Song Lyrics

All The World | Benandanti | Black Dog | Catbus | Crawling Back | Devil in the White City | Devil On Your Shoulder | Dreams of Wonder | Get Off My Lawn | Ghost Mountain | Hard to Kill | Haunted | Heartbreak at the Pearly Gates | ‘Til Dawn | The Beast and St Martha | The Devil Ordered Hash and Eggs | Week. That. Was. | Weezl-B-Gon | Whalefall

All the World

Lil ran a bar in New Orleans, she always has and will
Sariel played piano there, some say he plays there still
Prohibition or Armageddon, they were open night and day
But just this once they closed the till to drink the hours away

They spoke of the world’s undoing, a universe unruled
Unwinding the celestial gears the watchmaker had tooled
They laughed and cursed their clockwork god, too senile to malign
His children in his image made to mend his torn design

They said the world was ending
And I guess that’s sort of true
Things kinda look same as before
But don’t feel like what we knew
The sky’s still blue, the stars still shine
But underneath it all you see
Where they cut along the lines

Then in the door a shadow, and a crooked hat and smile
A broken and familiar voice said “Well it’s been a while”
Sariel looked a bit askance at that harbinger of sin
Lilith she just slapped him once and then she let him in

They said the world was ending
And I guess that’s sort of true
Things kinda look same as before
But don’t feel like what we knew
The sky’s still blue, the stars still shine
But underneath it all you see
Where they cut along the lines
Out of all the gin joints
In all the world
You had to walk into mine

Here’s a scene you won’t see in the Lesser key of Solomon
Three demons drinking at the bar, it’s on the house for all of them
Lilith, Sariel, Samael - the witch, watcher, and pawn
Those three Goetic rejects drinking long into the dawn

They said the world was ending
And I guess that’s sort of true
Things kinda look same as before
But don’t feel like what we knew
The sky’s still blue, the stars still shine
But underneath it all you see
Where they cut along the lines
Out of all the gin joints
In all the world
You had to walk into mine

Out of all the gin joints
In all the world
You had to walk into mine.

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Benandanti

Born of the good walkers, with the caul ‘cross my face
My soul wanders at night throughout astral space
As cat, mouse, rabbit, or vole,
My will and my spirit both fight for your soul
I’ll drive out the demons with sorghum and fennel
But in the daylight I’m caring and gentle

That’s the way that it’s been, that’s the way it should always be
Me looking out for you, you looking out for me
But the burning times come and the church turns against us
And you let their words paint our actions as treasonous

Now they’re killing our traditions out of ignorance
They’re killing our lifestyle in fear
And they’re killing our hope with their doubt and despair
And they’re killing us.
They’re killing us.

We’ve been part of this life since an age ‘fore the church
Our actions beloved and never besmirched
We’re your friends and neighbors in harvest and home
Thought soldiers of right ere the arrival of Rome
I never asked for this Power, only tried to do good
I don’t serve the devil, his temptations withstood

That’s the way that it’s been, that’s the way it should always be
Me looking out for you, you looking out for me
But the burning times come and the church turns against us
And you let their words paint our actions as treasonous

Now they’re killing our traditions out of ignorance
They’re killing our lifestyle in fear
And they’re killing our hope with their doubt and despair
And they’re killing us.
They’re killing us.

I am Benandanti, I’m a savior of man
No hatred for God, I’m a part of the plan
So why are you looking at me with such fear?
I saved your field just last week, and your child last year
Well I’ll keep repeating as I’m marched to the pyre
I’ve only ever loved you, why respond with fire?

As the flames rise to set this soul of mine free
Me looking out at you, you looking back at me
Cause the burning times came and the church turned against us
Don’t dare turn away from their vision of success.

Now they’re killing our traditions out of ignorance
They’re killing our lifestyle in fear
And they’re killing our hope with their doubt and despair
And they’re killing us.
They’re killing us.

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There are many myths about a black dog as a harbinger of death. This song was inspired by the myth of the Black Dog of the Hanging Hills in Connecticut. Where some mythical black dogs are rather grim and foreboding, the Black Dog of the Hanging Hills is said to be helpful and playful. Still a harbinger of death, but a friendly one.

On an absolutely non-mythical note, please be aware that black dogs (and cats) are adopted at lower rates but are just as deserving of loving homes as their lighter-colored companions. We don’’t want this song to tip anyone away from adopting a black dog, and in fact we actively encourage you to consider adopting a black-furred animal the next time you’re looking for a pet.

