Natalie Merchant
natalie merchant, “come on aphrodite,”
w/Abena Koomson-Davis of Resistance Revival Chorus
from: Keep your courage, 2023
“Come on Aphrodite, you goddess of love
Come on Aphrodite, from that mountain above
Come on Aphrodite, I’m begging you, begging you
I’m begging you please
Come on Aphrodite, can’t you see that I’ve been patient?
Come on Aphrodite, can’t you see how long I’ve waited?
Come on Aphrodite, can’t you see that I’m wasting
I’m wasting away
Won’t you come from the sea? Appear to me!
Come on Aphrodite, see me down on my knees
Come on Aphrodite, part the waves for me
Come on Aphrodite, I’m begging you, begging you
I’m begging you please
Come on Aphrodite, I’ve been nothing but true
Come on Aphrodite, I believe in you
Come on Aphrodite, from the mountain, from the sea
Gather all your secrets, come on, bring them to me
Won’t you come from the sea? Appear to me
Come on, queen of the garden of earthly delight
Goddess of passion and giver of life
Come to me
Come with your rapture, come with your pain
Come if you hear me; I’m calling your name
Come to me
Make me head over heels, make me drunk, make me blind
Over the moon, half out of my mind
Make me weak in the knees; tremble inside
Give up easy and swallow my pride
Oh, make me, make me love
Oh, make me, make me love
Oh make me...can you make me love?
Flower of the ocean, pearl of the sea
Daughter immortal, come to me
Oh, come to me
Oh, come to me
Come and rise from the water, walk on the sand
Goddess of beauty, take my hand
Oh, come to me
Oh, come to me
Oh, come to me
”
One phenomenon that has rewarded my interest in music is the chance to follow a variety of artists over the length of their careers. While the first outings might emerge with the excitement of their discovery, the odyssey that surrounds the lives of long-standing musicians is the stuff of cryptic legends and dastardly soap operas. I don’t know much about Ms. Merchant personally, but I have felt the informed optimism of her recordings. I say informed because of her quest to include history, feminism, political activism, poetry, artistic collaboration and a genial hope in her work. Thought it fitting in throes of her 40 + year career to include this pioece from her forthcoming Spring record