Milkweed and Thistle is one of my favorite songs on the Delta Tales album. I wrote it on February 19, 2020 when I came up the main piano part, which drove the rest of the song. I wrote the lyric the following day in a couple of hours and sent the first rough demo to Ace on March 1. He responded, "This could be epic".
Ace changed the vocal melody a bit for the chorus from what I originally had. In April, we tracked the drums (George Perilli), bass (Joe Macre), and guitar (Steve Schuffert) with Dave Granati doing the lion's share of the engineering. Hermie Granati added the string orchestration. Hermie also worked on the background vocal arrangement for the female singers (Shawn Mayer, Rozz Chapman, and Kelly Connors). I wanted an Elton John feel for this one and the rhythm section channeled that perfectly. Plus, Cousin Steve's guitar solo is absolutely stellar; it brought magnificent energy to the song.
Milkweed and Thistle is about a man who has lost his true love in some unspoken tragedy and feels completely bereft. I believe it is one of my best lyrics to date. Although the topic is sad, the song is at the same time positive when the lyric turns to a reflective mood. My favorite line in the song is "Some nights, as shadows dance amongst and bend the sugar cane, I hear your promise whispered to me in the evening warmth.”
I'm proud of the song. It is musically and harmonically complex, with solid hooks throughout
MILKWEED AND THISTLE
John Blangero (Reborn Pelican Songs/BMI)
Lost in the canebrake, the fading light offers silent prayers
And still the gull song lures me to the waters calm and deep
Like a bed unshared, it’s a lonely place where secrets are well kept
On the banks of the River, ghostly morning flowers slept
Milkweed and thistle drifting through my dreams tonight
Some nights as shadows dance amongst and bend the sugar cane
I hear your promise whispered to me in the evening warmth
In this coastal town where rushes sway to the sea breeze
On a darkened porch came kisses, deep and wild and sweet
Milkweed and thistle haunting my dreams tonight
Baby, since I’ve lost you, I just can’t let go
Since you crossed that River pain is all I’ve ever known is
Milkweed and thistle are all that I have left upon this earth
Milkweed and thistle are all that I have left upon this earth
In this coastal town where rushes sway to the sea breeze
On a darkened porch came kisses, deep and wild and sweet
Milkweed and thistle haunting my dreams tonight
Baby, since I’ve lost you, I just can’t let go
Since you crossed that River, pain is all I’ve ever known is
Milkweed and thistle are all that I have left upon this earth
Milkweed and thistle are all that I have left upon this earth
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