WHY? shares Silver Jews cover ft. Lala Lala & Gabby's World

Tributes to the late David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains) continue to pour in, and one of the latest is a cover of “We Are Real” off Silver Jews‘ classic American Water by WHY?. WHY?’s cover features backing vocals by Lillie West (Lala Lala) and Gabby Smith (Gabby’s World), and it turns the guitar-fueled indie rock song into a piano ballad with some Beatlesque strings. It’s a very nice twist on a familiar song, and here’s what Yoni Wolf says about it:

I always looked up to David Berman. His songs and his poetry book had a huge impact on me in my early career. His death was a staggering blow. We were only distant acquaintances but he somehow felt like a long lost half big brother or estranged uncle. I was a wreck for several days after I heard the news, listening to and reading all his work. Then I decided to learn “We Are Real” as a way to console myself. It was quite an emotional experience but sure enough it helped a lot to just sing his words out loud.

The song was released today in conjunction with World Mental Health Day and all proceeds will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Listen below.