#and as we all well know we deserve to know light and grow evermore lighter and lighter | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

abellinthecupboard · 1 year

Text

Sawdust & Diamonds

From the top of the flight of the wide, white stairs, through the rest of my life, do you wait for me there? There’s a bell in my ears. There’s the wide, white roar. Drop a bell down the stairs. Hear it fall forevermore. Hear it fall forevermore. Drop a bell off of the dock. Blot it out in the sea. Drowning mute as a rock; and sounding mutiny. There’s a light in the wings, hits the system of strings, from the side, where they swing— see the wires, the wires, the wires. And the articulation in our elbows and knees makes us buckle; and we couple in endless increase as the audience admires. And the little white dove, made with love, made with love; made with glue, and a glove, and some pliers swings a low sickle arc, from its perch in the dark: settle down, settle down, my desire. And the moment I slept, I was swept up in a terrible tremor. Though no longer bereft, how I shook! And I couldn’t remember. And then the furthermost shake drove a murthering stake in, and cleft me right down through my center. And I shouldn’t say so, but I know that it was then, or never. Push me back into a tree. Bind my buttons with salt. Fill my long ears with bees praying please please please love you ought not No you ought not And then the system of strings tugs on the tip of my wings (cut from cardboard and old magazines): makes me warble and rise, like a sparrow. And in the place where I stood, there is a circle of wood— a cord or two—which you chop, and you stack in your barrow. It is terribly good to carry water and chop wood, streaked with soot, heavy-booted and wild-eyed; as I crash through the rafters, and the ropes and the pulleys trail after and the holiest belfry burns sky-high. And then the slow lip of fire moves across the prairie with precision, while, somewhere, with your pliers and glue, you make your first incision. And in a moment of almost-unbearable vision, doubled over with the hunger of lions, Hold me close, cooed the dove, who was stuffed, now, with sawdust and diamonds. I wanted to say: Why the long face. Sparrow, perch and play songs of long face. Burro, buck and bray songs of long face! Sing, I will swallow your sadness, and eat your cold clay, just to lift your long face; And though it may be madness, I will take to the grave your precious longface. And though our bones they may break, and our souls separate— Why the long face? And though our bodies recoil from the grip of the soil— Why the long face? And in the trough of the waves, which are pawing like dogs, pitch we, pale-faced and grave, as I write in my log. Then I hear a noise from the hull, seven days out to sea. And it is the damnable bell! And it tolls—well, I believe that it tolls—it tolls for me. And it tolls for me. And though my wrists and my waist seemed so easy to break, still, my dear, I’d have walked you to the edge of the water. And they will recognize all the lines of your face in the face of the daughter of the daughter of my daughter. And darling, we will be fine; but what was yours and mine appears to me a sandcastle that the gibbering wave takes. But if it’s all just the same, then will you say my name; say my name in the morning, so that I know when the wave breaks. I wasn’t born of a whistle, or milked from a thistle at twilight. No; I was all horns and thorns, sprung out fully formed, knock-kneed and upright. So: enough of this terror. We deserve to know light, and grow evermore lighter and lighter. You would have seen me through, But I could not undo that desire. O, desire! O, desire! O, desire! Desire, desire, desire, desire. From the top of the flight of the wide, white stairs Through the rest of my life Do you wait for me there?

— Joanna Newsom, Ys (2006) (X)

#Sawdust & Diamonds #Sawdust and Diamonds #Joanna Newsom #Ys #poetry #lyrics #poet #poem #music

24 notes · View notes

whiteshipnightjar · 2 years

Note

I know it’s kind of and insane question but I’m wondering what are some of your favorite Joanna lyrics ever? I could talk about her lyrics forever and I think about them often

