"Light as a Feather" is a jazz fusion composition by Stanley Clarke, with lyrics by Flora Purim, written in 1972 for the Return to Forever album of the same name. It stands as the sole non-Corea composition on that record and represents one of Clarke's earliest published works, composed during his acoustic bass period before his later shift to electric instruments. The piece is a gentle, airy ballad characterized by a floating melody delivered as wordless vocalise by Purim over Clarke's acoustic bass lines and Chick Corea's Fender Rhodes harmonies. Brazilian rhythmic influences permeate the composition, with a meditative quality that prioritizes atmosphere and lyricism over rhythmic intensity. Joe Farrell's flute interludes and Airto Moreira's subtle percussion contribute to the piece's ethereal character on the original recording. Within the Light as a Feather album, the tune provides a serene contrast to the more energetic Latin-jazz pieces surrounding it. Clarke composed it specifically for the London sessions that produced the album, drawing on the ensemble's collective affinity for Brazilian music. The composition remains closely associated with its original recording and has not been widely covered by other artists, though it endures as a beloved piece within the Return to Forever catalog.
