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Madcap Laughs

by Alexandra Riorden

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Released May 16, 2019 by Riorden

"Madcap Laughs" is a somber, eerie ballad with vintage textures and folk roots, set to dreamy verbed-out guitars, mellotron, and glockenspiel. In "Madcap Laughs," Riorden contrasts her unconventional life dreams with those of a fictional character, whom she calls the "madcap," a man who has lost his vitality in desperate attempts to fit the mold of society. Inspired by the title of Syd Barrett's debut solo album, "The Madcap Laughs," the song fittingly comments on the thin line between what is socially considered to be "insanity," and "sanity," signing one's life away in pursuit of meaningless certificates and accolades. In the face of this realization, Riorden questions whether there is another way: "well who am I supposed to be / is there no path through all the shadows of the trees?" Regardless of the answer to her quandary, the song ends on a liberating note, with a defiant, no going back attitude: "I've seen those lies, now I've no choice but to be free."

lyrics

Lyrics:
Madcap laughs as he does his paperwork
Fits neatly into boxes
And the rest it will be burned
He's shut his eyes to options
All love has left him spurned
He’s locking up the office
Automatic, every turn

Oh I, I know
Oh I, although I’ve been told I’ve gone the wrong way
Well who am I supposed to be?
I don’t feel right in any places I have been


He’s on a trail of numbers,
Lines and margins left unsaid
While I’ve been plagued by dizzy spinning patterns in my head
He goes to bed so early,
But he never sleeps at night
His life makes him so angry,
But he’s never picked a fight

Oh I, I know
Oh I, although I’ve been told I’ve gone the wrong way
Well who am I supposed to be?
I don’t look much like any faces I have seen

This man serves as my omen,
If my tea leaves should be read
His choice disguised as curse, beyond security of bread
His sanity’s insanity,
To think a cycle straight ahead
The window to the world is wide,
I lay awake in bed


Oh I, I know
Oh I, although I’ve been told I’ve gone the wrong way
Well who am I supposed to be?
Is there no path through all the shadows of the trees?

Well who am I supposed to be?
I've heard those lies,
now I've no choice but to be free

credits

released May 16, 2019
Written & Performed by Riorden

Guitar + Bass / Avi Durchfort

Produced by Avi Durchfort

Co-produced by Riorden

Mixed by Avi Durchfort & Dalton Ricks

Mastered by Dalton Ricks

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Alexandra Riorden California

Alexandra Riorden’s debut LP Angel City Radio is an abstract chronicle of the tumultuous healing process after experiencing trauma, wrapped in a smoke-scented velvet curtain of shimmering indie-rock. Progressing like a Lynchian dream sequence, each song takes the listener down a different hallway in the labyrinth that is recovery; some dark, others reflective, but all moving towards empowerment. ... more

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