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1.
Here I Sing 07:05
Here I Sing What's My Name?! I am the kiss on the mouth of your grave. Fire is my breath. Poison fills my breast, not milk. You are all the children that I never had. Here in exile, I sing, 'til the sun becomes embers for my fire, 'til the stars become flour for my bread. Here in exile, I sing, 'til the ocean becomes milk for my tea, 'til Eternity comes to take its rest. I am the Queen of the other side, The other side of the coin, The other side of the story. I am the mother of ten thousand names: Night Hag, Screech Owl, Fornicator, Thief of your babies, Seductress, Succubus, Demon-woman, Divine Feminist. Adam's First Wife. A difficult bitch... Fire is my breath. Poison fills my breast, not milk. You are all the children that I never had. I'm your cautionary tale. If you know me at all... I am Woman, Made in the image of God. I am Woman, Made in the image of God. Of Clay and Earth... Not Rib. I was created, and lived in Paradise. And wanted my dignity to be an equal one To that of my mate. I was denied. I summoned all my courage, Realized it was unnecessary, And walked straight out. I am the unruly, The unploughable field. I am the blunt knife, The tide that drags to death. My exile is not my home. Home is not home either. Fire is my breath. Poison fills my breast. You are all the children that I never had. And my name, my dears, is... LILITH!
2.
Creation 05:29
Creation In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God said, “Let there be light!”, And there was light and it was good. God divided the light from the darkness, Calling the light “Day”, and the darkness “Night”. And so, God created us in God’s own image. Male and female, God created us. Equal, God created us. There are no words to describe Going from nothing to something alive. From dust to flesh, becoming real. To see, to hear, to think, to feel. No sorrow or grief or shame. The Wind danced with me, it knew my name. All of life was my beloved friend. That is a feeling one can't pretend. Day becomes night becomes day, and night again. I flew high, on gilded wings, Soaring in Creation's sky. The Moon was my pearl, The Sun, my firefly. Take a deep breath And close your eyes. Take joy; Stretch it infinity wide. I was a child of God, Heaven allied. Day becomes night becomes day, and night again. I flew high, on gilded wings, Soaring in Creation's sky. The Moon was my pearl, The Sun, my firefly. Day becomes night becomes day, and night again.
3.
Bad Company 04:57
Bad Company Shut your mouth! You shut yours too, I can't believe the only man on earth is you! You're driving me mad, Don't you understand? Trust me, you don't need a helping hand! You'd shut up and listen if you're smart! I hate you! I hate you with all of my heart! Woman! You're making me crazy. You only exist to have my babies, To cook and to clean, To stay quiet and out of sight, And to dutifully do as I please at fall of night. Man! Man! Are you feeling alright? Have you hit you head? Who are you to decide who does what and how in our bed? Why should I get in line, While you call the shots? Why should you be the have, And me the have-nots? Woman! Why did God curse me with such a beast of a woman? You think we're equal? You've another thing coming. "Oh would some Power The gift to give us, To see ourselves as others see us." A gift indeed it would be, that much is true, But what if it's not inline with you being you? What if they see you as an elephant, A dog, a bicycle, a fire-ant? What if others see you as a slave? Telling you how you should behave? And talk, And think, And eat, And move, And other things you ought to do? Man!... my husband. You are not in a position To try to insult my intelligence. You lack wit, reason and eloquence. Only one thing left to do Is to immediately dispense with you, And soon! It's like living with a baboon! (No offence to our monkey cousins...) So I screeched and yelled The Holy and Ineffable name of my Creator, NOT to be done lightly. I appealed for reason, for sanity, for justice! For anything... Anything at all but this. So! It was decided. Even if the logic seemed a little lopsided. I don't want to get into details Of how my whole world was derailed. It was a difficult realisation, A real face-smack, That my God, My Creator, Didn't have my back. Yes, it was made understood, My main role was motherhood and falling in line while he called the shots. He was the have, Me, the have-nots. Lay down and do as he wishes, Wash his clothes and do the dishes. Don't go on top, But underneath. Don't initiate, Just receive. Take the path of least resistance, At my creator's insistence, To keep the peace, To show "countenance", To be gentle and be good, Lay down like a woman should. To abdicate. Submit. ENOUGH! You can blow it up your ass! I QUIT!
4.
Cast Out 03:32
