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Riddle Rock

by Ben Varian

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1.
The dinner plates are left out And popcorn on a string The deer will come down from the hills to eat it We all want the same thing There’s givers and takers And Mennonites and Shakers And a thousand harmonizing fire alerts There’s me in my crater And I invite any stranger To come on in and recline in the dirt Snakes are hissing But I’m not listening The band shell is empty and unguarded With the fog of language lifted And the garden beds all laid He comes down from the hill to sing his songs again We all have to get paid I saw Jerry Garcia in the backseat of a Kia In the five floor parking structure at The Grove The world is not yet ending but the start and end are blending And the water’s boiling over on the stove Sirens are whistling I’m not listening The band shell is empty and unguarded
2.
Asleep at the piano, and continuing the hunt I was employed by forces beyond my grasp, I was employee of the month But they didn’t have to be so rude, and throw it in my face When I was listening for your whistle note Down in the contrabass Did you stay up late inventing the state And studying harmony? Did you get your fill of the Sunset Grill And driving west on Sunset to the sea? It must be getting lonely in the hippie war on sports When every land co-op in town has built a tennis court But I’ll just go on listening and waiting for a sign And if your sign is long burnt out Well, better yours than mine Did you fill the sink with ballpoint ink And take your private vow? Did you curse the raging LinnDrum syndrome That washed you up where you are now? Those who disown pleasure are patient-er than rocks They’re set to inherit the earth and they never check the clock But be careful if they offer a bite of what they eat There is no butter, salt, or spice in the pilgrim’s recipe Did you put some grease on your press release And address it to The Times? Did you shake your fist at the poisonous mist That rolled you out of LA in your prime? (It’s prime time) (Yes…)
3.
Lift the apple by the stem The only part you saw back then You had to eat it to see more The stem is part of and not part of the core Melt the wax off of the wire See me sick and sad and tired Hold the glass up to the light Hear the birds sing deep into the night I wanna melt like cashew cheese That is to say, only partially I’m coming out of a deep deep freeze, so excuse me The river runs with flat champagne Not a single novel thought in the brain My Citizen Kane, my Kid Charlemagne, it eludes me No one can confirm the vacancy of my reverie No one will be there to snitch on me to eternity It’s a self-regulated industry of ascendancy An angel whispers, a devil shouts God just smiles and burns down your house Don’t forget the deal you made When you hit zero that means all your debts are paid They wanna come and take me away If I don’t make it out of here today Put me on the playlist at the vegan cafe, it’s alright. The river runs with mixed-up paint The sound of singing becomes faint In the body’s chorus of complaints, it’s alright No one can confirm the vacancy of my reverie No one will be there to snitch on me to eternity It’s a self-regulated industry of ascendancy
4.
Music, sweet music It keeps me looking behind Music, beautiful music It becomes the handsome cop in my mind And the rule that is lit by seductive glow Is always the rule that is running the show Prepare ye the way of the lord, baby Be careful, don't fall on your sword Maybe just put it away Music, what music? All I hear is the drone Music, terrifying music My mind is open but my speakers are blown And the random rule points the way to be free But it doesn't resolve and I can't find the key Prepare ye the way of the lord, baby Be careful don't fall on your sword Maybe just put it away

about

4 songs written & recorded in the corner of a former Pilates studio in South Pasadena CA, 2020-2021.
Formed from fragments, dreams, jokes, and a lil bit of ancient Hebrew prophecy, these were the strange little critters that managed to sneak thru during a long period of writer’s block.


Jonny Kosmo - lead vocals on “The Band Shell” and backing vocals on “Pilgrim’s Recipe”
Zach Burba - lead vocals on “Pilgrim’s Recipe”
Marina Allen - lead vocals on “Reverie” and “Music”

Backing vocals on "Pilgrim's Recipe" and "Music" by Allyson Pierce

Only one musical guest and that is the legendary Logan Hone playing the soprano sax on the choruses of “Reverie”

Album art by the ultimate riddler Miles Wintner

Mastered by Angel Marcloid at Angel Hair Audio

Read along with the lyrics while listening for the full Riddle Rock experience

Thanks for listening ❤️

credits

released October 9, 2022

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Ben Varian Los Angeles, California

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