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Mermaid Bonus Bundle

by Leslie Hudson

supported by
Jeri Lynn
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Jane Garthson
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vincentursus
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Vicki Solomon
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Jerrie adkins
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carrie13
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Dale Walters
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dasbinky
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jsdbandbandy
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Mary Crowell
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1.
On reclaiming silenced voices 02:19
info
2.
Seafoam (live) 04:36
lyrics
Underneath and below And caught in the undertow Water-weighed My seaweed hair long My voice like a siren song Underplayed Trade it in for a chance At a doomed romance My soul for a dance on the shore Take me, I’ve laid it all out at your feet And sold who I was for this moment I am walking on the points of swords Wrapped in a silent heat It’s too late to retreat from the wave line Far from home, on my own I am seafoam Look in my eyes I am living this pretty lie Masquerading Thinking you would see through it And know that I knew it Mutely fading Sister, your salvation is at hand Spill out his blood on the sand Leave him to die and recover your life Look, we have brought you the knife Leave me, I’ve laid it all out at his feet And lost who I was for this moment I am walking on the points of swords Wrapped in a silken sheet It’s too late to retreat from the wave line I will throw myself out beyond the wave line My sisters, won’t you go on home Leave me alone I am seafoam Oh, I am seafoam
3.
Seafoam 04:44
lyrics
Underneath and below And caught in the undertow Water-weighed My seaweed hair long My voice like a siren song Underplayed Trade it in for a chance At a doomed romance My soul for a dance on the shore Take me, I’ve laid it all out at your feet And sold who I was for this moment I am walking on the points of swords Wrapped in a silent heat It’s too late to retreat from the wave line Far from home, on my own I am seafoam Look in my eyes I am living this pretty lie Masquerading Thinking you would see through it And know that I knew it Mutely fading Sister, your salvation is at hand Spill out his blood on the sand Leave him to die and recover your life Look, we have brought you the knife Leave me, I’ve laid it all out at his feet And lost who I was for this moment I am walking on the points of swords Wrapped in a silken sheet It’s too late to retreat from the wave line I will throw myself out beyond the wave line My sisters, won’t you go on home Leave me alone I am seafoam Oh, I am seafoam
4.
Seafoam (songling) 04:14
lyrics
Underneath and below And caught in the undertow Water-weighed My seaweed hair long My voice like a siren song Underplayed Trade it in for a chance At a doomed romance My soul for a dance on the shore Take me, I’ve laid it all out at your feet And sold who I was for this moment I am walking on the points of swords Wrapped in a silent heat It’s too late to retreat from the wave line Far from home, on my own I am seafoam Look in my eyes I am living this pretty lie Masquerading Thinking you would see through it And know that I knew it Mutely fading Sister, your salvation is at hand Spill out his blood on the sand Leave him to die and recover your life Look, we have brought you the knife Leave me, I’ve laid it all out at his feet And lost who I was for this moment I am walking on the points of swords Wrapped in a silken sheet It’s too late to retreat from the wave line I will throw myself out beyond the wave line My sisters, won’t you go on home Leave me alone I am seafoam Oh, I am seafoam
5.
Mermaid 03:22
lyrics
If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played Heaven forbid they see me on the stage As more than a girl from the center page I'm more than the sum of my lady parts That's not how we get to the top of the charts If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played You better run quick cuz I'm burning this bridge It's the first thing I did when I opened the fridge The first thing I did was to take a deep breath Then I let out the fire that burned in my chest If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played The sea is full of princes who can't swim Tell me what's the point in learning to walk for them? Oh the sea is full of princes who can't swim So tell me what the fuck's the point learning to walk for them? Kick with your feet and I'm sure you'll be fine I gotta go cuz I'm bringing the wine I gotta go cuz they're waiting on me Down where the party is under the sea If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played If I make them cry for the mermaid I make them cry
6.
Mermaid (radio edit) 03:22
lyrics
If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played Heaven forbid they see me on the stage As more than a girl from the center page I'm more than the sum of my lady parts That's not how we get to the top of the charts If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played You better run quick cuz I'm burning this bridge It's the first thing I did when I opened the fridge The first thing I did was to take a deep breath Then I let out the fire that burned in my chest If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played The sea is full of princes who can't swim Tell me what's the point in learning to walk for them? Oh the sea is full of princes who can't swim So tell me WTF's the point learning to walk for them? Kick with your feet and I'm sure you'll be fine I gotta go cuz I'm bringing the wine I gotta go cuz they're waiting on me Down where the party is under the sea If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played If I make them cry for the mermaid I make them cry
7.
Mermaid (songling) 03:46
lyrics
If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played Heaven forbid they see me on the stage As more than a girl from the center page I'm more than the sum of my lady parts That's not how we get to the top of the charts If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played You better run quick cuz I'm burning this bridge It's the first thing I did when I opened the fridge The first thing I did was to take a deep breath Then I let out the fire that burned in my chest If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played The sea is full of princes who can't swim Tell me what's the point in learning to walk for them? Oh the sea is full of princes who can't swim So tell me what the fuck's the point learning to walk for them? Kick with your feet and I'm sure you'll be fine I gotta go cuz I'm bringing the wine I gotta go cuz they're waiting on me Down where the party is under the sea If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they'll get laid If I make them cry for the mermaid It's not because they think they got played If I make them cry for the mermaid I make them cry
