Kathy lives in San Leandro, CA in a commune and is the mother of Michael (1970-1982), Melanie (1972) and twins Nicolas and Cassandra (1985). Her primary life partner Dean Dierschow (familiar as her most devoted roadie) lives there with her in a wonderful ongoing courtship. She was very involved in the antiwar movement in the sixties and sang in Kansas City for the first Moratorium. She has appeared as filk GOH at almost every filk convention and many regular SF conventions as well.
Pegasus Awards
* 1989 - Best Filk Song - Arafel's Song (Tree of Swords & Jewels) (With Mercedes Lackey)
* 1989 - Best Writer/Composer
* 1991 - Best Love Song - Velveteen
* 1993 - Best Writer/Composer
* 1994 - Best Filk Song - Drink Up the River
* 1996 - Best Filk Song - When Giants Walked
* 2004 - Best Writer/Composer
Albums
* Songbird - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-??) 1982
* On a Bright Wind - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-??) 1984
* Bamboo Wind - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-54) 1985
* Plus Ca Change - Thor Records (cassette FK1003) 1988
* Plus C'est La Mme Chose - Thor Records (cassette FK1006) 1990
* Made By Magic - with Zander Nyrond, Dandelion Digital CD DD-005CD, 1994
* My Favorite Sings - Prometheus Music CD, 1999
* Plus Ca Change / Plus C'est La Mme Chose - DragonsGate Music CD 2000
Songbird
Kathy Mar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chorus: I dwell in the Songhouse
And song is my breath
I will sing my life long
And in shrouds made of song
I will sleep at my death
I was born to be Songbird
And the music will rise
Through the depths of the skies
To the planets above
I was bought in the market
For silver and song
And I grew in the Songhouse
To be noble and strong
And the song grew within me
And my voice soon took wing
Now the love cradles 'round me
With each note I sing
Chorus
As the Emperor's Songbird
I was trained from the start
From the very first teacher
Who opened my heart
To the people who heard me
In the palace each day
I have given my music
And my spirit away
Chorus
I am old now and silent
And my songs are all sung
And the tales of my lifetime
Will not pass my tongue
But the glory still haunts me
And my lessons survive
And the work of the Songbirds
Will continue to thrive
Chorus
The lyrics to Kathy Mar's "Songbird" describe a life devoted to music and song. The chorus "I dwell in the Songhouse and song is my breath / I will sing my life long and in shrouds made of song / I will sleep at my death" emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of this dedication. The idea of being born to be a "Songbird" suggests a sense of destiny and purpose. The song's theme is further developed when the singer describes being bought in the market for "silver and song" and growing up in the Songhouse to become "noble and strong." The song becomes a part of the singer, with their love "cradling around me with each note I sing."
The second verse provides more context to the singer's life, as they describe training as the "Emperor's Songbird" from a young age. Their music is given to the people in the palace every day, and they have "given [their] spirit" away through their singing. The final verse, however, shows the passage of time and the end of the singer's life. They are now "old now and silent" and their songs have been sung. The lessons they have learned, however, will continue to thrive through the work of other Songbirds.
Overall, "Songbird" is a celebration of a life of music and the power that it holds over its practitioners and audiences alike. The singer's lifelong dedication to their craft is shown to be a source of great pride, and their legacy is clear in the Songhouse where others will continue the tradition.
Line by Line Meaning
Chorus: I dwell in the Songhouse
I inhabit the abode of music
And song is my breath
Music is my life force
I will sing my life long
I will devote my entire existence to song
And in shrouds made of song
Even in death, music will enshroud me
I will sleep at my death
I will rest in a musical slumber when I pass away
I was born to be Songbird
My purpose in life is to sing
And my song will be love
My music will be infused with love
And the music will rise
My melodies will ascend
Through the depths of the skies
They will traverse the vast expanse of the heavens
To the planets above
And reach even the other celestial bodies
I was bought in the market
I was traded in the marketplace
For silver and song
In exchange for both currency and music
And I grew in the Songhouse
I flourished in the musical sanctuary
To be noble and strong
To become virtuous and resilient
And the song grew within me
Music became an integral part of my being
And my voice soon took wing
My vocal prowess soared to new heights
Now the love cradles 'round me
Love nurtures and surrounds me
With each note I sing
Each of my musical notes is imbued with love
As the Emperor's Songbird
As the Songbird of the Emperor
I was trained from the start
I underwent rigorous training since the beginning
From the very first teacher
Starting with my earliest instructor
Who opened my heart
Who instilled in me a passion for music
To the people who heard me
To the audiences who listened to me
In the palace each day
Every day in the royal residence
I have given my music
I have shared my artistry
And my spirit away
And in doing so, I have given a part of myself
I am old now and silent
I am elderly and no longer sing
And my songs are all sung
All of my melodies have been performed
And the tales of my lifetime
The stories of my life
Will not pass my tongue
I will not vocalize them
But the glory still haunts me
Their glory still lingers in my mind
And my lessons survive
The knowledge I imparted endures
And the work of the Songbirds
The legacy of the Songbirds
Will continue to thrive
Will continue to flourish
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.