Persephone

Hola!

I am attempting to see if I can import blogs from my notes section in Facebook and backdate them to archive in this new spot.  I think it's still going to give me the current date, soooooo....

I thought I'd rerun Perspehone (from Aug 9) anyway in the event anyone missed out on that one.  It gives insight into the muse that moved this song.  I hope you all are having a peaceful Labor Day Weekend.  I'm gearing up for my trip to San Diego.  I can't WAIT!!!! :-)

My new demo entitled Persephone was written as a nod to the mythological character. The lyrics correspond to the story of the innocent girl abducted by Hades, god of the underworld, from her mother, Demeter, goddess of the harvest and fertility.  With Persephone in the underworld, Demeter’s grief was so intense, the earth ceased to be fertile.  It was in a state of perpetual winter.

There are MANY versions of the myth; understandably so when we try to explain science as such, but in a nutshell, Zeus, the head honcho, became inundated with complaints that Demeter’s lamentations were wreaking havoc on their world, and could he PLEASE do something about it!!  Thus, Zeus struck up a deal with Hades to return Persephone to her mother.  The “group think” at the time was that if one ate anything while in the underworld, they would be condemned to live there for eternity.   So hearing that Persephone hadn’t had anything to eat or drink, Hades agreed to return her to the earth.  Here’s where the myth has multiple versions:  some say Hades tricked Persephone into eating a few Pomegranate seeds to keep her captive; others say that even though Persephone missed her mother dearly, she had become accustomed to being Queen of the Underworld, and before she left, she willingly ate the seeds to ensure she would be able to return for a few months each year.  In antiquity, the myth was used to explain the changing of seasons with winter months equaling the number of seeds ingested. 

Rather than following the traditional use of this myth for explaining the seasons, I wanted to explore the latter version of the myth to represent the human condition wherein perfectly rational and reasonable people, for reasons only known to them, occasionally choose darkness over light.  I wanted to tell the story of Persephone faced with the choice of returning to the underworld or staying in the light.  We’ve all experienced it to some degree; making less-than-understandable or risky choices in the face of stability, security, safety, and sometimes even love.  Everyone has either experienced first hand or through a close connection the willful choice of the “eating of pomegranate seeds.”  

I wondered if the myth of Persephone and the pomegranate seeds was a precursor to the story of Eve and the apple, and in my research, I found some really interesting facts.  The ancient Persians believed Eve was tempted with a pomegranate in the Garden of Eden, and in Persian mythology, Isfandiyar (say that three times…) eats a pomegranate and becomes invincible.  In Hebrew tradition, the pomegranate was said to have 613 seeds representing the 613 commandments of the Torah.  The Greeks knew the pomegranate as the fruit of the dead (because of the Persephone ordeal).  The Prophet Mohammed is said to have encouraged his followers to eat the fruit to purge envy and hatred.  In China the fruit symbolizes longevity, and in Babylonia, pomegranate was believed to be an agent of resurrection.   In Christian iconographic paintings, the Virgin Mary often holds Persephone’s pomegranate, symbolizing Mary’s authority over the death of her son. Of course nowadays, we like pomegranate because it is loaded with anti-oxidants and feel we are being healthy when we put it in our Cosmopolitans.  The way various cultures use symbolism is fascinating.  Don’t you think?

In keeping with my typical songwriting modus operandi, I try to offer the listener three levels of connection (as opposed to seven degrees of Kevin Bacon.   Sorry…I couldn’t resist that opportunity…).  The first is the most obvious:  The actual story of the song, in this case the mythological story of Persephone.  The second is the human level of connection and how the story is a metaphor for our own human behaviors.  The third level is always tucked quietly at the deepest part of the song; my personal connection which is always there, but never obvious.  Mystery is beautiful.  It makes us think.  Sometimes less is more…a lesson tabloid culture could stand to learn.

In my perfect world, I hear this song fleshed out with an orchestra and lovely Celtic instruments.  Produced by an expert (as opposed to my home demo here which is only one degree from answering machine tape quality…with a little reverb), I could SO hear this song playing during the rolling of credits in an introspective film or a fantasy movie…Are there any film makers out there wanting to make a film on Persephone?  Any artists wanting to paint a portrait?  Any authors wanting to write a screenplay?

I hope you enjoy my Persephone.  (Pronounced pur-sef-uh-nee for those of you who skipped out on literature class that day. ;-)

Always love...always....

GF