Dear God, Dear Lord,
I've been... Self absorbed.
A prayer for repair now! I'm singing me a mantra!
Amphibian hero, Salamander...
Want to listen to the
music first? Click here for Salamander Song mp3
In June 2006 I undertook a residency at Leith's A1 Gallery
in Edinburgh where I also wrote and performed 4 songs with
amphibious themes in an homage to nearby Salamander Street,
home of Leith's prostitutes.
During the residency featured here, in a little known Leith
gallery, I was also creating a shrine to prostitutes,
salamanders and Mary Magdelene - patron saint of
prostitutes (see art projects). During this time, I found
out that Mary Magdelene was not even a prostitute - a
common misconception from the Bible stories.
Short stories about salamanders were read alongside others
on slightly tangental themes, and a video piece was made
and projected in the gallery also. Around 35 people
attended, plus another 20 for the polyfaith presentation -
featured in pictures on here.
But the focus of the evening was a suite of 4 songs I
wrote. I had set myself an austere task of learning the
guitar in 30 days with 4 songs to sing. Here's the lyrics
to one of them.
The Whore's Tattoo
I went with a prostitute
(I'm not proud of it)
But nor do I regret
Or am I ashamed one bit
She was destitute
And surrounded by it
Skilled at her job
I was about to submit
She was soft i was nervous as hell
Tatoo-ed all over her body as well
And as my hand touched her full on the breast
I noticed the markings in the crease of her chest
It might have tribal - it was a striking design
it might have been primal - or a significant sign
What was it of and why was she marred?
She told me it was "her bodyguard"
Picture a creature of both land and water
When clients saw it they were nicer towards her
It was a European Salamander!
(perhaps prostitution propaganda?)
After that I could touch her no more
For it was I who felt like the whore
Her fleshy fresco affected me
And that alone was worth the fee
She buttoned up in the back of my car
She even let me re hook her bra
She called herself Miranda Vivien
Hosting an illustrated Amphibian