Black Eye, Yellow Eye – Annwn

“Black Eye, Yellow Eye,” by Annwn, a filk-rock band that I recently discovered. This song is a description of the lyricist’s journey through the American Southwest and a Native American reservation, told through fantastical imagery. I had no idea this song existed until it was on the brainstorming poll for the Pegasus Awards. I’m so glad I checked it out. 

Have you heard the ghosts of stone
Speaking in the dust you raise,
Whispering to you alone
As you thread the maze?

Filksong Genealogy: Black Flag

And you’ll regret that ever you fed
At the board of Anne Bonny…

A very earnest song about pirates (lyrics) by Annwn, and one to the same tune, performed by the same band, but with lyrics by Bob Kanefesky, which is…earnest in its own way.  Take care among pirates, they rarely wash the dishes.
From the liner notes of the Roundworm album:  “whey hay (/hwA ‘hA/) n. a fibrous yellow mold (Coloropus yukosporus) commonly found on expired cottage cheese. See also dairy down.”
Content warning, in case the above isn’t enough: the second song is about very, very unsanitary kitchen conditions.
(Series: Filksong Genealogy)
 

The Bard’s Exhortation to the Salaryman – Annwn

“Come away to the hills:
come away where the wine of life distills,
to the healing of your heart’s ills
come away, come away.”

“The Bard’s Exhortation to the Salaryman,” by Annwn, which sounds like a serious song, but apparently, the singer wrote this to make fun of banjo player, because he had a real job and she didn’t.
This album, for a long time only available from a website with low-quality downloads, is now back in print!  It’s available on Spotify, YouTube, and iTunes, and all profits will go towards making more of Annwn’s music available.

Penguin Lust – Annwn

“This is the absolute truth. We used to play every Thursday at a bar in San Francisco. One of the hecklers there, our friend Chuck, used to ask (every week!) if we knew anything Irish. Then he got bored with that and began asking if we knew anything from Antarctica. One day Elton snapped and allowed as to how yes, we did know one. After which, of course, he had to back up that boast.“

“Penguin Lust,” by Annwn.  It’s…just about what it says it is.  Download and lyrics available here.

Seahaven – Annwn

 To the seahaven is a long, hard haul,
but I’ll leave soon as I may,
for I’m tired of treading the hard earth down
among land-loving sods who hide in towns
when tempest and wind make the breakers pound –
oh no, that is no life for me!

An SCA song Leigh Ann Hussey wrote for a friend, performed by Leigh Ann Hussey, Mark Ungar, and Elton of Annwn

Make it So – Annwn


The website claims “No, really, it’s not slash fiction about the decade’s favorite science fiction show. Honest.” but I…I don’t see what else it could be…

Performed by Mark Ungar, Leigh Ann Hussey, and Elton (as far as I can tell, he’s just called Elton)

Download link, lyircs, and more music available here