8.
Mariner's Lament (demo) 02:26
lyrics
Ah my lover the sea Is a-calling to me If I reached out to thee Then a drowning I'd be As a babe in your arms You will rock me to sleeping As a man in your bed I will gasp for my breath Ah my lover the sea Is a-calling to me If I reach out to thee Then a drowning I'll be As a mirror you shine And reflect all my stories As a serpent you writhe And accept all my prayers Ah my lover the sea Is a-calling to me When I reach out for thee Then a-drowning I'll be As a starry night sky As a mother of millions Come and wash all my fears Bring me in, hold me deep Ah my lover the sea Ever calling for me I have answered your plea And I'm coming to thee
9.
Safe Harbour 03:31
lyrics
All my life you have been as a rock In a sea ever tossed by stormy gales And while grounded you float like a dock More than once I have unfurled my sails And although I am riding the sea There are days when I look out to see Where the light calls me home to the shore And I sail as the seabirds soar If I call you a lighthouse in the dark You would no doubt remind me of the source As the mirror reflecting the spark Or a lens ever focusing the force To the world you appear to shine Whether they see your light as divine While the tear rarely falls from your eye Underneath the river ne'er runs dry In this revelation of you I'm not alone There are many who would call you when they're down There are others who would put you on a throne And those who drop by when they're in town For my own part I've written you this song I have given a voice to the throng Though their faces and names fade away May you carry their love today
10.
Hide and Found (demo) 04:12
lyrics
I’ve been kind of sleeping underwater With cannon balls On an ocean floor of soothing pressure And whale bone walls This weighted blanket sends me to sleep This luminescence stars in the deep You all don’t know what you’re missing Above ground Pull back Sink beneath the water Hide and found There’s a kind of bliss when no one’s looking Or keeping track At the bottom of your inhibitions As you unpack This simple moment, tangle-free These expectations strangle me You all don’t know what you’re missing Above ground Pull back Sink beneath the water Hide and found This silent treatment sounds so sweet This decompression, slow release You all don’t know what you’re missing Above ground Pull back Sink beneath the water Hide and found
11.
Salmon Run (demo) 04:15
lyrics
Swim hard upstream You've done it all, lived the dream Feel the pull back to front Lay it down, give up the hunt For a while, for a while, for a while Rest now in the pool Let it go, feel it cool DNA a strand of light Give it voice and give it life It is time, it's time, it is time Salmon leap the way we plunge Wiser for the risk they seek Salmon run the way we fly Straight into the setting sun Salmon run One by one they find a form All a-flutter, newly warm Down the stream toward the sea On their own and running free And again, and again, and again Salmon leap the way we plunge Wiser for the risk they seek Salmon run the way we fly Straight into the setting sun Salmon run
12.
Burn Bone Dry 03:37
lyrics
The tide goes out At first it's all this gorgeous emptiness Drying out to glitter in the sun You go explore And find the rock pools full of promises Waiting for the water rise to come It's only sand that's been abandoned Left to burn bone dry When the shore again becomes the sea floor Does it miss the sky? The tide comes in At first the pressure is wet and delicate Sinking in to wait expectantly You hold your ground And dare the shallows not to weigh you down Beating with the rhythm of the sea It's only sand that was abandoned Left to burn bone dry When the shore again becomes the sea floor Does it miss the sky? All the waves Hundreds coming in All the grains Millions giving in Millions giving in Giving in It's only sand that's been abandoned Left to burn bone dry But when the shore again becomes the sea floor Does it miss the sky? Only sand has been abandoned Left to burn bone dry But when the shore again becomes the sea floor Does it miss the sky or does it say goodbye? Does it miss the sky? Does it say goodbye?
13.
Shoreline (songling) 04:44
lyrics
Watching the sun on the water change Wavefulls of liquid gold spilling and filling again Gulls in reflection glide into view Only to vanish at the shoreline Call Call overhead Call Call on the wind Holding a handful of coloured sand Worn down to memory tumbled and jumbled like gems Limpets retreat as the tide ebbs away Storing up water for the sun siege Call Call overhead Call Call on the wind Looking at clouds with a sculptor's eye Droplets of ice from the ocean in motion arise Touch the horizon gathering there Building a city on the skyline Call Call overhead Call Call on the wind
14.
Oars in the Water (songling) 05:14
lyrics
Husband had I and wife had he Each with our children on our knees But I didn't fight when he came for me Dreaming as one that we were free I and my lover we hatched a plan Wrapped up my youngest and swiftly ran Started anew on a foreign land This miner's lady with gold in her hand, oh The sun it is setting down into the waves The currents are crossing What is it he craves? I must possess you, my beauty, he raved It is pulling me under And I cannot be saved Two children born to him and I Under the neighbours' watchful eyes Showing them all our most practiced disguise One step ahead of all our lies, oh The sun it is setting down into the waves The currents are crossing What is it he craves? I must possess you, my beauty, he raved It is pulling me under And I cannot be saved Well I remember my last day Out with my lover on the bay Safe in our home our two children did play Only this son of mine did stay, oh Oars in the water make no sound Here's where my boat turns upside down Here's where my son and I were drowned Haunting the shore where we never were found, oh The sun it is setting down into the waves The currents are crossing What is it he craves? I have possessed you, my beauty, he raved It is pulling me under And I cannot be No, we cannot be Oh, he's the only one tonight Who will be saved But not from me No, not from me Ah, oars in the water