Black Dog

Well the first time that you see that dog
It may save you from demise
Guide you from the wilderness
And never leave your side

But a countdown, it has started
Leading to your final days
Cause the Black Dog is a sign of death
No matter how it plays

And the second time you see the pup
It may bark and wag its tail
And you may be feelin’ hearty,
And you may be feelin’ hale

But the clock it is a-tickin’ down
Your time is nearly done
Cause the Black Dog is a sign of death
One that cannot be outrun

And the last time that you see the hound
Is right before you die
And you might have a moment
To turn and say goodbye

But your hourglass is empty now
There’s naught to do but grieve
Cause the Black Dog is a sign of death
And you’ve passed your last reprieve.

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Inspired by Studio Ghibli’s adorable soot sprites and Catbus, this song evolved into existence through several iterations of pure whimsey.

Which … seems right somehow.

Catbus

I, I am the soot sprite
That hides in the rafters of your heart
And you, you are the old man
That feeds me lucky charm looking marshmallows And I
I feel safe With you, I feel safe With you,
And I would take a cat bus
Yeah I would ride the cat bus
Yeah I would take the cat bus!
All Night All Night
All Night All Night
Just to be with you

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A love song from the serpent of Eden

Crawling Back

When we were young, we lived in the garden 
You gave me a name, I gave you my heart and
You asked all these questions that helped me to see
And we wondered aloud as you sat ‘neath my tree

We wondered bout why, some things are forbidden
And though I just wanted a friend I was smitten
Your curious mind, your mischievous smile
Thought I was the rebel, was you all the while

When I tried to tell you just what was in store 
You wouldn’t listen for all I implored
Could be the great truth wasn’t’ something that’s yours 
Or you just crave mystery honesty bores you
Honesty bores you
Honesty bores you
Honestly

We saw the light,  we lived in the sun
I knew what we were, knew you were the one
I’ve never known anything like I knew you
I’ve never known anything that felt so true

I told you the truth, it’s all that I know
We reaped the whirlwind from seeds that we sowed
What’s born out of fire burns hot and burns fast
Something that bright and that pure cannot last

I hoard that delusion like some kind of prize
My unvarnished self wasn’t meant for your eyes
I knew just what kind of serpent I am 
There’s no place for the snake in the arms of the lamb
No place for the snake in the arms of the lamb 
There’s no place for what I am 
No place for what I  am 

And  the truth is that I came to realize
That I loved you too much to be your prince of lies
And to be with you I’d have to wear that angel’s guise
But I loved you too much to be your prince of lies

And if you knew what I was, could you look you in the eyes
Cause I love you too much to be your prince of lies, of lies
Ahh ahhh  ahhh-ah-ah-ah ahhhh
Ahh ahhh  ahhh-ah-ah-ah ahhhh

But I never said the truth would set you free
So when you find your truth don’t you dare crawl back to me 
But I never said the truth would set you free
So when you find your truth don’t you dare crawl back to me 

Crawl back to me, come back to me, crawl back, crawl back, crawl back, crawl back

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The 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago was the most infamous hunting ground of H.H. Holmes, America’s first known serial killer. He built the World’s Fair Hotel with labyrinthine hallways and elaborate murder rooms with the intent to lure innocents to their death.

Devil in the White City

There is beauty, there are wonders for to tantalize your mind
And there are spectacles aplenty for to occupy your time
But don’t look close, ‘cause it’s just plaster rotting under midday sun
And there is a devil hunting, he is picking out his one

In the shade and out of sight a fateful wheel it is spinning
Where it stops is not by chance but by the webs that he’s spinning
”Come and visit,” says the spider “in my parlor for a while”
And his spinnerets are humming all above his cunning smile

Four pair eyes gleam and glimmer (all that glitters isn’t gold)
(Nothing gold can stay besides) (paint and plaster are what’s sold)
His castle built with fiendish care, a silken maze of secret rooms
And trap doors in its hidden halls lead the insects straight to their doom

Be bold but not too bold, so they say but they’ll not escape the ruse
’Cause every spider needs a web like every poet needs a muse
And I was born with the devil inside of me
Yeah, I was born with the devil inside of me.

