Happy Valentines! Not for the faint hearted!
My papa beat me like a hound ever since I was a child
Mama said ‘you’re no good, boy’ as she wept and cried
My only redemption was in a girl called Lily
I always knew she’d get me out of there
Lily was the kind of girl drove young men wild
Her beauty masked that world of dread inside
I found redemption in a girl called Lily
I always knew she’d get me out of there
I could see my fire in her eyes, oh Lily
Auburn hair and sweet smile to disguise
Her wicked side, oh Lily, oh Lily
At last one day she agreed to take a ride
We sat down together holding hands by the riverside
I found redemption there in a girl called Lily
I always knew she’d get me out of there
It made me sad her plans were not as mine
I watched the bubbles from her pretty mouth to the surface rise
I swear I’ll miss that girl called Lily
Until the day they strap me to the chair
I could see my fire in her eyes, oh Lily
Auburn hair and sweet smile to disguise
Her wicked side, oh Lily, oh Lily
They were waiting on the doorstep when I got home
Angels of doom, they howled like wolves up to the moon
Oh Lord, what have you done? Where is your sister, Billy?
Oh Lord, what have you become? Billy, what have you done?
With blood stained shirt and filthy hands, a soul as black as pitch
I carried my poor sister down and laid her in the ditch
Oh Lord, I loved that girl called Lily
Oh Lord, I wailed to see her lying there…
@chroes Feb 2022
Followed the #murderballad tag (I wrote one, too) and found this gem. Gosh, you got some character in your voice!
This is a truly dark murder ballad. Exceptionally executed too, the background vocals are so eerie! Awesome dynamic overall, fading instruments in and out. Structurally impeckible.
Oh, and btw, users don't get notifications when they are mentioned anywhere else but the forum. If you want to communicate with users, you can use their soundboard on their profile instead.
@stuarthu Feb 2022
Thank you @tseaver - you make FAWM a great place to hang! :)
@stuarthu Feb 2022
Many thanks @evandiem much appreciated... yes, I hesitated over how explicit to make the crux of the story - if you think of what Billy's plans may have been for his sister down by the river that she objected to so much (think as dark as you can), that will hopefully explain how things took a turn for the worst!
@tseaver Feb 2022
Good write on a grim subject: you've tapped into a deep vein in our musical culture.
@evandiem Feb 2022
The rasp of your voice fits this so well. It adds credence to the idea of this being performed from behind bars or on the run but someone who can't stop thinking about it. Really excellent wide, creepy production on this as well. That wavering organ is perfect.
Not entirely sure on the story, though, it doesn't seem like Billy has much motivation for this crime. I think in order to really nail the murder ballad, you've kinda gotta have a moral grey area of like "he shouldn't have done it but I know why he did"