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What Sings

by Jen Zimberg

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1.
Trempealeau 04:23
trempealeau i have a song to sing of the boy who met the fairy king it was in the woods of trempealeau when the river was dark beneath the starry glow the boy snuck from his bed one night put on his hat and brought no light his legs they moved with restless itch so he climbed and crept in the quiet over the train-track bridge * look to the woods just go out walking find the courage when the winds talking low, talking low over the bridge into depth of trees on a bluff in the middle of the mississippi the boy in the shadows deep began to hear the voices from dreamless sleep * the boy drew an inward breath he wondered was he an unwelcome guest the voices chilled him cool and sweet and he saw the bright white lights of the night faeries * blue and gold the fairy king loud he shone on outstretched wings he said, “dear boy of trempealeau thank you for meeting us here in the shadow.” “we the fairies small and slight we are no longer seen in the daylight still you were brave and heard our call many ignore or don’t hear it at all.” look to the woods just go out walking find the courage when the winds talking low, talking low go to the woods listen for music life will unfold whispers of magic when you go
2.
Song Man 05:12
song man for Leonard Cohen the song man died today you know he left his backing orchestra to go solo he said when he knew where the good songs came from he wouldn’t wait to go ooo he met the song when he was young in the park by the tennis courts and he was in love when suddenly in streamed the choir of the trumpet tongued never lament casually it’s beauty and it’s dignity that our sorrows waltz between and he could hear them so he sang i feel a bit of a charlatan for stepping out on stage these are the songs you gave me you just let me affix my signature at the bottom of the page he bought a light guitar from spain cedar soundboard soft and warm willing to sing still when he climbed to the stage heights his heart rang so he sang i feel a bit of a charlatan for stepping out on stage these are the songs you gave me you just let me affix my signature at the bottom of the page hallelujah dressed in song coming through the radio on another man’s tongue and that was the day that we learned to sing along never lament casually it’s beauty and it’s dignity that our sorrows waltz between i feel a bit of a charlatan for stepping out on stage these are the songs you gave me you just let me affix my signature at the bottom of the page our song man died today you know gone to sing the songs above that he learned below maybe death is not a hard fall but slipping through the crack in the wall
3.
all the luminous things if you lose your way don’t fret my dear someday the pathway will reappear and being lost has its advantages clear when you finally see all the luminous things hey hey look there are so many things to greet you the grasses by the river have been dying to meet you and the water’s edge holds the breezes cool they will kiss your face unendingly venture out after the red sundown the darkness in your mind does cut you down yet see there is a brightening around of mist in the moonlight i too have felt the way that you do feel empty and with doubt biting at the heel and i’ve had to search for what would reveal all the luminous things
4.
What Sings 03:23
what sings what silence says the stones reply what silence says the stones reply what silence says the stones reply with subtle tongue a lowly hum that tickles slowly up the spine what sunlight sings the birds take air what sunlight sings the birds take air what sunlight sings the birds take air and dance the song the hours long until their wings brush through hair what grasses dance soft beast exclaims what grasses dance soft beast exclaims what grasses dance soft beast exclaims with subtle purr and growl through fur that human voice in throat does lame what sings in me what sings in me what sings in me this morning song oh jubilant dance oh sweet advance of world that i had left too long what sings in me what sings in me what sings in me symphonic lights of stars to shine their lights behind and guiding always us along what sings in me symphonic lights of stars to shine their lights behind and guiding always us along
5.
the little prince and the fox fox: sun has come the sun has come to shine i know your name and now you know mine i saw you descending from the stars you asked to befriend me i said you don’t know where you are little prince: oh, dear fox the orange-red of a sunset will now make me think of your orange-red fur oh, dear fox don’t you find it a mystery that up in the stars there a rose waits for me? all this comes that you taught me to tame now that i’ve tamed you to me you are unique among thousands of foxes fox: look at all all these thousands of flowers yet only one has received your hours now you know the secret place of joy without taking time one doesn’t find out what is most important little prince: yes my friend you have helped me to find that what is essential goes unseen by the eye yes my friend and now it’s time that i go and i will not forget what you have shown me little prince & fox: eyes they only see the outer shell eyes they only see the outer shell little prince: now that i’ve tamed you i can see beyond your nose ears and tail
