TITLE: Distant Hills ARTIST: Holstein Mraz YEAR: 2009 WRITTEN & PRODUCED: AImproviser Recorded live at The Hay Loft, a intimate barn-side venue in rural Vermont, "Distant Hills" captures Holstein Mraz out of his stable. The song came together spontaneously one autumn evening when Mraz, visibly moved by the sunset over neighboring pastures, treated the audience to his improvised scatting in this heartfelt meditation in a single take. ------------- [live audience] [Gentle Acoustic Intro] [Spoken Word] I wrote this poem about... well, about longing. [Verse: Yearning, cello] The distant hills are calling me Their rolling waves seduce my soul I watch them every day and night They're everything I can't control [Chorus: Longing, cello] Oh, how I want their lush valleys Oh, how I need those rolling slopes To graze where morning dew is waiting To roam where freedom grows [Interlude: Playful scatting] Moo-ma-moo, ma-ma-moo Doo-ba-moo, moo-moo-doo Ma-ma-moo, oh moo-ma-day Moo... [Bridge: Quiet, vulnerable, cello licks] But alas! ... [pause] I cannot... I cannot... I cannot... [Outro: Building frustration, then softly with resignation] Damn the electric fence [whistling] Damn, the electric fence [whispered] ...damn the electric fence [Whisper] Maybe just... one more try... [extensive scatting and cello interweave] [Ending: Electric fence encounter, scatting] Bzzz-bzz-bzzz, bzz-bzz-bzz Oooch! Ow! Shocking! ee ee ow! Bzz-bzz-bzzzz, bzzz-bzzz-ow Oooch... ow... Bzzzzzzttt... [improvisation] [Spoken Word: Defeated] The grass is probably... not even that green anyway... moo [excited audience] [fade out] ©️ 2025