Well, I don't feel sane so you've come to the right place haha. So many. Someone asked before about a line from Sawdust & Diamonds "And they will recognize all the lines of your face in the face of the daughter of the daughter of my daughter" and it's absolutely one of my favorites. Of course, "So: enough of this terror. We deserve to know light, and grow evermore lighter and lighter. You would have seen me through, But I could not undo that desire" too. And just Joanna repeating "desire" at the end with different inflection and stress. It's one word and yet I'm floored every time. "Be at peace baby, and be gone. Be at peace baby, and be gone" makes me insane. I've cried to it more times than I can count. It's one of the most heartbreaking lines ever but it literally helped through very hard grief periods. It holds a special place in my soul. "And I miss your precious heart; and miss, and miss, and miss, & miss, & miss, & miss, & miss, & miss your heart" is incredible. Every time Joanna chooses to repeat words or phrases, you KNOW it means something. The repetition here makes the grief so much more palpable. Cosmia is a very personal song to me and there are lines I've said and lived through and this is one of them. "All my life, I've felt as though I'm inside a beautiful memory, replaying with the sound turned down low" - I just adore the descriptive quality of this line.

Other favorites are more life-affirming haha. "Love is not a symptom of time. Time is just a symptom of love" are truly words to live by. Actually the whole Time, As A Symptom to me is just such stunning statement about love and death and memory. I could live in that song. "But sometimes I can almost feel the power. Sometimes I am so in love with you (like a little clock that trembles on the edge of the hour, only ever calling out "Cuckoo, cuckoo")" - screaming, "I don't belong to anyone. My heart is heavy as an oil drum. I don't want to be alone. My heart is yellow as an ear of corn, and I have torn my soul apart, from pulling artlessly with fool commands" - more screaming! "Some nights I just never go to sleep at all, and I stand, shaking in my doorway like a sentinel, all alone, bracing like the bow upon a ship, and fully abandoning any thought of anywhere but home, my home. Sometimes I can almost feel the power. And I do love you. Is it only timing, that has made it such a dark hour, only ever chiming out, "Cuckoo, cuckoo"?" - SCREAMING!!! You know, just In California things lol. "I believe love will always surround you — brave as a bear, with a heart rare and true. But if you are scared, if you are blue, I have prepared this small song for you" - such a beautifully simple genuine line. There's no pretense, just love. ""Bless our house and its heart so savage"", "And the love we hold, and the love we spurn, will never grow cold only taciturn", again I'd like to quote the whole song. A dear song that always makes me think of a dear of mine. The song itself feels like a person to me I can't explain it. "paw at the wild, wild night" is a very specific reference to something makes me so emotional every time it's like I'm having a transcendent experience. "just asterisms in the stars’ set order. We could stand for a century, staring, with our heads cocked, in the broad daylight, at this thing Joy, landlocked in bodies that don’t keep — dumbstruck with the sweetness of being, till we don’t be" - I literally just burst into tears writing this so... "A woman is alive! A woman is alive; you do not take her for a sign in nacre on a stone, alone, unfaceted and fine" - HECK YEAH! Tell 'em, Joanna! "Show, Pro-heart, that you have got gall" - something we need to hear.

... Ok, so I have a problem clearly. I'd quote everything but I think I might crash tumblr, it can't contain the whole Joanna opus at once haha. She's too powerful.

#i went overboard but i wouldn't be me without that i guess #thanks for such a lovely question and sorry for a late reply #what are your fave lyrics? please do come by if you ever wanna talk about it!#have a sweet day <3 #q and a #anonymous

