: @joshua.duchene
Twitter: @joshuaduchene
SoundCloud.com/joshuaduchene
May Claire La Plante - Vocals
/ @mayclairemusic
Jeff Ball - Fiddle
Twitter: @jeffthatnoise
Soundcloud.com/jeffball
Max Wopert - Fiddle
maxwolpert.bandcamp.com/
Lyrics:
If I turn my eyes
From these cold blue skies
Won’t stay my worry
Won’t calm or quell
I can say my piece
I can barter my tale
Won’t ease my burden
But I might as well
There’s a heavy hand
Laid across this land
And it steers my journey
And it guides my pen
Press on, head high
‘Til the ink has run dry
‘Cause my story ain’t like
To wind home again
Well, I’ll beat my drum
‘Til my last day come
Or the mountain meets the sea
Yeah, the earth will shake
But the boughs she break
Won’t put no fear in me
‘Cause I see a land on high
So I pen my final line
Sky will shimmer and sun will shine
Where the water tastes like wine
Well, I’ve wandered ‘round
And there’s a code I found
Says a gentle manner
And a righteous way
This pair you’ll need
If you follow this creed
She’ll see you through
Until the judgement day
But there ain’t no law
Under tooth and claw
In the nest of vipers
Or the lion’s den
You can holler and wail
‘Til the echo goes stale
Ain’t way nor manner
Gonna save you then
But I’ll beat my drum
‘Til my last day come
Or the mountain meets the sea
Yeah, the earth will shake
But the boughs she break
Won’t put no fear in me
‘Cause I see a land on high
So I pen my final line
Well, stories end and I’m closin’ mine
Where the water tastes like wine
So when the waters still
And you feel that thrill
For the open trail
Has slipped away
When the words won’t flow
When your fingers run slow
And the song you carry
Goes dull and gray.
Well, there’s a place I seen
Where the soul burns clean
And the verse it’s singin’
Rings pure and true
So cry no more
You just open that door
These shores of plenty
Gonna welcome you
And I beat my drum
‘Til my last day come
Or the mountain meets the sea
Yeah, the earth will shake
But the boughs she break
Won’t put no fear in me
‘Cause I see a land on high
So I pen my final line
I’ve said my fill and I’m feelin’ fine
Where the water tastes like wine

[@jackthejedi6540]

OK be honest who is here after listening to the wizard with a gun trailer music and wanted more from this mistro?

[@williamwontiam3166]

That would be me.

[@samuels1245]

Yeah, you got me.

[@occamsbeatinstick.3076]

I came from West of Loathing actually!

[@SunRade]

I also came here after the Breath and Bone.

[@Aconspiracyofravens1]

same

[@stepanserdyuk4589]

I'm a Russian dude in the middle of Siberia, and I'm hollering it out loud at 10 p.m. Just so you know.

[@franciscomartinezdegobbi7418]

Had the absurd luck of finding this game for free, got into it because of Sting and the idea of telling stories, ended up as one of my favorite games ever, as the music plays a major part in it. This is a soundtrack I´ll treasure absolutely, as the feeling of walking through USA while listening to this kept me astonished.

[@elgatochurro]

Game?

[@RiHeiPi1309]

@@elgatochurro there is a game with the name "where the water tastes like wine" it was for free many month ago in the Epic Games Store.

[@zeeb2190]

@@RiHeiPi1309 ah nuts, well I guess imma just wait for it to go on sale

[@VIRGILE124]

when i saw the trailer i was highly skeptical of this game, but when the music started to rise, i was blown away by its sheer amazing sound.

[@TheTaintedWisdom]

Me: "Country music sucks. Period. You can't change my mind on thi-" Ryan Ike: "I'm about to end this man's whole preconceptions."

