Ty says…

This was entirely random. While I do a lot of creative worldbuilding (geofiction, really) and fiction-writing, almost all of which revolves around non-human creatures and cultures, the kilshail were not something I’ve ever encountered before this song-intro. I suspect there will be more songs featuring them.

Click here to listen.

lyrics

we are the kree of the kilshail,
shaggy of fur and bright of eye,
dark and sharp of claw, barbed of tail,
long in tooth, for others we’ll die

we are the fen of the kilshail,
soft of pelt and gentle of gaze,
kind and deft of paw, toes so pale,
fangs pin-sharp, but benign our ways

we are the zesh of the kilshail,
dark of hide with shadowy sight,
seeking in dance to lift the veil,
jaws chewing truths, singing the rite

we are the bucks of the kilshail,
protectors of the little ones,
providers for those old and frail,
teachers of the mothers’ new sons

we are the mares of the kilshail,
nurturers of the newest born,
leaders of the strongest and hale,
healing the hurt, the dead to mourn

we are the cubs of the kilshail,
seekers, stumblers, eager to learn,
we play and eat and sleep and wail,
to grow swift, sly, and strong we yearn

Ty says…

This song was inspired by my sister and the painful geographical distance between her and some of those she loves most.

Click here to listen.

lyrics

oh lady, gypsy woman, won’t you heed
the siren song of the open road?
everything you love waits on the horizon
be the setting sun and bring on the night

wild spirit, singing free, come dance with me,
i know the sunset will take you away
so today, while i have you here, let’s play
i love you, and tonight i’ll sleep alone

under the cover of darkness, move on
feet as strong as paws as fleet as wings
unshackle your ankles and cast your chains away
there’s nothing binding you to the ground

wild spirit, singing free, come dance with me,
i know the sunset will take you away
so today, while i have you here, let’s play
i love you, and tonight i’ll sleep alone

in your eyes, ruddy skies, in your hair, stars
blood and black scarves flying in the wind
your shadow is the dusk, your song the owls’ wings
your way the only one, leading you on

wild spirit, singing free, come dance with me,
i know the sunset will take you away
so today, while i have you here, let’s play
i love you, and tonight i’ll sleep alone

come the sunrise, your love will awaken
and witness the brilliance in your smile,
embrace you, hold you, until the twilight calls
and pulls you on the road to the next

wild spirit, singing free, come dance with me,
i know the sunset will take you away
so today, while i have you here, let’s play
i love you, and tonight i’ll sleep alone

red heart with so much passion and fire
can never pause, can never rest caged
spread your dancing smoke and cover all the world
all your loves beneath the same burning sky

Ty says…

For all the people who have been hurt and cannot make it right again.

Click here to listen (partial only).

lyrics

she gives us a brittle, broken smile
full of pale teeth and happier days
if you didn’t catch the thunder in her eyes
you’d think she wasn’t dyin’ inside

but she’s torn to rags and stitched up wrong
tryin’ her best to turn thread to gold
goin’ through the motions to make everything alright
but she’s due for a breakdown some time later tonight

she drank the poison of pain undeserved
and now her anger just won’t sleep
it’s carvin’ her guts out with ice-iron claws
caged behind her ribs and pacing

see, she’s torn to rags and stitched up wrong
tryin’ her best to turn thread to gold
goin’ through the motions to make everything alright
but she’s due for a breakdown some time later tonight

she’s holdin’ a job and feedin’ the cats,
and keepin’ everything inside,
but sooner or later, it’s all comin’ out
she’ll be drownin’ in past mistakes

see, she’s torn to rags and stitched up wrong
tryin’ her best to turn thread to gold
goin’ through the motions to make everything alright
but she’s due for a breakdown some time later tonight

what she can’t understand is it ain’t her fault
sometimes even the sweet ones lose
and strength, it ain’t never fallin’ down
it’s gettin’ up again and again

see, she’s torn to rags and stitched up wrong
tryin’ her best to turn thread to gold
goin’ through the motions to make everything alright
but she’s due for a breakdown some time later tonight

li’l girl’s gonna keep on keepin’ on
just like good girls are s’posed to do
and all this pain is gonna sink in deep
until it’s all that’s left in her bones

see, she’s torn to rags and stitched up wrong
tryin’ her best to turn thread to gold
goin’ through the motions to make everything alright
but she’s due for a breakdown some time later tonight
she’s due for a breakdown some time later tonight

