We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Solace & Sorrow

by S. J. Tucker

supported by
kiritanpo
kiritanpo thumbnail
kiritanpo This album is absolutely lovely-- the amazingly expressive readings from the book that inspired it, and the folksy songs that retell the tales in a brand-new way are lovely, and the lyrics are delightfully clever. Solidly an all-time favorite! Favorite track: Girl with the Golden Ball.
Jean Yoshikane
Jean Yoshikane thumbnail
Jean Yoshikane Songs that make me laugh, dance and often times wonder. Favorite track: Firebird's Child.
Danzavare
Danzavare thumbnail
Danzavare Coming back to this years later, it's crazy how much this (and Orphan's Tales) changed the trajectory of my life.

It's powerful stories like these that give you the power to question convention and do better. Favorite track: Grotteschi The Red.
Amy
Amy thumbnail
Amy It was hard to choose a favorite track. A close second is The Kingdom of Mice war song. SJ is an original voice and brilliant songstress. Put her with Cat Valente and it is a dynamic duo!
Dragonstomper
Dragonstomper thumbnail
Dragonstomper I've listened to Taglio! (why isn't it included? :o) nearly 300 times this week. Help. Me.

My favorite track though is City of Marrow, it captures perfectly how tragic and hopeless the place is not just for the kids but everyone involved.