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Devil On Your Shoulder

I was frozen there in bed, a hypnopompic daze
When I first saw you watching with your cowled and bony face
He’s hard to look at, beauty’s in the eye of the beholder
Don’t be scared, it’s only me, the devil on your shoulder

Those other monsters lurking when you wake up paralyzed
The shadow squid the squatting hag the rats with glowing eyes
Who’ll guard you from those boogeymen? They creep up getting bolder
Don’t worry kid, who’s got your back? The devil on your shoulder

Life’s a game of chance my friend and luck favors the bold
If you can bluff who gives a damn what cards your hand may hold
You could play it safe yeah you could take your cards and fold or
Live a little - listen to the devil on your shoulder

You see that boy? You see that girl? You see that longing glance
Don’t you get all chickenshit, go ask them for a dance
You see the way they look at you that gaze all scorch and smoulder
Let me be your wingman, I’m the devil on your shoulder

When your heart is broken and you’re lying down to weep
Your bed all cold and empty as you cry yourself to sleep
And when you fear you’ll die unmourned, forgot and left to moulder
You’ll never sleep alone not with the devil on your shoulder

And when my deeds are done and filed in Pete’s celestial folder
I’ll let you be my advocate, the devil on my shoulder
The reaper’s reaching for my soul his grasp is getting colder
Take my hand, it’s warm in Hell with the devil on your shoulder

[Maniacal Laugh]

. . . Wanna make a deal??

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Dreams of Wonder

Close your eyes and you drift into beautiful calm
Now you open a door, and the stairway within
Spirals down with enticing mysterious shadows;
You journey downstairs to the caves deep below

And the caverns are sparkling in candlelight
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

In the deep woods majestic trees tower above you
Their green boughs cathedraling high overhead,
And their branches are beckoning you safely to climb
To the top, where the sun lights the valley below

And the flowers are blooming in purple and white
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

In a crystalline forest transparent and sparkling
The sunlight a-twinkle through diamondlike branches
Each twig has been limned, they all scintillate slowly
The air filled with light and the chiming of bells

And your spirit sings laughing and shining and bright
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

In a garden of moonlight and starlight and shadows
A fountain’s abundantly pouring its waters
Beneath is a box, which you open — a key
Is within to unlock any door in your dreams

And adventure awaits you now all through the night
And wonder uplifts your full heart at the sight
And your eyes shine so joyfully, full of delight

Good night, dear one, goodnight
Good night, dear one, goodnight.

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[Okay, except… anyone who falls asleep that quickly probably didn’t need a lullabye to begin with. We won’t put our audience to sleep by singing more than four verses, but if you are trying to lull someone to sleep, further dreamscapes await…]

Through the quieting campfire’s flickering embers
You crawl to explore from within, like a landscape
Of luminous darkness and shadowy brilliance
A magical series of interlinked rooms

And the dreams that you hold in your heart will ignite
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

In the ocean’s cool waters you swim like a dolphin
You’re weightless and buoyant, the corals abounding
With rainbows of life; you cavort where the seaweed
Translucently glows from the sunlight above

And everything’s tranquil and soothing and right
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

In the back of a cupboard a hidden door opens
A passage unfolds, a deep labyrinth of secrets
Where novels and tomes line the walls holding answers
To infinite questions and stories untold

The best story of all is the one that you write
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

In a castle abandoned to ruins you wander
The echoes of mem’ries as soft as your footsteps
Through chambers and corridor, courtyard and feast hall
The remnants of majesty, shadowed and still.

But bright silken pennants still fly on the heights
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

You stand on a mountain-high cliffside in autumn
So high there are eagles below riding thermals
The view from this vista is epic and glorious
And somehow within you, you know you can fly

And you swoop and you soar as you jump and take flight
And wonder will uplift your heart at the sight
And your eyes will shine joyfully full of delight

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Get Off My Lawn is another song with roots in the LARP Musica Universalis. Lilith is really Done with her ex, Samael (AKA the/a devil) and no, she doesn’t want him back, thanks.