Ty says…

When I was researching the mythology and the symbolism of the Egyptian Sphinx, one of the aspects that stood out strongly was that they were guardians of sacred spaces. Sphinxes from other cultures held similar responsibilities, whether they were hostile to men or simply neutral. And all of us, in some way, have something holy and precious to protect, including ourselves.

Click here to listen.

lyrics

tread carefully, little soft-skinned creature
for you stand on the edge
of the lands of the gods
and this is my territory to keep

you fear my name; i dare you to trust it
calm your caged little heart
open your blinded eyes
come before the sphinx in the shadows
and cower from the sphinx in the shadows

the air is still here, the soil sacred,
if you can hold your breath
you can bide, liminal,
but don’t poison the water with your tears

you fear my name; i dare you to trust it
calm your fast-beating heart
open your frightened eyes
come before the sphinx in the shadows
and cower from the sphinx in the shadows

i ask no riddles, i demand no blood
my face is no pharaoh
my crown is no cobra
but still i patrol these holy spaces

you know my name; i dare you to say it
calm your fluttering heart
open your startled eyes
come before the sphinx in the shadows
and stand before the sphinx in the shadows

what you see is a lie; we aren’t here
i am in your nightmare
i am part of your dream
i am gatekeeper; come open the door

you know my name; i dare you to say it
hear your once-guarded heart
look with your daring eyes
come before the sphinx in the shadows
and stand before the sphinx in the shadows

i am inside your head; i’m nowhere
i am your link to strength
i am your wings to dive
come try, i dare you– i’ll teach you to live

you want my name; i dare you to take it
hear your free-feeling heart
look with your knife-keen eyes
come before the sphinx in the shadows
and stand before the sphinx in the shadows

human mind, lion strength, snake wisdom
white feathers, golden fur,
dark skin, copper scales
i am the echo of your soul

you want my name; i dare you to take it
hear your strong drumming heart
look with your seeking eyes
come before the sphinx in the shadows

and you love my name; i hear you scream it
feel your fierce feral heart
stare with your wild eyes
reach for the sphinx in the shadows
and now become the sphinx in the shadows

Ty says…

This song is sung from the point-of-view of the great ocean orisa, Yemonja/Olukun. Yemonja is the feminine aspect of the ocean, nurturing and generous, while Olukun is the masculine aspect of the ocean, powerful and volatile. However, this is but one entity, not two, and only when treated as whole can this orisa be properly and safely approached. Trying to separate the light from the dark is not only disrespectful but can be dangerous, if one only seeks Olukun without Yemonja’s temperance. This is an important lesson, not just for this orisa, but in us all – we all have our light and dark sides, our masculine and feminine aspects, and to alienate parts of ourselves is to invite destruction and pain.

Click here to listen.

lyrics

I am the mother you call
when the waves lash the shore
and the rain floods your eyes;
but this tempest is only my gift
to my child, this land

I am the father you call
when currents pull you down
and the chill seeps in your flesh;
but this power is only my gift
to my child, this land

come to me fearful or broken
and I will nurture you;
confront me with gall or hubris
and I will shatter you;
treat me with kindness and love
and I will bless you
treat me with respect and wit
and I will bless you

I’ll rock you as a babe at my breast,
calm and safe, calm and safe;
I’ll protect you, I’ll provide for you,
all the riches of the waves

I’ll take you breathless to the sea floor,
silent and cold, silent and cold;
I will still you, I will strengthen you,
my temper the typhoon’s rage

come to me afraid or broken
and I will nurture you;
confront me with anger or arrogance
and I will shatter you;
treat me with kindness and love
and I will bless you
treat me with respect and wit
and I will bless you