Friday, May 21, 2010

Birthday Song

Naming a song Blankety-blank Song has always felt like kind of a cop-out to me. Maybe in part because I've named a song Something-or-other Song before, and that particular song happens to be one that I don't like very much any more...but, well, I did create this rambling ditty on my birthday after all, and I have been surrounded by births these past few weeks. I suppose it also marks the birth of Bright Archer, as this was my first songwriting session under the new name. So, "Birthday Song" it has been dubbed: a song of first takes, and the first song created in my new Portland home.

Instrumentation: just me and my loop station and my cat and a, um, generous glass of wine, salvaging an imploding birthday at the eleventh hour.

Birthday Song


These are the words in my heart
They started before I knew how to start
They spoke out the spokes of my wheels
Cut into my blistered heels

Their purpose is to teach
And again and again they try
Sometimes I am a wall
Sometimes I am a microphone

They convince by force
These words are fists
These words are mallets
I am the delicate wrist
I am the breaking bone
I dance always alone
I dance always alone

Speak to me
Speak to my heart
Show me how to start
Speak to my heart

4 comments:

  1. Sweet, entrancing. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh johanna, this is so beautiful.
    I love the loop based stuff you have done. I haven't seen you play in so long, I hope you incorporate it into your sets.

    ReplyDelete
  3. beauti-
    ful -


    ciao,
    g.

    ReplyDelete