I listen to this album all the time now on spotify and I basically just bought it so I could comment on how much I love it. If you don't have both this and the book it was inspired by, get them both asap! Favorite track: City Of Marrow.
more...
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
tell me a tale so beautiful that the stars will strain to hear the stories to be told, my child, are not for you to fear sing me a city of cinnamon; sing me a manticore's song I will give you beads of amber and feathers all of gold Sorrow is a child of dying stars with no one to tell her her name red in her cloak as a winter sun she wanders, not entirely tame are ye a child of stars dead and dying brought here from afar with whorls of fate upon your eyes and Sorrow in your heart? Sing me a tale so beautiful that the stars will strain to hear the stories to be told, my love, are not for you to fear sing me a city of cinnamon sing me a manticore's song i will give you beads of amber and a feather cloak of gold oh! (as red in her cloak as a winter sun our daughter of dying stars whorls of fate upon her eyes and Sorrow in her heart Sorrow, my heart! sorrow is a child of dying stars with no one to tell her her name red in her cloak as a winter sun she wanders Sing me a tale so beautiful that the stars will strain to hear the stories to be told my love are not for you to fear Does it not seem strange to ask, to talk by first light instead of last the stars keep watch, the living dead and dying You are dear as diamonds now to folk you've never known the tale you fear to end is just beginning hand in hand with Solace with a firebird at her back a djinn and a grandmother at her sides a sister's cloak of feathers wrapped around her here at last her mother walks the lonely shore and cries Tell me a tale so beautiful that the stars will strain to hear The song you fear to end is just beginning so sing me a city of wishes and fire sing me a traveling song I will give you worlds of wonder and a feather cloak to keep you warm! (sorrow is a child of dying stars with no one to tell her her name red in her cloak as a winter sun she wanders)
2.
Seven 05:54
3.
you'd never know that Marrow was a glowing place, beautiful, before her tarnished heart lost its way so long, so long gone are the colors, the apples and gems each hunger answered with more above and below she has rotted away so long, so long the great market calls from canopied stalls but a ghost town is all you will find purses great and small gold coins changing palms gone paper and ruin and lost time seventh sons and golden ball daughters can take their own lives to hand I have been to the city of Marrow and I have come out again. Fear not the wind of wasting its howling is not for you It's only an echo now withn the hearts of those just passing through (Beauty is lost in translation no savoring what is devoured All of us burned down to hunger our glory gone) Beauty is lost in translation no savoring what is devoured We become what we have eaten I look at my lover and only see bones no one looks under the skin anymore there's only the wind now there's only the wind now... Fear not the wind of wasting its cries are not for you They're only echoes now within the hearts of those just passing through when seventh sons and golden ball daughters take their own lives to hand fear not the city of Marrow for you will come out again I have been to the city of Marrow and I have come out again Fear not the wind of wasting Its howling is not for you Only an echo now within the hearts of those just passing through the hearts of those long ago passed through
4.
Tell the truth, there are things I don't miss. Fairy tales are not safe to be kissed in, not when you're the girl with the golden ball. Tell the truth, Mama. You weren't prepared for me to be what we're taught to be scared for. No one rescues the girl who was written to fall. What to do when we don't fit the narrative? Left out to perish on a hill, some of us would fight our way back, fight our way back into it, but do not look to me to be the one who will. Cast aside, left to peril and pain, left to weather the wind and the rain, thought wicked and told to "run along and play", turns out that I'm a survivor, took the gamble of dead or alive, or set free in the story, come what may. What to do when we don't fit the narrative? Left to the mercy of the storm, some of us would fight our way back, fight our way back into it, but do not look to me to crush myself to fit the form. I am no lost child coming home. "Run along and play." Did you really imagine I'd waste my time begging to come back to stay? You thought the world would break me, told the wild to rise and take me, so now why should I be bothered how you feel or what you say? All the babes left in the wood who don't turn out "like they should", all the boys they call no good, all the girls in scarlet hoods, let your wolfish smiles be seen. You were never so unclean as all the ignorance that gave you no one else to come and save you, 'cause you don't fit the narrative. Left out of wishes coming true, some of us would fight our way back, fight our way back into this, but do not look to me to cut my feet to fit the shoe.
5.
6.
May your dreams be all of sun and heated sand, and sky when you wake may all your singing help your heart to fly May you never be closed in an amber cage with an amber lock and key may you roar and sing beneath the sun and the shade of the Upas tree bear your tiny teeth, my child the sun will fall in love with you and teach you how to sting and roar and sing and kill, as fathers do. turn your prayer to sky and sand nomatter where you fall may the desert echoes teach you all their secret songs My amber cage had an amber lock and the girl had an amber key and a manticore was bound and sore in the city in the trees. My amber cage had an amber lock and the good girl a key of her own she set me free with a shining smile and far from all cages we roam may the desert echoes hold you in their ruddy paws may your prayer be heard by sky and sand nomatter where you fall may you never be closed in an amber cage with an amber lock and key may you roar and sing beneath the sun and the shade of the Upas tree
7.
8.
peeking through the embers stirring up a storm kashkash is watching you and keeping you from harm Ember Ash and Kindling pretty kings and queens counting out your wishes lighting up your dreams listen to your mother when she takes you to town for kashkash gobbles all the naughty children down Hearth, Tinder, Flint & Steel pretty kings and queens granting all your wishes dancing in your dreams never make a wish that will make your mother frown for kashkash gobbles all the naughty children down
9.
The Mice 05:36
10.
In the beginning there was dust dust dust but we will eat the yellow as we must must must when we eat the sun will it taste like mouse? we swear by the dust we shall soon find out! In the beginning there was dust dust dust but we will eat the weaver as we must must must when we eat the sun will it taste like mouse? we swear by the dust we shall soon find out! Dust was first, then yellow came along viceroy Baldtail golden in the throng long live Baldtail eaten in a trice all for the glory of the kingdom of mice! In the beginning there was dust dust dust but we will eat the yellow as we must must must when we eat the sun will it taste like mouse? we swear by the dust we shall soon find out! Yellow came first, then green came along and purple met its end in the bellies of the throng Blackwhisker and Dustbelly made their sacrifice, all for the good of the kingdom of mice! In the middle there is dust dust dust but we will eat the green/purple as we must must must when we eat the sea will it taste like mouse? we swear by the dust we shall soon find out! Yellow, green and purple, crimson to come! we deserve better than the dust our home! Manglepaw came and we ate him up dead, there in the dust at the Feast of Red! In the end there is dust dust dust but we will eat the RED as we must must must when we eat the city will it taste like mouse? we swear by the dust we shall soon find out! down with the dust and the weaver's eyes! down with the spider with her belly full of flies we will take the brightest road and taste of the world as we tasted gold in the beginning there was dust dust dust but we will eat the colors as we must must must when we eat the world will it taste like mouse we swear by the dust we shall soon find out we swear by the dust we shall soon find out
11.
Solace 12:49
12.
I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird! I am his daughter! And like the flame, I am wild wild wild wild WILD! I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird, the boldest song you've ever heard Join in the dance, and make it wild, wild, wild! Join in the dance and make it wild! To see a maiden dance around a fire is not so strange but fire dances round the limbs of this uncommon maid! Be brave enough to burn and you'll be brave enough to fly! Join your sister Solace as she lights the morning sky! I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird, the boldest song you've ever heard Join in the dance, and make it wild, wild, wild wild Wild I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird! I am his daughter! And like the flame, I am wild wild wild wild WILD! Wonders of the water air and earth are all the same you'll never know a wonder like the wonders of the flame! Freely fly as what you are and never walk in shame! You must not fear to blister if you'd live a life in flame! I am girl and firebird and solace is my name! I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird, the boldest song you've ever heard Join in the dance, and make it wild, wild, wild! Join in the dance and make it wild! If you're brave enough to dance then you are brave enough to fly! Forget what's right and proper! You won't know until you try! If you're brave enough to fly, then you are brave enough to burn! Take my hand and join me in the Carnival of Dawn! I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird, the boldest song you've ever heard Join in the dance, and make it wild, wild, wild! Join in the dance and make it wild! Sister will you follow me? Sister will you follow me? Sister will you dance with me? Sister sorrow walk with me! Sister will you follow me? Sister will you dance with me? Sister sorrow walk with me! Sister will you follow me? Sister will you burn with me? Sister will you follow me? Sister sorrow dance with me! Like a flame you must be wild/I am a firebird! Like a flame you must be wild/I am a firebird! Like a flame you must be wild/I am a firebird! Like a flame you must be wild I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird, the boldest song you've ever heard Join in the dance, and make it wild, wild, wild! I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird's child! (I am the firebird's child!) I am the firebird! I am his daughter! I am the firebird and Solace is my name

