We’re stoked to be bringing you the new single from Americana artist Tawny Ellis. This single marks the second single release from her upcoming album, Edge of the World, set to debut in early 2025, ushering in an exciting new chapter in Tawny Ellis’ continually evolving musical journey. Below is a list of musicians and an explanation of the song in the artists words.

Dulcimer: Tawny Ellis | Guitar: Gio Loria | Bass: Corey McCormick(Lukas Nelson, Neil Young)  | Keys: Carey Frank | Drums: Kyle Crane (Rufus Wainwright) | BG Vocals: Joelle Virgil, Deb Morrison, Tawny Ellis

Produced by Gio Loria and Tawny Ellis

Engineered by Gio Loria 

Mixed and Mastered by Adam Loeffler

Music  Building Records, Black Volt Music Publishing  

This song challenges listeners to confront the unspoken truths in their lives, provoking the question: What’s your elephant? It’s about the things we know we should address but avoid—whether to keep the peace, avoid discomfort, or evade difficult conversations. On a personal level, this could be relationships we need to mend, bad habits we need to break, or the self-deceptions we cling to out of fear. 

But the elephant exists on a global scale too. We’re surrounded by issues we ignore—plastic in our oceans, chemicals in our food, our collective addiction to convenience and smartphones, the dopamine rush of social media validation. We’re constantly bombarded with messages telling us what to buy, how to fix ourselves, and who we should be. It’s easier to look away and get caught up in all of that than to challenge these forces.

In our personal lives, the elephant might be that tough conversation we need to have with a partner, a parent, a friend, or a co-worker. It could be about taking better care of ourselves, quitting smoking, eating better, cutting ties with toxic people, or confronting patterns of negative thinking. Often, we repeat the same mistakes—not because we don’t know better, but because we haven’t been honest with ourselves or haven’t challenged ourselves to see another perspective. Could we be brave enough to question the dogma we’ve grown to blindly rely on?

In this political season, the division between people and countries, which leads to hatred and endless wars, is the biggest elephant in the room. Divisiveness is not constructive and only continues to bring us all down.

Elephants are incredibly beautiful and intelligent creatures, with strikingly human characteristics in how they care for each other and live by rituals. When treated with respect, they blossom and can be kind and gentle. Yet, elephants have always been hunted and abused by humans, poached for their tusks. I see deep symbolism in them, and the phrase “elephant in the room” holds many layers of meaning.

The song refers to the path of truth being revealed. As Edgar Allan Poe said, “Truth will out.” The lyrics capture that inevitability: “It’s like rushing water stronger than Niagara Falls, it’s like rolling thunder—can’t you feel the rumble, the shaking of the walls from the sound.”

Eventually, the walls we’ve built to avoid the truth will come crashing down. In the end, the path to truth will reveal itself, whether we’re ready for it or not. Ultimately, the song is about truth and love. 

Lyrics:

“Elephant”

Nobody wants to talk about the elephant in the room

Nobody wants to point it out I guess it’s a little too soon

Nobody wants to be the first to stick their fragile neck out

I guess we’ll have to wait and see how this all plays out

It’s like rushing water stronger than Niagara Falls

Can’t you feel the power coming down

It’s like rolling thunder can’t feel the rumble

The shaking of the walls from the sound

Nobody wants to talk about these dark shadows around

Seems they’re always stalking me trying to bring me down

Nobody wants to be the first to admit all is not just fine

But I feel the love tonight, yeah it’s right on time

It’s like rushing water stronger than Niagara Falls

Can’t you feel the power coming down

It’s like rolling thunder can’t you feel the rumble

The shaking of the walls from  sound

It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming

It’s coming, it’s coming, run for  your life

Without a doubt in my mind the path will find you

It unwinds before you In time

Yeah, it will shine, shine, shine

It’s like rushing water stronger than Niagara Falls

Can’t you feel the power coming down

It’s like rolling thunder can’t you feel the rumble

The shaking of the walls from the sound

It’s like rushing water, stronger than Niagara Falls

Can’t you feel the power coming down

———

Written by Tawny Ellis

WEBSITE PURCHASE LINK:

https://tawnyellis.com/single/119930/elephant