Falling Side by Side

by Anton Sword

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about

I feel silly calling attention to something as small and unimportant as a new single in the context of what’s happening in the world, but this release was already scheduled, so whatever, I’m following through on the plan. Here it is: ‘Falling Side by Side’. This is a re-recording and re-arrangement of a song from my first album, 'A Sentimental Education', where it was originally called ‘Behind the Scarlet Curtain.' For some reason the song came back to life in my imagination like a ghost or a zombie and grabbed me, kept running through my head, and wouldn’t let go until I did this, gave it another version life. Was it worth the effort? I have no idea, but I felt like I had to do it, so I did it. Now it’s done. Feel free to compare and send me your version opinions!

The song is about a friendship in which, after a lot of self-destructive behavior together, one person engages another romantically with a half-unconscious, half-conscious plan of saving them from themselves, even if it means both of them may be destroyed in the process. A familiar scenario to some of us, I think. Someone wants to be a hero and save another person, yet senses that the most likely outcome for both of them will be doom.

The American Museum of Natural History kindly continues to grant me rights to use photos I took of their dioramas (which I then subtly altered and touched up) as ‘covers’ for these releases, for which I’m very grateful, because I can’t imagine any other graphic approach in the near future, I’m so in love with this one.

lyrics

Falling Side By Side

Oh that stage is so old, and that rope is frayed, gold and braided
Drama queen let go, come give me your hand and jump, we'll make it
But you barely try, and your glassy eyes show you've been drinking
Still smiling as you cry, hiding that inside you're sinking

We're falling side by side in the back behind the scarlet curtain
Take a bow and wave goodbye, let's throw our script away and play uncertain

As the world weaponized, we strode out from in between the death-lights
When to our surprise the audience vaporized I checked if you were all right

We're falling side by side in the back behind the scarlet curtain
Taking a bow, waving goodbye, throwing our script away to finally play uncertain

Grab the wire that I'm throwing and just tie it to your chest
It's your last chance and I'm towing but you've got to do the rest

We're falling side by side in the back behind the scarlet curtain
Take a bow and wave goodbye, let's throw our script away
We're falling side by side
We're falling side by side

credits

released March 18, 2022
Voice, keyboards: Anton Sword
Guitars: Julian Maile
Bass guitar: Joan Chew
Recorded & Mixed by Anton Sword and Pete Kohl
Written & Produced by Anton Sword
Mastered by Dan Walker
© 2022 Anton Sword/Fugue State Music. All Rights Reserved.

Cover photo by Anton Sword, © American Museum of Natural History.

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about

Anton Sword Brooklyn, New York

NYC-based songwriter Anton Sword leads an indie synth/ dance/ new wave project with a shifting band lineup. Sword has toured the Eastern USA twice and Europe 10 times, playing for a small but loyal following. One of his ambient compositions runs in a loop on permanent display in NYC's American Museum of Natural History, scoring the ‘Astro Bulletin’ in the lobby of the Rose Space Center. ... more

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