My hearing is not the best, so when I first heard this song, I assumed it was “just another love lost” song, although one with a hauntingly beautiful melody. However once I learnt the background to the song and saw the lyrics, it became a powerful and moving narrative and it has became a favourite of mine. It’s the theme song from the film The Stolen. It is still a love song, but not one involving lovers but one of a parent towards their child – in this case a mother searching for her kidnapped baby. The film was relatively low budget ($4 million) and is set in the era of the New Zealand gold rush in the 1860s.
In an interview in 2016, the film’s producer Emily Corcoran, is reported as saying “New Zealand was the first place to give women the vote and when you look at this period you can see why. They were really very liberated.” She then went on to add “The prostitutes were kind of running the show. They were so sought after and could pretty much do what they liked.” I’ll leave it up to you as to whether to think that was a good or bad thing.
The song was written for the film by Stan walker and Inoke Paletua Finau. Stan walker’s voice perfectly conveys the loss (and hope) expressed in the lyrics. There are a number of versions of this song on YouTube, and for me it was a toss up between the clip included below and one with Stan Walker featuring Maisey Rika singing in te reo Māori. The latter includes the haunting melody of the Kōauau (Māori flute), but simply displays the album cover. So instead, I decided to use this version with scenes clipped from the film. Enjoy!
Find You (The Stolen) Can't see you in the dark I'm trying to find your light I can't move through the dust Getting lost in the night The storm may come and the rain will fall Fire and pain go hand in hand, what more The sun will rise and I may fall The earth will shake, but I will not be moved Don't you worry, I'm running, I'm searching I'm trying to find you, to hold you, I need you Won't give up 'til I can't breathe no longer I believe and I can't stop, won't stop 'Cause I'm gonna find you I'll find you I'm gonna find you No, I can't give up 'Cause I'm gonna find you I can't feel you anymore Can't hear through all the noise I'm waiting for your call I'm searching for your voice The storm may come and the rain will fall Fire and pain go hand in hand, what more The sun will rise and I may fall The earth will shake, but I will not be moved Don't you worry, I'm running, I'm searching I'm trying to find you, to hold you, I need you Won't give up 'til I can't breathe no longer I believe and I can't stop, won't stop 'Cause I'm gonna find you I'll find you I'm gonna find you No, I can't give up 'Cause I'm gonna find you I'm closer (Come closer) I'm nearer (You're nearer) Feels stronger (I'm stronger) It's better (I'm better) Not falling (I'm coming) Just moving (I'm running) Can breathe now (I'm trying) I feel now (I'm here now) 'Cause I'm gonna find you I'll find you I'm gonna find you No, I can't give up 'Cause I'm gonna find you 'Cause I'm gonna find you I'll find you I'm gonna find you No, I can't give up 'Cause I'm gonna find you
Another Spectrum 