9 notes · View notes

murthering-stake · 5 years

Text

From the top of the flight Of the wide, white stairs Through the rest of my life Do you wait for me there? There’s a bell in my ears There’s the wide, white roar Drop a bell down the stairs Hear it fall forevermore Hear it fall forevermore Drop a bell off of the dock Blot it out in the sea Drowning mute as a rock; And sounding mutiny There’s a light in the wings, hits the system of strings From the side, where they swing — See the wires, the wires, the wires And the articulation in our elbows and knees Makes us buckle; We couple in endless increase As the audience admires And the little white dove Made with love, made with love; Made with glue, and a glove, and some pliers Swings a low sickle arc, from its perch in the dark: Settle down, settle down, my desire And the moment I slept, I was swept up in a terrible tremor Though no longer bereft, how I shook! And I couldn't remember Then the furthermost shake drove a murthering stake in And cleft me right down through my center And I shouldn't say so, but I knew that it was then, or never Push me back into a tree Bind my buttons with salt Fill my long ears with bees Praying please please please love You ought not No you ought not Then the system of strings tugs at the tip of my wings (cut from cardboard and old magazines): Makes me warble and rise, like a sparrow And in the place where I stood, there is a circle of wood — A cord or two — which you chop, and you stack in your barrow It is terribly good to carry water and chop wood Streaked with soot, heavy-booted and wild-eyed; As I crash through the rafters And the ropes and the pulleys trail after And the holiest belfry burns sky-high Then the slow lip of fire moves across the prairie with precision While, somewhere, with your pliers and glue, you make your first incision And in a moment of almost-unbearable vision Doubled over with the hunger of lions Hold me close, cooed the dove Who was stuffed, now, with sawdust and diamonds I wanted to say: Why the long face Sparrow, perch and play songs of long face Burro, buck and bray songs of long face! Sing, I will swallow your sadness, and eat your cold clay Just to lift your long face; And though it may be madness, I will take to the grave Your precious longface And though our bones they may break, and our souls separate — Why the long face? And though our bodies recoil from the grip of the soil — Why the long face? In the trough of the waves Which are pawing like dogs Pitch we, pale-faced and grave As I write in my log Then I hear a noise from the hull Seven days out to sea It is that damnable bell! And it tolls — well, I believe that it tolls — for me It tolls for me Though my wrists and my waist seemed so easy to break Still, my dear, I’d have walked you to the very edge of the water And they will recognize all the lines of your face In the face of the daughter of the daughter of my daughter Darling, we will be fine; but what was yours and mine Appears to me a sandcastle That the gibbering wave takes But if it’s all just the same, then will you say my name; Say my name in the morning, so I know when the wave breaks I wasn't born of a whistle, or milked from a thistle at twilight No; I was all horns and thorns, sprung out fully formed, knock-kneed and upright So: enough of this terror We deserve to know light And grow evermore lighter and lighter You would have seen me through But I could not undo that desire Oh, oh, oh, desire

Oh, oh, oh, desire

From the top of the flight Of the wide, white stairs Through the rest of my life Do you wait for me there?

Sawdust & Diamonds - Joanna Newsom

#joanna newsom #sawdust and diamonds #ys

2 notes · View notes

whiteshipnightjar · 2 years

Note

I’m always wondering about this line “And they will recognize all the lines of your face in the face of the daughter of the daughter of my daughter” and I’m wondering what she meant. What do you think and what does it mean for you if anything? I know what it means to be and the only certainty I have is that it always makes me bawl

To me the simplest and, yet still such incredibly beautiful, interpretation is probably about recognizing yourself in your children, their physical features. And the physicality and its meaning to a person is important to consider. I also like to look at it in the context of the previous line "Though my wrists and my waist seemed so easy to break, still, my dear, I’d have walked you to the very edge of the water." There's a grammatical juxtaposition that I'm obsessed with which I think is intentional (most things to do with Joanna are intentional ofc haha). If you look at the tenses used, she's expressing the pain suffered with the past, then moving towards a hypothetical "would have" to show a promise lost, and then finally this stunningly beautiful line "And they will recognize all the lines of your face in the face of the daughter of the daughter of my daughter" is future tense - it's hope, a promise of a brighter, lighter (we deserve to know light and grow evermore lighter and lighter, right?!) tomorrow. That's a structured approach but I also think you can look at it more interpretatively too. Maybe it's far fetch but I see it as a reference to memory and love too, a way for your personhood (not just the body but the soul too) to survive after your time has passed, be immortal (yes, it's very much Divers vibes but bear with me). There's a quote by Joanna that illustrates that pretty well: "I think the only thing that really matters is that my friends and family from this space of my existence hopefully remember me well and love me and if I have kids that they remember me well and love me, and whatever love I gave them translates to them being happy and healthy people and them passing love onto the next people that come after them. And that’s the best form of immortality that I think there is." It's from 2015 so obviously not a direct reference to S&D but to me it encapsulates the feeling of that line really well anyway. S&D is such an abstract song and I LOVE that. The whole time it travels from dark to light, like the bell's movement, that damnable bell always tolls. And the line "And they will recognize all the lines of your face in the face of the daughter of the daughter of my daughter" is not just a swing to the light, it's a strong iteration of hope for a lighter future, it's more life-affirming. In the later lines, the narrator becomes more assured (rather than questioning dark or light, it's imperative "So: enough of this terror. We deserve to know light, and grow evermore lighter and lighter."). Recognizing all the lines of your face in the face of the daughter of the daughter of my daughter. It's HOPE.

tl;dr it always makes me bawl too.

#i'm sorry for this insane ramble and that it took so long to answer #i have once again overthought everything #idk if any of this makes any sense #but i'd love to hear your or anyone's interpretations too #q and a #anonymous #thanks for your sweet question i thoroughly enjoyed thinking about joanna and her work :)))#have a lovely day!#i'll meet you and everyone who wants to bawl over s&d in the bawling corner

8 notes · View notes

whiteshipnightjar · 3 years

Note

How were you first introduced to Joanna? What's your favorite song and your favorite album? Oh, and favorite lyric?

I don’t have a very magical story. I listened to musicians that were associated with Joanna or were of similar genre and that’s how I found her, I saw her name and checked her out and fell in love with the moment I heard the first notes haha. I can genuinely say it felt almost like an epiphany lol. As cheesy as it may sound it did feel like I found home. That’s what her music is to me anyway. It helped me through tough times, it hung out with me on the good days too. So even though I don’t have a cool or fun story as my first encounter with Joanna I do find the connection I felt that first moment very special.

Sometimes I get asked about my favorite Joanna albums and songs and I honestly have never been able to give a short or succinct answer. I just cannot do it. I end up just listing all of them anyway lol. I love it all too much. My favorite albums tend to change depending on my mood or where I’m at in my life, what’s up basically haha. They all have specific meanings I relate to each so I lean towards one or the other looking for some solace or guidance (lol I am very cheesy this evening I apologize) depending on that. Recently, I’ve probably spent more time with Ys and Divers because of what I’ve been going through irl. Still, I have listened to so much of Have One On Me this past month too that who knows maybe subconsciously that’s been my favorite. Also, The Milk-Eyed Mender has songs that I’ll forever associate with a specific time and people that made me who I am today and who I’ll love into eternity. See?? I’m very bad at picking faves, I love them all too much. They all have a place and meaning in my heart. Favorite songs, like albums, change constantly. Joanna’s opus is so extensive and everything’s so beautiful to me that I strongly believe anyone can find something meaningful to them personally in any of the songs. I’d say there are songs that are very near and dear to me at all times but I also love discovering and rediscovering new and old loves. Swansea, The Book of Right-On, Sadie, This Side of the Blue, Sawdust & Diamonds, Emily, Cosmia, In California, Baby Birch, Kingfisher, Does Not Suffice, Time, As A Symptom, A Pin-Light Bent, Divers, Goose Eggs... so. many. They’re all very special to me. I just wanna list all of them haha.