[@nudgarrobot3043]

This seems more neo-folk reminiscent to me, due to the arrangement of instruments and especially the narrative/storytelling aspect to it. Country is joked about as being about 3 things for a reason-- It's not so much about stories as it is about making a big deal about the small things that normally would be considered parts of a mundane life. Folk tends to be more introspective, narrative, or reflective of the unique experiences of the singer (or a character from which the song's perspective is set). You could say that a country song would talk about how the sweat on your brow after tilling the land, and the comfort of a warm bed at the end of a hard day, but a folk song might tell a story about how a person found themselves spending their days tilling that land and lamenting the hardship and monotony of it. In case you can't tell, I'm not a fan of country music. It tends to be really shallow, and I just don't enjoy that. Folk and music in folk stylings, however, are one of my favourite genres because of how reflective of the songwriters' experiences and general outlooks they tend to feel.

[@madlarkin8]

Folk music has consistently been good through the ages. "country" music is just an aberration of folk music going "mainstream" to appeal to an audience of people with limited cognition. Rather than being designed to make people question themselves or have complex mixed feelings, it is designed to rapidly bring the audience to a desired mood then maintain for 3-5 minutes before flawlessly transitioning into a light beer commercial. It is good for what it is designed to be.

[@TheJman423]

@@nudgarrobot3043 that's an incredibly arbitrary distinction to make. You're basically judging country music entirely by its pop genre and everything outside of country pop is not actually country but folk. It'd be like me saying modern music is trash because it's all mumble rap. Country music has an alternative and indie genre like most popular types of music and you can find it by looking into Colter Wall, Sturgill Simpson, or The Civil Wars. You aren't wrong by calling this "folk" but that's because country music sprang out of folk music so technically any country song can be called folk. Big Iron is folk, copper-head road is folk(albeit it's also a rock hybrid), Folsom Prison Blues is folk.

[@nervmeister]

Try the (much earlier) Bastion's OST when you have the free time.

[@nudgarrobot3043]

@@TheJman423 Man I'm way less motivated to respond to this now because youtube deleted my entire first work-in-progress reply, ah well I would argue that genre lines overall are entirely arbitrary distinctions, but I would also like to clarify a couple of notes of my intent before addressing points I disagree with. In my first post, I was speaking to the Country genre in the most general possible sense, and that general sense is inextricable from pop country. I agree with you in that that, if taken at face value as a definition encompassing the subgenres, my initial overview is reductive and unfair. To clarify, I do listen to and enjoy some country rock/country alternative like you've provided (And I'll be listening through your suggestions, as I hadn't at the least intentionally heard those groups before), such as The Band Perry and arguably country-adjacent groups such as Brown Bird or Poor Man's Poison (Which I would normally say fit more comfortably into a folk-rock space, but I'm mostly acknowledging overlap here, especially with the instrumentation style and vocal twang in Brown Bird's music.) I also, of course, appreciate classics considered to be in the genre, such as Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, even though I feel that it's incorrect to claim them as contained within the genre so much as they defined the bounds of the genre, and I don't know about you but there seems to be something wrong with the idea that "Jolene", "There's A Man Going 'Round" and "She Thinks my Tractor" belong in the same category of music. On that topic, I disagree with the idea that all works derivative of a certain base can be called "of" that base, as you claim with the situation of folk preceding country. I do think that it can be the case, but not that it's necessary-- to use an allegory akin to your own, that would be like saying that all music is religious music because the earliest formal music across most if not all cultures was religious in nature. Obviously this isn't the case, and so I think that treating all country as folk as though country were a subgenre of folk rather than an offshoot of it is in error. I almost forgot to mention here, since it was deleted in the other version of this-- I do agree with your picks for songs which clearly have folk roots and could be considered folk-country songs, but I agree with this not for your provided reason, but for the fact that each of the songs lays out a clear and strong narrative foundation that underlay the lyrics in spite of the folk dissimilar instrumentation. With that in mind, I would like to ask you-- Would you consider "She Thinks my Tractor" to be folk music by your standards? I understand that it's an egregious example, but it's still inextricably country. If I missed anything here I apologize, I probably forgot to put it in when I rewrote.

[@rando5638]

Hope is fear turned inside-out. You know there's no Promised Land. You know you'll never find it... ... but you might.

[@___________________6878]

...I'll remember this phrase.

[@albertyang8605]

The price is high to play a game of risk… Will you look for what has never been found, and play the game?

