Where so many songwriters stretch for their highest notes, hoping to impress and astound, Duvekot bravely mines her deep reaches, where the dark feelings lurk. It softens her phrasing, leading us in with whispers, letting us know she believes every word she sings.
Her melodies seem like suddenly occurring thoughts, matching the hushed, conversational allure of her singing. They feel so immediate, so in synch with her lyrics; and yet also snugly rooted, oddly familiar, like memories you can't quite recall.
She sings, and writes, as if she thinks songs are important; not means to an end, but tools of survival. And for her, that's just what they are.
In 2006 Antje was a featured guest performer at the ten-year reunion concert of the contemporary Celtic band Solas, who performed two of her songs.
Reasonland
Antje Duvekot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the water's edge and said, "I don't know where I'm bound
I've got emeralds and rubies sewn into my gown
But I am sadder than the diamonds in my crown
So will you lay me down in a fiddler's cloud
And float me out to sea
Let my aching head be still, let me surrender to your will
A mighty king came down to the sea
Said, "I may win any battle that I please
I got a hundred-man batallion, they all fall down at my feet
But there's a songbird who will not sing for me
So will you lay me down in a fiddler's cloud
And float me out to sea
Let my aching head be still, let me surrender to your will
Float me out and deliver me
I wanna fly out to your center
I wanna sink down into your gold
I wanna go down without my dagger
I wanna shed these clothes"
The preacher's wife kneeled down by the waves
Said, "For your love and salvation I have prayed
I am a tired tightrope dancer, I wanna go no more this way
Just give me something, a penny for my faith
So will you lay me down in a fiddler's cloud
And float me out to sea
Let my aching head be still, let me surrender to your will
Float me out and deliver me
Will you lay me down, won't you lay me down
And float me out to sea
Let my aching head be still, let me surrender to your will
Float me out and deliver me"
Antje Duvekot's song Reasonland tells the tale of three different characters who come to the water's edge seeking deliverance from their worldly troubles. The first character is the Reasonland's emperor who laments about his sadness despite having all the material possessions one could wish for- emeralds, rubies and diamonds sewn into his gown. He seeks to be laid down in a fiddler's cloud and floated out to sea to be delivered from his troubles.
The second character is a mighty king who boasts about winning any battle he pleases and having a hunred-man battalion falling down at his feet, but he is unable to get a songbird to sing for him. He too seeks to be laid down in a fiddler's cloud and floated out to sea to surrender to the will of the unknown.
The third character is the preacher's wife who is tired of being a tightrope dancer and praying for love and salvation. She too seeks to be relieved of the burden by being laid down in a fiddler's cloud and floated out to sea.
The fiddler's cloud is a metaphor for death and the ocean symbolizes the afterlife. The characters seek release from their suffering by surrendering to a higher power.
Overall, Reasonland is a compelling song that touches on themes of regret, isolation, and seeking a connection with something beyond oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
The Reasonland's emperor came down
The ruler of Reasonland, a place where logic and reason dominate, arrived
To the water's edge and said, "I don't know where I'm bound
He confessed to being lost and unsure of where he should go
I've got emeralds and rubies sewn into my gown
Despite his wealth and status, he is unhappy and unfulfilled
But I am sadder than the diamonds in my crown
He feels a deep sadness that even his wealth and power cannot alleviate
So will you lay me down in a fiddler's cloud
He requests to be placed in a state of peace
And float me out to sea
He wants to be carried away by the waves
Let my aching head be still, let me surrender to your will
He desires to let go of control and surrender himself to the unknown
A mighty king came down to the sea
A powerful ruler approached the ocean
Said, "I may win any battle that I please
He is confident in his ability to win any fight
I got a hundred-man batallion, they all fall down at my feet
He has an impressive army that obey his every command
But there's a songbird who will not sing for me
He feels powerless when faced with something he cannot control
I wanna fly out to your center
He longs to find the core of his being
I wanna sink down into your gold
He seeks to uncover something of great value and worth
I wanna go down without my dagger
He wants to surrender without putting up a fight
I wanna shed these clothes"
He wishes to discard his external identity in pursuit of true understanding
The preacher's wife kneeled down by the waves
A religious woman prays by the seashore
Said, "For your love and salvation I have prayed
She implores for love and redemption
I am a tired tightrope dancer, I wanna go no more this way
She is weary of trying to maintain balance and stability
Just give me something, a penny for my faith
She wants some form of reassurance and positive reinforcement
So will you lay me down in a fiddler's cloud
She, too, seeks a peaceful state of mind
And float me out to sea
She wants to surrender herself to the flow of life
Will you lay me down, won't you lay me down
She pleads to be released from her burdens
Let my aching head be still, let me surrender to your will
She wishes to find tranquility and submit to a greater power
Float me out and deliver me
She yearns to be carried away and released from her struggles
Contributed by Dominic M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.