My son plays piano, and was learning a Mendelssohn piece during lockdown. There were two parts of it that I just loved; I asked him to slow them way down and make a track out of the two chords progressions. I wrote this song over top of it by scavenging through my notebooks for. notes to myself, things I'd jotted down.
The original piano that my son recorded form the base of the track.
lyrics
Received Wisdom
Sing to few in small rooms
warm to your task.
Grasp kindness and violence
your work may come to nothing after all.
Stay ahead of your ghosts,
Evading the specter of joyless urgency.
Your tragic here, he under-understands
Emperor of one idea.
What to leave, what to take, what to fight.
The opposite of anarchy
Telstar, ancient satellite.
When you say “I know”,
Make sure there’s touch in it.
Be there, do not invade,
Leave it where you found it.
Will, oh, kindness and hunger,
Silence and silence—
‘Cause there will never be words
There’ll not be words for this.
What to leave, what to take, what to fight.
The opposite of certainty—
Telstar, ancient satellite.
credits
from Dead Reckoning,
released January 15, 2023
Lucien Clough, piano. Mark Spencer, piano, Stéphane San Juan, conga, Agustin Uriburu cellos.
supported by 6 fans who also own “Received Wisdom”
The stripped-down approach (mostly piano/organ, bass, drums) favoured here puts the spotlight squarely on Brown's soulful, meditative lyrics and vocals, which are frequently augmented by the sublime Kate Fenner. The arrangements are no slouch either, with perfect flourishes of horns, harmonica and guitar that add to the overall warm folk-soul vibe.
Right on target, so direct, this album feels as natural as the changing seasons and weaves a spell that lingers long after listening. Mike Garrett
supported by 4 fans who also own “Received Wisdom”
As a lifelong fan of psyche, I was delighted to have found this, stunned that I'd missed them for three decades and devastated by the news of Dallas' passing. Makes many of the album's lyrics even more poignant. I hear echoes of the Chocolate Watch Band, Long Ryders and both the pop and country sides of the Byrds. Stunning, and a contender for my album of the year. Iain H