I always worry when red-hot, male musicians – marry. While these lads are single — they tear up the world (and their bodies) trying to capture that testosteroned vision of the world in their art. Yet, when a woman finally gets them to the altar – all-of-their sun-drenched desires are drowned in moonshine.
HG, Harry, Abi Ram Dass, Ra and H-Chiso are just a few of the AKA’s (and incarnations) of one Harry G. – who is often referenced in my essays as: One peering through-the-veil (or the glass darkly).
When Chiso and I first met – we exchanged music and some dreams. I once had a dream about HG as a falcon – rising in the sun – the potential avatar of the Egyptian god, Ra. I, on-the-other-hand, see myself connected to that Egyption god who walks the world of the living and the dead: originally it was Annubis – but I gather that Osiris took over the job at a later date.
Since HG and I currently collaborate musically – I felt impelled to put him on the same lyrical pedestal as I recently put The Watchman. But I might have to notch Ra above The Watchman – as the lyrics I have recently quoted by The Watchman — are easily 24-years-old – while Chiso’s are very fresh, and, very new (depending on how one looks at them [because Abi Ram Dass’s lyrics might be very, very ancient]). I don’t know if I will quote a few here (I might as the essay progresses) – but I’d rather discuss how marriage and children seem to sap the artist’s energy – how the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon.
H-Chiso recently married a luverly lady and they have a son who is pushing 4 years. Now I can’t say that the quality of HG’s lyrics have suffered as a consequence of his marriage – because he very recently (post marriage) strung some VERY cool stuff together…but he just doesn’t have that-same-get-up-and-go that he had when he was only with child and NOT, married with children: he is no longer that Tennyson-like being who frequented those early morning hours in search of rhyme, and melody…Harry is getting that “deer in the headlights”look: like a black-holed Sun.
I’ve seen so-many-of-us hit by the marriage bullet – I can’t tell you…I know that 2 marriages shattered three musical dreams for me: ANACHRONISM was put on indefinite hold by the first marriage – while NECRONOM and BALANCE were compromised by the second. I could mention a plethora of similar musical dreams annihilated by marriage (particularly marriage to American women) – but I won’t (and HG’s bride is NOT American anyway).
Somehow, marriage applies the brakes to that “hankerin” to jam. Somehow marriage throws a damper on that male creativity and boundless energy. Somehow, marriage saps the inspirational marrow that drives the male artist through the glass darkly.
H-Chiso sings of the Ghetto Sagacees; and the weight on our chests and our need to rest; he sings of dreams denied by the Purple Mountains’ Majesty; and of those taking wings to soar — above the oceans roar.
But I worry that this Sun God has been kissed by a Moon Goddess – and that he will roam his days trying to please her by Night – and that the fire that has powered his desires – will fade in the soft moonlight…and that, the supernova that might have been – will become all tweed and grey…