THE TOWER (bluesy) Fairbanks, AK 10 October 1999
We climbed up to the Tower
We climbed past Heavan and Hell
We stood on top of the Tower
And then we fell
--
We climbed the Tower, we prayed for luck
We climbed the Tower, had a good long slow fuck
We climbed the tower, so much to tell
And then we fell
--
We climbed the Tower, below and above
We felt the Power, the Power of Love
We climbed the Tower, everybody knows
And then we rose
--
We climbed the tower, up through the storm
We felt refried, we felt reborn
We climbed the Tower, so much to tell
And then we fell, we fell, we fell...
LIGHTNING Santa Rosa / Forestville, CA 11 Dec 1999
The right plant, the wrong place / The right smile, the wrong face
The right time, the wrong trace / It's more than just a metaphor
The lightning at my door
--
The right book, the wrong time / The right crook, the wrong crime
The right swill, the wrong swine / It's not just a metaphor
The lightning at my door
--
Lightning hit my throat / Burnt my words, fried my eyes
The right flame, the wrong fly / Ya think that's a metaphor?
The lightning at my door
--
Lightning hit my home / Burnt it all, burnt it down
Left me here, all alone / What focking metaphor is this?
The lightning at my door
--
The right stroke, the wrong strike / The right day, the wrong night
The right bloke, the wrong blight / What's a meta for, anyway?
The lightning at my door
THE STAR [DCA slide] Forestville, CA 3 Nov 1999
You're immortal / a genius / you're the Star
You're renewed / you're so fluid / you're the Star
Kneeling naked in the stream
Pouring dreams upon dreams
I've heard / your very word / you're the Star
--
You live between / two waters / you're the Star
Inner balance / outer senses / you're the Star
Giving essenses of life
Waving hope like a knife
You're the force / the butterfly / you're the Star
--
[break] Daughter of the Firmament
Hook me to the Word
Wednesday's Daughter, balance me
Double me, or third
--
Meditation / rejuvenation / you're the Star
Reinstating / contemplating / you're the Star
Eternal youth, eternal death
Mercury carries every breath
Double me / trouble me / you're the Star
STELLA DELLA [lush pop] Forestville CA 27 October 1999
Stella Della, look me in the eye
Tell me 'bout Nostradamus, that Imperial spy
His 'prophesies' were just coded messages
Stella Della, what d'ya know about this?
--
Stella Della, give me 'nother lick
Tell me the Kabbalah's an Illuminati trick
The 'Tree of Life' is just an organization chart
Stella Della, is business such an art?
--
Stella Della, try to keep me hot
Tell me Christianiy's an old Roman plot
Does toes the Empire still rule? Is the power in place?
Stella Della, wipe that jiz off your face
--
Stella Della, put that knife down
I won't spill these secrets, I won't even frown
No one else will know what's fake or what's true
Stella Della, we're depending on you
Stella Della, I'm still spending on you
THE MOON, THE SUN, FOREVER [cosmic bluegrass] Fairbanks, AK 10 October 1999
[repetitive 2-chord banjo figure]
Wishing for the moon, wishing for the sun
Flashing on the moon, flashing on the sun
Hoping for the moon, hoping for the sun
Living for the moon, living for the sun
Dying for the moon, dying for the sun
Swimming to the moon, swimming to the sun
Running on the moon, running on the sun
--
[chromatic descent]
Would you like to be abducted to another moon?
Would you like to be abducted to another sun?
--
[original figure]
Crying for the moon, crying for the sun
Dreaming of the moon, dreaming of the sun
Ageing on the moon, ageing on the sun
Squirming on the moon, squirming on the sun
Wigging on the moon, wigging on the sun
Screaming at the moon, screaming at the sun
Crying with the moon, crying with the sun
--
[chromatic descent]
Have you ever lost your luggage, flying to the moon?
Have you ever lost your mind while flying to the sun?
--
[original figure]
Vamping on the moon, vamping on the sun
Camping on the moon, camping on the sun
Cycling on the moon, cycling on the sun
Surfing to the moon, surfing to the sun
Naked on the moon, naked on the sun
Laughing at the moon, laughing at the sun
Find another moon, find another sun
--
[instrumental]
THE SUN, THE MOON (fast 2-step) Hacienda, CA 12 Oct 1999 *
From the moon / to the sun / we make our fevered transitions
From the sun / to the moon / we swing around too soon
--
From the 'nads / to the brain / we try to stay a bit insane
From the brain / to the 'nads / it isn't quite so bad
--
From the moon / to the sun / we'll leave our journeys still undone
From the sun / to the moon / we'll try to stay in tune
--
(break) The moon sucks me in like a dream / I'm staring face to face
The sun just thinks its solar thoughts / while staring into space
(instr.)
