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Letters from Gilead

by The Haze & Dacey Collective

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keltheimp
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keltheimp So apropos for these times. And such great singing/songwriting! I hope to one day have the pleasure of hearing
them perform live, since they are Virginia-based. Maybe....who knows? O tempora, o mores!
bob arnold
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gladpanda
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david roth
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krhazler
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/

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Package is a full-color, 4-panel wallet containing a vinyl look/feel CD and a 12-page booklet with full lyrics and artwork.

    Songwriter's note to the hard-core audiophiles (truth in advertising): This is a high-quality CD-R, burned from a digital master in a professional manufacturing facility. It is NOT a replicated disk. I had to choose between replication and the vinyl look/feel I wanted for the CD. For me, the visual aesthetic was more important, given that most people are streaming these days anyway. The audio quality of the CD-R is the same as a pressed disk.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Letters from Gilead via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

1.
My Name is June 04:03
lyrics
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I am a mother and a daughter, a lover and a friend The world that I once knew is gone, impossible to comprehend Once I had a gentle man and he loved me to the moon They call me by another name but still, my name is June. Now I keep my head down, I don't look them in the eye Every dress I own is red and the driver is a spy Once I had a mother, a fighter through and through They call me by another name, but the name she gave to me is June. It's June. And all I have left is my name. How can you do this? How can you let this be? How can you do this? You're a woman just like me. My name is June. And all I have left is my name. You asked me if I'm happy. I told you what they made me say. The truth is: Death is preferable to what I'm living through today Once I had a little girl that I carried in my womb They call me by another name, but now you know my name is June. It's June. And all I have left is my name. How can you do this? How can you let this be? I'm a woman, I am human, I'm not a commodity. How can you do this? How can you let this be? How can you do this? You're a woman just like me... ...a mother and a daughter, a lover and a friend The world I knew is upside down, impossible to comprehend My daughter is out there somewhere and I pray to see her soon She's the only reason I stay alive. How can you do this? How can you let this be? I am a woman I am not a commodity How can you do this? How can you let this be? How can you do this? You're a woman just like me My name is June. And all I have left is my name.
2.
Blue 06:07
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Lyrics: Blue, blue. I focus on the blue I float far away to survive another day I focus on the blue Blue like a summer sky Blue like the wings of a damselfly Stray cornflower in a field of rye And blue like the sea I keep my eyes focused on the ceiling, go blue to avoid all feeling I fly to another place to get through the ceremony, this monthly rite of matrimony And if I pray and if I believe, I will conceive and I'll have a baby So I focus on the blue. I focus on the blue I float far away to survive another day I focus on the blue Blue violets in spring The box that held my wedding ring Indigo of a bunting's wing and blue like the sea I keep my eyes focused on the ceiling, go blue to avoid all feeling I fly to another place to get through the ceremony, this monthly rite of matrimony And if we pray and if we believe, I will conceive and they'll take my baby So I focus on the blue. I focus on the blue I float far away to survive another day I focus on the blue Sunlight through blue bottle glass Forget-me-nots and blue-eyed grass The patterned hem of my daughter's dress And blue like the sea I keep my eyes focused on the ceiling, go blue to avoid all feeling I fly to a better place to get through the rape and plunder that tears my body and my soul asunder And if I pray and if I believe, I'll be redeemed and Blue will save me So I focus on the blue, wild innocent blue. I drown in blue, blue like the sea
3.
Closet Scrawl 03:53
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I was lying on the closet floor with my face toward the wall Contemplating how to end it, when I noticed the scrawl Someone had been here before Someone had gotten a knife and etched letters in the wall I traced them with my fingers but I didn't understand at all It said "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum." Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. It seemed like a message from the other side It seemed like a sign that I should stay alive It made me want to live for another day If only to find out what she was trying to say When she wrote, "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum." Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Later I found out what the message said And I also found out that they found her dead They found her hanging from a ceiling fan She couldn't take it any more. Not one more single day. But before she left she had one last thing to say: "Don't let the bastards grind you down." Don't let the bastards grind you down! It seemed like a message from the other side It seemed like a sign that I should stay alive It made me want to live for another day If only to live out what she was trying to say She left me a message from the other side Saying, "Hang on girl, you gotta stay alive. You've still got a lot of living to do. Don't let what happened to me, happen to you. No! Don't let the bastards grind you down! Don't let the bastards grind you down! Don't let the bastards grind you down! Don't let those bastards grind you down."
4.
Jezebel's 03:44
lyrics
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There's a lawyer and an architect, a banker and a teacher A painter and a riveter, a scientist and a preacher We come from every walk of life. We had our own ambitions But now we have to shed our pride along with any inhibitions At Jezebel's (at Jezebel's) We cater to their every whim At Jezebels (at Jezebel's) We've tasted every flavor of sin At Jezebel's (at Jezebel's) at Jezebel's Life ain't easy in this speakeasy Still it's better than a handmaid always talking about the weather There's plenty of liquor at the bar to make the creeps look better There's plenty of fancy dresses to wear and plenty of pills to swallow Plenty of ways to help you pretend that your life's not completely hollow At Jezebel's (at Jezebel's) you cater to their every whim At Jezebel's (at Jezebel's) We've tasted every flavor of sin At Jezebel's (at Jezebel's) at Jezebel's We're keeping it sleazy in this speakeasy Sometimes when the guy's not so hard on the eyes You can pretend that you had a choice (here at Jezebel's) And when he gives you a ring or asks you to sing You can pretend that you have a voice (here at Jezebel's) But don't think too much 'cause it'll fuck you up You're never getting out alive (you're stuck at Jezebel's) So pop all the pills and drink all you can take 'Cause it's the only escape, it's the only escape When you're a Jezebel at Jezebel's (at Jezebel's) You cater to their every whim At Jezebel's (at Jezebel's) You cater to their every whim At Jezebel's (at Jezebel's), at Jezebel's We're keeping it sleazy (in this speakeasy) Keeping it sleazy (in this speakeasy) Keeping it sleazy in this speakeasy
5.
Sliver of Joy 04:12
