Worth noting: it is always the truest moments that linger; when you know that new romance will be past, someday. Living briefly, in Sin, is the only way to close the circle of dilemma for The Magician...
In 1996, "Sin" was written and performed as the song "Mona Lisa" or "The Mona Lisa", utilizing lyrics by both Julean Rai and longtime best friend Inhaesio Zha -- even though sharing writing credits was uncommon for Julean then as it is today. As "Mona Lisa", the song enjoyed both recordings (see 2001's "The Windfall EP" -- juleanandtherai.bandcamp.com/album/the-windfall-ep) and live performances.
In 2006, on the steps of Union Square in New York City, during the same rewriting session that turned "Darling" into "Darlene", the "Mona Lisa" was re-created as "Sin", lyrically leaving behind the previous version and concept and setting the piece as a full Julean Rai oiginal.
This release of the "Sin" recording was initially remastered at 491 Gallery Studios with producer 'Brotherman' in London, 2007 for the European release version of the album.
This version of the recording -- a set of recordings made during the same studio session for "Muse Tree", "Alexandria, Falling", and "Disconnect' in 2007 -- was released in "premaster" form as a physical item for European audiences during performances in Europe from 2008 to 2010.
Sin
Lyrics From the LP "Darlene" (European Release: "Here.", 2008)
Lyrics and Music by Julean Rai
VERSE:
Time...
Yeah, we're a waste of it.
This is a temporary thing
And there's the taste of it
All over you in the basement;
In the house of the lady
With the scar on her belly
And the red hair and the skirt.
I met you
By accident.
There was an epidemic of
That happening.
Yes, you were sensual
And cognizant...
And a break from the drama
Since Panana robbed me
Of my boy-ish good-ness...
CHORUS:
The Mona Lisa is "In"
I don't know where my drama went
I'm curling in the cold,
And I am spent
Underneath
Your grandmother's blanket
And here we go again...
VERSE:
Spread...
This time, traditional.
And I swear I'm not
The least bit cynical
Of the impractical,
Or the mystical
Or the cycles of my soul
Here we go, luv...
CHORUS:
The Mona Lisa is "In"
I don't know where my karma went
I'm curling in the cold,
And I am spent
Underneath
Your grandmother's blanket
And here we go again...
BRIDGE:
One-two-three-four
Hey what the hell are we waiting for, luv?
Lock the candles, light the door...
Let's not wake the landlord.
Lies...
And avarice...
Oh, and a few over-estimated
Friendships
Caused you to quit;
Return to the farm from whence you split--
And I was pissed.
CHORUS:
The Mona Lisa is "In"
I don't know where my drama went
I'm curling in the cold,
And I am spent
Underneath
Your grandmother's blanket
And here we go again...
What we do is sin
I can't tell you how long it's been
Stuck in the car with "The Freshman"
Signaled the beginning of the end.
Copyright 1996, 2006 Julian D. Rai (BMI); Julean Rai (BMI); Julean and the Rai (BMI). All rights reserved.
credits
from Here. (European demo version),
released August 1, 2008
Music and lyrics by Julean Rai. Recording and performances by Julean Rai. Engineered by Julean Rai and Brotherman at 491 Gallery Studios, London, UK. All music, lyrics, recording and performances by Julean Rai. Music and lyrical content & recordings copyright 1996, 2007 Julian D. Rai (BMI); Julean Rai (BMI), Julean and the Rai (BMI). All rights reserved.
Indie-folk / antifolk band spanning nearly 30 years and 12 live and studio releases, including the most recent "The War of
the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness", and are currently remastering several albums for re-release in 2023. Julean is known for his dynamic voice, passionate onstage vocal delivery, and a playing style that swings wildly from soft and subtle to fast and breakneck....more
Great production, vocals ... wonderful sparseness of lyrics and phrasing while keeping its brevity. The tone is movielike and pure, while the music itself is like gravity. Recommend. Julean and the Rai
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