Both Rowan and Grisman were virtuoso folk and bluegrass performers in Boston clubs, who became caught up in the changes in the music scene in the mid 1960s. They formed Earth Opera in 1967 in Boston, Massachusetts, and were joined by John Nagy on bass, Paul Dillon on drums, and Bill Stevenson on keyboards and vibraphone.
The group was signed by Jac Holzman to Elektra Records. Their self-titled debut album, produced by Grisman's ex-bandmate Peter Siegel, and including veteran drummer (and Mothers of Invention alumnus) Billy Mundi, was a mixture of folk and psychedelic influences. The group frequently opened for The Doors, who were also on Elektra Records.
Although the first album never charted, Elektra was willing to record a second LP, "The Great American Eagle Tragedy". By this time, Stevenson had left. The second album featured an array of eminent guests including John Cale (viola) and Bill Keith (pedal steel).
“The Great American Eagle Tragedy” managed to reach the lower end of the national charts, the cover featuring a parody of the US presidential seal with a superimposed death skull and what looks like blood stains. However, the band’s relative lack of success caused Earth Opera to break up in 1969. Rowan, Grisman, Nagy and Stevenson all continued their careers in the music business.
Mad Lydia's Waltz
Earth Opera Lyrics
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Lydia's Waltz P. Rowan
The town now is sleeping
The moon slowly creeping
A candle is burning
In the window so high
The widow stand staring
Her bed sheets are barren
And the moon it is high
Hesitations of laughter
And Lydia is dancing
Silk from her shoulders
It slips to the floor
The darkness is laughing
Her lover is calling
In tears and remembrance
She opens the door
The cobblestone alley
The mystery her spinning
With thirteen black roses
They gaze at the bride
The widow is dancing
Her lover is calling
Her laughter is ringing
On the beach at low tide
And the town's people gather
As Lydia comes dancing
Spinning and reeling
At the edge of the sea
Her eyes shine like ambers
Her body is burning
She runs to her lover………lover
The song Mad Lydia's Waltz by Earth Opera is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that tells the story of a young widow named Lydia who, one night, surrenders herself to the madness and overwhelming grief caused by the loss of her loved one. The song opens with the town sleeping while the moon slowly creeps forward. In this quiet time, a candle is burning in the window where Lydia stands staring, trembling, and alone. Her bed sheets are barren, and the moon is high, which adds to the tension and sorrow of the scene.
Lydia hesitates between extreme laughter and tears as she starts dancing when silk from her shoulders slips to the floor. The darkness seems to be laughing, and Lydia's lover is calling. Then, Lydia opens the door, and they both join. The cobblestone alley is full of mystery when Lydia begins to spin, holding thirteen black roses, gazing at the bride. The bride is Lydia herself, with Her laughter ringing around the beach at low tide. The town's people gather at this unusual hour to watch Lydia dancing and reeling while she runs to her lover. The story ends with a sense of foreboding as Lydia surrenders herself to the waiting embrace of her lover.
Line by Line Meaning
The town now is sleeping
The town has fallen asleep
The moon slowly creeping
The moon is slowly rising
A candle is burning
A candle flame flickers
In the window so high
High up in a window
The widow stand staring
The widow stands staring
Her young body trembling
Her young body shakes
Her bed sheets are barren
Her bed sheets are empty
And the moon it is high
And the moon is high in the sky
Hesitations of laughter
Laughter hesitates
And Lydia is dancing
Lydia dances
Silk from her shoulders
Silk falls from her shoulders
It slips to the floor
It slips onto the floor
The darkness is laughing
The darkness laughs
Her lover is calling
Her lover calls out to her
In tears and remembrance
Tears and memories flood her mind
She opens the door
She opens the door
The cobblestone alley
The alley is cobblestoned
The mystery her spinning
Mysterious things spin around her
With thirteen black roses
Thirteen black roses
They gaze at the bride
They stare at the bride
The widow is dancing
The widow dances
Her lover is calling
Her lover calls out to her
Her laughter is ringing
Her laughter echoes
On the beach at low tide
On the beach during low tide
And the town's people gather
The townspeople gather
As Lydia comes dancing
Lydia comes dancing
Spinning and reeling
Spinning and reeling around
At the edge of the sea
By the sea's edge
Her eyes shine like ambers
Her eyes gleam like amber
Her body is burning
Her body feels like it's on fire
She runs to her lover………lover
She runs to her lover, repeating the word
Writer(s): Peter H. Rowan
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Patti Rodgers
From 1969, a song that will touch your soul.
Giwrgos Giannarakis
the crown jewel of psychedelic ballads... the best song of this fine BOSTON band....
CopyrightSchool21
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing :)
ChuckDeFuque
The town now is sleeping
The moon slowly creeping
A candle is burning
In the window so high
The widow stand staring
Her young body trembling
Her bed sheets are barren
And the moon it is high
Hesitations of laughter
And Lydia is dancing
Silk from her shoulders
It slips to the floor
The darkness is laughing
Her lover is calling
In tears and remembrance
She opens the door
The cobblestone alley
The mystery her spinning
With thirteen black roses
They gaze at the bride
The widow is dancing
Her lover is calling
Her laughter is ringing
On the beach at low tide
And the town's people gather
As Lydia comes dancing
Spinning and reeling
At the edge of the sea
Her eyes shine like embers
Her body is burning
She runs to her lover………lover
jimbluebus
peter & david.....