Feb 2022 horror uke fuc pogonoscrossing
Part 4 (the penultimate chapter) of the Pogonos Crossing EP. I am quite happy with how it turned out. And frankly, if you're not both inspired and reduced to tears by listening to this song, you're clearly a wholly emotionless robot. There's a reason it's called "The Greatest Sacrifice!"
Once again, this will be utterly nonsensical without first listening to the earlier parts of the saga. The first three songs are:
1) Welcome to Pogonos Crossing (https://fawm.org/songs/129820/)
2) The Man Makes the Beard Makes the Man (https://fawm.org/songs/133533/)
3) Pogonos Awakes (https://fawm.org/songs/136348/)
Even if you have heard those three, there may be logical leaps and storytelling contrivances that strain credulity. Oh well. It all makes sense to me!
As with all of the tracks, parts of this need to be re-recorded and/or remixed for the ultimate release. I also need to do something to more differentiate the final chorus repeat. Also, I acknowledge that there's a tonal shift to the music here -- less creepy and more jaunty than the earlier songs, as though the Lovecraftian horror movie became a monster movie starring The Rock instead -- but I still like it. Maybe for the final release I'll slow it down a bit and try to add more "horror" vibe. I'll see how I feel later.
And yes, though the story seems fairly well concluded, there is one more (likely fairly brief) song to come...
EDIT: as a peek behind the curtain, I just remembered I’d intended to record this with a capo in the key of C# (which might have given it an “odder” sound) or D, but forgot so it’s basically boring C. No wonder it sounds different from my initial song “sketches.” Not that it matters, but now I have to decide whether to re-record the whole thing for the eventual release. Ah well, that’s a question for another day.
The Greatest Sacrifice
(c) 2022 Odilon Green
VERSE
Pogonos is here
The chants increase
I feel my facial hair surge and swell
And I know then
My beard is somehow a part
Of this town’s wretched summoning spell
I need to put
An end to this
Before the beast makes it all the way through
I love my beard
But nonetheless
I know what I have to do
CHORUS
I’ve got to burn my beard
Burn it away
I’ve got to burn my beard
Set it ablaze
I’ve got to burn my beard
Not a hair can stay
I’ve got to burn my beard
’Til it’s all burned away
VERSE
I carry moustache wax
Everywhere with me
It is important to show your style
I rub it in
All through my beard
And as I do I start to smile
This is gonna hurt
And probably will
Be the end of me I know
But if I’ve got
To leave this life
A blazing beard is the way to go
CHORUS
BRIDGE
I always knew my habit of smoking would kill me
As I reach in my pocket for a match
I light it up, hold it to my beard
And watch the flame flare and jump and catch
Pogonos is still held by the ritual chant
And so to my beard is still bound
As my facial hair burns, so does he as well
And he ignites with a ghastly sound
CHORUS x2
@headfirstonly Mar 2022
The percussive effects in this really build the tension but even so, I did not see this turn of events coming. "I always knew my habit of smoking would kill me" is so richly, darkly ironic that I can't help but laugh. This is becoming quite the classic tale.
@timfatchen Mar 2022
Wow! Unexpected denouement. And the importance of wax. A suitable fiery end. What strikes me with this series is that despite the ridiculous premise it sucks you in, and works. The magic of music and verse. Half a cabaret performance and you could have audience participation in this last chorus. Applause! And I never ever intend growing a beard after this.
@ofishell Mar 2022
This follows the previous installment perfectly; however, I was not at all expecting self-immolation (one so rarely does)!
"I always knew my habit of smoking would kill me" - solid gold.
@chipwithrow Mar 2022
Yes, jaunty - I like it! (More ominous would be interesting, too, but this version sounds heroic.)
Throughout this saga, you have such awesome sounds in addition to the uke.
@nadine Mar 2022
This is indeed odd. Burn you beard wtf?! What have I just listened?!
@rayboneor Mar 2022
Burn it?! Horrifying! At first I thought he was going to burn his beard and leave the mustache, which he would wax like some hipster. But, no, it's a much darker tale. And yet the protagonist does not seem to be daunted...On to the finale
@fuzzy Feb 2022
NOOOO!!!!!!!
A beard burning?!?!?
In an @odilongreen song?!?
Gosh! :(
That said, this is a catchy tune here.
Yeah, more monster screaming please.
Can't wait for the finale!!!
@regis Feb 2022
This. THIS is why I love FAWM so damned much.
If this needs anything, it's more immolating monster shrieking. Or maybe switch to minor arpeggiated chords on the uke against an increasingly ominous bass line (maybe synths?) for the last chorus.
@franniezest Feb 2022
!!! i was not expecting this! great story arc. i really like the uke parts especially right at the end of the verses. (sorry, no tears, but we did already establish that i am a robot so that explains it) great song!