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Poison Tree

from Anodyne (EP) by Alexander Dove

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about

In this song, I made the 8-bit sound about as retro as possible, sounding pretty much like the soundtrack to a respectable Mario game. Over this I put an angsty story of woe drawing lyrical motifs chiefly from the prophets Blake and Ezekiel, with a little Keats and Byron for flavor. This is because I am odd.
The pennywhistle part at the end is improvised by my friend Jacob Andrews. I've recorded him many times over the years, but hardly ever written a part for him. It's so much more interesting to stick a good music in front of a microphone, tell them the chords, and see what happens.

lyrics

I seemed true when my heart was new
and she only knew what she knew to know;
she seemed to assuage what she could not gauge
for I hid my rage and my rage did grow.

I sat weaving a cloak of deceiving
and under it leaving the most of me;
can you cover what time can't smother?
I grew my lover a poison tree.

Through the years I distilled my fears
and I poured my tears on its twisted root
like a river, that I could give her
a single sliver of withered fruit.

Since I buried her heart I've carried
the fruit that married me to her death,
and I cannot buy a relieving lie
for my every sigh is her dying breath.

Take this heart of stone,
loveless and alone—
give me one of flesh;
let me not be as chaff at the threshing time.

I sit clothing my bones in loathing
so I feel nothing of rightful pain,
and how soon error outweighs its wearer!
I wait in terror and bear the chain.

But now discerning a feeble yearning
for somehow earning what can't be earned,
though my heart is cold I would give my gold
if what once I sold could be returned.

Take this heart of stone,
loveless and alone—
give me one of flesh;
let me not be as chaff at the threshing time.

Break this heart of stone
like a dried out bone—
clothe my ribs in flesh;
let me not be as chaff at the threshing time.

Take me for Thine own,
alone to the Alone,
spirit cleansed of sin,
me divine into Thy Divinity.

credits

from Anodyne (EP), released June 2, 2011
Whistle - Jacob Andrews.

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Alexander Dove Chicago, Illinois

Alexander Dove is a songwriter, poet, and composer, who also plays in the traditional Celtic folk group Dòrain. Alexander Dove is used for more-or-less solo or self-directed work, regardless of genre. Published writings are under the name Alexander Dove Lempke. ... more

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