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Letters to the Dead

from Between Light and Dark by Penelope Swales

/

lyrics

Letters to the Dead
© 1993 Penelope Swales

I sit here swimming in a sea of smoke
I’m burnin’ candles, burnin’ incense
I’m igniting my memories
I’m looking at a lock of your hair hanging on the wall

Death from a distance
Is such a strange thing
You always were a strange man
Holding you was like hugging a hurricane
I could have been sunburned by your smile
Frostbitten by your eyes
I’m writing letters to the dead

And you would argue
At the drop of a hat
Argue ‘bout anything
This way or that
Yeah, argue with anyone
Even with me
The times I tried to avoid that
But you’d always find a way

And you’d go to bed
At the drop of a hat
On one condition,
That no-one loved you and that was flat
Oh, yeah almost with anyone
Even with me
At the time I had to avoid that
I had other commitments,
But now I wish I’d found a way

And now I’m staring at a lock of that glorious mane
I’m singin’ to your smile
I’m holdin’ congress with the dead

And now I’m staring at a lock of that glorious mane
I’m singin’ to your smile
I’m jammin’ solo with the dead

Death from a distance
Is such a strange thing
You always were a strange man
Your acquaintance with that side of things
Made me feel naïve and
I didn’t like that, now I’m
Burnin’ candles, burnin’ incense, burnin’ other things
Partaking with the dead
(Burnin’ bridges, burning wildfire)
I’m building a pyre of all of my memories
(In the crematorium’s flames)
I remember sharing
Your first taste for a couple of years with you
(Oooh…)
And I remember thinking at the time
That it wasn’t such a good move
(You’re such an all-or-nothing character)
I’m writin’ letters to the dead
(Sunburned by your smile, frostbitten by your eyes)
I’m holdin’ congress with the dead
(Staring at a lock of that glorious mane,
I’m singin’ to your smile)
I’m burnin’ letters to the dead.

credits

from Between Light and Dark, released September 11, 1993
Penelope Swales - vocals, rhythm and lead guitars, harmonic vocals

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Penelope Swales Boolarra, Australia

Penelope Swales has been articulating the human condition with passion and humour for 30+ years. She sings about politics, love, friendship, the unbreakable bond between us and dogs and the impact of the Internet on society. She won the 2019 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social Justice Award with “Cambridge Analytica”. “The Ides of March in Christchurch" was short-listed for the same award in 2020. ... more

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