[@rando5638]

@@albertyang8605 The impossible is only impossible until someone succeeds. I doubt it'll be you or me who breaks the chain, but I feel like it should matter that people keep trying to do something new in spite of everything up 'til now telling them that it's nigh-undoable. Makes it hit harder when someone finally breaks the rules in a new way.

[@alexiboris6937]

@@rando5638 wise words amigo

[@RedCometofJupiter]

Your words, found me a day after losing my grandma. Thank you, I hope she found her promise land with her siblings and children she has lost. Thank you. May fortune find you always in your favor, stranger.

[@Rakka5]

This gives me some SERIOUS Supergiant Games wibe. Amazing job on this soundtrack!

[@AlexanderOz]

i see you're a man of culture as well

[@childofathena9420]

Probably some of the best indie music producers. (yes i know supergiant doesn't do their own music but all their soundtracks slap)

[@MishaNem]

@@childofathena9420 wdym supergiant doesn't do their own music? Darren Korb is part of supergiant, he is part of the creative process, he also does some of the voice over.

[@childofathena9420]

@@MishaNem I listen to their stuff on spotify so I don't know whether he is or not

[@jackawaka]

@@childofathena9420 Darren Korb and Ashley Barret are part of supergiant, they release the soundtracks openly. Been with them since bastion

[@pseudogenesis]

I love game soundtracks, so I can't believe it's taken me so long to find this one. This is just incredible. Pure Americana. I'm gonna be blasting this OST for a long, long time. Till my last day come, or the mountain meets the sea.

[@dramotarker1352]

I think the game looks very interesting and something for me but it seemed like the walking was gonna get pretty repetetive but then the music came on and i was honestly in awe. It's just amazing. I will definitely buy the game now for what seems to be an interesting narrative and some amazing music. So really thanks for making this music. I hope you will continue making great music.

[@madness..3449]

Things like this...make you feel that the word Art still means something in this world...

[@holysol]

I got this game for free like a thousand years ago, and something about the art threw me off, or the premise in the blurb just didn't grab me, or maybe because it was on Epic. It wasn't until later, when watching someone play West of Loathing and falling in love with the 'Misbehave in this Cave' track, that I ended up finding you and this youtube channel. Looking through your stuff, I stumbled on this track - and it hit me hard. Made me go look for the game - 'lo and behold I own it, and I ended up putting some hours in. Anyway, rambling tangent aside, you make some pretty banging tracks.

[@Ginger-Sage]

you and this game have changed the way i lead my life and i am ever thankful

[@RyanikeAudio]

That is extremely awesome and touching to hear! I'd love to know what you mean by that if you felt like sharing, but regardless, I'm super happy we had an impact on you. Made my day to hear!

[@Ginger-Sage]

@@RyanikeAudio Well just the way the art and music gets you to embrace the stories and tales you learn along the way no matter how disheartening and painful it might be it adds to the tale we all carry through out our lifes and theres also the fact ive been tied to all these tethers put on us in the modern world but this helped me to see that those tethers shouldnt have hold on the story of my journey and instead we should embrace all the love and pain alike because it sends us down the our own paths

[@taloncompany6649]

I bought this game thinking it was a card game but it turned out to be something so much more original and just fell in love with this little gem.

[@wraithneon]

Massive Firefly fan here, and just came across this game on Steam. The soundtrack is just outstanding.

[@ricardopaula4082]

If I turn my eyes From these cold blue skies Won’t stay my worry Won’t calm or quell I can say my piece I can barter my tale Won’t ease my burden But I might as well There’s a Heavy Hand Laid across this land And it steers my journey And it guides my pen Press on, head high ‘Til the ink has run dry ‘Cause my story ain’t like To wind home again Well, I’ll beat my drum ‘Til my last day come Or the mountain meets the sea Yeah, the earth will shake But the boughs she break Won’t put no fear in me ‘Cause I see a land on high So I pen my final line Sky will shimmer and sun will shine Where the water tastes like wine Well, I’ve wandered ‘round And there’s a code I found Says a gentle manner And a righteous way This pair you’ll need If you follow this creed She’ll see you through Until the judgement day But there ain’t no law Under tooth and claw In the nest of vipers Or the lion’s den You can holler and wail ‘Til the echo goes stale Ain’t way nor manner Gonna save you then But I’ll beat my drum ‘Til my last day come Or the mountain meets the sea Yeah, the earth will shake But the boughs she break Won’t put no fear in me ‘Cause I see a land on high So I pen my final line Well, stories end and I’m closin’ mine Where the water tastes like wine So when the waters still And you feel that thrill For the open trail Has slipped away When the words won’t flow When your fingers run slow And the song you carry Goes dull and gray Well, there’s a place I seen Where the soul burns clean And the verse it’s singin’ Rings pure and true So cry no more You just open that door These shores of plenty Gonna welcome you And I beat my drum ‘Til my last day come Or the mountain meets the sea Yeah, the earth will shake But the boughs she break Won’t put no fear in me ‘Cause I see a land on high So I pen my final line I’ve said my fill and I’m feelin’ fine Where the water tastes like wine