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I tiptoe down the hallway, pussyfoot down the stairs I creep across the backyard hoping no one's there to see me On my way to take my sliver of joy On my way to take my sliver of joy My sliver of joy The Commander's home is a nightmare, the Commander's wife is a shrew But the end of the day holds a sweetness if I can make it up your room to see you You, my sliver of joy You, my sliver of joy You're my sliver of joy And I don't know if it's true love, or just a way to pass the the time But here I am risking everything for a few hours of sublime and beautiful you You, you my sliver of joy You, my sliver of joy You're my sliver of joy And I don't know if it's true love, or just some kind of escape But if they ever took you away, my heart would surely break to lose you You, my sliver of joy You, my sliver of joy I found out yesterday, the man of mine that they took away Is still alive, and he's working from the other side to find me And if I ever see him again I will belong to him But here and now, despite my vow it's you 'Cause you are my only sliver of joy You are my only sliver of joy So I tiptoe down the hallway, pussyfoot down the stairs I creep across the backyard hoping no one's there to see me On my way to take my sliver of joy On my way to take my sliver of joy 'Cause you are my only sliver of joy You're my sliver of joy.
6.
Feels So Good to Fly 04:35
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It would feel so good to fly... I stand on the ledge looking over the edge At the rocks and the waves below That would destroy my body but liberate my soul The baby in my arms sleeps quietly, breathes peacefully The baby in my arms, she could fly with me She would never have to know. I could set her free... No more twisted world, no more twisted desires No more servitude, no more hypocrites and liars Well there's got to be something better, beyond this great big sky And we can get there if I'm brave, and if I take this leap and fly If I fly, if I fly And the baby in my arms, sleeps quietly, breathes peacefully The baby in my arms, she could fly with me She would never have to know. 'Cause it would feel so good to fly I stand on the ledge, toes over the edge Yeah it would feel so good to fly I stand on the ledge, toes over the edge And then I look back to say goodbye I hear the panicked voices, reconsider my choices 'Cause the baby in my arms sleeps quietly, breathes peacefully The baby in my arms, maybe she could have a better life than mine... So I step off the ledge, away from the edge And June takes my baby from my arms And now my arms are spread like wings The wind on my face swirls and sings The rocks and the waves below Are beckoning and I'm ready to go Ready to go 'Cause it would feel so good to fly I stand on the ledge, toes over the edge [x 3] The air is sky, the sky is blue I'm over the edge and now I know it's true It feels so good to fly It feels so good to fly It feels so good, it feels so good, it feels so good to fly It feels so good to fly
7.
Under His Eye 03:17
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I'm laying low, I'm laying low, I'm laying oh so low I'm laying low, I'm laying low, I'm laying oh so low Soon it will be my dying day The time will come for them to pay For all their crimes against humanity I've got nothing to lose and I'm not afraid I'm just biding my time until the moment is right, I'm laying low I'm laying low, I'm laying low, I'm laying oh so low Under his eye I pretend to pray No one could doubt my piety I lower my head and I obey No one suspects that I could ever betray Because I'm laying low, I'm laying low, I'm laying oh so low Oh I'm just biding my time until the moment is right, yeah I'm laying low I'm laying low Sorry sisters but there's no other way Collateral damage is a price we pay We need to burn it all down to build a better day We've got nothing to lose, we are the martyr maids And no more laying low, no laying low, no more laying low No more laying low, no laying low, no more laying low No more laying low This is my dying day I will not cower, I will not obey I will not run and I won't look away I've got nothing to lose and I'm not afraid (under his eye) This is your dying day (under his eye) The time has come for you to pay (under his eye) For all your crimes against humanity I got a bomb up my sleeve and I'm not afraid (I'll lay you low) I'll lay you low (I'll lay you low) I'll lay you oh so low (I'll lay you low) I'll lay you six feet low I'm going down and you're going down with me
8.
Hannah 03:08
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Hannah, my sweet Hannah baby Please don't, don't turn away We have so little time here in this place. Please turn around, let me see your face Oh baby... Hannah, my Hannah Banana Do you remember, do you remember me? Do you remember your dad and the things that he said? The stories we told? Being tucked into bed? Oh baby, our baby you'll always be Hannah, my Hannah Banana Baby, are they good to you? Do you laugh, do you play, do you splash in the rain? Do you sing silly songs? Do they know the refrain? Do they tell you that they love you? Hannah, sweet little Hannah Baby, look me in the eye Keep my love and the truth close to your heart But keep yourself safe by playing the part My baby, I'm telling you to lie Hannah, Hannah Banana Please believe me, I really tried There's so much love and there's so much pain And these minutes are ticking away to maybe our last goodbye Maybe our last goodbye Maybe our last goodbye
9.
Letters from Gilead 03:22
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This is a letter to you although I don't know who I'm writing to And if it ever gets through I don't know if there's anything that you could do But there's things that you need to know. So many here have given up on hope I try to take it day by day but I can feel my soul slipping away So I'm writing you a letter, hoping that this letter will somehow make it through to you And if you find this letter and if you read this letter, will it make any difference to you? If it makes it through... If you could see it all with your own eyes I'm pretty sure that you would be surprised I don't know what you see on the news but no doubt they sanitize the views There's only so much we can say. They won't hesitate to cut away our tongues And if we disobey you can't conceive of the terrible price we pay So if I write a letter, if I send this letter will it somehow make it through to you? And if you find this letter and if you read this letter will it make any difference to you? Will it make it through? Mayday is on the move. A stack of letters could finally prove that the rumours you've heard are true. We need your help and we're begging you We're crying, "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! M'aidez! M'aidez!" We're crying, "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! M'aidez! M'aidez!" We're writing these letters, hoping that these letters will somehow make it through to you And if you see these letters, if you read these letters it has to make a difference to you We're writing these letters, hoping that these letters will somehow make it through to you And if you see all these letters, if you read all these letters it has to make a difference to you It has to make it through… Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! M'aidez! M'aidez!
10.
Oh Canada 04:10
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JUNE: Oh Canada, I heard your voice on the radio Saying you're still there with open arms Oh Canada, I'm on my way Over the border and through the woods Your voice gave me solace and a little hope Oh Canada, I'm on my way Oh Canada, your voice on the car radio The world outside was covered in snow I had a getaway car but I couldn't go Oh Canada, I could not go Oh Canada, your voice stuck in my head I'll either make it there or I'll end up dead I had to postpone freedom for another day But oh Canada, I'm on my way MOIRA: Oh Canada, you can't imagine what I've seen You can't imagine what they've done to me Oh Canada, please take me in Oh Canada, are you the land of milk and honey? Where I can read a book and spend my own money? Oh Canada, you took me in Oh Canada, a bowl of cereal can make me cry Blessed be the Froot Loops, under his eye No use asking the reasons why I'm still alive and she had to die I made it to the land of Canaan Oh Canada, can I begin again? LUKE: Oh Canada, a man can break or a man can bend Oh Canada, you took me in Oh Canada, a man can break or a man can bend Oh Canada, can you help me mend? Oh Canada, a man can break or a man can bend Oh Canada, I'm a broken man Oh Canada, you've done so much but it's not enough Diplomacy can only go so far It's time to raise an army, start a righteous war For my wife and child and so many more So many more, so many more They're trapped on the other side Oh Canada, it's a genocide Oh, Canada, it's time to rise!

