So you know how John Scalzi gets musicians to write songs for his books, as kind of a cross-promotional thing? Well that gave me the idea that I could do the same thing for my friend Gene Ha's excellent comic, Mae.
To catch you up -- in case you haven't read it, YET -- Mae's sister Abbie disappeared 8 years ago, when Mae was still a child. Now all of a sudden Abbie is back from -- it turns out -- another dimension, and she brought all kinds of baddies with her. Things happen, quests get accepted, and the two go back into the other dimension to... accomplish... something. Don't want to give too much away. I decided to write a song from Mae's point of view, exploring her emotions and relationship to her sister, who she hasn't seen for the better part of a decade. And in any event both are way different people now.
Lots of themes and motifs. Up front is the two-world thing, with Earth as we know it and this other unknown place full of monsters. To support this, I decided to go "opposite" in terms of keys, with the verse and chorus a diminished fifth (augmented 4th?) apart from each other. The transition from verse to chorus is smooth and led in by the melody. The returning transition is abrupt with a quick V7/bV --> bV (new I).
The book actually uses the phrase "queen of oz" in so many words more than once, so I ran with that. The title of course and many references from the Oz books and movie just seemed to work extremely well. Even one small reference to Wicked. Also, there's a lot of Slavic language and name stuff, specifically Czech. So you'll hear some of that influence as well. Principally a cimbalom -- a type of hammered dulcimer -- but also some violins for pads and a double bass to shore up the low end.
Gene and I are looking to push this in some manner when the 2nd season starts rolling out and the 1st season goes graphic novel format. For now, enjoy your early look just for being my fans :-)
lyrics
[Verse 1]
Boots and all, return of the prodigal in living polychrome.
Hello you, world weary bestie who I guess we’ve never known.
A world gone mad at the sister I never had back from no place like home.
Say again how you miss me every now and then, and I’ll go with you
[Chorus]
To the end of the world, and a little bit farther, maybe just because.
Over the rainbow to find if I hate you or love you, since a life that was.
Nothing to see, it’s just me and the Queen of Oz.
[Verse 2]
Long time, no anything. A grief ago I’d have denied the rage.
Claimed acceptance as you became adept on a different kind of stage.
Forgot why I ever needed someone by the time I came of age.
Can I bend, finally trusting to allow a friend to carry me
[Chorus]
To the end of the world, and a little bit farther, just because.
Over the rainbow to find if I hate you or love you, for a life that was.
Nothing to see, it’s just me and the Queen of Oz.
Don’t look at me, it’s all she who’s the Queen of Oz
[Verse 3]
A walking stick, clicks on a yellow brick, to count us on our way,
On the fence with the royal conscience, wherein the thing's the play.
To seek why, and maybe to degreenify, or maybe drift astray,
Across the moon, embarking on our balloon and sailing off...
[Chorus]
To the end of the world, and a step or two farther, with you just because
Over the rainbow to find if I hate you or love you, and a life that was
Nothing to see, it’s just me and the Queen of Oz
To the end of the world and a leap into something else with you just because
Out of the garden and into the woods of a larger world made of coup d’etats
Nothing to see, it’s just me and the Queen of Oz
Little old me on a spree with the Queen of Oz
Everything free by decree of the Queen of Oz
Nothing to see…
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