Cast Out God roared. I did not turn back. Angels howled. I did not turn back. Demons clawed. I did not turn back. Exile is not home. But home is not home either... Go away little bird, go away. Not today little bird, not today. All the music's been played, All the dances are done, The wine's all gone, And I'm really no fun. Little bird, go away. No need to sing your melody, And I'll tell you why. They've melted the moon And unplugged the sky, Strangled my dreams, And crossed out my mind. How can you ask a smile? Don't be so unkind. Little bird, Fly away. Go away little bird, go away. Not today little bird, not today. All the music's been played, All the dances are done, The wine's all gone, ... Little bird, go away...
5.
Dance With Doubt It's cold out here. It's dark and it's bleak. I feel the Devil coming 'cause he comes when you are weak. "I'll heal you", He said. "I'll shelter you and nourish you and feed you", He said. "I'll stitch up your sorrow with silk", He said. "I'll bathe you in honey and milk", He said. "I don't need you", I said. "You're tactics are clumsy and see-through", I said. "I've had enough of your kind", I said. "I've seen worse, and left it behind", I said. It's cold out here. It's dark and it's bleak. I feel the Devil coming 'cause he comes when you are weak. "You're weak", He said. "With a delightful rebellious streak", He said. "Let our forces unite and entwine", He said. "You'll be the Devil's concubine", He said. "My instincts, I trust", I said. "I don't need permission for lust", I said. "You bore me with your tedious bluff", I said. "I am Lilith, First woman, Defier of God, Liberated from motherhood, Id unbridled, Satan usurper, And I have not sinned enough!", I said.
6.
Funeral 03:54
Funeral When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state. Being reviled and despised, It can help to strategise, Cry a bit, Hide a bit, Probably get high a bit. I must pull myself together, Gonna have to ritualise. A ceremony so fine and dandy, An angel hooked me up with brandy. Drink a toast, Raise a glass. Pour it on the earth For those who've passed. Then join the procession, Real Holy And walk real slow, for the funeral of Everyone And Everything that I know. I'm having a funeral for everything that I know, So I can cry my tears all in one go. In a great big coffin In peace may they rest. I'm gonna bury the North, the South, the East and the West. Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Everyone and Everything going in the trash. I'm having a funeral for everyone that I know, So I can cry my tears all in one go. Your tireless stupidity, Your hysterical cries, I'm mourning real hard, See the tears in my eyes. Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Everyone and Everything going in the trash. I'm having a funeral for everything that I know, So I can cry my tears all in one go. I'll kiss the past good-bye, Like the snake sheds her skin. Cut all my moorings. Let new life begin. Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Dust to dust, Ash to ash, Everyone and Everything going in the trash... Ok! Enough of that...
7.
Dear Eve 02:21
Dear Eve Dear Eve, You don't know me, we've never met. I'm Adam's first wife, who he'd rather forget. I'm not jealous of you, I couldn't care less. I don't seek your friendship or politesse. I'm writing solely to offer advice, But before I continue, you need to think twice. If you're truly fulfilled and satisfied. Stop reading now, cast this letter aside. But, if you feel something amiss, Deep down you know that it probably is. Life is not bliss, it's complex and it's tough, But we are made of much stronger stuff. I wish nothing but good sense and good luck to you. Au Revoir, 'Wiedersehn, and Adieu!
8.
My Baby is an Angel Light looked different, Almost struck me blind. Air smelt of frankincense. I was no longer alone. Emerald eyes flashed. Breath left my lungs. This was Michael. My Baby is an Angel. They never knew a woman 'til now. They give good lovin', And I show them how. My Baby is an Angel, They know how to please. Shows me no mercy, Weak at the knees. No obligations, No promises to keep. I can be the me I want to be. I can let them love me deep. My Baby is an Angel. They never knew a woman 'til now. They give good lovin', And I show them how. My Baby is an Angel, As it was meant to be. It can never be forever, But we set each other free. No obligations, No promises to keep. I can be the me I want to be. I can let them love me deep. My Baby, My Angel. I'll show you how. You have all of this woman. My Baby, My Angel... But only here and now.
9.
Rebound 02:38
