THE
CALL
"Wilderness. The word itself is music." —Edward Abbey. I've found the reverse is just as true. Music, the word itself is wilderness. In my own rugged explorations of songwriting, and the great fortune of a few key mentors, I have wandered into untamed terrain. Here, and only here, I offer up sketches of song and poetry, wild and unfinished.
LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND
The subtle stillness in the dark
erases all fulfillment from the arc
of the ceaseless fire blazing
through the blue
to which we owe our lives,
both me and you
I tried to be encouraged by the fall
of the whispering ones
who flourished in the halls
drafting laws that helped
the lawless to get by
by feeding off the bones
of you and I.
Can you hear our hearts,
beat in time?
And when I am, will you be ready
to leave it all behind?
When I am, will you be ready
to leave it all behind?
No one ever told us what to do
where to go, who to call
or how to choose
the things that matter most
when it’s said and done
yet somehow I knew
you were the one.
Through the years I wandered alone
as I wondered if there was any sign
that could be shown
beyond the empty promises
from the mount
until you came along
nd shattered any doubt
Can you hear our hearts,
beat in time?
And when I am, will you be ready
to leave it all behind?
When I am, will you be ready
to leave it all behind?
for Harvey Fergusson
AMBROSIO
We crested the hilltop
far from our home to be
I watched you as you were watching
the blood moon rise above the sea
Wind sang through the treetops
a low and hollow melody
Fire flying up from the kindling
of a flame only you can feed
Your love to me is water in a deep well
And oh, I try to draw it out
My love to you is water in a river
that flows and never knows drought
The moon replaced the sun
A cold reflection stained
It bleeds but not for us
Just comes and goes and bodes of rain
Hints of suns to come
your words keep me awake
My heart howls all is done
I pray the moon will ease the pain
of verses from a universe away
My love to you is water in a deep well
And oh, you've tried to draw it out
Your love to me is water in a river
that flows and never knows drought
Ambrosio, Ambrosio, amo todas tus palabras
Los colores de tus versos y la dulzura de tu voz
Amboriso, Ambrosio, amo todos tus poemas
Nado tu rio en mis sueños y consume mi corazón
They say you're like a flower
And I say it must be true
For though you give your love to no one
All who can see, love you
Your love to me is water in a deep well
And oh, I try to draw it out
My love to you is water in a river
that flows and never knows drought
STUDY OUT THE LAND
Study out the land, my love
write about all there is to find
Go wherever your heart goes
push out the horizons from your mind
You are wild and you are rare, my heart
beat until the end of time
Be everywhere you’re meant to be
bleed the colors of everything you see
Turn the stones beneath the stones
say the words and you shall be released
You are wild and you are rare, my heart
beat until it sets you free
Study out the wilderness
may the word itself be music to your ears
Dance out where the shadows dance
and the stars upon the water fall like tears
You are wild and you are rare, my heart
beat until love conquers all your fears
TRYING TO MAKE A FIRE
A candle flickers in the corner of the room / A single flame trying to make a fire / The light cuts the darkness ever so slightly / Thin as love and persistent as desire / A lonesome mood consumes the room / And in a flash we're down to the wire / A tangle of trees twists naked in the breeze / While the shadows on the walls just grow higher / Just then a pane refracts the light reflected off the moon / Everything I see's a thin blue line / There is no sound, there's no one else around / But I feel your presence in this bend of space and time / Take my hand, Babe / Take my hand and show me the way / Take my heart / Take my heart and take my breath away / Take my eyes / Take my eyes and show me a better place / Take my hand, Babe / Take my hand and show me the way
2012. Lyrics and music: S.R. Batterson
This is an original demo recorded at the elusive House of Tone.
KINGFISHER'S KIL
Winding back and forth
brushing on the wing
Waves, they are the colors
of the pictures that I dream
A low whistle’s cry
whipping through the grass
Screaming through the trees
a risk worth the chance
Never see it coming
but it always will
Best to keep your wits about you
on the Kingfisher’s Kil
In a skin-stinging desert
pining for the pines
Glowing are the daggers
that set fire to my mind
A quick, fleeting hum
streams across the sand
Flashing like a star
a scar upon the land
Just across the river
two suns are setting down
One's shadows cross the mesa
One darkening this little border town
Hanging in the balance
a beat, like a snare
Sand shining in moonlight
like a promise, or a dare
Never see it coming
but it always will
Best to keep your wits about you
on the Kingfisher’s Kil
IN ANOTHER WORLD
In some other time,
in another world,
your heart was the only beat I hummed to.
