FAWM: "Daughter of the Horseleech"

Daughter of the Horseleech

2 weeks ago by @alyxanderjames

Daughter of the Horseleech

alyxanderjames

00:00

Liner Notes

Okay, so this one started with the #BrewersDip challenge from the forums (https://write.fawm.org/forums/3196). I tossed out the number 333, which got me the prompt of "'Daughter of the horseleech' an outmoded expression for someone who sponges off others." When I sat down to start writing, I started thinking about how misogyny probably played into the origins of that term. And then I started thinking about the bullsh*t excuses that get bandied about for not providing trans healthcare, including that we're mooching or taking more than our fair share, and how transmisogyny means that this disproportionately affects trans women, and then this song happened. Kept the prompt as the title, though it didn't officially make it into the lyrics.

I'm not totally sure about the chords, was playing around with a shortcut capo on the second fret and some standard open chord shapes.

#folk #trans #queer #PersonWithGuitar #CapoChallenge #acoustic #AcousticOneTake

Lyrics

They looked at your beauty, said you must be cheating
Your once-benefactors accused you of thieving
They said they were harmed, but it's you who's left bleeding
The small-minded cowards won't see you succeeding

But you are an oracle heralding change
You are a queen who should never know shame
Though they try to say that you must stay the same
You know the magic of choosing your name

The world can be cruel if you step out of line
They say that their rules come to them from on high
Point out contradictions, they say that you're lying
Enshrining their hatred as something divine

But you are an oracle heralding change
You are a queen who should never know shame
Though they try to say that you must stay the same
You know the magic of choosing your name

But you are an oracle heralding change
You are a queen who should never know shame
Though they try to say that you must stay the same
You know the magic of choosing your name

Comments

@gardeningangel 6d

I'd never heard that saying before, but your take on the origin sounds likely. So much truth in just 3 1/2 minutes. Every line is a good one. The soft delivery and mysterious chords gave me chills... that chorus feels strong enough to have a full orchestra behind it. Wow... just wow.

@guatecoop 1w

Your playing and singing are great together! I love the melody and chords you use. Oh these lyrics are so personal and poignant. These are very challenging times….this song is wonderful.

@jeremykazoo 1w

The lyric and music are so well matched it just seems like a conversation.

Powerful lyric to a powerful person.

@nwhosings 2w

Gordon Lightfoot vibes on this. Really digging your guitar chord progression here.
Like, these lyrics. I just can't this is so massively powerful.
Like, I want to cry, because this song feels so validating of my experience as a queer person who has hidden most of their life, and still hides in many places.
But yes, I do know the magic of choosing my name.
Thank you for writing this.

@bijou 2w

Those pulsing chords are so pretty. Very beautiful but also understandably heartbreaking.

@richardmasters 2w

Hi Alyx, glad the prompt inspired a piece of writing and a performance like this. I'd agree that the horseleech expression is almost certainly founded in mysogeny. You have made something powerful here, quietly powerful. 'you know the magic of choosing your name ' brilliant.

@wurzelfrau 2w

Oh my god i can not express how much i love this song Alyx. The chorus is beautifully, magically worded and i am so damn here for it. This is exquisite. Thank you for writing it <3

@zecoopMod 2w

Hooray for the shortcut! Beautiful sounds and a lovely soft delivery that belies the strong lyric. Powerful in a really gentle way, which makes it that much more powerful in my view. I love the message and hate the circumstances in the world right now that makes it so important. Keep singing and writing. This was fantastic all around. Completely gorgeous.

@spidersinatrenchcoat 2w

It's a lovely fuzziness to the sound. Like in a small unattended kitchen or something. Kinda reminds me of a Mountain Goats song on addiction from the We Shall All Be Healed album.

@daveescoffery 2w

Wow, I'm blown away. This is a gorgeous song. First, the topic is powerful and important, and you've totally nailed the messaging. And the guitar and melody create a subtly beautiful atmosphere, almost haunting. As a parent to three trans kids, I want to thank you for writing a song like this!