I wrestled with this song a few days and though I don't consider it final, I decided I needed to post so I could move on to other songs. Though I don't mention the actual place in the song, it's Lowell. This came from a deep place.
I lived along the Merrimack a few years
I felt the wildness of it in my bones
It’s got no business roaring through a town so settled
Or maybe it’s the other way around
It’s no wonder Kerouac had a bit of madness
A wildness he could not contain
That rushed him along until he smashed into Neal Cassady
And they both continued roaring on their way
Merrimack oh Merrimack
You haunting river
Your crazy power rushing
Between your banks
Merrimack oh Merrimack
You mystic river
You even seeped into the
Tale of Dr. Sax
I don’t believe a person can be unmarked
By a sojourn near this river of the North
Is it true the first people named the Strong Place
Or did we fit the words to the force?
It’s no wonder Kerouac had apocalyptic visions
That haunted him again and again
His mind ran on, furiously burning, igniting generations
Their imagination flowing on
Merrimack oh Merrimack
You spooky river
Who knows what mysteries
You hide well
Merrimack oh Merrimack
You haunting river
Your power still
Roars on and on
@stephenwordsmith 8 weeks
Well-written lyrics that have a real touch of the local ghost tale - the stuff of modern myth and legend. The spooky uke (spookulele?) delivery give it all an unsettling and mysterious flavour, while allowing the finely crafted storytelling to do its thing without competition.
@eas3637 Feb 20
Leslie, I think this is one of your best songs! I really like all the powerful images you've embedded in this song (I don’t believe a person can be unmarked/By a sojourn near this river of the North), and the minor chords complement the words beautifully.
@cts Feb 18
Wonderfully rendered tune!
@kenmattsson Feb 18
Nice job at really weaving a tale with this and connecting the Merrimac, Jack Kerouac, and Lowell together. I like a lot of the references that are so specific.
@cherok40 Feb 18
Nice lyrics that makes me curious about the story behind. Well done!
Will
@standup Feb 18
Nice easy pace, good melody. I liked this line: "It’s got no business roaring through a town so settled / Or maybe it’s the other way around" and the musings on Kerouac. Igniting generations. Interesting that the name was Strong Place.