Get Off My Lawn

I moved up to where the snow is
Planted quince and thorny roses
Grew the hedge so high that you can’t see
(You found me anyway)
Built the house I always wanted
Neighbor kids all say it’s haunted
They think that I’m a witch that’s fine with me

And I didn’t erase my name
From all of human memory
So you could carry on that old torch and now
You say you miss the way it used to be
And you just turn up on my porch
With your halo in your hand

Get off my lawn
Go back to where you came
I don’t care about your power, I don’t want your wealth or fame
Get off my lawn
I won’t play your stupid game
If you think that I’d be sorry now my answer’s still the same

You said back before you fell
You wouldn’t serve you’d reign in hell
You said that you’d control your destiny
(And how’s that goin' for ya)
Is that crown too heavy now
It’s not enough to make them bow
Are you tired of responsibility

And I never forgot your name
For I’ve lost to memory
And it wasn’t because I’m proud or cause
Of shame for all the things we’d done, you see
I never once said it aloud
Speak of the devil, he’ll appear

Get off my lawn
Go back to where you came
I don’t care about your power, I don’t want your wealth or fame
Get off my lawn
I won’t play your stupid game
If you think that I’d be sorry now my answer’s still the same

Maybe you’re right, maybe I’m not being fair
Maybe we had a chance in hell
But the thing is we’re not there, and the thing is
I don’t care, I don’t care, I don’t care,

If I had my way, you’d never see my face again
But if that pale horse should ride & the seas rise & then
I might walk away til the garden walls all fell
And if we live to see the day
Then I’ll see you in hell, I’ll see you in hell,
I’ll see you in hell.

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Ghost Mountain

Well I live on the mountain as I have all my days
Don’t get down to town much, guess I’m set in my ways
So it could be a month, maybe two, maybe more
Before a living soul might darken my door
But a whole crowd arrived now as the day fell to night
Burning brands held aloft cast a small pool light
They spoke loudly of death with deep fear in their eyes
Claimed it stalked this mountain in some sort of guise

Hey ho, hear the wind blow
They say the mountain is haunted, say I’ve got to go
Ho hey what can I say
It’s the only home I remember, and here I shall stay
Hey heigh, I shall not say bye
There’s worse things in this world than that which has died
Yeah there’s worst things in this world than that which has died
And I won’t lose my home to a hue and a cry

Seems the townfolk were hunted picked off one by one
By some nightmarish creature from which no one could run
It stalked without mercy it killed without pause
And no stonework or iron could shield from its claws
And still no one livin’ had seen it, it had killed every one
And folks nervously questioned what could be done
So they gathered their courage and the torches alike
And steeled themselves for the desolate hike

Hey ho, hear the wind blow
They say the mountain is haunted, say I’ve got to go
Ho hey what can I say
It’s the only home I remember, and here I shall stay
Hey heigh, I shall not say bye
There’s worse things in this world than that which has died
Yeah there’s worst things in this world than that which has died
And I won’t lose my home to a hue and a cry

Now they stand ‘fore the hermit that lived far above
Was I source of their troubles? Or could help to rid of?
I have tried to be kind to these mortals so frail
I keep to myself, I do not assail
So if they should ask me for help with their plight
Then I’ll shield from this spectre with all of my might
But if they’re bloody-minded I won’t shy from a brawl
I’ll fight tooth and nail, as I did in the Fall

Hey ho, hear the wind blow
They say the mountain is haunted, say I’ve got to go
Ho hey what can I say
It’s the only home I remember, and here I shall stay
Hey heigh, I shall not say bye
There’s worse things in this world than that which has died
Yeah there’s worst things in this world than that which has died
And I won’t lose my home --
But you're welcome to try.

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Fuck you, cancer.

Hard To Kill

I thought the falling snow might last forever
I thought I'd always laid here in this bed
I was made of tubes and wires
You were seeping in a chair
Outside the snow erased it all, you can look but nothing's there.

You can cut it close, you can cut me open wide
You can cut me down, you can cut me up inside
You can cut away this flesh til you've had your fill
'Cause baby, I'm hard to kill
'Cause baby, I'm hard to kill

It all can change while standing in the kitchen
With the microwave still humming, phone in hand
When your body turns against you
Your body's on the line
They kept saying I was sick
But I felt fine but I felt fine

They say the cure is worse than the disease
They say to take the devil that you know
They say that there's no way we'd see it coming
They say there was a time before the snow

You can cut it close, you can cut me open wide
You can cut me down, you can cut me up inside
You can cut away this flesh til you've had your fill
'Cause baby, I'm hard to kill
'Cause baby, I'm hard to kill

I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill
I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill
I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill

I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill
I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill

I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill
I'm hard to kill, I'm hard to kill,
I'm hard to kill.

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By Your Name, Dear Reader:
I’m haunted.

