1. |
One or Other
02:13
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Silent are the makers
Lost to their heavens
Sought in paper bindings
Prophet voices
Give few choices
You are one or Other
Seeking paths another forged for you
Challenge their sayings
Draft maps uncharted
Dream of roads winding
Author spaces
Craft new places
You are life beyond limits
Of a mind confined to roles assumed.
Being of valence
Child of questions
Doubt not your findings
For when time folds
And no truth holds
You are sovereign of nothing
But the world within your eyes
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2. |
The Marvelous Dragonlady
03:25
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I am ten and I'm eyeing the front of a book
Soon the newest one in my collection
There's a woman, arms wide,
who is proudly astride
a magnificent gold colored dragon
Well the pages fly by in a blur of suspense
As young Lessa beats all odds to save Pern
From a girl once afraid
A Weyrwoman is made
And someday I'd do great things in turn.
I am fifteen and awkward, as young teens can be
Doubtful of my own form and complexion
My one comfort is singing
For when my voice is ringing
My mood turns a better direction.
Then I read Killashandra: operatically trained
But whose flaws keep her from her first career
Yet with song and sharp mind
She is able to find
Both crystals and purpose both vital and clear
Through the darkest of nights and the brightest of days
Your wonderful stories have been there for me
How I wish that I'd once had a brief chance to say
My thanks to the marvelous Dragonlady.
Twenty-two and I'm aching, I've just learned the pain
Of the end of love's powerful connection.
I'm alone and I'm scared,
I feel so unprepared,
So return to my books for protection.
It's the Rowan I seek, who knows solitude well
Yet defies loneliness with her power.
Through her eyes I find strength
In my work and at length
I can heal in my own form of Tower.
Twenty-five and I'm trying to choose my own path
Dreams my right hand, my fears in the left one.
Will I do what they say?
Can I go my own way?
And dance to the beat of my own Dragondrums.
Robinton grants the answer, my hero for years,
Helping all with his music and counseling
As a Harper I'll play
Seeking Robinton's way
With my songs and my spirit resounding.
Through the darkest of nights and the brightest of days
Your wonderful stories have been there for me
How I wish that I'd once had a brief chance to say
My thanks to the marvelous Dragonlady. (x2)
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3. |
Familiar's Song
02:30
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Mortal child I have followed before
Watching your spirit through the ages
Forged from
Your head
The thoughts
unsaid
the tears and blood unshed
Hear me now through the thundering roar
of your mind lost in fear and rages
Follow
my voice
recall
your choice
but do not
try to remember.
Who I am
Within you
Deja vu
Who am I?
I am...
The one that follows where none else will
Familiar granted life from all you feel.
The wings you felt behind your shoulders.
The beast who guarded within your dreams.
I cannot fade though you grow older.
But never is all what it seems.
The child
believed
The mind
conceived
Your guardian
Who will never leave
Who am I?
Same as you
Nothing, dear.
The world is
never so clear.
But I will follow where none else will.
Familiar granted life from all you feel.
I am the entity you make me to be.
Will my form show a life well lived and free?
We shall see.
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4. |
Take Me to the River
02:42
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Take me to the river
Lead me to the shore
Grandmother, grant me all
The sacred songs of yore
Take me to the river
Lead me down below
Heqat, ancient one,
I follow where you go
Hotep, musician in Hermopolis!
Turn your eight faces skywards as a choir
Sing to life all we children of the Potter’s wheel
Hearts in time with the murmur of the Nile
Gather at the river
Bringing songs to share
Tight throats shall breathe again
As voices fill the air
Gather at the river
Bringing fears to tame
Mistress of Joy we
Create love in your name
Hotep, musician in Hermopolis!
Turn your eight faces skywards as a choir
Sing to life all we children of the Potter’s wheel
Hearts in time with the murmur of the Nile
Splendid One, Lady of Life,
Mother, Guardian and Midwife
Hail the Mistress of the flood
Guide my voice to do your good
Take me to the river
Lead me to the shore
Grandmother, grant me all
The sacred songs of yore
Take me to the river
Lead me down below
Heqat, ancient one,
I follow where you go
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5. |
Snow's Storm
03:18
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Come seeking me beyond the desert
You maelstrom on the greatest sea
Becoming wild you travel westward
The wind and waves bring you to me
Rise up beyond the quiet coastline
And raging forth your power to show
The peaks of Appalachia call you
The storm takes flight and turns to snow
Rest with me oh strongest warrior
Who you have trained and kept from harm
Respectful of your form of thunder
Yet loves the lord who brings snow's storm
Your lady is the quiet of winter
When all the snow is calm and still
You come before her bringing beauty
You dance with blades amidst the chill
Your nephew is the sun on snowfall
That shining down turns all to light
A winter storm is your fierce challenge
To make his victory appear more bright
Rest with me oh strongest warrior
Who you have trained and kept from harm
Respectful of your form of thunder
Yet loves the lord who brings snow's storm
Lord of the Northern Skies I see you
Transformed in places round earth's sphere
I hear you in the wind of blizzards
The voice that's greater than any fear
Rest with me oh strongest warrior
Who you have trained and kept from harm
Respectful of your form of thunder
Yet loves the lord who brings snow's storm
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6. |
Parking Lot Quest
02:17
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Phone blaring, get your ass up, no time for lazy dreaming
Stumble to coffee; find your tie.
Car keys are in your hand though you’re not sure
how they got there.
