[Song Discussion] (When You're) Losing Your Way in the Rain

[Claws]

(Reviewed by Darkling Nocturnal on The High Lonely Hills).

Sung by Art Garfunkel, (When You're) Losing Your Way in the Rain is a calm ballad, that should be originaly used in the movie. It's released exclusively on this soundtrack. Mike Batts arrangement is unmistakable. It's a nice folk-song, but not as good as his achievements like Bright Eyes.

3/4

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Review by Hawkbit, founder of Fiver's Honeycomb:

5 – (When You’re) Losing Your Way in the Rain (Vocal - Art Garfunkel) : This was one of the three songs originally written by Mike Batt for the original film. It was never used in the film or the television series. There is a scene in the film before the rabbits see Cowslip’s warren where this song would fit nicely.

[Claws]

I disagree with you here, Darkling. MAYBE the song is not as good as Bright Eyes (then again, WHICH one is?) but that doesn't make it any less good in my opinion.

I think it truly deserves the full note.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

I think it truly deserves the full note.

Nope, I still don't think so. In direct comparison with Bright Eyes and Thank You Stars, this song is simply slightly worse. And so, I've decided to rate it "just" with 3/4.

[Claws]

But why are you comparing two different tracks?

[Chipster-roo]

Personally, I prefer this track to the original Bright Eyes that appeared in the film, but I don't think it's as good as the series' Bright Eyes.

I don't mind the fact it wasn't in the movie.  I don't really see what could have been shown while it played.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

But why are you comparing two different tracks?

Because they are all compositions of Mike Batt. And in direct comparison I simply found it a little worse than some of the "real" highlights.

[mistercynical]

bumping this thread:

This song is brilliant, it should have been used in the series as a way to show Hazel's peril. Imagine wandering over the hills having lead a group away from home on suspicions alone; the group began to doubt him.

As Hawkbit said in the movie: "I don't believe you know where you're going."

This song would have made a great montage that proves Hazel was trying everything he could, though he's just as lost in the rain as the rest of them. It could have given him more depth, the sort of despair when you begin to doubt yourself.

[Hammy]

I could see this track being used in the movie or the series without much issue. It really sets a perfect mood for when the rabbits are wandering as they try to follow Fiver's vision. Though, honestly, it makes me think of a lot of things, beyond just Watership Down. It gives me a very distinct image of sitting out on a porch while it's raining, staring out into a forest.

Dare I say, I really do like this better than Bright Eyes. I love Bright Eyes, but this evokes more emotion in me. There's a melancholy to it that's difficult to describe, particularly earlier in the song with just the guitars and Garfunkel's dreamy vocals. It's cold, it's dreary, it's tired, but there's still hope in there, it's still moving along. I don't know much about music, really, but, man, this song hits me right in the feels and makes me want to tear up and also write stuff. I like it a lot.

[mistercynical]

Yes, yes! You've hit the nail on the head.

There's a sort of despair and hollowness portrayed in this song that would have made the movie so much better. It'd make the journey from Sandleford seem less like an inconvient and mildly dangerous chore to more like the ultimate trial of the group's cohesion and strength emotionally. This is something the book did that neither the movie nor the series seemed intrepid enough to mimick; that sort of heavy, melancholic-yet-still-persevering despair.

This song being cut essentially put into motion the dilution of Watership Down's realistic and cynical nature, leading to a point where the series seemed to only portray happiness, plotting or momentary shock at worst. Made the whole series very twee and simple in some spots. But I digress...

I know one cannot realistically expect this song to make a return in the new upcoming series, but some sort of composition that can mimick the tone in Losing Your Way in the Rain would breathe much-needed sombreness and depth into a show about bunnies.  

Please Mike Batt + Art Garfunkle, give me feels in 2016

[Hammy]

Oh, definitely. The book did a lot of things that the movie and series never did, though, I'm not sure if that's simply because of the medium or not. There are a lot of things in writing that you just can't quite capture in a movie or a series. A lot of description and emotion that may or may not be possible to convey with visuals and audio, though, songs like this and Bright Eyes really do help set a tone. Direct route to our emotional centers and all. It's a shame it got cut.

Yeah, there were a lot of problems with that. It's still weird to watch the series for me because of that, much as I generally enjoy it. I mean, I like happy stuff, but, for the most part, Watership Down is not a happy story. That's part of why it's so incredible. It's realistic, it's gritty, it's tragic, but never do you feel manipulated. That's just how the story is and it works extremely well.

It would be amazing if they could finally employ the song properly, but if they could compose something even close to this track in the new series, I would be so very happy. And sad, actually, but a good kind of sad. A sad you get when you're watching something that you're truly and deeply invested in. That'd be pretty cool.