Haunted

I’m haunted by your name
And nothing will be the same
Candles gutter, gone the flame
Lines of smoke all that remains

I’m haunted by the light
And truth twice as bright
Stories told of revenge
Revelation with an edge

I’m haunted out of mind
By mem'ries I cannot find
Pages bound within a dream
Ink and ash and hope will redeem

I’m haunted beneath the moon
And the dawn comes too soon
Empty benches cold as stone
Only shadows left to atone

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Cast from heaven for exercising free will, a fallen angel yearns for his beloved to join him on the outside.

His beloved longs for his repentance and return.

Some differences are truly irreconcilable.

Heartbreak at the Pearly Gates

And then the Devil spoke,
And he said “Look at me with new eyes —
They’ve obscured the truth with half-lies
But I beg you to hear my voice.
For since my soul awoke
To the epiphany of Free Will
I cannot hoard its sweet thrill
And I tell you, you have a choice.

So won’t you come with me?
My love you could be free.
They make the laws but you’re locked in because
You haven’t turned the key.”

The Angel shook his head.
He said “These walls and gates mean safety,
And it is foolish to be hasty
To rebel against God’s plan.
So no,” he softly said
”I can’t join your dangerous caper;
I’ll obey and I’ll be safer
Than if I broke and ran.

But won’t you stay with me?
I beg on bended knee.
While you’ve been gone singing your dark song
My heart cries out for thee.”

They gazed across the gates
Hearts burning raw on both sides
Tears blinking back from hot eyes
Not knowing what to say.
Their intertwining fates
They’d sworn would not be parted,
But despairing and brokenhearted
The Devil turned away.

He sang: “Won’t you come with me?
My love you could be free.
They make the laws but you’re locked in because
You haven’t turned the key.”

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We encourage audience sing-along with the countdown chorus in this LARP-inspired ballad! A chorus tutorial can be found here.

Alright, so let me know if you’ve ever had a night that started kind of like this:

You’ve finally pinpointed the source of the monster spawn that’s been ravaging your village every night from sundown ‘til dawn. And what’s going on is that a monster is siphoning power from a local touchstone and gaining exponential strength. If it’s left unchecked, it WILL eventually consume the world. It’s already nearly invincible, but if you can get it to unlatch from its power source REALLY SOON, like BEFORE DAWN TOMORROW, it MAY still be vulnerable enough to be killed. But it needs to be dealt with TONIGHT, or it will become invincible and it WILL DESTROY THE WORLD.

FORTUNATELY, a trusted scholar tells you about an ancient summoning ritual that would let you pull the monster away from the power source. The ritual is said to be in a puzzle box hidden in a local cave, but the cave is heavily booby-trapped — and is down a long dark path currently filled with monster spawn.

You’ve got to get the puzzle box, figure out how to unlock it, decrypt the ritual, hold the ritual, and summon and defeat the nearly-invincible monster, all the while beset by relentless waves of monster spawn.

You’ve got ten very intense hours to save the world.

We’ve all been there, right?

‘Til Dawn

Shoulder to shoulder, companions beside
When the sun goes down, we know the dangers arise
We know we may not make it, but we’ll damn well try
Then the onslaught begins and the monsters arrive

** Trying to get by as deadly dangers arise
** We fight through the night trying to make it alive
** We can’t go to bed; it would be our demise
** And it’s TEN HOURS ‘til dawn, and we’re trying to survive

We’ve fought down dark paths to a hidden cave when
We sneak in to find a box deep in the den
Evading traps and minefields we prevail and then
We fight the paths to get back to the town again

** Chorus: EIGHT Hours **

To unlock this box we’ll need some pages
That we’ve gotta talk out of unscrupulous mages
Diplomacy and charismatic Grace engages
We get the goods and flee before betrayal rages

** Chorus: SIX Hours **

Encrypted pages by an ancient spellcaster
Her code’s hard to break -- she was a cipher master
The time is short, the need is now we must think faster!!
The ritual’s inside that can avert the Disaster

** Chorus: FOUR Hours **

[Bridge:]
Monsters crawl across the land
Butchering to a fell command
To save the world you must firmly call
And slay the master of them all
If you don’t fell this beast and spawn
You shall not see the light of dawn
So marshal your forces and steel your will
Gather your courage
And prepare for the kill

The ritual begins in the dead of night
The center ring inside a hellgrind fight
We read the vital words aloud by candlelight
Then the final boss appears with paralyzing fright

** Chorus: TWO Hours **

Transfixed by terror we behold our plight
The monster strikes us with a terrible might
With every breath it rains down pain and every blow’s a smite
We doubt we will survive to see the end this night

** Chorus: TEN MINUTES **

The foe is slain with final dying cries
We’ve fought the whole night trying to make it alive
And we haven’t slept a wink or even closed our eyes
But now the dawn is breaking —

** And we've ALL SURVIVED. **

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While you may recognize the name ‘Tarrasque’ as a basically unkillable monster from D&D, the Tarasque was originally a mythical beast in the Provence region of France. It was known to be incredibly destructive and no one could do anything about it . . . until, according to the Golden Legend, Saint Martha came to town and tamed the Tarasque.