Rebound Kissing, Twisting, Biting, Snorting, Licking, Whipping, And cavorting. Heaving, giggling, Back-supporting, Upside down, sideWays-contorting, Arching, screaming, Going, coming, Petting, stroking, Touching, strumming. My freedom may have had its price, But the up-sides are pretty nice. Thin and fat and short and tall. I'm gonna taste and test them all! Black, white, blue 'n' green. Male, female, in-between. Don't cry for me! Ain't nothin' like bein' free! Toe-curling, Finger-licking, Dirty-talking, Mix 'n' picking, Eye-crossing, Trick-or-treating, Jaw-locking, Miss-a-beating. Freedom may have had its price, But the up-sides are pretty nice. Thin and fat and short and tall. I'm gonna taste and test them all! Black, white, blue 'n' green. Male, female, in-between. Don't cry for me! Ain't nothin' like bein' free! High-screeching, Tight-tearing, Toe-touching, Loud-swearing, Chain-smoking, Dozing-sleeping, Morning, waking and repeating. Don't cry for me! Ain't nothin' like bein' free!
10.
I Ain't Yo' Mama! The centuries, they fly and leap like acrobats. Tired of men in dresses and pointy hats. Lying, sanctimonious, bare-faced through their teeth. I look past the surface, way down deep, underneath. I ain't yo' mama, I look and I see. You might fool yo' mama, But you ain't foolin' me. I ain't yo' mama, You' so sweet and courteous, The Devil finds His disguise in the virtuous. Talkin' bout Jesus, While you hide your disgrace. He come back again, He spit in your face! You might fool yo' mama, But you ain't foolin' me! I ain't yo' mama, I look and I see. You might fool yo' mama, But you ain't foolin' me. I ain't yo' mama, I'm colder than that. You can call me feminist, But I'm older than that. God's house has rigged Its twisted game. Emperors and Popes Have no clothes and no shame. You might fool your mama, But you ain't foolin' me! I ain't yo' mama. Don't think I don't hear! Don't think I don't see! You might fool your mama, But you ain't foolin' me. I ain't yo' mama. I don't even like you. Don't hate you either, Just to spite you. No love unconditional Or benefit of the doubt, No prayers, no excuses, Go on, go on, Get the Hell out!
11.
Exultant 06:32
Exultant Toss a coin. Let it land. Hold it level on your hand. The other side is where I'll be. One day I hope you'll visit me. We'll dance! We'll dance! We'll let it all out! We'll dance 'til we break on through. Dance 'til we're shiny and new. We'll shake. We'll let it all out! Leave all our woes behind. Dance til we're out of our mind. Like Mardi Gras that never stops And no-one ever calls the cops. We'll dance! We'll dance! We'll let it all out! We'll dance 'til we break on through. Dance 'til we're shiny and new. But all is never as it seems, Sometimes I get crazy dreams... Last night in my sleeping, I had a dream that woke me weeping. Everything was sick and dying, Everyone was scared and crying. Oh! My children that I never had, You were all so broken, and so sad... I cried "Woe!, Woe!, Wake me up, I don't want to dream no more! Wake me up, I don't want to sleep no more!” I cried and wailed in sad lament, I screamed and roared in rage potent At how much time you had misspent, And when you could have made a dent In the God-fearing, Nature-hating, Shit-eating, Greed-fellating, War-mongering, Truth-mutating, Elitist male-dominating, Tyrannical, twisted, narcissistic, Military-industrial-complex DIPSTICKS Who keep all of humanity down, And are gonna do you all in!? Then I woke up. Funny things, those crazy dreams, I wonder what on earth it means? Maybe you know what it's about? I'm hoping that you'll sort it out? And then we'll go dancing! We'll dance! We'll dance! We'll let it all out! We'll dance 'til we break on through. Dance 'til we're shiny and new. We'll shake. We'll let it all out! Leave all our woes behind. Dance til we're out of our mind. Like Mardi Gras that never stops And no-one ever calls the cops. We'll dance! We'll dance! We'll let it all out! We'll dance 'til we break on through. Dance 'til we're shiny and new.

about

LILITH, Adam's first wife, made of earth and clay... not rib. Written out of history, 'til now that is. She's gonna let it all hang out, and sing her side of the story.
This album features 11 songs with influences from the worlds of soul, blues, tango, pop and classical - a gleefully irreverent, sacred, sexy take on Creation.
A thrilling cabaret-style song cycle by Éadaoin O Donoghue and John O'Brien, performed by Karen Underwood, with Dave Whitla on bass, Fionn Ó Ceallacháin on drums, and John O'Brien on piano and recorded live at the Cork Midsummer Festival 2019.

credits

released November 9, 2020

LILITH: A Song Cycle

Music by John O'Brien
Lyrics by Éadaoin O'Donoghue

Karen Underwood (voice)
with John O'Brien (piano), Dave Whitla (bass) & Fionn Ó Ceallacháin (drums)

Commissioned by Cork Midsummer Festival
and funded by a Music Project Grant from the Arts Council of Ireland
Recorded live at Dali as part of Cork Midsummer Festival 2019
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Daragh Murphy
Produced by John O'Brien
Photos by Jed Niezgoda
Poster by Frank Prendergast
Project Produced by Naomi Daly

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John O'Brien Cork, Ireland

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