Floor it, you’ve got a meeting at nine.
And while your smart car’s speeding down the left hand lane
The route engrained, don’t bother looking
You start to wish for something just a bit insane
If just to dodge the boss’s booking.
Turn left into the lot and wheel towards your usual spot
To find a van parked in your space
Stare blankly, what the hell,
this wasn’t what you had in mind when
You asked Fate for a change in pace.
But then within your mind you recall a master plan
With a young prince kidnapped, tied and bound.
And a dragon on its way to carry off the van
To a distant land where he’ll never be found
What to do?
You could - smash in the windows
And save, the prince
Parking lot quest!
Of course, the cops probably
Won’t want to hear
Of dragons and the rest.
…Screw ‘em.
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7. |
For the Squidlings!
01:58
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Floating in line with tentacles raised
I am one of many going to fight!
Proud to help win my kind a new place
Determined to defeat the cannon tonight!
Long has this evil blasted away
Families of Invaders hoping to land
It hides like a coward, and won’t join the fray
Tonight we’re going to make our stand!
Quickly now my brave Space kin
Even though the first line has fallen
Just think of all the wee squidlings
Who need us to win.
Keep descending, it’s so close can you
See it there behind the barrier
Let's make them fear the Invaders
Who won’t be destroyed again!
Suddenly I am staring it down.
Just me and the cannon, one on one!
I cast forth a bolt as it tries to fire,
Only one remains, the battle is won!
Game over.
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8. |
The Ballad of Tuiren
07:31
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Come all and hear of young Tuiren
The beauty of the clan Fionn
Whose hair was dark as clearest night
With eyes that sparkled like the dawn
Heed well the words that speak of she
This maid who fell for one untrue
And for her folly faced a trial
Scarce dreamed by mortals of this earth
Young Tuiren loved a poet fair
Whose verse had swept her off her feet
She pledged her heart unto Ullan
"Your equal I shall never meet."
Maid Tuiren was kin of the king
And Ullan boldly asked her hand
Which fierce king Fionn was glad to give
Believing him an honest man
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt and sing of running free
As hound or maid, it matters not
Trust in the heart that carries thee
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt while singing to the sky
As hound or maid, it matters not
So long as to thy love you fly
Within the year the word spread far
of news that brought the clan great joy
That fair Tuiren and her Ulann
Would give birth to a baby boy
But one fierce lady of the Sidhe
Who long had known the fair Ulann
Burned wild with rage to hear her love
Had ta'en a wife of mortal stand
Garbed as a royal messenger
The Bhean sidhe called upon Tuiren
"Your husband needs you at his side
Oh lady, we must go at once."
Tuiren ran swift to help her love
But once beyond the castle's bounds
The jealous faery cast a spell
And changed her form into a hound
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt and sing of running free
As hound or maid, it matters not
Trust in the heart that carries thee
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt while singing to the sky
As hound or maid, it matters not
So long as to thy love you fly
The faery led her, great with child,
a rope placed round her dark, furred head
To the home of Fergus Fionnlath
Who beat all hounds and wished them dead
Yet Tuiren met his gaze and showed
The depths of pain she held within
And Fergus, moved by this display
Swore ne'er to strike a hound again
In time Tuiren gave birth to twins
The young boys born as puppies wild
At Fergus' side they ran the woods
As loved as any human child
And Tuiren true to her kind heart
Brought joy to Fergus hence unknown
He could not bear from her to part
And loved her as one of his own
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt and sing of running free
As hound or maid, it matters not
Trust in the heart that carries thee
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt while singing to the sky
As hound or maid, it matters not
So long as to thy love you fly
Yet Ulann learned of the faery’s trick
And begged her, "I must have my wife!"
"You'll want her not, oh foolish man,
Unless a hound you'll wed for life."
"Oh change her back, my lover fair.
Or else the king my life will take"
The faery smiled, "Of course my love,
But first a promise you must make."
"All those I've changed within my power
Shall have the body of their birth
But only if you swear that I
Am your sole lover on this earth."
Ulann who wished to save his skin
Agreed with with haste to the faery's plan
The faery smiled, "It is done."
And the poet returned to his clan.
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt and sing of running free
As hound or maid, it matters not
Trust in the heart that carries thee
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt while singing to the sky
As hound or maid, it matters not
So long as to thy love you fly
Ulann returned to find Tuiren
Human arms circled round her sons
Who stayed as hounds, as they were born,
The faery yet had won
She raised her head to see Ulann
The eyes once kind now full of hate
"Begone from me, you wicked fool
I still bear hunter in my frame."
Ulann fled back to faery land
He saw the beast within the maid
Then Tuiren turned to Fergus gaze
Her eyes now soft but unafraid
"I cannot stay here Fergus, love
I live as neither girl nor hound.”
And so she left sons at her side
To hunt the love of freedom found
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt and sing of running free
As hound or maid, it matters not
Trust in the heart that carries thee
Chase thy dreams on nimble feet
Give hunt while singing to the sky
As hound or maid, it matters not
So long as to thy love you fly
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Familiar Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
In 2011, a soprano who loved epic fantasy and role playing found a composer who loved Star Trek and gaming. As the pair came to know each other, the composer's fascination with the intricacies of prog rock and metal wove its way into the soprano's passion for Irish music and filk. Some three years later, Aaron and Kaitlyn perform as Familiar, their marvelous musical co-creation! ... more
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