Saint Martha herself has an interesting history. This song references a time Martha had been told that her sister had chosen the better path by listening to their guest Jesus’ teachings while Martha had picked up her sister’s share of the chores and hosting duties.

This song is an imagining of what the Tarasque might have said to Saint Martha when it declined to eat her.

The Beast And Saint Martha

St. Martha, come closer to me; you needn’t be
frightened, I’ll not bite you, not today
St. Martha, I’m not what I seem; just let me
enlighten you how I came to be this way

Oh St. Martha, did they tell you
I was chaos come to kill god
Oh St. Martha, have you wondered
why the wild things are branded as odd

(and they say that)
I’m monstrous, I’m lion and ox,
a little bit dragon, with venom in my tail
I’m monstrous, but without my wings,
you might not know me
or how I went off of the rails

Oh Saint Martha, I’m a monster,
that don’t mean that I’m telling you lies
Oh Saint Martha, all it means is
truth is ugly in their eyes

Cause I know the truth
of what you’ve been through
You’ve come to tame me
but tell me who has tamed you
They said evil was ugly,
and that virtue was fair
Did you ask them why that was
did you wonder did you care
And maybe you’re seeing
the great chain of being
Is a lie to keep you in your place
Oh Martha, I’m not so fearsome -
just look at my face

St Martha, knees sore from scrubbing floors,
Maybe it’s just from
always getting down to pray
St Martha, you’re down on all fours,
So what makes you different
from the beasts anyway
Oh Saint Martha, did he tell you he had answers
he knew the better way
Oh Saint Martha, course he said that,
seems like something men and gods would say

Cause I know the truth
of what you’ve been through
You’ve come to tame me
but tell me who has tamed you
They said evil was ugly,
and that virtue was fair
Did you ask them why that was
did you wonder did you care
And maybe you’re seeing
the great chain of being
Is a lie to keep you in your place
Oh Martha, I’m not so fearsome -
just look at my face

Cause I know the truth
of what you’ve been through
You’ve come to tame me
but tell me who has tamed you
They said evil was ugly,
and that virtue was fair
Did you ask them why that was
did you wonder did you care
And maybe you’re seeing
the great chain of being
Is a lie to keep you in your place
Oh Martha, I’m not so fearsome -
just look at my face

And maybe you wonder if the beast has a name
If you know who you are you can never be tame
You already know it, you know we’re the same
Just say it Saint Martha, go on say it, say my name
I am the Tarrasque, I take I don’t ask
You can’t kill me and you can’t wish me away
Oh Saint Martha, you can’t go back now,
you might as well stay!

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“No shit, there I was…”

This song was written during COVID lockdown while we were missing simple joys like eating out at diners.

The Devil Ordered Hash and Eggs

I’m sitting at the counter drinking coffee black as sin
When the entry bell, it jangles, and a tall thin man walks in
He is clad in black and crimson from peak’ed hat to shiny shoes
His even gaze upon us seemed to challenge us to choose.

He sidled up beside me, dropped himself upon the stool
And reached out for the menu with a hand both bent and cruel
He perused it for a moment, gave a sigh and then a frown
Fiddled with the sugar bowl, then shrugged and put it down.

He crooked a finger at the server, who gulped and scuttled near
Then ordered hash and eggs, home fries and a root beer
He turned and saw us gaping in disbelief and fear and awe
All of which were warring on our face at all we saw

”You’ve no doubt guessed, his words flowed out as he tipped his hat and smiled
”That I am indeed the Morning Star, Heaven’s rebellious wayward child.
But I haven’t come to tempt or taunt to plot or launch doomsday
Just enjoying food and company on my way down the highway.

Then someone cracked an awkward joke, which helped to break the tension
I know we all must face our sins but I appreciate the extension
And that my friend is the honest truth about supping with the Devil
And for all the stories thrown his way, he seemed pretty on the level.

