Cooper's sophomore album, "Family Tree: The Roots" was released in October 2011. It is the first of the trilogy record called "The Family Tree" which follows the story of a fictional family from 1800 to 1950. Following "The Roots" will be "The Branches" and "The Relatives" respectively.
In between his first two Radical Face records Ben released two EP's to fill the gap. The first was "Touch The Sky". In the summer of 2011 "The Bastards Volume 1" EP was released. Other volumes will compliment the fore-coming Family Tree trilogy.
Under his 'Radical Face' moniker his music features acoustic guitar, "found-sound" percussion, and many multi-layered tracks. The sound is incredibly unique, not only because of Cooper's originality and raw talent, but also because most of the music has traditionally been recorded in the shed in his backyard.
Website: www.radicalface.com
The Dead Waltz
Radical Face Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I was idle on the porch
She slept-walked from your house down the walkway
As though she'd done it all before
And the moon was out
And in her gown beside the riverbed
She got down on her knees
And leaves, and branches and with the wind beneath her feet
Oh, she waltzed with the dead
And everything was bathed
In light white as milk
As the impossible began
She danced across the water's edge
But her feet, they didn't sink as though she flew
I ran out in the water
With a lantern in my hand
I was waste deep and shivering
I took her wrist and walked her in
I was loathe to interrupt her
But I had to get her home
If people were to see this
They'd gather up, raise hell and burn her alive
Don't you mind, don't you mind, she'll be fine
Tie a bell around her ankle
Before she lays down at night
And the sound of her footsteps
Will wake me in time
Don't you mind, don't you mind
I'll watch over her
As though she were mine
The Dead Waltz by Radical Face is a haunting and mysterious song that tells the story of a man who sees his neighbor's daughter sleepwalking in the moonlight. She walks to the riverbank and begins dancing with the dead. The man rushes to the river to try to save her from the river, but she doesn't sink. He eventually brings her back to her home but is concerned about the reaction of the people if they see her dancing with the dead.
The song is an eerie reflection of the human condition, portraying the fragility and transcendent nature of life. The daughter's sleepwalking is symbolic of her subconscious desire to connect with the dead while the river represents the threshold between life and death. The moon is often associated with the unknown and the supernatural, amplifying the mysteriousness of the daughter's actions.
The lyrics highlight human fears, prejudices, and the act of preservation. The man is concerned about the judgement of the society, and hence tries to save her. He doesn't understand her actions but decides to protect her. The last part of the song portrays the man's affection and care for the daughter.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw your daughter yesterday
The singer saw the addressee's daughter the day before.
As I was idle on the porch
The singer saw the daughter while relaxing on the porch.
She slept-walked from your house down the walkway
The daughter walked while asleep from her house to the walkway.
As though she'd done it all before
The daughter's sleepwalking seemed familiar to the artist.
And the moon was out
The scene took place at night with the moon visible.
And in her gown beside the riverbed
The daughter was wearing a dress next to a river.
She got down on her knees
The daughter knelt down next to the river.
And wrapped her long hair up in vines
The daughter put her hair in vines.
And leaves, and branches and with the wind beneath her feet
The daughter danced in the wind with vines, leaves, and branches in her hair.
Oh, she waltzed with the dead
The daughter appeared to dance with the dead.
And everything was bathed
The surroundings were full of light.
In light white as milk
The color of the light was white like milk.
As the impossible began
Something that couldn't happen started happening.
She danced across the water's edge
The daughter danced near the river.
But her feet, they didn't sink as though she flew
Despite dancing near the river, the daughter didn't sink but appeared to fly.
I ran out in the water
The artist went into the water.
With a lantern in my hand
The artist carried a lantern with him.
I was waste deep and shivering
The singer's body was submerged in the water up to his waist, and he was shivering.
I took her wrist and walked her in
The singer held the daughter's wrist and walked her out of the water.
I was loathe to interrupt her
The artist didn't want to stop the daughter's dance.
But I had to get her home
The artist had to take the daughter back home.
If people were to see this
If someone saw the daughter's dancing near the river, there would be trouble.
They'd gather up, raise hell and burn her alive
People would come together and punish the daughter harshly if they saw the strange dancing.
Don't you mind, don't you mind, she'll be fine
The artist assures the addressee that the daughter will be okay.
Tie a bell around her ankle
The singer suggests tying a bell around the daughter's ankle.
Before she lays down at night
Before the daughter goes to bed, the bell should be tied.
And the sound of her footsteps
The sound of the daughter's footsteps will alert the singer.
Will wake me in time
The artist will be woken up in time by the sound of the daughter's footsteps.
Don't you mind, don't you mind
The artist reiterates that there's no need to worry.
I'll watch over her
The singer will protect the daughter.
As though she were mine
The singer feels responsible for the daughter's safety.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BENJAMIN P COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HootToad
I saw your daughter yesterday
As I was idle on the porch
She slept-walked from your house down the walkway
As though she’d done it all before
And the moon was out
And in her gown besides the riverbed
She got down on her knees
And wrapped her long hair up in vines, and leaves, and branches
And with the wind beneath her feet
Oh, she waltzed with the dead
And everything was bathed
In light white as milk
As the impossible began
She danced across the water’s edge
But her feet, they didn’t sink
As though she flew
I ran out in the water
With a lantern in my hand
I was waist deep and shivering
Took her wrist and walked her in
I was loathe to interrupt her
But I had to get her home
If people were to see this
They’d gather up, raise hell and burn her alive
Don’t you mind, don’t you mind
She’ll be fine
Tie a bell around her ankle
Before she lays down at night
And the sound of her footsteps
Will wake me in time
Don’t you mind, don’t you mind
I’ll watch over her
As though she were mine.
HootToad
I saw your daughter yesterday
As I was idle on the porch
She slept-walked from your house down the walkway
As though she’d done it all before
And the moon was out
And in her gown besides the riverbed
She got down on her knees
And wrapped her long hair up in vines, and leaves, and branches
And with the wind beneath her feet
Oh, she waltzed with the dead
And everything was bathed
In light white as milk
As the impossible began
She danced across the water’s edge
But her feet, they didn’t sink
As though she flew
I ran out in the water
With a lantern in my hand
I was waist deep and shivering
Took her wrist and walked her in
I was loathe to interrupt her
But I had to get her home
If people were to see this
They’d gather up, raise hell and burn her alive
Don’t you mind, don’t you mind
She’ll be fine
Tie a bell around her ankle
Before she lays down at night
And the sound of her footsteps
Will wake me in time
Don’t you mind, don’t you mind
I’ll watch over her
As though she were mine.
Grenadine_09
This has to be my favorite song you guys made other than old Gemini. I’m not sure why, both of there lyrics and and background instrumentals just impact me so much and get to me.
pernus
Thank you for posting these! When I have enough $ I'm buying the whole Family Tree Project, Roots, Branches, Leaves, Bastards... all. So good.
Noelia dcms
This deserves more views like really😍
Nocturnal
Always going to be my favourite.
K
I wish her well💕, we're just two very different people.
Rajesh Sakthivel
Ur songs all with music is only friend in my alone time 🥰😍😍
Nihad Meb
❤️❤️❤️
C K
That bridge, man.
Emily Botelho
Sinto coisas que nunca havia sentido com as suas músicas e, o mais impressionante, é que a cada música é revelado um sentimento novo em mim. Como isso é possível?