[@markjrcolin1210]

This game was on my radar for years after seeing the trailer and hearing the amazing music. I recently came across it on switch, and bought it immediately. Haven’t played yet, saving it for a special occasion for when I can really dig into it. But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: This is my Favourite country song (is that even the right general genre? I don’t even know) by a substantial margin.

[@thejpc]

LOVE this song - very Firefly-esque, but the longer length, male/female vocals, and the way in which it tells a story is just so beautiful. Had it not been for the game trailer, I would never have discovered Ryan's music, so I am very thankful for Ryan, his amazing talent, and his awesome music!

[@TheItachi4077]

Oh damn, I remember playing the short version of this before the game came out, on loop. Just stumbled upon this and the moment when it DIDNT stop but kept being awesome really hit me. Bravo!

[@SoulgainTM]

When voices mix perfectly. Love it, thanks for the song!

[@peterg.j.macpherson2451]

I like to think when it comes to music genres there's a key difference between "old west" and "country"

[@pipo3686]

can you give some examples of both

[@crackedoutjindosh8078]

@@pipo3686 I'd say this is a good example of Old West according to logic I totally made up now, whereas country music is more so whatever is characterised in pop culture, and whatever tops the board. I'd say a distinct difference in Old West is that Old Western music is way more somber, maybe it's slower in tempo and chord progression too :D

[@jackel07-nerfgamingandmore95]

Idk I'd say old west is more acoustic guitar with little percussion. Some flutes and fiddle added in. Has more of a badass/ fantastical feel compared to country having a more down to home / party and feel good feel? It's very close wither way lol

[@zoushaomenohu]

"I hope you find what you're looking for."

[@FlyingScott]

*Intro plays* Me: 'Ey look buddy...

[@hadoken5402]

not even my type of music but bloody hell its gorgeous to hear. compliments to the chef.

[@kamuiye9481]

Honestly, I bought that game all because of this song...Thanks a lot, I've made this master piece single cycle for about a whole day !

[@OfficialFingazMC]

OSW brought me here! Love this so much!

[@1mrGhost]

I dont know why... but this reminds me of firefly...

[@EkajArmstro]

That was the first thing I thought when I heard this song! Someone (Escape Key) did a version of the Firefly theme that really reminds me of this song -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYbRXpiEbdKeetk

[@christopherruxer954]

Thats why I love it personally.

[@raphaelascal8086]

It's the Serenity logo in the beggining of the trailer, same here

[@Altanese]

Firefly is a western, this is country-western

[@jblasutavario9549]

When I saw the trailer for this, I hunted down vids just to find this comment.

[@natashacavata2415]

This is one of my favorites soundtracks of all time. While playing the game sometimes I would just close my eyes and listen to the music. Beautiful lyrics and melody. I loved the game and the songs are one of the biggest reasons for that.

[@sukitburanasun2006]

This game and songs have so much Steinbeck's vibe in it, which's very soothing and mesmerizing IMHO.

[@tonypayson8306]

In love. So in love with the whole soundtrack.

[@bleachdrinker5448]

Stumbled across this by exploring the old country/southern gothic songs I used to enjoy. A wayfaring stranger wishes your water will always taste of wine.