about

To celebrate the end of summer I'm releasing a special Mermaid Bonus Bundle. It includes album, single & EP versions of watery songs I've written over the past 15 years, plus several songlings (one-takes of songs when they were newly written) and unreleased recordings.

"Mermaid" (Reset to Factory Specs) was written as a love-letter to "Seafoam" (The Wanderlings Volume One) and the way in which sharing that song with audiences changed the course of my musical career.

In my 10th year now as a performer I've been looking back at where I started to see how far I've come. This bundle is a snapshot, a tribute to the journey, and a travelog all in one.

credits

released September 1, 2023

ART
Original watercolour paintings by Sunnie Larsen
Layout by Leslie Hudson

MUSIC
All tracks written by Leslie Hudson, except track 10 (Leslie Hudson & John Argentiero)
All tracks performed by Leslie Hudson, except tracks 5, 6 & 10 (John Argentiero: everything but piano & vocals)

TRACKS 1 & 2 : originally released on "the StorySinger set: Live in Germany" from Leslie's Guest of Honour concert at Contrapunkt, September 2018. Live Sound and Recording Engineers: Rika Körte, Steve Macdonald. Mixing and Mastering by Steve Macdonald. Produced by Leslie Hudson and Steve Macdonald.

TRACK 3 : originally released on "The Wanderlings Volume One" (2015). Engineered and Produced by Leslie Hudson. Mastered by Charlie Jacklin.

TRACK 4 : recorded as a live scratch track just after the song was written for FAWM (February Album Writing Month) in February 2013. Unmastered, previously unreleased.

TRACK 5 : originally released on "Reset to Factory Specs" (2022).
Engineered and Produced by Leslie Hudson & John Argentiero. Mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman.

TRACK 6 : originally released as the first single from "Reset to Factory Specs" (2022). Engineered and Produced by Leslie Hudson & John Argentiero. Mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman.

TRACK 7 : recorded as a live scratch track just after the song was written in August 2020. Unmastered, previously unreleased.

TRACK 8 : demo recorded just after the song was written for 50/90 (50 songs in 90 days) in summer 2009. Unmastered, previously unreleased.

TRACK 9 : originally released on "Snips and Snails" (2010). Recorded by Karl Stahl. Produced by Leslie Hudson & Karl Stahl.

TRACK 10 : demo originally released on the "Pianoless EP" (2021).
Written and recorded during February Album Writing Month (FAWM) 2021 by John Argentiero & Leslie Hudson. Produced by John Argentiero.

TRACK 11 : demo recorded just after the song was written for FAWM in February 2016. Unmastered, previously unreleased.

TRACK 12 : originally released on "12 Months a Year" (2022). Written, recorded & produced by Leslie Hudson.

TRACK 13 : recorded as a live scratch track just after the song was written in June 2020. Unmastered, previously unreleased.

TRACK 14 : recorded as a live scratch track just after the song was written for 50/90 in summer 2013. Unmastered, previously unreleased.

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Leslie Hudson Stratford, Ontario

Leslie Hudson is a Canadian singer songwriter and pianist. Their albums range from storytelling styles to bluesy bar rock to dialed-up, full-band homages to pop culture. With lyrical piano skills and a voice that cuts through the crowd, their songs dive deep into archetype and folklore, modernizing ancient voices & shining a spotlight on the shadowy paths we walk through life, myth and media. ... more

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