The quote comes from “Proverbs of Hell,” a chapter in William Blake’s gnostic text The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.
The book has been interpreted as an anticipation of Freudian and Jungian models of the mind, illustrating a struggle between a repressive superego and an amoral id. It has also been interpreted as an anticipation of Nietzsche’s theories* about the difference between slave morality and master morality.
*cf: in particular Nietzsche’s camel – lion – child model of human thought and behavior as outlined in Also sprach Zarathustra: Ein Buch für Alle und Keinen / Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None (1883-1885).
Portions of this post appeared originally on December 5, 2009.
Originally posted on November 14, 2009 at 1:07 pm. This song still WAILS. So good, seriously.
Grant Hart – You’re the Reflection of the Moon on the Water
Grant Hart is best known for his drumming and writing with Hüsker Dü and for co-founding Nova Mob. This track comes from his fourth solo album, Hot Wax, which came out October 6th. It’s awesome.
Witchy and melodic and also super-strong, with this really wicked organ-and-rides vibe that makes it driving and Doors-y, the song is basically the same four verses repeated and I didn’t even notice until I typed out the lyrics. The music is so insistent that it just seemed natural. Hart has said that the lyrics are inspired by the Dalai Lama and the composition by Patti Smith; both influences are totally there. You’re going to love it! Listen!
You’re the reflection of the moon on the water
You’re the reflection of the moon on the water
You’re the reflection of the moon on the water
but you’re not the moon
You are the scent of the sea on the night wind
You are the scent of the sea on the night wind
You are the scent of the sea on the night wind
but you’re not the sea
You are the shadows from the light of a fire
You are the shadows from the light of a fire
You are the shadows from the light of a fire
but you’re not the light
You are the sound of the rain on the dry earth
You are the sound of the rain on the dry earth
You are the sound of the rain on the dry earth
but you’re not the rain
You’re the reflection of the moon on the water
You’re the reflection of the moon on the water
You’re the reflection of the moon on the water
but you’re not the moon
You are the scent of the sea on the night wind
You are the scent of the sea on the night wind
You are the scent of the sea on the night wind
but you’re not the sea
You are the shadows from the light of a fire
You are the shadows from the light of a fire
You are the shadows from the light of a fire
but you’re not the light
PSA: August is going to be Sharon Tate Month around here.* Did You Know? Pass it on.
You are the sound of the rain on the dry earth
You are the sound of the rain on the dry earth
You are the sound of the rain on the dry earth
but you’re not the rain
*In a beautiful and upbeat, positive “respectful-celebration-of-her-life” way — not in a scummy, explotive, tragic “let’s-dwell-on-stupid-asshole-murderers-and-not-the-people-whose-lives-they-took” way, because I am fully fucking sick of that shenanigans overshadowing her beauty, talent, and sense of humor. (Sorry to drop massive f-bomb out of nowhere but there is just no call for how much horrifying b.s. people still bloodthirstily associate with her instead of letting her good deeds and fun performances stand on their own.) Call it Sharon Tate’s ACTUAL LIFE Awareness Month or something. Join me for that!
At the bottom of the ocean lives a Sea King
He was my king
He was so proud, diamonds in his crown
He was so proud, always so proud
The male of the species is the Nokk. He lives in lakes, ponds, rivers, and waterfalls. The Nokk drags people down if they play too close to the edge of the water or attempt to pick water lilies. He is most dangerous after sunset. To see or hear the Nokk means someone will drown. He is often heard shrieking during shipwrecks.
(A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels, and Other Subversive Spirits. Mack, Carol and Dinah. 1999. New York: Macmillan. p. 33.)
I’m going away,
I can’t stay
and I pray he finds out someday…
Sea King,
Sea king,
can’t you see that you’re so silly?
Sea King,
I know things,
and without love you won’t get far.
The Nokk has been seen as a horse or half a horse, as half a ship, or a gleaming silver coin or ring. The Nokk plays music on a golden harp to lure his victim closer if his precious-object disguise doesn’t work. (Ibid.)
It was all he ever knew
It was all he ever knew
It was all he ever knew
and that’s sad.
“Oahu 2” by Allen Birbach, Spider Awards nominee.
Sadko entered and pursued his fleeting bride through the endless torturous crypts of four sea-oceans; at last he found her in the palace of the Sea-King.
“In sooth, Sadko, thou art a master-player on the gusly,” smiled the monarch, “prithee, play for me upon thy harp.”
Sadko perceived he could do no other than heed the behest of the Sea-King, wherefore, setting his harp in tune, he plucked the strings.
The heart of the Sea-King’s daughter beat in tune to Sadko’s playing, so that with sweet blandishment he won her back, whereafter they dwelt in love and felicity in the coral-chambered castle beneath the sea.
(Romance of Russia, From Rurik to Bolshevik, Elizabeth Williams Champney and Frère Champney. 1921. London: GP Putnam’s Sons, p. 178.)
The Thought Experiment 