[@montypythonfanatic1]

I bought the game because of the trailer and music. So far I gotta say, the game is pretty interesting. You control how the stories you come across will be told through the different story types that are available to you. The music is flipping catchy! Usually with games that involve a lot of walking it could get boring fast. Not so with this game. The music changes based on where you are and the track list slaps hard! Fantastic job to all involved in this experience, it is well worth it

[@saphyra284]

Man, I’ve been wanting to hear the whole song since the trailer came out. Such a beautiful piece. Can’t wait to play the game too :D

[@jackehstil7945]

Ive never heard of this game ran across this song on accident when it auto played... i know nothing on the game except im now buying it.

[@divyapatel2996]

Listening to this song sent me back into time, like i can feel the nostalgia and it feels like a old long lost part of my memory but I know that no such thing ever existed

[@Ponja__]

Amazing, the beauty that can come from just a guitar and two voices.

[@davidpeploe1655]

I don’t like music like this and then I heard this play over the top of the game and had to find out who sang it and I’m blown away and one of my favourite songs of the year.

[@Sunshine-hb3pl]

Same!!

[@arman_freeman]

Keep up the great work man! Don't ever stop!

[@arman_freeman]

Oh my god!! I've been waiting for this since the first trailer! Thank you Ryan Ike sooooo much. This song is so intoxicating. I'm speechless...

[@AlexHalt100]

first song since a long time that gave me goosebumps. awesome stuff man, just awesome.

[@UndeadSkid]

Second best music for a game behind The Last of Us in my opinion

[@TheDawnhero]

What a masterpiece! I'm in love with this soundtrack. Thank you for this wonderful job.

[@sheltered_light4272]

The music puts you right into the time Amazing job!

[@LancelotVantuyckom]

This is amazing.... what a hidden gem!

[@veldinsparx]

Absolutely amazing, I'm entirely speechless.

[@berryice3880]

I've looped this album countless times.

[@louisdore9015]

Your songs and the game put me in the same feeling that i had whn i read On the Road for the first time, thank you ryan!!

[@joelelmlund4972]

I fell in love with the music and how a story builds!

[@Zeikier]

Bravo. This song was REALLY good!

[@koanos2448]

I like this composition!

[@MODNAR22]

Fantastic song! I'm adding it (and most of the rest of the soundtrack) to the playlist for my USA road trip next year :D

[@jeanpierrelobo3859]

Wow it sounds fucking great, beautiful song and beautiful mix of voice, thank you for this awesome song🙏🏻

[@punkboy1945]

Beautiful

[@nutsquirrel84]

i wasnt even know this is a game song man. god damm :D you both sound so calm but not in boring way i loved it guys. good luck for future.

Man i've sent your work to all my friends, we're all your fans now hahaha. Greetings from Brazil!!

[@deyanstoilov9789]

Such a gorgeous song and I also have the game but haven't had the time to play it yet though. Thank you and best of wishes! :D

[@lex4422]

Superb!!!

[@aarondunne2655]

How did it take me this long to hear this?

[@zerozolo8981]

I am glad I found this song again. I'm gonna try and learn to play it.

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

Good God this is amazing.

[@WillRinehart]

I just happened upon this game on Steam store. The music in a couple of the game's clips just gobsmacked me, and I bought it for that reason. Am looking forward to playing.

[@Tekh09]

Just wanted to say thank you. This game showed up on my Steam recommended page, and I checked the summary, and I wondered how I just never heard of it. Seemed pretty interesting, so I let the trailer play. I was sold on the basic concept, then the music played. I bought it immediately, plus the soundtrack. Looking forward to spending a lot of time telling tales while your gorgeous work plays.

[@eliwheeler519]

This whole soundtrack is fucking stupendous! I just discovered the game yesterday and am already addicted, keep this shit up!

[@upi6132]

Beautiful and exciting music and words. Remember me a Supergiant's games with their stylish ost's

[@user-fc1ck9tv6l]

I just adore this soundtrack! This one and the Vagrant Song (Appalachia) being my two best favorites!

[@lty9055]

Sick Album

[@crazyjay9222]

Damn near brought 2 tears to my face

[@glasspackgarage5951]

I saw this game on the Xbox store and was curious, so I checked it out I was not disappointed. I may buy this

[@Indemion0815]

Great song - really like it :)

[@CRAMAIDE]

Damn, this is Greatness.

