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City of Marrow (Solace & Sorrow, 2007)

from Witchy Ways: an October Mix​-​tape by S. J. Tucker

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Recorded for the Solace & Sorrow album, together with its companion story-segment, "Seven", "City of Marrow" is a chilling, sublime bit of dark blues, inspired by the ordeal of two children's escape from a deadly place, in Catherynne M. Valente's novel, The Orphan's Tales: in the Cities of Coin & Spice.

From S. J.:

"I chose "City of Marrow" for the Witchy Ways mix-tape because it is, quite frankly, one of the creepiest things I've ever composed in all my life. The story that inspired this piece involves two kids having to escape from slavery and death, and barely getting out with their lives. When I perform it at shows, I often dedicate it to anyone who suffers from chronic pain or PTSD. I had to try to go to Auschwitz in my mind during the recording sessions for this song, in order to get the vocal performances that I wanted: survivors, recalling anguish, laden with emotion, but strong as steel. I wept between takes. It was very powerful."

A portion of all download sales of WITCHY WAYS goes to support Wolf Haven International, as part of the Online Hallowe'en Artists' Studio Trick-or-Treat.

More about Wolf Haven:
www.wolfhaven.org

More about the Hallowe'en Artists' Studio Trick-or-Treat:
www.halloweenstudiotour.com/map-2013.htm

lyrics

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 large 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 within
the hearts of those just passing through

Beauty is lost in translation
no savoring what is devoured
I look at my lover and only see bones
No one looks under the skin 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

Beauty is lost in translation
no savoring what is devoured
No one looks under the skin anymore
There's only the wind now

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 cries are not for you
They're only an echo now within
the hearts of those just passing through
Fear not the wind of wasting
Its howling is not for you
It's only an echo now within
the hearts of those just passing through
the hearts of those long ago passed through

I have been to the city of Marrow
and I have come out again.

credits

from Witchy Ways: an October Mix​-​tape, released October 1, 2013
Vocals, guitars, bass, and synths: S.J. Tucker
Recorded and Mixed by Ginger Doss at Eagle Audio, Austin, TX

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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

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