--
From the sun / to the moon / they weave my feelings like a loom
From the moon / to the sun / we leave our thread undone
--
(break) No moonscape teaches me to feel / no sunset makes me see
No moonrise leave my heart adrift / upon the bloody sea
Melting on the burning moon / freezing on the sun
Casting frozen shadows on a scintillating run
--
From the sun / to the moon / the consciousness will move too soon
From the moon / to the sun / 'til every move is done
(instr. & fade...)
JUDGEMENT [ska/reggae] Trenton, CA 1 November 1999
[3-chord, A-D-C-A - steel drums & whistles - shouting]
A judgement's coming down / Decisions are gonna be made
Cards are gonna be played / Plans are gonna be laid out
--
A judgement's coming down / Are you ready, ready?
O when the word comes, can you hold?
[instr]
--
First ya gotta judge yerself / Are you good enough?
Are you just a waste of breath / Not even worth a cough?
--
There's a judgement coming down / You're standing there alone
What would your say? / Can you hold, can you hold?
THE SARCOPHAGUS Forestville, CA 27 October 1999
A curious word, sarcophagus / the eating of dead material
You and I are the food of life / eaten by the sarcophagus
--
Sarco, sarco, sarco, sarco...
--
A curious thought, resurrection / rising to struggle again
Struggling with life again / an eternal insurrection
--
Resu, resu, resu, resu...
--
A curious process, awakening / realizing what may or may not be
Unconsciousness to consciousness / a mending or a making
--
Away, away, away, away...
--
A curious fantasy, life / a furious energy, death
A tedious sewing of strife / an immediate waste of breath
--
Life, life, life, life...
THE WORLD (fast jig) Healdsburg, CA 15 October 1999
You want the world? You've got it!
You've got the world? So take it!
You took the world; where is it?
You lost the world? Forget it!
--
You know the world? Don't think so!
You love the world? I hope so!
You need the world? May-be so.
The world needs you? Ya sure!
--
And I say to myself, "What a wonderful world..."
--
You'll fry the world? Use Crisco!
You'll try the world? Try Justice!
You'll mold the world? Use Jello!
The world will quiver on!
--
And I growl to myself, "What a wonderful world..."
ADEPT: The Power [freely] Fulton, CA 13 Oct. 1999 *
You have not achieved 'til you've got the Power
You won't be believed 'til you've got the Power
You could be deceived if you've got the Power
Take the Power, lose an hour
Take the Power, lose it all
--
You ain't been a'grieved 'til you've lost the Feeling
You can't be retrieved 'til you've lost the Feeling
It's a real relief when you've lost the Feeling
Lose the Feeling, leave ya reeling
Start the healing, lose it all
--
You ain't satisfied til ya got Domination
Take it too far, you're an Abomination
Fill up your mouth with Defamation
Take the words and take the meaning
Take control and lose control
--
You ain't in control 'til ya got the Power
You ain't even whole 'til ya got the Power
Give it all away, you don't need the Power
Take the power, lose the power
Take the hour, lose it all
--
[whistle and fade...]
The following songs aren't based on specific Major Arcanum cards, but
they (hopefully) reflect themes related to Tarot imagery and symbols
of both Major and Minor Arcana. At least, that's how they occurred
to me... And in some I try to address Tarot themes without directly
referring to any cards. That's because the Tarot is about The Search,
the quest for understanding. There's a lot of leeway here, eh?
DRINKING WITH THE QUEENS Upper Chetco, OR 21 September 2001
He was drinking with the Queen of Cups / She was more than just a dream
She swam up from the brandy depths / And hauled his future up
She said, "Your future's looking pretty soggy, hanging' out here with me"
And she took his hand and felt the lines / And called for another cup
--
He was drinking with the Queen of Wands / She poured more of her home-brew
Their little gas camp-stove sang with its dragon-voice roar
She said, "Dreams are private property, and property is theft"
And she took his hand and felt the lines / And stole his heart again
--
He drank with the Queen of Pentangles / Dissolving her pearls in tequila
She kissed his eyes with platinum tears / And threw away the keys
She said, "There's no drug stronger than Reality / Reality can't be jived"
And she took his hand and felt the lines / And let him leave alive
--
He was drinking with the Queen of Swords / She sliced him thru the appendix
And whittled away his extra organs / Like a cigarette habit; She said,
"How can Reality be complete without Mystery Trains rolling thru our dreams?"
And she took his hand and felt the lines / And chopped away his head
--
He drank with the Queen of Queens / Trying to put himself back together
She led him down the path with whiskey laughs and royal cleavage
She said, "Every Friday we build another bonfire of our illusions"
And she took his hand and felt the lines / And wiped away his history
And she took his hand and felt the lines / And told him another story
KNAVE OF CROWNS Chena Hot Springs, AK 8 October 1999
Show me (the Ace of Cups) (the Ace of Cups)
Show me (the Five of Swords) (the Five of Swords)
Show me (the Ten of Coins) (the Ten of Coins)
For I'm the Knave of Crowns, for I'm the Knave of Crowns
--
Deal me (a better hand) (a better hand)
Tell me (a better future, better time)
Lie to me (as much as may be necessary)
For I'm the Knave of Crowns, for I'm the Knave of Crowns
--
Show me (the path of life, the path of life)
Show me (the twist of time, the twist of time)
Burn me (in the light of love, the love-light)
For I'm the Knave of Crowns, for I'm the Knave of Crowns
--
Lose me in the Maze of Maya, find me in the Maze
Lose me in the Mine of Madness, find me in the Mine...
