I love the melancholy of many country songs and I've always been a big admirer of Johnny Cash; particularly towards the end of his long and illustrious musical journey. His later work with the producer Rick Rubin produced some magnificent songs, and his versions of 'Hurt', 'Redemption Song' and 'Beast in Me' are all brilliant and extremely moving.
It was this later period of Johnny Cash's work that inspired me to write a traditional country song that also manages to root itself in today.
In this song, 'Stunted Grape', I cover a lost love, using analogies to wine, taste and flavour. The lyrics actually took years to write and perfect. But I can now justify all that wine drinking I did in the past as 'research' - not pleasure! For all my lyrics with a political and social message, I'm proud of "You're drinking red with fish. I'm drinking white with meat", and the imagery and heartbreak it conjures up of two people trapped in the wrong relationship.
lyrics
1st Verse:
I am the stunted grape,
Upon the twisted vine,
My roots will seek your water,
Until the end of time.
The times when we were grafted,
The fruit still lingers true,
The blend, the sun kissed nouveau,
The body I still rue.
1st Chorus:
Cupid, Cupid,
Another corked Merlot
Cupid, Cupid
Give someone else the bow.
2nd Verse:
Confetti of your wedding
Lies bitter on my tongue
It still affects my taste
I can't savour anyone.
While the bitterness persists
It brings a certain peace
I am the stunted grape,
Who seeks the cork's release.
2nd Chorus:
Cupid, Cupid,
Another bent arrow,
Cupid, Cupid,
Give someone else a go.
3rd Verse:
A vintage never reached,
A bottle never stored,
You never laid me down,
A Brut never adored,
And while I don't pretend,
Forget all this deceit........
I'm drinking red with fish,
You're drinking white with meat.
3rd Chorus:
Cupid, Cupid,
Point the arrow at my head,
Cupid, Cupid,
Please leave me now for dead.
Laid-back, country-fried soul project from Ben Lamdin (Nostalgia 77) and starring the velvet vocals of Jeb Loy Nichols. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 11, 2015
The Hein Weingard Trio mix free improvisation and controlled composition, making music for avant-garde jazz adventurers. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 10, 2023
Another vaporous classic from Angel Marcloid’s Nonlocal Forest alias, where the Fire-Toolz frontwoman goes full pastel-and-neon. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 17, 2020
Jazz vocalist Kurt Elling teams up with guitarist Charlie Hunter and guest drummer Nate Smith for a playful EP of six dynamic covers. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2023