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Ballads of Living and Dying

by Marissa Nadler

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Roberto Mura
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Roberto Mura This album really gave me something I hadn't found in a very long time. Every track melts with you while you're listening and the atmosphere it's so fullfilling that you feel you're inside the music. Favorite track: Mayflower May.
Dustfan
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Dustfan Marissa's stark and impressive debut. The E-Bow really adds to the haunting nature on several of the tracks. I've always thought of this as a sister album to Nick Cave's Murder Ballads. While she has produced a lot of stellar work since, songs like Fifty Five Falls, Stallions, Mayflower May and Annabelle Lee remain as some of my favorite MN songs. Favorite track: Stallions.
jackbivouac
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jackbivouac Via some gap in reality, MN has come to us from two centuries ago. Stop what you are doing and listen to Days of Rum. Favorite track: Days of Rum.
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1.
And I say to the day, why you drop down to die, with fifty five falls, and seventy skies. And I say to the say, why this Ballad of Brine, with Mayflower May, and her monocled eye. Oh, Where she lies, gently close her eyes. Oh, where she lies, gently close her eyes. Oh damn July! Oh, I had a friend, I remember her well, with sad little hands, and a sad sickle cell. Oh, I had a friend, her ship sailed away, t'was fifty five falls ago to this day. Oh, where she lies, gently close her eyes. Oh, where she lies, gently close her eyes. Oh, damn July! And I say to the day, why'd you drop down to die. With fifty five falls, and seventy skies. And I say to the day, why this ballad of brine, with Mayflower May, and her monocled eye.
2.
3.
Stallions 03:11
Stallions: Mother, the stallions are running wild. Save me your evil thoughts of mind. Lord, I try my best to save you from your mind. Lord, I try my best to save you from your mind. Mother, the table's dressed in white. Save me your evil thoughts of mind. I try my best to save you from your mind. Lord I try my best to save you from your mind. Mother the stallions are running wild. Save me your evil thoughts of time. Lord I try my best to save you from your mind.
4.
Undertaker 02:17
Undertaker: I was your undertaker, and I was your highway girl. And I was your bitter taste of every other world. You wake in the maddening morning. You wake in the fire light twirl. You wait for your funny dancer, from every other world. And I was your undertaker. And I was your ivory girl. And I was your bitter taste of every other world. And I wait for the trains to ride me back to some highway world. And I wait for the trains to ride me back, to some other world.
5.
Box of Cedar 04:39
Box of Cedar: Seven winters past and gone, I once was young and I once was strong Shanaddee, a dee, a dee Six fine times I felt my knees buckle to your sweet release Shanaddee, a dee, a dee Five times tried to conjure you, a letter or a note or clue Shanaddee, a dee, a dee And I'm gonna tell everybody I know that I'm glad to see you And I'm gonna tell everybody I know that I'm glad to see you even though you're comin home in a Box of Cedar For four year you courted I your raven hair your brittle bride Shanaddee, a dee, a dee Three more times I tried to find A lover to match your sweet kind Shanaddee, a dee, a dee And I'm gonna tell everybody I know that I'm glad to see you And I'm gonna tell everbody I know that I'm glad to see you even though you're coming home in a Box of Cedar La da da One am I to fill these rooms and wake each morn to the drone of doom Shanaddee, a dee, a dee Seven winters past and gone I once was young and I once was strong Shanaddee, a dee, a dee
6.
Bird Song 03:07
Bird Song: If I call your name at midnight oh, you would not be there If I call your name at midnight oh, you would not be there. You said my name so sweetly, oh the one time that you called oh you said my name so sweetly that I took my clothes all off Oh, the birds are calling and I do not believe for me Oh, the birds are calling and I do not believe for me Yes I do not believe for me I thought I saw you walking with your trenchcoat in the rain Yes I thought I saw you driving down the streets past me again Yes I drank the table under and I drank your bitter wine Yes I drank the table under and I drank your bitter wine Oh the bells are ringing and I do not believe for me Oh the bells are ringing and I do not believe for me yes I do not believe for me I walk on every Monday with your memory so clear yes I walk on vagrant runways and think of how your near
7.
Mayflower May: Without a lover, without a friend Without a savior, without a friend Without a lover, without a friend Mayflower walked away, away towards the air And if you see her, call out her name And if you hear her, out in the rain, Mayflower May belle, May was her name Without a lover, without a friend Without a savior, without a friend Without a lover, without a care Mayflower walked away, away towards the air And if you see her, call out her name And if you hear her, out in the rain, Mayflower May belle, May was her name
8.
Days of Rum 04:20
Days of Rum: She knew you in the time, she was young and yearned to die. She'd gaze at the light in the corner in the night. And the men would come to her in the dead of old winter. In the doldrums it was fine to touch her body and her mind. singing "dum, ditty dum, days of fun, days of rum" singing "dum, ditty dum, days of fun, days of rum" Scarlett in the wine, raise the bloody vine oh she knew you in the time she was young and yearned to die but the roses never came she was just some winter rain and in her bed she lay and she dreamt of a dying day Singing "dum ditty dum, days of fun, days of rum" singing "dum ditty dum, days of fun, days of rum"
9.
Virginia 02:39
Virginia: The waves against the folds of my face as I start to drown. Oh the waves rush against the folds of my face as I start to drown, Oh Virginia, Virginia, die In winter the water will wash up above the water side In winter the water will wash above the water side Oh Virgina, Virginia, Virginia die With rocks in your pockets you walk up above the waterside With rocks in your pockets you walk above the waterside Oh Virgina, Virgina, Virginia dies The waves rush against the folds of my face as I start to fall oh the waves rush against the folds of my face as I start to fall Oh Virgina, Virginia, Virginia falls
10.
Edgar Allen Poe

about

This is my debut album. It was originally released on Eclipse Records on vinyl and cd in 2003. Myles Baer recorded and produced this record in an apartment on a digital BR8 machine.

credits

released January 31, 2004

Musicians:
Marissa Nadler — Vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards
Myles Baer — Synth, backing vocals, E-Bow, electric guitar
Kendra Flowers — Harmony vocals ("Box of Cedar")

Production

Recorded, mixed and produced by Myles Baer at Black Hole Sound Studios, 2003-4.

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all rights reserved

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Marissa Nadler Nashville, Tennessee

Sacred Bones Records and Bella Union Records.

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