Sensuous

Hello world-wide-web,
     Thank you Heavenly Father for all answered prayers and for all the blessings you bestow on us each and every day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
This past weekend I went to Deep Ellum and attended "girlshow:the perfect ten." There were many talented artists - from painters, girl bands, to photography, and poetry. In the background, between sets, a Fiona Apple song played. I told my brother, "I remember this song. I like this album, I wonder if I still have it?" Fiona fit in perfectly with the atmosphere. I filed, "Look for Fiona Apple CD," in the back of my mind.
A band called the DemiGods had some of their musicians at the show. I bought two of their CD's -both are solo projects. One of the CD's is by Jamie Reeves, a talented singer/guitarist. Her CD is entitled, "2038: A Message through Time," with an artfully done cartoon drawing of Jamie on the cover. The other CD is labeled, "The Long Countdown: Delphi." If you'd like to sample some of their music, search for them on myspace.com because it's worth a listen. Jamie has a strong voice with lots of range. She is a strong, independent, intelligent up-and-coming young artist. It was a privilege to meet her after she played her song, "Kismet."
Jamie's music reminded me even more of Ms. Apple, so I looked through my CD's yesterday and sure enough, there was the 1996 release Tidal, that has the Grammy-award winning song, Criminal, on it.
Fiona Apple is all of  32 years old and 5'2", but has the sound of a six foot, fifty year old blues singer. Simply amazing. Her lyrics are sensuous and appealing. Perfect if you are in a dark mood, or even when you aren't in a opaque mood, but are angry at relationships gone awry. And let's face it: who hasn't had a relationship go amiss? So really the CD is adept for anytime, but especially in those situations. As I listen to her CD for the umpteenth time today, I find myself listening to her lyrics closer than ever before and sinking into the moods she creates with the music: a uniting of  the mellow and the passionate. Her songs are flawlessly orchestrated with piano, violin, some luscious Latin rhythms, and then of course bringing all of these splendid sounds to crescendo, her immaculate voice.
A couple of songs have stood out for me this go-round of listening, the sixth track, "The First Taste," and the third track,"Shadowboxer."
God bless ALL forms of relationships. Amen.

"Dude, she was in love with you!"
"Yes, she was..."

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Fiona Apple - Shadowboxer

Shadowboxer:
Once my lover, now my friend
What a cruel thing to pretend
What a cunning way to condescend
Once my lover, and now my friend

Oh, you creep up like the clouds

And you set my soul at ease
Then you let your love abound
And you bring me to my knees

Oh, it's evil babe
The way you let your grace enrapture me
Well you know I'd be insane
To ever let that dirty game recapture me

You made me a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
I been swinging around 'cause
I don't know when you're gonna make your move

Oh, your gaze is dangerous
And you fill your space so sweet
If I let you get too close
You'll set your spell on me

These stanzas are particularly poignant:
So darlin' I just wanna say
Just in case I don't come through
I was onto every play
I just wanted you

Oh it's so evil, my love
The way you've no reverence to my concern
So I'll be sure to stay wary of you, love
To save the pain of once my flame and twice my burn

So I'm a shadowboxer, baby
I wanna be ready for what you do
I been swinging around at nothin
I don't know when you're gonna make your move

Yeah I'm a shadowboxer babyI wanna be ready for what you do
And I been swinging around me 'cause
I don't know when you're gonna make your move

More of her lyrics are at: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/fiona+apple/#share

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Fiona Apple - The First Taste

The First Taste:

I lie in an early bed thinking late thoughts
Waiting for the black to replace my blue
I do not struggle in your web because it was my aim to get caught
But daddy longlegs, I feel that I'm finally growing weary

Of waiting to be consumed by you

Give me the first taste
Let it begin, heaven cannot wait forever
Darling just start the chase
I'll let you win, but you must make the endeavor

Oh, your love give me a heart contusion

Adagio breezes fill my skin with sudden red
Your hungry flirt borders intrusion
And I'm building memories on things we have not said
Full is not heavy as empty, not nearly my love

Not nearly my love, not nearly

Give me the first taste
Let it begin, heaven cannot wait forever
Darling, just start the chase
I'll let you win, but you must make the endeavor

The first taste
Let it begin, heaven cannot wait forever
Start the chase, I'll let you win
But you must make the endeavor

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Fiona apple - Carrion

Won't do no good to hold no seance
What's gone is gone, and you can't bring it back around
Won't do no good to hold no searchlight
You can't illuminate what time has anchored down

Oh, honey I've gone away
Honey I've gone away
I've gone away

Won't do no good to sing no love song
No sound could simulate the presence of a man
Won't do no good asking no questions
Your divination should acquaint you with the plan

Oh Honey I've gone away
Honey I've gone away
Honey, I've gone away

My feel for you, boy, is decaying in front of me
Like the carrion of a murdered prey
And all I want is to save you, honey
Or the strength to walk away

Won't do no good to go no distance
The space between us is as boundless as the dark
Won't do no good to throw no fist, babe
You can't intimidate me back into your arms

Because honey, I've gone away
I've gone away
I've gone away

I've gone away
I've gone away
I've gone away

My feel for you, boy, is decaying in front of me
Like the carrion of a murdered prey
And all I want is to save you, honey
Or the strength to walk away

I'm especially feelin' these lyrics:
My feel for you boy, is decaying in front of me
Like the carrion of a murdered prey
And all I want is to save you, honey
Or the strength to walk away
Oh my feel for you boy, is decaying right in front of me

Like the carrion of a, a murdered prey
And all I want is to save you, honey
Or the strength to walk away

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/fiona+apple/#share

"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Fiona Apple - Sleep To Dream

This whole song just rings true for me...Please understand I am no Alanis Morissette - I am not angry; sad, yes, but not angry.
It seems Fiona and I have had similar relationship experiences. Yet another example about the universals in life and how beautifully music can link people.
To the person for whom these songs are meant, and I think you know who you are, I remember teasing you when I asked, "Now what is the reason I should put you in a blog?" Well here is a huge blow-out of blog entries about you.

I tell you how I feel, but you don't care
I say tell me the truth, but you don't dare
You say love is a hell you cannot bear
And I say gimme mine back and then go there - for all I care

I got my feet on the ground
And I don't go to sleep to dream
You got your head in the clouds
And you're not at all what you seem

This mind, this body
And this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways
So don't forget what I told you
Don't come around, I got my own hell to raise

I have never been so insulted in all my life
I could swallow the seas to wash down all this pride
First you run like a fool just to be at my side
And now you run like a fool
But you just run to hide, and I can't abide

I got my feet on the ground
And I don't go to sleep to dream
You got your head in the clouds
And you're not at all what you seem
This mind, this body
And this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways

So don't forget what I told you
Don't come around, I got my own hell to raise
Don't make it a big deal, don't be so sensitive
We're not playing a game anymore
You don't have to be so defensive

Don't you plead me your case, don't bother to explain
Don't even show me your face, ''cause it's a crying shame
Just go back to the rock from under which you came
Take the sorrow you gave and all the stakes you claim -
And don't forget the blame

I got my feet on the ground
And I don't go to sleep to dream
You got your head in the clouds
And you're not at all what you seem

This mind, this body
And this voice cannot be stifled by your deviant ways
So don't forget what I told you
Don't come around, I got my own hell to raise

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/fiona+apple/#share


"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa