Judee Sill :: Crayon Angel

Here’s part of the real genius of Judee Sill. She writes exclusively in these grandiose, nearly-mawkish word pictures, full of cowboy Saviors and inter-dimensional portals, and with such earnest delivery. There’s nothing arch or playful in there, because it’s her way of talking seriously about the awful things in her life without discussing them head-on.

It’s not that I think Judee actually believes in a gun-slinging Jesus crossing prairies to romance her. I do think however, she sees evidence of deep magic in her world, but she laments not having the tools to access it. She’s tried to undo a lifetime of abuse and addiction, but come up short. “Magic rings I made have turned my finger green / and my mystic roses died.” It’s part self-preservation to remove her personal details from the discussion and partly a doorway for her audience. She speaks in a mythology that’s both highly idiosyncratic, but also so far removed from traditional frameworks of spirituality that it’s universal. 

iamsosorry:

Judee Sill :: Lopin’ Along Through the Cosmos

So keep on movin’,
Or stay by my side; either way,
I’ll tell you a secret, I’ve never revealed
However we are is O.K.

Judee Sill :: The Phoenix (from Live in London - The BBC Recordings 1972-1973)

One of my favorite things about this album of live recordings from Miss Sill is her penchant for soliloquizing between her songs.  While Sill’s compositions are these glass-framed works of architecture, her speech pattern is this meandering, idiosyncratic mess pockmarked by filler words.  But under all that clutter, there’s always something in her introductions that rings spot-on to me.  For example:

“…uh, I took it off the first album, ‘cause I wanted to add some new stuff, and then I put it on the second album, ‘cause uh, as I was thinkin’ about it I thought, ‘This could really go for any time in my life,’ cause it’s kinda one of those songs that confesses that I never do quite get it right, youknowwhatImean?”

[If you haven’t taken the time to dive into Judee Sill’s catalog, seriously there is no time like the present. LetMeGoogleThatForYou.]

Judee Sill :: Lopin’ Along Through the Cosmos

I know, I’ve posted enough Judee Sill here before, but I’m not going to stop until you’ve all purchased her discography (heh).  This song came up in my shuffle during the cool-down of my run tonight.  I had to stop and lean against the side of my house, this song hit so hard.  I realize that it’s probably just where I “am,” and how dumb this Summer is.  

Regardless, just look at what Miss Sill accomplishes in just three quatrains, an interlude, and a coda.  

Lopin’ along thru the Cosmos,
And sideways I slide thru the square,
I’m hopin’ so hard for a kiss from God,
I missed the sweet love of the air

A silver chariot soars
Thru mercury ripples of sky,
I’m lookin’ so hard for a place to land,
I almost forgot how to fly

So keep on movin’,
Or stay by my side, either way,
I’ll tell you a secret, I’ve never revealed
However we are is O.K.

(Emphasis just for a self-serving reminder.)

Judee Sill :: Jesus Was a Crossmaker from Judee Sill Live In London; The BBC Recordings 1972-1973

Download at Stereogum

Does this count as one-upping?  I ain’t care.  Just need more people to hear as many versions of Miss Sill’s work.

tylercoates:

Judee Sill - “Jesus Was a Crossmaker”

Bonus: Emily discovered that CASS ELLIOT covered this!

That Cass Elliot version is unbelievable.  However, the Rachel Yamagata version can go jump off a cliff.

Judee Sill :: Blackbird (cover from a home recording)

The baby making noise is just great. (Download)