There are few introductions as rewarding as welcoming back an artist who has already carved out a familiar space in your heart. In Westwell’s case, it feels more like greeting family than simply revisiting a band. The Oxfordshire-based trio—James and Gus Corsellis, a father-son songwriting duo, joined by multi-instrumentalist and producer Jamie Biles—have returned to us with a track that captures both the intimacy of their roots and the expanse of their shared vision. “Ten Feet Tall” is not just another release; it is a declaration of love, legacy, and the invisible threads that bind generations together.
From the very first line—“To me, you were always ten feet tall, up on your shoulders knowing I’d never fall”—the song sets the tone as both personal memoir and universal anthem. There is a tenderness here that grows into something bigger than itself. The verses unfold like chapters in a family album, recalling “my first breath, helped with my first step, held onto my hand when I said I was scared.” These lyrics are not just stories—they are lived moments, preserved in melody, reaching beyond the personal into something deeply relatable for anyone who has stood in awe of a parent.
Vocally, the delivery is steeped in sincerity. James and Gus’s voices weave together with a raw clarity, never over-styled, always grounded in truth. There’s a quiet strength in the verses, an almost whispered reverence, before the chorus bursts open in full declaration. When the refrain returns—“Oh to me, you’ll always be ten feet tall”—it lands not just as a lyric but as a heartfelt mantra, an emotional high point that feels designed to be sung with arms open wide.
Musically, Westwell leans into their folk-rock and indie roots with tasteful restraint. Acoustic guitar strums form the heartbeat of the track, while layers of warm electric tones and subtle percussion gradually lift it into its anthemic space. The production is clean yet expansive, with Biles ensuring that the vocals remain the centerpiece. Nothing is overproduced; each element is given just enough room to breathe, allowing the emotional weight of the song to rise naturally. The arrangement mirrors the journey of the lyrics—starting quietly, swelling in strength, and tapering off with the same bittersweet intimacy with which it began.
What makes “Ten Feet Tall” resonate so powerfully is its balance of personal storytelling with universal themes. Lines like “I was a boy, until I had to be man / Now you take my hand, as I help you to stand” strike at the inevitabilities of life, while the poignant reminder that “time makes orphans of us all” carries the track into contemplative, almost poetic territory. It’s here that Westwell’s inspiration from literary voices like WH Auden and Raymond Carver becomes evident—their music reads like poetry that happens to be sung.
This marks Westwell’s fourth appearance here, and each time they return, they bring with them something that feels both freshly inspired and firmly rooted in their ethos of honesty and craft. With “Ten Feet Tall,” they’ve given us more than a song—they’ve offered us a legacy, a way of remembering those who raised us while also recognizing the responsibility of carrying their stories forward. It is father and son, past and future, life and memory—all wrapped up in soaring melody. Westwell, once again, stands tall. And with “Ten Feet Tall,” they invite us to stand right there with them.
Listen to “If I’m Not With You” on Spotify
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