about

S.J. Tucker has joined forces with Catherynne M. Valente once again, weaving intriguing mythology with captivating music. Here you will find more magical readings and new music inspired by the second volume in The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice. This final piece of the epic saga belongs in your collection. You can read all about the book at www.orphanstales.com

credits

released October 31, 2007

-tracks 1,3,5,7,9, and 13: songs and recording S.J. Tucker © 2007.
-tracks 2,4,6,8,10 and 12: passages from The Orphan's Tales: In The Cities of Coin and Spice by Catherynne M. Valente © 2007
-vocals, narration, guitars, bass, percussion and synths: S.J. Tucker
-shaker, synth consultation and guest decrepit mouse: Ginger Doss
-Additional guest mice and Gaselli: Bekah Kelso, K' Wiley
-Recorded and Mixed by Ginger Doss at Eagle Studio, Austin, TX except "Firebird's Child" Recorded and mixed by S.J. Tucker at Rolling Minstrel LTD, USA.
-Printing and mastering by Audiographic Masterworks, Memphis, TN
-Photos and design by K' Wiley

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

S. J. Tucker Perry, Arkansas

“Without our songs and stories, we are nothing.” S. J. Tucker has been captain of her own music career since 2004, when she left the workaday world behind to sing songs and change lives. Tucker is the voice of lore at the campfire and the sharp laughter of modern myth. With one hand anchored in her art and the other held out to us, she is songs and stories, community and wit. ... more

shows

contact / help

Contact S. J. Tucker

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

S. J. Tucker recommends:

If you like S. J. Tucker, you may also like: