From the album "Jenny From Thebes," out October 27 on Merge Records
Stream and preorder: lnk.to/JennyfromThebes
Illustration by Daniel Murphy
Animation by Stephanie O'Byrne
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FRESH TATTOO
Tattoo of the seventh shield
Still wet on my skin
You’re all crumpled up at the curb there
I think I’m going to take you in
Always had to follow my instincts
Usually I’m out on my own
You there by the road, wet and helpless
What happens if I take you home?
Well, you may forget the whys and where's
Of an old tattoo on your forearm there
But usually you recall the day you got one
And usually it fades in the sun
Headed for a season in exile
As the oracle predicted
According to reliable sources
In thirty days I’m getting evicted
Trying not to scratch where it itches
It takes a certain level of discipline
Not even half a second by the light switch
Let the future flood right in
Well, you may forget the whys and where's
Of an old tattoo on your forearm there
But usually you recall the day you got one
And usually it fades in the sun
Usually the lines grow faint
Like old house paint
Just a way to mark the years gone by
You lay on the couch three weeks
Until the color came back into your cheeks
I’d seen ones like you before
Plenty came through before
Legend on the shield in Greek
“What’s that say?” you said
I gave you an answer that I thought you’d buy
All of this will disappear in the twinkling of an eye
Well, you may forget the whys and where's
Of an old tattoo on your forearm there
But usually you recall the day you got one
And usually it fades in the sun
But not this one
Recorded January 16-22, 2023, at the Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Trina Shoemaker, assisted by Isaiah Page and Cade Roberts. Mastered by Brent Lambert.
Played by Alicia Bognanno, John Darnielle, Matt Douglas, Peter Hughes, and Jon Wurster, joined by Matt Nathanson and Kathy Valentine. Arrangements for strings and horns by Matt Douglas; strings played by Karen Galvin. Trombone by Evan Ringel.