Feb 2022 psychedelic folk acoustic
This is the first song written for my FAWM project, to write a 15 song album with songs inspired by Ovid's Metamorphesis. The album is tentatively titled "That Word for When One Thing Turns into Something Else".
Each song will represent one of the 15 books of the Metamorphoses. The songs will be interpretations of each story's imagery and themes and will not be strict retelling of a myth (think Mountain Goats "The Life of the World to Come"). As a note on content, those familiar with Ovid's Metamorphoses know how downright scandalous some of these tales can get. I will be focusing on the more tender and lesser known moments of the epic poem, sometimes using my artistic license to create said tenderness where there is no tenderness to be found. Each song will be accompanied by a quote from the book it represents*. The songs will not be written in order. Enjoy.
*All line numbers given will be from the Norton Critical Edition of the Charles Martin translation
Tall Grass by Crumble Boy
"But when he stopped and looked into a pool at the reflection of his horns and muzzle- 'Poor me!" he tried to say, but no words came, only a groaning sound"
Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book III "The Wrath of Juno", lines 253-255
Forget my scent
Ditch my trail
Turn your barrel towards a darting quail
And I will live my life free
In the tall grass
Your hunt for flesh
Your hunt for skin
Your hunt to conquer the beast within
Bear no mark on me here where I'm breathing
But my trail betrays
the bending way
To my secret watering place
Where I swallow my stag reflection
And drink for the sake of refreshment
But if spotted by a single one
My whole world would come undone
I'd be made at peace between dog teeth
There's a piece for everyone
So delay your chase
Let a storm prevail
Pull the rabbit from the snare and turn tail
And I'll live my life free
In the tall grass
Your hunt for flesh
Your hunt for skin
Your hunt to conquer the beast within
All bear no mark on me
Here where I'm breathing
But if spotted by a single one
My whole world would come undone
I'd be made at peace between dog teeth
There's a piece for everyone
@headfirstonly Mar 2022
Nicely done. This definitely deserves the "psychedelic" tag; the rain stick (?) and drum gives this a ritualistic, tribal feel that suits the lyrics down to the ground.
And good lord, this takes me right back to O-level classes at school when we had to do the translating ourselves. I probably still have my copy of the Metamorphoses kicking around somewhere. But I learned more about writing and grammar doing Latin than I ever did in English...
@roblincoln Feb 2022
Love the alternate tuning, the cool percussion and your higher register vocal delivery. Such a fluid soundscape. Great lyrics as always.
@themelgoexperience Feb 2022
Really digging the loose folky feel of this. That’s a mandolin in the beginning yeah? Feels like we should be wandering through the tall grass, you captured the vibe.
@jorh Feb 2022
There were some really great rhymes and half rhymes in the lyric. I very much enjoyed how you layered your vocals in part as well. Lots of nice texture and instrumental flourishes in the track too - It felt very in touch with nature, I was getting some bon iver vibes!!
@kendrakinsey Feb 2022
The lyrics are so cool and while I'm not familiar with Ovid, the theme is universal, change, life cycles (or circle of life?). The change of meaning of piece/peace is fun
@the3queens Feb 2022
Great concept! In addition, as a CD it could be a great educational device.
@odilongreen Feb 2022
Terrific idea for an album. It's been decades since high school Latin for me, but though my memory of Ovid has largely faded, the lovely and passionate music here speaks for itself and has its own life and power. Very nice, straddling the line between intimate and epic poetry, with profound moments of each.
@spikedirection Feb 2022
This really sounds like what the lyrics describe even when listened to as pure sound, that's a great achievement! Nice work x
@ductapeguy Feb 2022
This could be 1972. Well composed, beautifully played.
@seanbrennan Feb 2022
I was going to invoke Mountain Goats in my comment before I even saw your Liner Notes! I think John Darnielle would approve. I love the final stanza lyrically.
@cubizm Feb 2022
Wow, ambitious and realized recording. Love the way the melody winds away and comes back. Haunting.
@sjbatavia Feb 2022
Interesting song. Circle of life painted in a bit different way. The juxtaposition of the lyrics and the melody add to the complexity of the music.
Kind of Neil Young sounding on the vocals.
And I'll live my life free in the tall grass.