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Sweet Joan

by Bay Bryan

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about

Seven years ago. Nestled in an open clearing enclosed by towering pine trees, stands a lonesome cabin in the middle of the woody mountains of Colorado. That’s the magical setting where I started to write Sweet Joan. First, the chords came, and with them this sense of a ticking clock. From there, the story began to emerge as if from thin air –a story centred around two strong women: a sorceress (Evelyn) and her mortal lover Joan, whose lives have long been spent happily together, in an isolated setting not too dissimilar from the one I found myself in.

When we enter the story, however, we know nothing of their normal lives together. All we know is that something is amiss. Joan has fallen under a mysterious and magical illness, and our sorceress Evelyn has already exhausted her own magical capacity. She is left desperate, with only one option left: to call on the gods for their aid. She is well aware that this could cost her her own life…

I love an act of self-sacrifice in a story. I will replay it in my head, on a loop, so that I may relish in the drama from all angles, like savouring all the flavours of a feast. And then I don’t really want to be told what happens next —I would rather be left wondering.

Hope you enjoy ~Bay xo

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lyrics

Upon this eve
Darkened by her grief
At a bedside she does weep

For lying ill is her lover
Human creature now weak
Whose lips have grown cold
With no strength left to speak

And the spells she has tried
Have failed to succeed
And her powers are nearing their peak

And as risky as is
She’s one move left to play
A dance with the gods
So that her love may be saved


Oh
She’ll do what she must
To save her sweet Joan


So out of the cottage
Swiftly she goes
The bright night is heavy and cold

Her green frock that’s tattered
Now flaps as she patters
Along on her way toward the meadow


Oh
Off she goes
Quick like the wind blows


Through the trees
Escaping the light
Of a full moonlit night
And star-peppered sky


Deep in the meadow
Lie a circle of stones
Surrounding a pit all ablaze

And there at the centre
Our sorceress tames
A wild inconceivable flame

She chants as she works
With focus and fight
Her gaze keenly aimed at the sky

With precision she moves
Dancing round while she beams
And pleads to the gods
So that they join in her scheme

Oh
My gods
She screams
Lend me your aid
To save my sweet Joan

Oh
I do know
What risks I am taking
To save my sweet love


To answer the witch
The gods send a gift
A handful of stars
Lower down and join in

Oh what a sight
This coven of lights
All rotating ‘round
This fire burning white


Oh, we sing for you
My sweet Joan

Oh, we dance for you
My sweet Joan

My sweet Joan
My sweet Joan
My sweet Joan
My Sweet Joan


My Joan
we insist this fatal illness now fly

But by
By conjuring this magic I may die


Oh
I always said
That you’d be the death of me
But neither you nor I
Will be leaving tonight

No
My love
My soul

Don’t go
For I’d rather die
Than live a life alone

Oh
I always said
That you’d be the death of me
But neither you nor I
Will be leaving tonight

\\\

credits

released April 22, 2022
Recorded at Airtight Studios in Manchester, UK by Seadna McPhail.

Bay Bryan (producer, arranger, vox, guitar, piano), Fraser Langton (arranger/producer, clarinet, bass clarinet), Roisin Ni Dhuill (viola), Pete Mitchell (percussion), Sam Vicary (double bass)

Mixed/Mastered by Zach Kornhauser

Special Thanks to Casey Nimmer who wore many hats during the making of Sweet Joan and helped to make it all happen!

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Bay Bryan Manchester, UK

Bay Bryan is a singer/songwriter and performance artist based in Manchester (UK), originally from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado (USA), whose music has been compared to Laura Marling, Sam Lee and Nick Drake.

Bay's current alt-folk concept album 'The Meadow,' released April 7th, 2023.

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