ALL:
IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN
HOW SHALL WE LEARN TO BE?
IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN
HOW SHALL WE LEARN TO BE?
IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN
HOW SHALL WE LEARN TO BE?
IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN, OH IN ARDEN
HOW SHALL WE LEARN TO BE?
DUKE SENIOR:
CALLING ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN EXILE
GATHER ROUND AS WE MAKE A SONG!
HOW SHALL WE SING OF GRACE IN THIS STRANGE PLACE?
I DON’T KNOW, BUT I’LL SING ALONG
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR:
WE SHALL TRY TO FIND THE USE IN OUR DISTRESS
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR:
WE SHALL ANSWER TO ADVERSITY WITH KINDNESS
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR:
WE SHALL SEEK THE BLESSINGS IN OUR MISERIES
ALL:
WE SHALL LEARN TO SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES
DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS:
OH WHEN THE ICY WINTER WIND BENUMBS MY BODY
EVEN THOUGH I SHIVER, I AM STILL ALIVE
I SMILE AND THANK THE WIND FOR ITS HONESTY
REMINDING MY SKIN IT’S THICK ENOUGH TO SURVIVE
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS:
WE SHALL STUDY ALL THE SERMONS IN THE STONES
ARDENITES:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS:
WE SHALL HEAR THE LANGUAGE OF OUR HEARTS AND BONES
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR & ATTENDANTS:
WE SHALL READ THE BOOK IN THE BROOK AND SACRED SPRING
WE SHALL LISTEN FOR THE TRUTH IN EVERYTHING
ALL:
THE CAVE BECOMES OUR ROOF
THE FIRE BECOMES OUR HEAT
THE RAIN BECOMES OUR DRINK
THE DEER BECOME OUR FOOD TO EAT!
JAQUES:
DO YOU REALIZE THAT THE DEER WE EAT FOR DINNER
ARE ACTUALLY THINKING, FEELING CREATURES
WHO LIVED HERE LONG BEFORE WE CAME?
AND WHEN WE OCCUPY THEIR NATIVE HOME
AND HUNT THEM DOWN,
WE’RE NO BETTER THAN YOUR BROTHER
WHO DISPLACED US JUST THE SAME!
DUKE SENIOR:
Oh Jaques. It does irk me — the poor dappled fools, should in their own confines have their round haunches gored.
JAQUES:
BUT THE DEER THEMSELVES ARE JUST AS BAD AS WE ARE!
I RECENTLY SAW ONE WITH AN ARROW IN HIS HEART,
ON HIS DYING BREATH,
AND WHEN THE OTHER DEER WENT BY,
THEY JUST IGNORED THEIR WOUNDED KIN,
DELIBERATELY LEAVING HER TO A COLD AND LONELY DEATH!
AND ANOTHER THING!
WAIT, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT...
DUKE SENIOR:
Jaques, I love to cope with you in these sullen fits,
for you are full of matter!
Everybody! Two, three, four!
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR:
WE SHALL FIND OUT WHAT WE’RE MADE OF FROM THE RAIN
ALL:
IN ARDEN
JAQUES:
WE SHALL FIND WE’RE MADE OF SELFISHNESS AND PAIN!
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR:
WE SHALL SEARCH FOR HARMONY IN EVERY TURN
JAQUES:
WE SHALL MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AND NEVER LEARN!
DUKE SENIOR:
Fie on thee, Jaques!
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENOR:
WE SHALL UNIFY!
ALL:
IN ARDEN
JAQUES:
WE SHALL ALL SOON DIE!
ALL:
IN ARDEN
DUKE SENIOR:
WE SHALL PITCH A TENT!
JAQUES:
WE SHALL RUIN THE ENVIRONMENT!
ALL:
IN ARDEN, WE SHALL REACH OUT IN THE DARKNESS AND ARISE!
IN ARDEN, WE SHALL SEE THE LIGHT WITHIN EACH OTHER’S EYES!
IN ARDEN, WE SHALL MAKE A SANCTUARY ALL AS ONE!
DUKE SENIOR:
OUR LOVE SHALL BE OUR SHEPHERD AND OUR SUN!
JAQUES:
TIL IT BURNS OUT AND KILLS US ALL.
ARDENITES:
TOGETHER WE’LL HEAL OUR WOUND
TOGETHER WE’LL HEAL OUR WOUND
TOGETHER WE’LL HEAL OUR WOUND
TOGETHER WE’LL HEAL OUR WOUND
IN ARDEN!
Dave is the master of writing endings that instill an ethereal feeling of hope within the person who experiences it. The Field is a perfect cap to the end of Octet and by itself it fills me with the calm tranquility of acceptance in situations where I feel like everything is wrong, like I'm unworthy of everything I have and happiness itself. It always reminds me to not waste anymore of my weird and precious time, arguing the nonsense of the wheel. playton
This album: wow. It's perfect--not just because of the wonderfully grounded-in-the-quotidian but also numinous lyrics. Not just because of the gorgeous and musically meaningful arrangements or the superb artistry. Perfect also because it miraculously captures our individual and national grief, dread, and, maybe, hope-- or at least the sun on a hazelnut tree. A work of art from a humane artist who is an compassionate and careful observer of our time and place. Thank you! marymcd
New York duo showcase an enigmatic blend of math rock guitars, pop-punk sing-a-longs, emo confessionals, and even rave-ready synths. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 15, 2023