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MARLENA
(Ralph Covert-Emery Pike)
She don’t know about the setting sun; she does’nt
think about what she has done.
As the night creeps in through the cracks; the shadows
fade into the empty black.
And in the cradle there are no more cries; as she
murmurs a lullaby.
Who can judge what is right or wrong; or understand
what’s in a mother’s song?
Oh-oh Marlena; my tears flow down for you.
Oh-oh Marlena; my heart is broke for you.
Cause she gave you all a mother should; her life for
yours as best she could;
Then God reached out his hand.
And she could’nt bear to watch you cry; the pain that
went on day and night;
She helped you slip away.
A mother’s love is not enough they say; when she just
wants to end her daughter’s pain.
Now Padre please don’t curse her hand of fate; that
little life was all that she could take.
So she’ll make her way down to the sea; before the
world finds out about her deed.
And in the morning when the people rise; she’ll wash
up cleansed by the swirling tides.
Emery – Lead Vocal, Spanish Guitar, Bass
Clare Fader – Lead Vocal
Bob Vandervliet – Piano, Backing Vocals
Jon Pratt – Drums
Fabrice Dharamraj – Violin
Andrew Emmett – Violin
Worth Williams – Cello
Marian Wilson – Viola
Ken Wilmot – Flugelhorn
Strings and Flugelhorn arranged by Emery and Bob
Vandervliet
Waves recorded by Emery on location at Ocean Isle
Beach, North Carolina
© 2002 Waterdog Music (ASCAP) / Daddy Thunder Musik
(ASCAP)
Emery’s Notes:
This song was written for a
close friend of mine who lost her only child to leukemia at three years of
age. As I visited with her that weekend in Indianapolis, I was struck by how
merciful death can be in a hopeless situation of intolerable pain. After a
weekend in mourning with the family, this is the song that came out.
It is a tragic fantasy where
a mother takes her own life after taking her daughter’s and not being able
to bear the guilt. It is meant to be provocative and get you to think about
life and death and morality and medicine. Sorry it’s a real downer, but
death is part of life, and sooner or later, we’re all going to have to deal
with making some hard decisions.
Ralph Covert came up with some really stunning
additions to the lyrics on this one, and I’m thrilled at the vocal
performance of Clare Fader. Outstanding! Bob Vandervliet really excelled on
the string arrangements too.
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