From our 3rd CD Ariel, released on Prikosnovénie, France.
It is said Alchemists knew they had made gold when a Salamander appeared, glowing in a furnace.
‘Salamander’ is a tribute to Nick Drake & his song ‘Riverman’. Nick died at 26 from an overdose of antidepressants in 1974. His albums Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon, though respected, brought him no fame until after his death.
How do we resist the spirit of an age? What is it in us that longs to burn brighter, be more alive? Nick’s song ‘Riverman’ bears the poignancy of a leaf falling. It ripples beyond time. He did not shine with the Salamanders of his age. Yet I imagine his brief life, so deeply lived, burned a gold river in the sky.
lyrics
So, Fame - you always were a dreamer!
and you’ll go on with your Salamander song -
Oh, you always were the river,
and you’ll roll on, and on …
Do you live over the rainbow?
Do you live under the river?
Diving for gold in your Salamander shoal
(o’ in the meadow … oh!)
We wish we could burn,
if we hold and deliver, we could gleam brighter!
We would turn in that river of the
Salamander! Salamander! Salamander!
So, Fame - you always rolled your fire down
under the dawn, with your Salamander ride -
Ah, I’ll be your gold river in the sky
I’d swim in the fire of your Salamander eyes …
(o’ in the meadow … oh!)
Do you live over the rainbow?
Do you live under the river?
Never grow old, in your Salamander soul.
(o’ in the meadow … oh!)
We wish we could burn,
if we hold and deliver, we could gleam brighter!
We would turn in that river of the
Salamander! Salamander! Salamander! Salamander!
You never grow old, everyone knows
You turn into gold, turn into gold!
Dig in the knoll, looking for anything that glows
- it burns, what are you waiting for?
You’re turning to gold!
credits
from Ariel - full album 2000,
released February 6, 2021
Lyrics, Melodies: Louisa John-Krol, with input from Mark Krol
Vocals, Mandolin: Louisa John-Krol
Piano (arrangement & performance): Richard Allison
Produced with & engineered by Brett Taylor at the studio of Lindsay Buckland
Photo of Louisa by Jerry Galea of The Age newspaper
Louisa is an Australian singer, composer, writer & faery storyteller who has released many albums of ethereal music on indie labels, primarily in France. She's completing a fantasy series, The Elderbrook Chronicles, with a soundtrack.
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