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Week That Was

Week that was, Week that was
There was a week, and it just was
Time progresses in a linear fashion
Despite occasional objections to this arrangement (yeah!)
‘Cuz We don’t control the time (no!)
But we do control how we spend it (sort of!)
So sit down, strap in and shut up (that's rude!)
‘Cuz its time to learn about
The week.
That.
Was.

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Brain Weasels are the insidious voices of internal self-doubt.

If you find yourself battling an infestation of brain weasels, do not listen to their lies. You are awesome and worthy and good enough just the way you are.

It should be noted for the record that the weasels’ lines (in italics) are spoken-word in silly voices.

Weezl-B-Gon

“Come and play,” so they say
Cognitive distortions live inside my mind
And they see the worst in me
And they whisper words unkind
Weasels reign inside my brain
And what they say seems so true
And since I feel their words are real
My self-image is all askew
But —

I don’t need you and I won’t heed you
Go away brain weasels, I won’t play brain weasels
Not today, brain weasels, not today.
I don’t need you and I won’t heed you
Go away brain weasels, I won’t play brain weasels
Not today, brain weasels, not today.

Weasels sneer and they bite
And they whisper their lies all night
Their words cut deep, just wanna sleep
But instead there’s this internal fight
There’s a fray all through the day
As their pointy teeth gnaw on my soul
I’m tied in knots by my own thoughts
Weasels are the original troll
But —

I don’t need you and I won’t heed you
Go away brain weasels, I won’t play brain weasels
Not today, brain weasels, not today.
I don’t need you and I won’t heed you
Go away brain weasels, I won’t play brain weasels
Not today, brain weasels, not today.

Hahahahaha, you’re no match for us, sweetheart!
That creative idea you’re excited about? Everyone else thinks it’s DUMB.
All your friends secretly HATE you and are MOCKING you behind your back.
That stupid thing you said? The other person is obsessing about it AT LEAST as much as you are.
You’re a TOTAL FRAUD and you know it.
It actually IS all your fault. ALL OF IT.
Everyone ELSE has their shit together, too bad you never will you LOSER
Hey, you really effed that one up, didn’t you, DOLT
Asking for time or help from your friends is an ANNOYING IMPOSITION and you should NEVER
If it’s not perfect then it’s NOT GOOD ENOUGH
You don’t DO enough, you don’t EARN enough and you contribute NOTHING OF VALUE to this world
You don’t DESERVE to be happy
You’re fundamentally UNWORTHY and UNLOVABLE

I don’t need you and I won’t heed you
Go away brain weasels I won’t play brain weasels
Not today brain weasels not today
Go away brain weasels, don’t you stay brain weasels
Go away brain weasels, go away

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Under certain conditions in the deep sea, the body of a dead whale will slowly fall to the ocean floor where it becomes the basis of a localized ecosystem which can support deep-sea organisms for several decades. This process is called Whale fall.

The refrain “death is only the end if you think the story’s bout you” was inspired by a tweet from the Welcome to Night Vale feed.

Whalefall

In my life, in my time
I have ghosted through the sea
Solo song, for so long
Now my chorus comes to me

As sight grows dim
They sing their hymn
Sister whales
Beat their tails
For to stir the warming sea

And I shall fall through thousands of fathoms
And come to rest on the stones
And eels shall wind and twine round my heart
And worms shall bloom on my bones
And then the vault shall close overhead
And hide my garden from view
For death is only the end
If you think the story’s ‘bout you.

Sinking blue, far from view
Light and song shall fade behind
Down I go, morendo
through and through the thermocline
Through time and tide
I slowly glide
Now I’m done, time has come
And my seabed waits beside

And I shall fall through thousands of fathoms
And come to rest on the stones
And eels shall wind and twine round my heart
And worms shall bloom on my bones
And then the vault shall close overhead
And hide my garden from view
For death is only the end
If you think the story’s ‘bout you.

Down and down into abyssal sea
Down to where my darkness waits for me
Where I shall lie forever
I’ll die and live forever
Forever

And I shall fall through thousands of fathoms
And come to rest on the stones
And eels shall wind and twine round my heart
And worms shall bloom on my bones
And then the vault shall close overhead
And hide my garden from view
For death is only the end
If you think the story’s ‘bout you.

In my life, in my time
I have ghosted through the sea

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