bill sutton

Caretakers – Bill & Brenda Sutton

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In the time of rising mountains
In the age when life was new,
The trees were the rulers of life on earth
And the world as a forest grew. 

I posted an old recording of this a while ago, and I’m so happy to find one now that’s not a grainy cassette rip – and with some new instruments and harmonies that give this song some truly magical depth.  “Caretakers,” written by Bill Sutton, performed by Bill and Brenda Sutton.  It’s the kind of song that shifts between realism and fantasy in a beautiful way…and the kind of song that makes me cry.

Vor – Bill & Brenda Sutton

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Vor is the name we won from our fathers.
Vor is the love that our mothers provide.
Vor is the honor we share with our brothers.
Vor is the duty that keeps us alive. 

“Vor,” by Bill Sutton – a good, old-fashioned space hymn for the Vorkosigan Saga.  This version features Bill and Brenda Sutton, plus Betsy Tinney on cello, Chas Somdahl on guitar, and Dave Clement, Becca Leathers, and Michelle Dockrey providing backing vocals – including a beautiful Russian counterpoint, written by Michelle.

This Side of the Knife – Seanan McGuire and Dead Sexy

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This side of the knife
When I was fool enough to wonder
Asked what I should not have asked
Called down rain and called down thunder

“This Side of the Knife,” a wonderfully dark and cryptic song by Talis Kimberley. This version was performed at MarCon by Seanan McGuire and Dead Sexy (Seanan McGuire, Amy McNally, Brenda Sutton, Teresa Powell, Dr. Mary Crowell, & Bill Sutton) with the fabulous Judi Miller providing ASL interpretation.

Talis Kimberley has described this song as a companion story to Crazy Man Michael, which doesn’t necessarily make it any less cryptic, but definitely provides some context.