--
Deal me (the Deuce of Wands) (the Deuce of Wands)
Deal me (the Five of Orbs) (the Five of Orbs)
Trump me (the Ace of Flames) (the Ace of Flames)
For I'm the Knave of Crowns, for I'm the Knave of Crowns
THE KNIGHT OF CUPS (lilting) Westport CA 4 October 2000 *
Will you come with me, my love? Will you heed my words?
Will you hear my message I have stolen from the winds?
Will you take my wing-ed helm? Will you share my dreams?
Will you hear my proposition, tell me what it means?
--
[chorus:]
The Knight of Cups is tipped to you, the Knight of Cups is spilled
The Knight of Cups is haunted by the visions that you hold
-
Will you show me heat, my love? Will you show me fear?
Will you show me subtlety, much more than I can bear?
Will you take my swindled cards and take me at my game?
Will you leave the Knight of Cups a victim of his crimes? [chorus]
--
Will you love my art, my love? Will you love my fraud?
Will you cross the fatal shores beside my dizzy head?
Will you laugh at my incitement? Will you laugh at love?
Will you keep my message secret in your shallow grave? [chorus]
QUEEN OF SWORDS, KNIGHT OF SWORDS Westport CA 5 October 2000
She saw me as the corpse I was to be
She saw me as the lizard I'd become
She laughed at the skill I thought I had
She laughed at the fool behind the song
--
She cried for the weakness in her hand
She cried for the wetness in her tongue
She slashed at the vapor in my voice
She slashed at the hints of right and wrong
--
[chorus] She is the Queen of Swords, lost in her lonely acre
I'm her Knight, she's the widow, I'm the widow-maker
--
She built on the ruin in my eyes
She built on the coming of my doom
She heard the muffled whispers of her spies
She heard the footsteps echo in her room [chorus]
--
She smiled at the energy I lost
She smiled at the rush that came too soon
She loved the sword I pointed at her heart
She loved the sword she pointed at the Moon [chorus]
PENTACLES WILD (pentatonic) Westport CA 4 October 2000
I threw the Tarot on the floor - the Pentacles spilled, scattered
The money came & went, ebbed & flowed - the coins shimmered, shattered
Every coin's a seed for more, every Pentacle multiplies
With Pentacles wild, the dream grows into greed behind your eyes
THE PATHS (very Celtic) Guerneville, CA 12 October 1999 *
(a) She was on the braided path, riding homeward to the sea, singing
"There my darling, there my lover, there my heart shall be!"
(b) At a turn, the trail broke up, into 2 paths, maybe 3; she sang
"Where's my guiding? Where's my compass? Which way's meant for me?"
--
[instrumental (b)]
--
(a) The land's unmapped and wild, and filled with treachery; she sang
"So dividing, no deciding, no abiding be"
(b) The dusk is drawing close, the rose is crossing free; singing
"Where's my guiding? Where's my compass? Which way's best for me?"
--
(c) One way offers speed; she's hastening her flight
One way offers shelter, to shield her from the night
(b) The other path's unknown, it's currents seldom flown; singing
"Is there guidance? Is there comfort? Is there surety?"
--
[instrumental (a+b)]
--
(c) One way offers speed; she's hastening her flight
One way offers shelter, to shield her from the night
(b) The other path's unknown, it's currents seldom flown; singing
"Is there guidance? Is there comfort? Is there surety?"
--
[instrumental (b)]
TEMPTATION Forestville, CA 12 October 1999 *
Temptation, I can take it / Temptation, I won't fake it
So go on, tempt me, so beautifully
Temptation, remuneration, ah...
--
Temptation, don't know what I want / I ain't no bon vivant
Hold it up in front of my face / See if I can hold my place
Temptation, o tempting salvation...
--
[break] Why? Do I want so much more?
Why? Is what I have such a bore?
Why? Aren't my expectation much lower?
--
Temptation, you can have it / Temptation, o I crave it
There's never, never enough / You really think life is so tough?
Tempation, just another bluff, bluff, bluff...
--
Temptation, you're pretty fast / Temptation, bite my ass
So much temptation around / I'm on shaky ground
In for an anounce, in for a pound...
--
Temptation, uh huh huh [repeat & fade...]
THE TWINS [instrumental jig] Seattle, WA 10 Oct 1999 *
[sprightly fiddle-mandolin-tinwhistle madness]
[at the end of most couplets, shout, "The Twins!"]
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