FAWM: "Dittany"

Dittany

2 weeks ago by @paintonit

Liner Notes

Here's a wordy one.

Lyrics

Dittany leads you lightly Through lemongrass and Eden Past soaked abandoned furniture To see the teacups beckon Her belt is silk piano keys And bracelets sterling silvery She’s standing unassuming in the Focus of your camera

She tells you of New Mexico She’d move back if she could go And swamp city humidity Is no match for the dry heat You’ve been to Arizona But only in the autumn

Call and she will coddle She is lightning in a bottle Though you are not ready yet Bury it somewhere safe and don’t forget

Dittany guides you kindly By shattered bones of factories To her old stone apartment That’s legitimately freezing Keeps a hairdryer in the blankets But she will insist she’s careful Arugula and eggs In the morning with the snowfall

There’s an out of tune piano That is practically unplayable She will sing for minutes Privately by telephone Your city’s like machinery Rain-steeped God’s black tea

Call and she will answer She’s a bumblebee and a dancer Though you are not ready yet Bury it somewhere safe and don’t forget

Dittany wants to teach you How to change your damn oil Finds a little humor In your busted old umbrella To watch the tightrope walker It sure did blow her mind The courage and the focus To walk across that sky

She’d spot you at the venue You stick out like a splinter In your clothes that hang too loose For those couple months in winter She will make you feel alive Then push you off the high-dive

Didn’t get too far She’s a explosion in a jar Though you are not ready yet Bury it somewhere safe and don’t forget

Comments

@namey 15h

I've no idea what this is about, but it reminds me of Donna Tartt books. This is like a whole novel in a song. And the melody is wonderful.

@paintonit 6h

Thank you! I'll have to check out DT, heard so many good reviews.

@sophiecolette 1w

Very cool when a song is a full on story with no repeats. Despite the lyrics the strumming created this vibe of a western quick draw scene under a starry nite... ."she's a bumblebee and a dancer" is among my favorite lyrics here. Really enjoyed this!

@paintonit 6h

Western quick draw is a great music video idea! Noted.

@deau_eyes 1w

I love Dittany.. I love all of these images. Arugula and eggs. Rain steeped Gods black tea. she’s a bumblebee and a dancer. She’ll make you feel alive then push you off the high dive. She’s a chaotic dream.

I feel like I know this narrator so well in how you see her. Veryyy subtly referencing yourself but saying it all with “bury it somewhere safe and don’t forget.” This guy AND this girl have broken all of our hearts before. Very cooooool.

@paintonit 6h

You've got it! Thanks Ali :)

@finfeather 1w

"hairdryer in the blankets" makes me feel so many things guitar is so driving and so restrained at the same time. the panning on it gives the feeling of being carried along on train tracks

@sourlipsmusic 2w

Jenna hit the nail with the Elliott & Shins refs, the lyrics also have a Leonard Cohen-ness to them. Just excellent.

@ionnastudio 2w

There are so many fun word combinations here. The riff is so nicely placed! I imagine listening to this after driving away from a gas station and having a mysterious smile with a stranger

@craycray_conq_dude 2w

such eye catching imagery, and I dig the guitar riff - the question mark lingers and compliments the lyrics nicely

@fantex 2w

Wow, the guitar part grabbed me first...then the lyrics kept winding along with all the cool imagery. Cool tune.

@yourhumphrey 2w

I LOVE these lyrics. Really, really wonderful poetry.

@cemeteryrecleague 2w

This really captures a feeling (maybe a couple) so well! You really have a knack for evocative lyrics

@lsorese 2w

I'm so jealous of your lyricism, it's so beautiful, and poetic in a way I can't usually tap into. The idea of putting Arugala in a song would never occur to me.

@jennakole 2w

Elliott / Shins comin thru hard!

i love the unsteadiness in the dissonance of the last verse with the tightrope imagery.

I also just love the line, “bury it somewhere safe and don’t forget” — it is so evocative and unsettling.

@skylermf 2w

These lyrics are great! I love the line about the shattered bones of factories, also “rain-steeped God’s black tea.”

@leightree 2w

I've told you this before but your songwriting and musical aptitude both inspire me greatly and make me want to give up right now. This one is so aesthetically pleasing. Five stars.