We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Ambition

by Rose Thomas Bannister

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $7 USD  or more

     

1.
Ambition 04:09
Come night, a needle Scarf up the tender day Strangle the twilight with crows The bat and the beetle will join Them in the woods Their children grow stronger from blood Star fires Don’t look at my desires Bright eye Don’t look at my hand Sharp knife See not the wound it makes Until I get what’s mine What you don’t know hurts you But you don’t know it yet It swallows your heart while you sleep You dream of a bear licking honey from her hands The bear will not give up its prey Mock the time with the fairest show False face must hide what the false heart doth know Whatever you do, don't let it show
2.
As Birds Do 03:06
How will you do it, do it without me? Well, as birds do. Na na na na na! How will you do it, do it without me? Well, as birds do, of course. All is the fear And nothing is the love And little is the wisdom When he flies away. Go back to school yourself! Then tell me what is noble. Tell me what's judicious In these baseless days. But you do not weep For your husband (And you know what that means). Honest men Be hanged again I don't fear the lime and I don't fear the gin For the poor little drab goes free. How will I do it, do it without you? Well, as birds do. La la la la la. How will I do it, do it without you? Well, as birds do, of course. Even the little wren Fights for her little ones. She don't flee the country for a Creed so cold. And when the lady owl Comes for to kill em all She don't hand 'em over for a Crown of gold. The serpent's tooth Is not in the Scripture (That was Billy B.) But mother's knife Is sharper than an adder: When they must leave the nest She slices them best. She cuts those babies free. You made it without me. I'll make it without thee! How will I do it, do without you, Mother? As birds do.
3.
For the swift and the martlet The blunted magret Daddy crafted a complex So the family could watch them nest But the naturalist With his notebook Observed, impartial That the air around here is fetid By God and by nature The swift will never find rest The purple martin Does not feel at home in the dust She was just passing through She’s too good for you And I’d ask Lavina But her memoir will die with her breath Now o’er the one-half world Nature is dead and wicked dreams Abuse the curtained sleep And I am like you, a killer too A falcon towering in pride Is killed by a mousing owl And the beauteous horses Will eat you up from the inside The moon is getting burnt out It looks like rain I stated my opinion I was never afraid What time is it, my son? Why don’t you hang on to this gun I don’t believe in fate But if you can get away, I’ll guard the gate
4.
Hale Wale Far Gar Boat Cote Nine Pine Tell your future: Ha ha ha ha ha! You’ve got murder in your heart And that’s where we can start It’s really not that hard To activate Where have you been I killed some pigs I wanted nuts I won’t be cussed I gave him heck I sank their ship I got his thumb Huh huh huh huh huh huh hum It’s so easy to make them go crazy So fun to watch them go to town So much fun to watch them mow each other down I told the audience I had a magic glove They didn’t even know it was unplugged And that laugh was the last laugh of all Double, Double Toil and Trouble Into the Fiery Cauldron go... Ditch drab Stones to move Yellow cab Trees to speak Frog toe Auguries Dog roe Understood relations Bag pipes Maggot-pies Rancid tripe What’s the night? Choo choo truck Which is which? Flying fuck At odds with morning Dark pearl How dare MacDuff Strangled girl Deny his person Shark maw For mine own good Fetus paw All cause shall give way Hemlock I am in blood Small pox Steeped so far that Bogeyman Returning dull Distant land As to go over Sew your eyes shut Strange things in my head….. Bear false witness Take the money Must be acted ere they’re scanned…… Throw a stone Snake shell Season reason Gates of hell Come to bed Snake shell Make it hard now Gates of hell! Go to sleep Blood will have blood Stone and shadow Stain and Candle, Hee hee hee hee hee! If I’d stayed among the living I’d suckle my familiar I’d ride in on a skillet And scramble a projection I’ll pour your soul In a bloody hole I’ll serve you eggs You will lap up the things When you’ve had enough You’ll continue to suck When you’re all out of luck We’ll be even then Come, Graymalkin Come on, Graymalkin Keep it up, Graymalkin!
5.
Lady M 02:14
Have you eaten of the root, my mother That takes reason prisoner? Have you swallowed the bitter pages? You spur them on! Your children will be kings Your children will be kings Your children will be kings And chance will let you say Oh come what come may Time and the hours run through the roughest day As long as you can keep your mind at bay

about

"Ambition" is a song cycle based on Macbeth.

credits

released September 10, 2018

All songs written by Rose Thomas Bannister

Rose Thomas Bannister: vocals, acoustic guitar
Bob Bannister: electric guitar, backing vocals
Gary Foster: drums
Matthew Stein: upright bass
Debby Schwartz: electric bass, backing vocals
Susan Alcorn: pedal steel guitar
Pat Gubler: Celtic harp, piano, wooden recorders, backing vocals
Erik Lawrence: saxophone
Steven Levi: cornet
Lenna Pierce: cello, backing vocals
Concetta Abbate: backing vocals
Greg Talenfeld: electric guitar


Recorded & mixed by Greg Talenfeld at OK Records, Nyack, NY
Produced by Rose Thomas Bannister & Greg Talenfeld

Album art by Ian Pyper
Layout by Rose Thomas Bannister
Formatting by Mike Susol

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Rose Thomas Bannister New York

Rose Thomas Bannister (FKA Ember Schrag) is a singer and guitarist originally from western Nebraska. Hailed as "distinctive and free of affect or artifice" by the A.V. Club, her Great-Plains-gothic style "lands somewhere between Scout Niblett and Karen Dalton, writing about land and space and hope and despair" (Nightlight). ... more

contact / help

Contact Rose Thomas Bannister

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Rose Thomas Bannister, you may also like: