Joanna Newsom – Kingfisher (New Song)
The third released song from Joanna Newsom’s triple album Have One On Me, out February 23rd. http://www.dragcity.com/products/have-one-on-me
Whose is the hand that I will hold?
Whose is the face I will see?
Whose is the name that I will call,
when I am called to meet thee?
In this life, who did you love,
beneath the drifting ashes,
beneath the sheeting banks of air
that barrenly bore our rations?
When I could speak, it was too late.
Didn’t you hear me calling?
Didn’t you see my heart leap,
like a pup in the constant barley?
In this life, where did you crouch,
when the sky had set to boiling?
Burning within, seen from without,
and your gut was a serpent, coiling.
And, for the sake of that pit of snakes,
for whom did you allay your shyness,
and spend all your mercy,
and madness, and grace,
in a day, beneath the bending cypress?
It was not on principal.
Show, Pro-heart, that you have got gall.
A miracle:
I can bear a lot, but not that pall.
I can bear a lot, but not that pall!
Kingfisher, sound the alarm.
Say, “Sweet little darlin, now,
come to my arms;
tell me all about the love
you left on the farm.”
He was a kind, unhurried man
with a heavy lip and a steady hand,
but he loved me just like a little child;
like a little child loves a little lamb.
Thrown to the ground,
by something down there;
bitten by the bad air,
while the clouds tick;
trying to read all the signs,
preparing for when the bombs hit;
hung from the underbelly of the earth,
while the stars skid away, below,
gormless and brakeless, gravel-loose,
falling silent as gavels in the snow
I lay back and spit my chaw,
wrapped in the long arm of the Law,
who has seen it all:
I can bear a lot, but not that pall.
I can bear a lot, but not that pall!
Kingfisher, cast your fly:
oh, Lord,
it happens without even trying,
when I sling a low look
from my shuttering eye.
Blows rain upon the one you loved,
and, though you were only sparring,
there’s blood on the eye.
Unlace the glove.
Say, Honey I am not sorry.
Stand here and name
the one you loved,
beneath the drifting ashes,
and, in naming, rise above time,
as it, flashing, passes.
We came by the boatload,
and were immobilized:
worshiping volcanoes,
charting the loping skies.
The tides of the earth
left us bound, and calcified,
and made as obstinate as obsidian,
unmoving, save our eyes:
just mooning and blinking
from faces marked with coal.
(Ash cooling and shrinking
cracks loud as thunder rolling.)
I swear I know you. You know me.
Where have we met before?
Tell me true:
to whose authority
do you consign your soul?
I had a dream you came to me,
said
You shall not do me harm anymore,
and with your knife,
you evicted my life
from its little lighthouse
on the seashore.
And I saw that my blood
had no bounds,
spreading in a circle like an atom bomb,
soaking and felling
everything in its path,
and welling in my heart like a birdbath.
It is too short–
the day we are born,
we commence with our dying.
Trying to serve,
with the heart of a child;
kingfisher, lie with the lion.
Duration : 0:9:12
[youtube 3n1a4dSmYB0]
she just keeps …
she just keeps getting better and better. i agree her voice is developing more with each album–i’ve always loved her but some people just couldn’t listen to her voice in the first album–I think she’s really made it more amazing but still totally unique.
But OMG this woman is one of the most amazing lyricists of our time!
you people are …
you people are making me sick up my black pudding.
I wrote it for …
I wrote it for Joanna. Thank you.
@mpaulworkman where …
@mpaulworkman where is this from? expertly written, fantastic imagery. did you write it? i can not find this verse anywhere else.
Where is the white …
Where is the white road
That passes over the river and rail of my softing throat?
Who is the one who follows upon the split-tailed dove,
Who is that nightingale who singeth to me in the windy day?
For I had made you fishers of men, fishers of men,
But now I have come to make you fishers of kings.
this is magical
this is magical
If you are looking …
If you are looking for new music similar to this you should check out new artist Ellie Lawson!
If you like Ms Newsom, definately check out Ellie!!!!
Search Ellie Lawson in google and have a look at her official website!!!
I must agree with …
I must agree with other comments, that the vocals are more pleasing to listen to listen to over previous work. Fantastic lyrics and nice harp work. Similar but different to Cecile Corbel, who also does folk and plays harp.
I love this song. 5 …
I love this song. 5:48 – 6:14 is my favorite part. It sounds like whistling wind.
a bit of magic in a …
a bit of magic in a sad violent world.
I love listening to …
I love listening to your unusual beautiful voice. It reminds me of a very soft Janis Joplan. Your voice and your beautiful harp playing is so soothing. You are a sensational musician.
Cool!.
Cool!.
Very nice! strong …
Very nice! strong Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush sounds, 2 of my faves!
awesome. just …
awesome. just awesome. love it. listened to her for a while, but this album has blown me away.
@kitchen867 That, …
@kitchen867 That, or elves from Lord of the Rings.
Such an ancient and …
Such an ancient and sad melody. An elegy for mankind perhaps?
Sweet little darlin …
Sweet little darlin, now,
come to my arms;
tell me all about the love
you left on the farm
Honey I am not sorry.
Girlfriend has …
Girlfriend has improved. I got nothing against Miss Newsom but I didn’t really get into her other music but I actually like her new record. It was her voice that was the deal breaker for me in the earlier stuff, her lyrics have always been poetry and her melodies take me away but her voice brought me down to earth. Now I hear her singing in her vocal range, much better, count me as a fan now!
Fucking beautiful.
beautiful.
Genius. Pure sonic …
Genius. Pure sonic beauty with all the quirks you’d expect from a joanna newsom song (the “it was not on principle”-part starting at 2:24 just brings an instant smile to my face every time!)
I also love her new vocal style… you know what? – I think all those stories about sirens aren’t too far from reality… cause she could sing me to shipwreck anytime (:
“Despite your …
“Despite your ultimately low rating, this is one of the best reviews Ive seen of the album. As a devoted Newsom fan, I have to be realistic, and understand many of your criticisms concerning a lack of direction and formlessness. ”
Told ya. You can read the review at pop matters dott comm. The reviewer is dead ON.
Another review from Pitchfork are lying. They’re like DIgg, trying to keep peace with the hipsters.
The pop matters reviewer tells it like it is.
Told ya. Lol.
This reminds me of …
This reminds me of Stairway to Heaven with the recorders.
The end of this …
The end of this song is enchanting.
lol listening to …
lol listening to this, i imagine dwarfs dancing around a miniature Stonehenge
don’t crush it!
never heard, where …
never heard, where do I get?