about

"A single genre does no justice to their sound that blends indie folk, alt country, pop, rock and a little gospel. But running throughout is a haunting restlessness that perfectly binds these stories of the hope, courage and humanity required to survive deeply uncertain times." ~ Americana UK

"One thing I didn’t think that I would hear is an album where all the songs are inspired by The Handmaid’s Tale. If you haven’t read the book or seen the TV series then the references won’t mean much to you. However, that won’t affect your listening pleasure as we are taken through a 10-track sweep of the tale of the dystopian nightmare state that is Gilead... I can remember each episode as the songs come up, they are that descriptive." ~ BluesBlues

"The Haze & Dacey Collective has put together a stunning reworking of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in the form of 10 songs that recount the novel’s war on women... The album plays like a drama, as we follow June and other characters, their loss of freedom and will to live, their glimmers of hope, in the form of love and lust, family and escape." ~ C'ville Weekly

"Like Patty Griffin – one of her musical heroes for her storytelling ability -- Hazler’s vocals invite the listener in." ~ Style Weekly

*****

To see the virtual "flipbook" edition of the lyrics booklet, go here:
hazyshadeproductions.com/latest-release
A flat PDF file (not a flipbook) is included with the digital download.

credits

released November 12, 2021

Written and produced by Kirsten Hazler/HazyShade Productions (ASCAP)
© ℗ 2021 - All rights reserved

For full credits, see individual tracks.

Album artwork by Mary Chiaramonte (merrysee.com), used by permission

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Haze & Dacey Richmond, Virginia

Haze & Dacey revel in lilting melodies, tight harmonies, and compelling rhythms that make toes tap and bodies sway.

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