Explanation, part 1: this is definitely an inside joke of sorts, but it’s been so long since the joke originated that I’m honesty not sure how it got started in the first place. All I know is that 7 years ago, basically as soon as I started my first band, my college roommate Pete started insisting that we write a song called “Farmer’s Daughter.” I think he was thinking more about the ‘hot young thing‘ varietal of FD, as opposed to the pennyroyal tea story line. Anyway, Pete recently got engaged to a wonderful girl (congrats, buddy!) and last night I got to see him and a bunch of his friends and family, and he (of course) reminded me that I still owed him “Farmer’s Daughter.” True enough. Promise fulfilled, 7 years late.
Explanation, part 2: this recording is really spare, in part because I just didn’t have that much time last night, and in part because I think this project should occasionally make it obvious that I’m recording the raw, not-quite-finished and not-quite-perfect state of a song that has literally just come off the mental presses. I recorded this one in one take, just me and my guitar with one microphone. At some point next week, I want to make it even rawer — no guitar, just voice. I mean, that’s what the monks did, right?
—Lyrics—
dark – she’s awake in her room
hand it rests on her womb
she has nothing to say
that won’t just get in the way
farmer’s daughter
think it over
have some water
before you drink that tea
dawn – when he stirs
lifts his head
hears a noise at the door
she is gone and he won’t chase
he would just get in the way
farmer’s daughter
think it over
have some water
before you drink that
kiss your mother
as she sleeps
kiss your father
he will miss you terribly