GIT IT
I got a rabbit on the fire, got some beans on to boil / Got a rabbit on the fire, got some beans on to boil / Gotta git it while it's hot so the blood don't spoil / Got to git it while it's hot so the blood don't spoil / I got a turtle in the pot but his blood won't boil / Got a turtle in the pot but his blood won't boil / His shell is smokin' hot and he's a-soakin' up the oil / His shell is smokin' hot and he's a-soakin' up the oil / I got a donkey in the stall but he ain't no mule / Got a donkey in the stall but he ain't no mule / Try to hit him with a switch, he'll git the switch on you / Try to hit him with a switch, he'll git the switch on you / I got a spark in the piston but the carburetor's cold / Got a spark in the piston but the carburetor's cold / Gotta fire it up to git on down the road / I got to fire it up to git on down the road
2012. Lyrics, vocals and piano: S.R. Batterson
Resonator guitar and stand-up bass: F. Reyes
Drums, growler and screen door: D. Herrero
This is an original demo recorded at the elusive House of Tone.
These are a couple of the mentors I mentioned. Felix Reyes and Dave Herrero. These guys have really shown me how to shape raw material into song form while always letting me feel it out as I go. I'm fortunate for that. This was us just messing around in the studio. Once in a while, with some good BBQ and some good whiskey, you git some good shit. (You can decide if this was one of those times.)
MANISTEE
for Jim Harrison
Still
dark.
Blood, and the smell of fish
hanging.
We are anxious and insatiable
animals.
THIS LAND
THIS LAND
The land up north is flat and white / Lo, it shimmers 'neath the blue / It reminds me of your tender skin / Haunting as the surface of the moon / The land down south is blazing gold / Lo, it burns to gaze upon / It reminds me of your fiery lips / Bright as the brilliance of the sun / The land out west is iridescent / Lo, it breaks into the sea / It reminds me of your emerald eyes / Tempting as the realness of a dream / The land out east is rolling green / Lo, it's home to Liberty / It reminds me of your fearless heart / Fragile as the truth of living free
2017, Lyrics and music by S.R. Batterson.
This is a rough, original demo recorded in my makeshift home studio in Chicago, IL. It was written over the last few years on trips to Colorado, Iowa, New York and Wisconsin.
THE LAND OF VERY BAD THINGS
for Craig Johnson
I feel the shudder under my feet,
shifting low and violently.
Leaving scars no one else can see,
an endless river in the depth beneath.
I beat for you in the heat of forever.
I long for you in my dreams.
You're off on the continent of honey and sheaves.
I'm lost in the land of very bad things.
I’ve witnessed a sickness killing this town,
growing slow and painfully.
Like a hunger it seems nothing can feed,
an affliction like my addiction to thee.
I call for you in the night.
I watch for you in these streets.
You're off on the continent of honey and sheaves.
I'm lost in the land of very bad things.
I walked the jagged road out of the city,
winding, worn and weathering.
Beyond the edge of all the eye can see,
the sparkling twilight of a fading galaxy.
I come to you longing for truth.
I ask of you, set me free.
You're off on the continent of honey and sheaves.
I'm lost in the land of very bad things.
BREAK MY HEART ONE MORE TIME
BREAK MY HEART ONE MORE TIME
2013, Lyrics and music by S. Batterson.
This is an original demo recorded in a room at the Frontier Motel in Marquette, IA.
I will sink my teeth into your flesh if you'll sink yours into mine / I will dig my claws into your side if you'll dig yours into mine / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time / I will curse your name beneath my breath just to hear you whisper mine / I will lie to your face with my dying breath if you promise to lie to mine / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time / I will nail your hand upon the cross if you'll drive the nail through mine / I will stand in your shadow when all is lost, in hopes you won't leave me behind / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time
I will sink my teeth into your flesh if you'll sink yours into mine / I will dig my claws into your side if you'll dig yours into mine / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time / I will curse your name beneath my breath just to hear you whisper mine / I will lie to your face with my dying breath if you promise to lie to mine / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time / I will nail your hand upon the cross if you'll drive the nail through mine / I will stand in your shadow when all is lost, in hopes you won't leave me behind / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time
I will sink my teeth into your flesh if you'll sink yours into mine / I will dig my claws into your side if you'll dig yours into mine / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time / I will curse your name beneath my breath just to hear you whisper mine / I will lie to your face with my dying breath if you promise to lie to mine / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time / I will nail your hand upon the cross if you'll drive the nail through mine / I will stand in your shadow when all is lost, in hopes you won't leave me behind / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love / I will ache for your love if you'll break my heart one more time
2013, Lyrics and music by S.R. Batterson.
This is an original demo recorded in a room at the Frontier Motel in Marquette, IA.