6.
dark dark dirt (Charles IV Dauphin after meeting Joan of Arc:) i had a song to sing it grew inside like a seed, flinging the dark dark dirt from my mind i had a song to sing but the more i stay silent, the more it flees into the dark dark dirt of my mind but she comes to me and suddenly i can hear the lines i am to speak the part i am to play on this holy stage still if i stand so tall really i will be nothing at all and the silks and the colors and the passions don’t want to go they want the room in my heart to be furnished and comfortable and how could i be a king over such a great and larger thing as this whole warring land? when my own inner lands will not obey my command. she asks me to lead she tells me the angels need hearts of golden courage for their plans you’d think that’d feel more royal to this man but really it’s a lonesome place to stand
7.
if i am to die (Joan of Arc, in prison:) if i am to die i may tell you i once lied truth it has my heart yet i had to give it up to see the truth die and lay on my breath to send my very best to its death i said i’d go alone go through the fields to help in my uncle’s home but when i’d arrived there i begged laxert please take me to valcouleurs for to ask for men at arms for the lord had laid a great task in my heart of saving our land from her ruin and harm yes i’d been sent forth so and what they said to me michaël knows and i will not lie again though it save my living skin and now i am with peace for the task is complete
8.
Michelangelo 04:42
michelangelo (after Rilke’s short story, “The Man Who Listened to Stones”) with dusted hands upon the rock the master waits and listens what work will call to him from out the marmoreal abyss the sculptor’s hands awaken then and strengthen moving restlessly he pulls upon the rock as if a voice within were fading *michelangelo, who is in the stone? michelangelo, who is in the stone? who is in the stone? you oh lord who else who else? but i can’t get at you and as a bird on winged heights finds easily her landed flock the sculptor knows there must be three three figures in this small block first he frees the shoulders broad and the body in the woman’s arms though he dare not lift her marble veil lest her grief should fall and lame him * next with looming obscure plans he climbs the quarry high the faded rock a chiseled brow the face of one who’s waiting tall the master grows above the hill and the olive trees “you shall be my work,” he says to the mountain and the evening michelangelo, michelangelo? then homeward he began his way til at the village gates he paused the narrow streets stuck out their arms and pulled him homeward shrinking pressed in by the house as if some mystery would shape him and to this force he did submit humbled by his limits michelangelo, who is in you? michelangelo, who is in you? who is in you? michelangelo, who is in you? michelangelo, who is in you? who is in you? you oh lord who else who else who else? who else.
9.
Leave Room 05:50
leave room i have lived a life of many steps and i can see my life reflected in my steps and there are times i am uncertain of their course and there are times where they determine their own course for i hear them singing i am not thine to keep i am not thine to keep i am the one i am the one who flies through you i am the one i am the one i am the one who flies through you when you leave me room i have lived a life in thought and i can see my life reflected in my thoughts and there are times i am unknowing of their source and there are times i am certain i’m not their source for i hear them singing i am not thine to keep i am not thine to keep i am the one i am the one who flies through you i am the one i am the one i am the one who flies through you when you leave me room i have seen that my heart will be weighed and so i tend its garden every day and this labor in the sun it makes me strong for this laboring of love has its own song and i hear it singing i am not thine to keep i am not thine to keep i am the one i am the one who flies through you i am the one i am the one i am the one who flies through you when you leave me room

credits

released September 7, 2019

produced by erin mckeown.
engineered and mixed by colleen clark.
mastered by mark alan miller, sonelab easthampton, ma.

featuring instrumental and vocal parts played and arranged by:
séamus maynard, guitar, vocals.
meaghan witri, vocals.
erin mckeown, piano, electric guitar, bass.
eric sherman, trumpet; kris delmhorst, cello.

recorded at spencertown academy & la petite maison.

cover art by ella lapointe.

songs written by jen zimberg.

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Jen Zimberg Hudson, New York

singer/songwriter, modern folk

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