Feb 2022 songfight harmonies tortured-metaphor
First line lyrics are the SongFight prompt, with the obvious thing that came to mind, along with the local island of Alcatraz (itself meaning albatross, from Portuguese via Arabic), and with Fleet Foxes-inspired harmony from the word “wanderer”. “The rock” in the last verse is me being cheeky with words again since that’s also the nickname for the island of Alcatraz.
For the additional polysemy in this song (what a great word!), I really loved how the Albatross is both a majestic legendary bird that rarely touches the ground, and is also used to mean a crushing weight of guilt and shame, holding you to the ground.
I also used the #42 prompt from @FAWM on twitter of repeating the same melody throughout.
This definitely needs more fleshing out, but I’m happy with what it is so far, and to have shimmed the words “equivocal” and “supernal” in there.
Wanderer above the sea of fog
covering the island calling out your name
when you ride the currents high above the deep
the world equivocal, sea and sky the same
do you feel the force that pulls us to the ground
when you left a thousand thousand miles before
on a heading carried deep within your bones
do you even notice us below you as you soar
As for me, I am fastened to the rock
With my neck bent from a weight that can’t be seen
Though I too have gone a million miles or more
My body is a ballast, a supernal submarine
@owl Feb 2022
Beautiful! Are you submitting it to the songfight? I think you might have a winner with this one if so! I love the metaphor and lyrics, and the harmonies are gorgeous.
@zecoop Feb 2022
What an amazing listen, from the great lyrics and the meaning/story behind them to the amazing instrumentation. Not to mention the great harmonizing in your vocals. This was a very captivating song. Lovely!
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Fascinating and poetical - some great lines.
"do you feel the force that pulls us to the ground"
and
"As for me, I am fastened to the rock
With my neck bent from a weight that can’t be seen"
being my favourites.
Of course the Albatross shall always be best known to an English Lit graduate from the poem "The Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. If you don't know it, read it and it may give you an idea for a line or two if you develop the song.
@esc4p3 Feb 2022
This is simple yet very effective, I love the harmonies the most. The feel of the song is totally in line with the theme and the title. Like!