Feb 2022 skirmish songskirmish superskirmish feb1112skirmishno2 notsure s021122d filk
If someone from the future went back and gathered up dead letters to be delivered, would they could they should they deliver them? Or are they.... (wait for it) better off dead?
Skirmish prompt (https://fawm.org/forums/topic/12660/)
was this picture: https://imgur.com/3ivGtx6.
I don't know what to tag this, maybe you do? I wanted to keep futzing with the recording to make it more spacey and drench it in things and electronicize but I was already an hour over and I barely know what I'm doing as it is. :). Cheers!
*no kittens were harmed in the making of this metaphor
I’ve got some dead. I’ve got some dead.
Letters. To deliver.
I don’t decide. I don’t decide.
That’s left. To the giver.
Gather them up. Gather them up.
My slender kittens. In a litter.*
Place them inside. Where they collide.
This canvas satchel. Stained with time.
Who must decide? We must decide.
Not the intended. They can’t be trusted.
What’s our objective? To turn to rights?
Is there a wrong. We won’t decide.
All the forgiveness. And all the lies.
Remaining sealed. From eyes that prise.
What will it change? What future changed?
What minds were made? What lives deranged?
But for the worse. But for the better.
Closed off for good. Dead to the letter.
…Episltecide
@audrey Mar 2022
I really like this very catchy melody and accompaniment. Great song!
@dasbinky Feb 2022
This is the closest I've ever heard you get to They Might Be Giants, which, unsurprisingly, I approve of. I love the darkly manic vibe.
@kadmad202 Feb 2022
I listened to this earlier, but apparently didn't comment at that time. I love the straight-forwardness of the lyrics - here are the letters, we must make a non-judgmental decision about them, but what will it really change? There was/is a series on the Hallmark channel (I saw a couple of episodes) in which a group of quirky characters were in charge of the dead-letter department and the goal was to get them to the intended receiver. Of course, every letter created a happy resolution (as is required by law on the Hallmark channel), but I like your take better. Ambiguity. Just like in real life.
@nancyrost Feb 2022
Those harmonies are haunting, as are the words. "Not the intended. They can't be trusted." Much to wrestle with here. Like the humor, too. Epistlecide, heh.
@mmmmarcus Feb 2022
This was a very cool one. Really liking the singing and harmonies! Keep em coming!
@standup Feb 2022
Dang. Tough questions. The recipients can't be trusted. The senders either.
Love the line: All the forgiveness. And all the lies. Remaining sealed.
@jwhanberry Feb 2022
Great tune. You did a fine job on this one. It flows right along and the lyric is just on the edge of making sense. Fine skirmish.
@toms Feb 2022
I once found a record of a dead letter that I believe was written by my great grandfather (either him or the other person who has the same name, and I only know of two people with the name after years of genealogical research), but not the letter, but it was apparently just business correspondence. I want "epistlecide" to find its way into the dictionary, that is Shakespeare-worthy! I agree with helenseviltwin there is a definite klezmer vibe here. I love klezmer music! Stick a clarinet in it! :)
@helenseviltwin Feb 2022
I think, tag-wise, Klezmer/Eastern European folk thing going on with the rhythms and the harmonies. Fun idea and, as ever, most excellently executed, my friend.
@dzdandcunfsd Feb 2022
This is a really interesting rhythm and melody I'm really enjoying. It's almost a polka waltz of sorts... A very intriguing lyric! I'm sure at least half those letters if not more are better off dead, its like a missed phone call if its important they'll call back, but not always :D Great skirmish!
@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
Oh, and other than the tag the un-super skirmish organizer suggested (which is in my prompt), you could use S021122D (kindly provided by one of the other people who played with my prompt--I am too dyscalculic to not screw up those hashtags). I would also suggest #filk as a hashtag.
@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
Oh, this is delightful! Such a cool take on my prompt. Thanks!
I am left with so many questions. If they get delivered, are they no longer dead? And where did the thin kittens come from? You've got to feed the poor dears.