The October Country

© 2008-9 Naomi Rivkis and Steve Savitzky

This is the perfect follower for The Fox. It's one that the two of us co-wrote, (N wrote the words, S wrote an initial melody (of which the first two verses and bridge survive almost intact), and then we woodshedded the heck out of it.

The reason it's such a good follower is that "The Fox" is pure folk, the kind of thing people would expect from a group called Lookingglass Folk. This one starts out as, if not actually folk, at least urban fantasy. Then it takes that left turn in the middle.

It's surprisingly popular, which probably says something about the kind of audience we attract. What it says is left as an exercise for the reader.

Lyrics [pdf]

\singer{Naomi}

	A	E	A
H	ave you ever seen the f	airies d	ance?

	A	E
Gr	ease in their hair and black leather p	ants,

	A	D
K	icking up their heels, thr	owing back their heads,

	A	E
B	umping into trees like drunken k	ids,

	A	E	A
L	egs and arms all	over the pl	ace

	D	E	E7	A
N	othing you'd ever call st	yle	or g	race.

	A	D
St	ill, if ever you g	et the chance

	A	E	A
You m	ay as well go and see the f	airies d	ance.

\singer{Steve}

	A	E	A
H	ave you ever heard the gr	iffin sp	eak?

	A	E
With a pl	ug of tobaccy stuffed in his ch	eek

	A	D
He's	often huffy and h	ard to please

	A	E
And his c	ussing could peel the bark off tre	es.

	A	E	A
He'll t	ell you more than your m	ama kn	ows

	D	E	E7	A
Why the w	idow bites, how the	pop	py gr	ows,

	A	D
Best	pack a lunch. It'll t	ake a week,

	A	E	A
But	anyhow, go and hear the gr	iffin sp	eak.

BRIDGE:

\singer{Steve}

DA G

L eft at the traffic light, r ight at the store,

Dm Am Em7

U nderneath the broken heart, over the w ar.

Am Dm

It's a d ifferent picture though you've f ound the frame,

Am G Am Em

And the s ong never d oes rem ain the s ame.

\singer{Naomi}

Am Em7

N ot for the grown are the airs and grasses,

Am G Am

Sw eet summer daisies, br ight-faced l asses.

Am Dm

T ake the flytrap and the t arnished face,

C G Em7 Am

You can g o back ag ain but it's a d ifferent pl ace.

	Am	Em	Am
H	ave you ever seen the pl	ayground d	ark,

	Am	Dm	Em
Sh	adows and leaves blowing r	ound the	park

	Am	Dm
The sw	ings and castles looks st	ained and small

	Am	E
And the s	ecret tunnel isn't there at	all.

	Am	Dm
L	ift up the shadow-curtain, f	ind the key

	Am	C	Em
You'll s	ee what your eyes have l	earned to s	ee.

	Am	Em
It's an	ugly magic but it's g	ot the spark

	Am	F	E	Am
And it's st	ill there waiting	when the pl	ayground's d	ark.

\singer{Naomi}

	DA	G
T	ime is subtle as a s	idelong glance

	E	C	A
But c	ome with me to watch the f	airies d	ance.

\singer{both}

	DA	G
T	ime is subtle as a s	idelong glance

	Em	F	E	Am
But c	ome with me	to watch the f	airies d	ance.