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about

Andrew Carswell was the original mandolin player with the The Stetson Family, and a multi-instrumentalist with two iconic Australian bands, Not Drowning, Waving and My Friend the Chocolate Cake. He was a life-long friend of Stetson Family member John Bartholomeusz, starting school together when they were five years old. He was one of the funniest, kindest, cheekiest, most intelligent people I’ve ever met! We had so much fun together, playing, writing and touring. In 2012 Andrew was diagnosed with liver cancer. He chose to keep this quiet for as long as possible and kept playing and touring as much as he could whilst having treatments. Angel’s Hand was a song he’d part written in the early days of his diagnosis. John, Andy and I had played it around the kitchen table, and then, for some reason, we never finished it. Andy sadly passed away in 2016, on his own terms, having played his last show with us only five days before he died. As I was going back through an old computer looking for photos of us for his memorial, I came across the recording of Andy, John and I playing the unfinished version of Angel’s Hand. I finished the words, took it to the rest of the band, everyone putting their personal touches on it, and now here it is on The Stars, If You Look Closely. We send it out to Andy and really hope he likes it!

lyrics

I’ve never seen the sky so blue, I’ve never seen such light
I’ve never seen a bird sit and sing at the end of a lonesome flight
I never knew when I woke today I’d touch an angel’s hand
I never knew I’d stand on rock, instead of the shifting sand

I’ve never seen an ocean wave break with mane so white
I’ve never seen the sands on the shore gleam and shine so bright

I never knew when I woke today I’d touch an angel’s hand
I never knew I’d stand on rock, instead of the shifting sand

I’ve never seen a tree stand tall and reach out for the sun
I’ve never seen the grass so green or heard an old river run

I never knew when I woke today I’d touch an angel’s hand
I never knew I’d stand on rock, instead of the shifting sand

I’ve never seen a baby’s smile light up all of the world
I’ve never seen anything as pure in the form of a baby girl

I never knew when I woke today I’d touch an angel’s hand
I never knew I’d stand on rock, instead of the shifting sand

credits

from The Stars, If You Look Closely, track released April 18, 2024
Written by ANDREW CARSWELL, NADINE BUDGE, JOHN BARTHOLOMEUSZ

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The Stetson Family Melbourne, Australia

The Stetson Family walk the line between alt-country and bluegrass with their free-wheeling, spirited songs, awash with soaring harmonies. Described as "champions of fresh bluegrass but with a bedraggled soul of rock and roots," the band takes their audience on a journey down life's crooked highway.

"They blend like one of the legendary bluegrass or country families…” American Songwriter ... more

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