We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Gardening The Clean

from Killing The Teenage by Calamity Down

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

Gardening The Clean had the longest most troubled birth out of any song. It originally started as a technical exercise in song writing when I first moved from LMMS to FL Studio. I wanted to see what I could create using my new tool set, and at the time a lot of stolen and cracked VSTs.

The song then became part of a failed project about a man who would try to start a religious war in the United States. Nothing from that project has survived. I think I remember a few lyrics I had written, but it was overall pretty shit and overwrought. At the time the song was called Origin Virgin. Some of the lyrics remain from that era, but recontextualized. I'm pretty sure I was sitting in a training in Indianapolis in 2011 when I came up with the lyrics.

As Killing the Teenage began to take a stronger form I realized Origin Virgin had a home here, or rather I was too committed to it to let it die and figured I could make it fit a new context. I liked the song a lot even then, but it needed a lot of work to bring it up to the standard of this album. The song was given its current name and some parts were reworked to improve its structure and have it better fit with this project. Originally the organ and bass parts were flipped. I also wanted a Saxophone solo during the refrain originally.

The song, having had different origins, has a different sound than the rest of the album. Considering its place in the middle I think its a welcome palate cleanser. Its more vibrant, and also far more noisy and chaotic. It reflects my older style a lot. Not a bad thing, but noticeable.

lyrics

Born in a lotus
In the palms of blood
Crossed by the pulpit
You’ve Given this message
And silenced at once
No matter what you want from me

The water you blessed
Has given him pause
He’s slow on the surface
So leave him to drown
In a house he will tarnish
No matter what you want from me

My knuckles are raw
My eyes are slow
I never get clean
You can’t free me
No matter what you want from me

My knuckles are raw
My eyes are slow
I never get clean
You can’t free me
No matter what you want from me

Hey
Is this child going to wake

Hey
Preserve nails on the stake

Hey
Say it nice to his face

Hey
Then dig the cross into his back

The lies we have planted
Their roots grow deeper
Who’s family is a hero
Which patrons do we taint
All the ivory is cracking
No matter what you want from me

The legends we tell them
Are spilling with paint
Red glossed in one sense
Of sinning disdain
The tape will keep secrets
No matter what you want from me

My knuckles are raw
My eyes are slow
I never get clean
I never get clean
No matter what you expect of me

My knuckles are raw
My eyes are slow
I never get clean
I never get clean
No matter what you expect of me

Hey
Can it open its mortal side

Hey
A pleasant face my of lies

Hey
Writing checks as acts of love

Hey
Reunion made of blackened doves

I let the sun burn me
Just to cleanse it free
The flakes fly away
I am a new day
I gardened the clean
Only I will cleanse me

I can not drain it out
Refills in my house
When I take the plunge
Don’t play the victim
To crude addendums
You tried for my end

A hall warm but alone
I hear honest tones
History inverts
The elder holds my neck
I welcome the release
Please give this to me

My knuckles are raw
My eyes are slow
I never get clean
I never get clean
No matter what you expect

My knuckles are raw
My eyes are slow
I never get clean
I never get clean
No matter what you expect

My knuckles are raw
My eyes are slow
I never get clean
I never get clean
No matter what you expect of me

credits

from Killing The Teenage, released September 17, 2023

license

tags

about

Calamity Down image

Calamity Down Peoria, Illinois

Experimental works. Sonic disasters.
Breaking Frequencies.

contact / help

Contact Calamity Down

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

Calamity Down recommends:

If you like Calamity Down, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featuring interviews with LA music scene pillar Kamasi Washington, and new London-based duo Mrcy.

listen now