Thanks to John Brewer and Karen Murphy I went to my very first GAFilk in 2001 in Atlanta, GA. And I was hooked. I attended OVFF in 2011, and was asked (by Rob Wynne I think!) to perform at this new even they were having at GAFilk in 2002. It was a banquet! Apparently, conventions often get better deals with their hotels if they host some sort of food event. This particular hotel had a grand piano in its banquet area, and Rob and Bill and Brenda Sutton knew I accompanied my jazzy songs on piano.
Guys, this was the first filk concert I ever performed. And it was recorded. And I had lost my recording of it for the longest time, but it turns out the aforementioned John and Karen had ripped the tape I had of the concert to mp3's. And voila! I have these. I talk SO MUCH throughout, because I was nervous. But there are songs on here that have fallen off my repertoire for years, and not all of them are on my first CD, Courting My Muse (2007). So, given that I currently have three songs and one video in progress for Patreon but (alas!) not yet complete, I thought I would share these with you as this month's thing.
INTRODUCTION
When you're watching movies,
Relaxing with a book,
You admire the hero,
And you revile the crook.
The hero always wins
Unless he's interrupted
By a little wicked someone
Who helps him get corrupted.
VERSE
It's a fine thing to cheer and applaud them.
They're upholding the good way -- be glad!
But I find that the view is much better,
When I get to see a good man go bad.
CHORUS
It seems heroes get tempted but rarely do fall.
That's nice for the damsel but no fun at all
For the women whose jobs are to lead men astray
Circe, Delilah, Morgan Le Fey.
VERSE
Circe tried but got left on her island.
"Dear, I miss my wife, my dog, and my lad."
Delilah failed when she cut Samson's tresses.
He weakened but the good plan went bad.
VERSE
A tête a tête with Le Fey caused a problem,
'Cause it seems they were related just a tad.
Arthur tried to find a final solution,
And that's where a really good man went bad.
INTERLUDE
It's more entertaining
To organize a coupe to
Overthrow a good man
Than a blackguard through and through.
Think of the suffering,
Justifications.
Those who knew him
Never knew what he could do.
VERSE
He'll dress in black and grow wicked with power.
He might be angry, or gothic, or sad.
His cruelty grows, causing henchmen to cower.
No one is evil like a good man gone bad.
CHORUS
Some fall for power or vices more base.
Others for love -- that's a hard one to trace.
The hero's corruption leads many to death.
Just ask the husband of Lady MacBeth.
VERSE
MacBeth was known for his honor and prowess,
But ambition crowned him king and a cad.
Some blame his wife, or maybe three little witches
Helped to make MacBeth a good man gone bad.
VERSE
If he fancies a job as a hero,
I should think that he's probably mad.
Temptation calls him to go to the dark side.
It's not too hard to make a good man go bad.
CHORUS
Although heroes are known to occasionally fall.
They often do rally -- that's no fun at all
For the women whose jobs are to lead men astray
Circe, Delilah, Morgan Le Fey.
VERSE
It's a fine thing to cheer and applaud them.
They're upholding the good way -- be glad!
But I find that the view is much better,
When I get to see a good man go bad.
Mary Crowell is a singer/songwriter and piano teacher who loves mythology and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Her Patreon is
here: www.patreon.com/DrMaryCCrowell
She may be seen at science fiction and filk conventions performing and accompanying concerts on piano and occasionally clarinet.
Scattering Seeds on the Pomegranate Tour is her third solo album and is a mythic musical journey!...more
The lyrics are brilliant and vocal arrangements irresistible. The vocal counterpoint in “Last Spaceship,” “Common Ground,” and “Quetico” are particular favorites of mine. Mary Crowell
Songs of mythology, magpies, and Mal performed by a duo who have truly mastered their instruments--guitar and voice. This album is superb. Mary Crowell
Swing dance, blues, and jazz with great lyrics and energy played live to an appreciative audience! And there's a bit of the geek there too. Mary Crowell