Lyrics?! Omg even harder. Some of my favorites: “I killed my dinner with karate — kick 'em in the face, taste the body; shallow work is the work that I do. Do you want to sit at my table? My fighting fame is fabled and fortune finds me fit and able.”, “And the love we hold, and the love we spurn, will never grow cold only taciturn.”, “And yonder, wild and blue, the wild blue yonder looms. 'Till we are wracked with rheum, by roads, by songs entombed.”, “We could stand for a century, staring, with our heads cocked, in the broad daylight, at this thing: Joy, landlocked in bodies that don’t keep — dumbstruck with the sweetness of being, till we don’t be.”, “I wasn’t born of a whistle, or milked from a thistle at twilight. No; I was all horns and thorns, sprung out fully formed, knock-kneed and upright. So: enough of this terror. We deserve to know light, and grow evermore lighter and lighter.”, “Spiders’ ghosts hang, soaked and dangling silently, from all the blooming cherry trees, in tiny nooses, safe from everyone — nothing but a nuisance; gone now, dead and done — Be a woman. Be a woman.”, “Life is thundering blissful towards death in a stampede of his fumbling green gentleness.”, “And if the love of a woman or two, dear, could move you to such heights, then all I can do is do, my darling, right by you.”, “Well, I have sown untidy furrows across my soul, but I am still a coward, content to see my garden grow so sweet & full of someone else's flowers. Sometimes I can almost feel the power. Sometimes I am so in love with you (like a little clock that trembles on the edge of the hour, only ever calling out "Cuckoo, cuckoo").”, “I don't belong to anyone. My heart is heavy as an oil drum. I don't want to be alone. My heart is yellow as an ear of corn, and I have torn my soul apart, from pulling artlessly with fool commands.”, “All my life, I've felt as though I'm inside a beautiful memory, replaying with the sound turned down low.”, “I believe love will always surround you — brave as a bear, with a heart rare and true. But if you are scared, if you are blue, I have prepared this small song for you”, “Driven through by her own sword, summer died last night, alone.”, “But stand brave, life-liver, bleeding out your days in the river of time. Stand brave: time moves both ways, in the nullifying, defeating, negating, repeating joy of life; the nullifying, defeating, negating, repeating joy of life.”, “A goose, alone, I suppose, can know the loneliness of geese, who never find their peace, whether north, or south, or west, or east; west or east; and I could never find my way to being the kind of friend you seemed to need in me, till the needing had ceased.”, “And in an infinite regress: Tell me, why is the pain of birth lighter borne than the pain of death? I ain't saying that I loved you first, but I loved you best.”, “A woman is alive! A woman is alive; you do not take her for a sign in nacre on a stone, alone, unfaceted and fine.”, “But it's mine. Or, at least, it's lent. And my life, until the time is spent is a pin-light, bent.” ... like, how insanely beautiful are all of these lyrics??! (I know it’s A LOT™ but I think if there’s even the tiniest chance of someone reading any of these and falling in love again or wanting to dive deeper into Joanna’s genius or just check out more of her music it’s worth. Dang it, I’ll write out all of her lyrics if needed haha it’s all exquisite heart-wrenching and heart-warming poetry).

... I might’ve overthought it.

#this is ... very long #i'm sorry #also sorry i didn't answer earlier i didn't feel too well #thanks for your questions i loooove thinking and talking about joanna and her music this was a lovely respite #have a sweet day ❤️#q and a #anonymous

6 notes · View notes

whiteshipnightjar · 4 years

Text

do ya ever think about how truly beautiful Joanna Newsom’s lyrics are? how full of love and kindness and light and wisdom and all that’s good they are?? how the overwhelming joy and happiness hold hands with that heart-wrenching melancholy and you get to experience what life is all about just listening to her songs??! like... “So: enough of this terror. We deserve to know light, and grow evermore lighter and lighter”, “Sometimes I am so in love with you (like a little clock that trembles on the edge of the hour, only ever calling out "Cuckoo, cuckoo")”, “And I do not know my own way to the sea but the saltiest sea knows its own way to me“, “We could stand for a century, staring, with our heads cocked, in the broad daylight, at this thing: Joy, landlocked in bodies that don’t keep — dumbstruck with the sweetness of being, till we don’t be“, “And yonder, wild and blue, the wild blue yonder looms“, “you can take my hand, in the darkness, darling, like a length of rope“, “And the love we hold, and the love we spurn, will never grow cold only taciturn“, “Well I wish we could take every path. I could spend a hundred years adoring you“, “I love you truly, or I love no-one“, “stand brave, life-liver, bleeding out your days in the river of time. Stand brave: time moves both ways“ and so on and on and on and on....

#my heart has truly found home in her music #and i'm just sitting here slack-jawed marveling at her words and songs #forever and ever #i'm having a moment #forgive me if it's too emotional and sappy but that's who i am i guess #if you wanna you can add here or tell me what lyrics have burrowed into your hearts or given you solace and brought you overwhelming joy <3 #i wanted to add so many more lmao #i could write down all of them here tbh #anyway #have a beautiful day <3 #and i'm gonna go cry over jo's art a little #joanna newsom #love joanna #jnew #p

34 notes · View notes