Song picture
Cruel as April
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A riff on the TS Eliot poem, done in an Elvis Costello-style lyric. Early demo version of the song
Artist picture
Internationally recognized, prize-winning lyricist well-versed in cabaret, indie, folk, country, showtunes and several other genres.
I am the Grand Prize Winner of the 2007 International Songwriting Competition for my collaboration with Eduard Glumov, "I'm Not Your Friend." We also won First Prize in the Rock/Alt Division of the Great American Song Contest. One judge called it a prime example of "world-class songwriting" and said the images in the were "often stunning." I'm a lyricist and have been collaborating with musicians from California to Kazakhstan, over the Internet. The fruits of that collaboration are found here, and at . While the winning song was a hot funk-rock song, with a compact streamlined lyric, I write in several styles. I've chosen "indie" as my genre, but I write anything from cabaret to country, and am looking to work with musicians and composers of all stripes. Currently I'm finding writing partners here in my home town of Philadelphia.
Song Info
Genre
Alternative Indie
Charts
Peak #951
Peak in subgenre #197
Author
Z. Mulls/Jim Chapman
Rights
2007
Uploaded
November 05, 2007
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.1 MB 128 kbps 3:26
Story behind the song
I riffed on the "April is the cruelest month" phrase, and I think it came out well. The bridge references the Eliot poem as well. This recording is a first draft.
Lyrics
(v1) Why’d you have to smile like that? Why’d you have to drape your hand on my arm Like it was nothing Your hand was warm And something starts stirring in the dormant soil Flickers of life that start to grow disloyal When the healing rains begin, where do we hide? (chorus) I had forgotten the feel of the sun I didn’t realize that winter was done And suddenly you’re the one But you’re almost as cruel as April (v2) Watching out the corner of my eye You finished every drop of the drink I mixed Like it was nothing And licked your lips And water starts flowing in the frozen streams Melting the ice that covered up my dreams Thawing out a thought I’ve always denied (chorus) I had forgotten the feel of the sun I didn’t realize that winter was done And suddenly you’re the one But you’re almost as cruel as April (bridge) I’m sick of reading poems ‘bout memory and desire January February March and I’m barely here Getting through the winter I thought I was a survivor Now I have to get through the rest of the year (v3) Why’d you have to kiss me goodnight? Touch your mouth to mine, a momentary brush Like it was nothing It won’t take much Facing my tomorrows creeping in this petty pace Seeing nature testifying all over the place Don’t ask me to take this beauty in stride (chorus) I had forgotten the feel of the sun I didn’t realize that winter was done And suddenly you’re the one But you’re almost as cruel as April
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