THE MAIDEN AND THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE
DECONVERSION SUITE: MOVEMENT I
This is a duet I have written about a girl's journey from religious repression to intellectual enlightenment. I'm using the metaphor of a lover seducing a maiden, (as in the vein of the traditional folk songs I've known and loved) the maiden being fearful at first, then finally realizing that Knowledge and Truth were the lovers she's been waiting for all her life. She realizes her primal human instincts are not sinful, but natural. She accepts both the darkness and the light within her own self, realizing there is a balance to everything that has nothing to do with judgmental deities. It is also a metaphor for my own personal experiences, and will be featured on the "Death by Dancing" album.
Although written as a duet I will be singing both parts on the recording. But when I wrote it, I had Jonne Jarvela of Korpiklaani in mind. Yes. I have high aspirations. Korpiklaani was one of the first folk metal bands I was exposed to that began my total infatuation with everything about the genre so its appropriate. I also appreciate Jarvela's knowledge and love of traditional folk music and instrumentation.
The story in the video shows a young woman in an ambiguous yet loosely inspired Victorian setting, being reprimanded in varying ways by dark religious authority figures that surround her. She knows this isn't the way for her, but she is conditioned to be afraid of hellfire.
One night, as she is hauled off to meet her new fiance in an arranged marriage (he is gluttonous, rude and very wealthy and is a loose representation of her god) her carriage is highjacked by a mysterious band of rebels. The leader of the highwayman-style gang jumps in beside the scared girl, while his men haul the woman's chaperones out of the still moving carriage and into the night.
Contuining down the wooded path, he tells her she should not be ashamed of being who she is, or having natural human desires and tendnacies. The night outside seems enchanted now. Sparkling lights and colors mingling in the night breeze.
Farther down the road, they come upon a beautiful tree bearing fruit that seems to be glowing. The carriage stops and he leads the girl out and underneath the magical looking branches. He reaches up, and plucks a fruit, offering it to the girl in a reverse Adam and Eve gesture. She tastes it, and her eyes light up. The night suddenly comes alive, and her entire demeanor changes from a weak and scared girl to a proud and strong woman. She realizes knowledge is the key to everything; knowing our roots as humans, acknowledging our flaws, and being true to ones self.
They celebrate by dancing wildly around a bonfire in the forest underneath the full moon.
There once was a maid, hesitant to conform
She prayed in the light, but her insides were torn
She felt in her bones, this way was not for her
But the figures that surround her say she will burn
But this feeling within her, growing stronger each day
Pray as she might, it would not go away
She looked for escape within her own mind
She wondered if there were more of her kind
"I want to run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
I am only human
And I have desires
They think they can keep me
But they'll see real soon
When I let my hair down
And howl to the moon"
"Come, maiden, come
What you have been taught
'Bout the shadow within us
Are lies from your false god
Oh come young maid, and I'll show you the way
Out from this chrysallis, tight collars, and lace
We'll dance through the night, you'll be my delight
And I'll be your guide through the dark and the light
Don't be afraid
I won't lead you astray
Your soul is free
Your heart is unchained
Go run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
Woman, go forth and claim your desire
No one can keep you
They'll see real soon
So go let your hair down
And howl to the moon"
"But sir don't you see?
They've done quite a job
I'm fearful and timid without my own thoughts
But this demon within me is fighting to break free
If I unleash it I am undone, you see"
"Oh flower of innocence, how little you know
What grows inside you is not reaper-sown
We all have these wants, and primal desires
Created of instinct before men knew of fire"
"So I'm not so evil?"
No, you are not"
"There's a balance to everything?"
"And its NOT from your god"
"I will run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
I will go forth, I will claim my desire
For no one will keep me
From seeing this through
I'm letting my hair down
And howling to the moon
I will run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
Now I know what I am
I'll claim my desire
No one can stop me
I'm free and I'm true
With the wind in my hair
I howl to the moon"
This is a duet I have written about a girl's journey from religious repression to intellectual enlightenment. I'm using the metaphor of a lover seducing a maiden, (as in the vein of the traditional folk songs I've known and loved) the maiden being fearful at first, then finally realizing that Knowledge and Truth were the lovers she's been waiting for all her life. She realizes her primal human instincts are not sinful, but natural. She accepts both the darkness and the light within her own self, realizing there is a balance to everything that has nothing to do with judgmental deities. It is also a metaphor for my own personal experiences, and will be featured on the "Death by Dancing" album.
Although written as a duet I will be singing both parts on the recording. But when I wrote it, I had Jonne Jarvela of Korpiklaani in mind. Yes. I have high aspirations. Korpiklaani was one of the first folk metal bands I was exposed to that began my total infatuation with everything about the genre so its appropriate. I also appreciate Jarvela's knowledge and love of traditional folk music and instrumentation.
The story in the video shows a young woman in an ambiguous yet loosely inspired Victorian setting, being reprimanded in varying ways by dark religious authority figures that surround her. She knows this isn't the way for her, but she is conditioned to be afraid of hellfire.
One night, as she is hauled off to meet her new fiance in an arranged marriage (he is gluttonous, rude and very wealthy and is a loose representation of her god) her carriage is highjacked by a mysterious band of rebels. The leader of the highwayman-style gang jumps in beside the scared girl, while his men haul the woman's chaperones out of the still moving carriage and into the night.
Contuining down the wooded path, he tells her she should not be ashamed of being who she is, or having natural human desires and tendnacies. The night outside seems enchanted now. Sparkling lights and colors mingling in the night breeze.
Farther down the road, they come upon a beautiful tree bearing fruit that seems to be glowing. The carriage stops and he leads the girl out and underneath the magical looking branches. He reaches up, and plucks a fruit, offering it to the girl in a reverse Adam and Eve gesture. She tastes it, and her eyes light up. The night suddenly comes alive, and her entire demeanor changes from a weak and scared girl to a proud and strong woman. She realizes knowledge is the key to everything; knowing our roots as humans, acknowledging our flaws, and being true to ones self.
They celebrate by dancing wildly around a bonfire in the forest underneath the full moon.
There once was a maid, hesitant to conform
She prayed in the light, but her insides were torn
She felt in her bones, this way was not for her
But the figures that surround her say she will burn
But this feeling within her, growing stronger each day
Pray as she might, it would not go away
She looked for escape within her own mind
She wondered if there were more of her kind
"I want to run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
I am only human
And I have desires
They think they can keep me
But they'll see real soon
When I let my hair down
And howl to the moon"
"Come, maiden, come
What you have been taught
'Bout the shadow within us
Are lies from your false god
Oh come young maid, and I'll show you the way
Out from this chrysallis, tight collars, and lace
We'll dance through the night, you'll be my delight
And I'll be your guide through the dark and the light
Don't be afraid
I won't lead you astray
Your soul is free
Your heart is unchained
Go run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
Woman, go forth and claim your desire
No one can keep you
They'll see real soon
So go let your hair down
And howl to the moon"
"But sir don't you see?
They've done quite a job
I'm fearful and timid without my own thoughts
But this demon within me is fighting to break free
If I unleash it I am undone, you see"
"Oh flower of innocence, how little you know
What grows inside you is not reaper-sown
We all have these wants, and primal desires
Created of instinct before men knew of fire"
"So I'm not so evil?"
No, you are not"
"There's a balance to everything?"
"And its NOT from your god"
"I will run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
I will go forth, I will claim my desire
For no one will keep me
From seeing this through
I'm letting my hair down
And howling to the moon
I will run free with wolves
Dance around the fire
Now I know what I am
I'll claim my desire
No one can stop me
I'm free and I'm true
With the wind in my hair
I howl to the moon"