Feb 2022 folk singer songwriter cello ukulele poemoftheday
Thanks to @fearlessflight2014 for the Poem of the Day challenge. This was the one that was up on the website when I checked it out.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47347/the-weary-blues
I had a couple stanzas of some blues lyrics based on a trip to Delta, Utah for a visit to the Topaz Japanese American Internment camp, I used those as a starting point to write out some more Blues Lyrics. With this song, I wanted create an experience that reflected the juxtaposition of the breathtaking beauty of the area, and the layers of historical injustice in regards to the Japanese prisoners as well as the Paiute people. So there is an experiment going on here to have a Major and Minor Blues going simultaneously.
It’s a deep stage of memories and dreams 2x
waves in reflections, how calm a face seems
It’s a small town in the dry mountain land 2x
where the river ends, a confluence of dusty sand
Gaze upon Topaz Mountain, “Jewel of the desert” 2x
a long history of tears, rusty train tracks in cracked dirt
What’s the difference between the names of the river? 2x
Look at who calls it, there we find the power
It’s waters irrigating stolen native soil 2x
prisoners sweat drops, to prove they’re loyal
It pours dry and wet into the salt lakes 2x
drink up sake and mourn for their sakes.
It’s a gap between perception and reality 2x
And if you listen closely we’re moving 3x
with a resonance
@chrisshepard Feb 2022
Fooled me by the title! However, I loved the moodiness and the Nick Cave-ish vibe...and thennnnn....cool change!
@pvk2020 Feb 2022
Truly.
Kept me very curious and as it built up I so got it.
@kvnwoodruff Feb 2022
Everything is melted together perfectly. So many amazing layers happening here.
@j8e2t56 Feb 2022
I always love the layers in your music! The best adjectives have already been applied: haunting and evocative.
@kevinmason Feb 2022
Haunting. There's a soundscape here that pulls me right in and moves me along with your story. Great job shining a light on stories that are often swept under the rug.
@erbaer Feb 2022
This is a great sound journey that starts out simple and gathers steam and distortion along the way. Very evocative!
@miga Feb 2022
what a cool way to remember a trip! And a good and thoughtful way to remember the history of that place. lots of layers to your thoughts too. I like that last line.