[@Kenoh2889]

After my millionth time hearing this song. I have to ask. Will there ever be an instrumental version? I love your voices but I think a instrumental or even karaoke version of this soundtrack would be amazing

[@pockets8548]

now this is good shit

[@FYCxxLeoxx]

This song alone makes me want to play this game!

[@DudesterGX]

THANK GOD THIS IS AMAZING

[@RyanikeAudio]

I liked watching your journey from finding the trailer version, wishing there was a full length one, and then ending up here like, minutes later. : )

[@DudesterGX]

Ryan Ike Dude, it was a friggin trip lol, but god do I love this song. You have no clue how excited I was to see the full version, I thought that I got to the party early lol

[@thatpersonwhoexists4692]

This soundtrack is what made me get this game. Its a shame that more people don't know about this game and its glorious soundtrack

[@MewaTheFoxVods]

Song is breathtaking

[@jacobonia]

Wow. Made me want to pick up the game. This is awesome.

[@derpherp1810]

This reminds of rimworld and firefly so that brings joy to my heart.

[@jljackalope5617]

I saw the game trailer, and all I'm gonna say is that I'm absolutely hooked

[@emanueleromeo7067]

This music was made with love, i can feel it trough my spine (now i really want to try the game)

[@ozgVella]

This song is the sole reason that we've bought the game! Have no regrets!

[@the_linden]

Funny thing, I've found this game because I wanted to listen to Pyre OST and typed "Vagrant Song". One of the searches was of course Pyre OST and Darren Korb's music but right under it was WtWTLW "Vagrant Song". About two months later I bought the game on Steam Summer Sale only knowing the soundtrack. It was one of the best decisions of that day.

[@zacharybathalon3367]

I'm a videogame artist/game designer who listens to this soundtrack while i'm working, and this one. This one, it makes me shivers everytime. Sheeshers.

[@MrSinister616]

I'm getting the FIREFLY tingles....

[@cheesedmuffin]

Years ago I saw the trailer for where the water tastes like wine at E3 and heard this song. Looked everywhere for it and finally found it on sound cloud. But it was only a 1.5ish min clip. Now Im finding out there's a 5 min version and my life is complete.

[@raihankibria5112]

I had never heard of the game until I listened to the Rebel FM 2018 Game Music Spectacular where this song was featured. Had to buy the game after that!

[@harrisonluis6182]

Que musica incrivel! Quero comprar este jogo.

[@schnoz2372]

damn that's a good song

[@TacHavok]

Damn Good 💪🏼👍🏼 ^^

[@alexanderredfeather8480]

I'm just gonna play some westbound while listening to this

[@madmanvarietyshow9605]

Haven't played the game, bought it just to fund more of this awesome music

[@engineeringsentry6625]

Though the game is not as known as other, it will be a gem I’ll remember forever.

[@marktylerson42]

This game is FREE on the Epic Games store till September 17th.

[@Sunshine-hb3pl]

It has such a ‘dissapointing/ tiresome’ tone to it. Such a good song

[@user-ys2mh5tz7v]

Got no words but *TASTY AS WINE*

[@Merpwood]

What a fucking tune man.

[@takoplush]

Spotify recommended me this song, i didn't knew it was part of a game... Now i'm really looking forward to it! :D

[@RyanikeAudio]

Merry it's already out on steam! And thanks!

[@moralesmarcos68]

You must have good taste 👍

[@kalziver1]

fantastic song! absolutely fatastic!

[@maeve615]

I really dig this track A LOT. It has that same epic-poetic-ballad of defiance as 'The Ballad of Serenity' from Firefly

[@karlosthehawk3730]

Listening to this makes me wanna drink wine

[@cyanmanta]

Years ago I wrote a list of my favorite songs from video games (songs being music AND lyrics, not just one or the other). I've been updating and amending it as more songs have come along. Pollyanna from the Mother trilogy currently sits at the top of my list. To date, this is the only other song that has even come close to taking that top spot. And it's only two years old.

[@larkairn8842]

You got this list up anywhere I can read it?