Moonlit Harvest- Lyrics from Outcasts, Rebels, Hobos and Bards

Inspired by Neil Young’s Harvest Moon. Re-imagined in what I think Robert Johnson might have done, had he wrote this as a traditional blues song.

Gather ’round the lunar bounty, 

soak in the twilight’s rusty glow,

Listen to the reaper’s waltz a crooning, 

and watch scarecrow’s shadow grow.

In this moonlit, dusty ballad, 

where the barn’s heartbeat echoes low,

A troubadour’s plowing through the nightfall, 

spreading seeds-dreams of tomorrow.

See the harvest moon, 

that loyal lantern in the sky,

Tickled by clouds, 

like whiskey breath, mind-fog-time rolling by.

Wind-shackles creaking softly, 

tunes from another goodby,

Where the trees hum a lullaby, 

and the stars, they wink and sigh.

In the orchard of forgotten tales, 

where the apples hang like gold,

A forgotten jukebox in the corner, 

spinning stories, sweet and bold.

The devil in the shadows, 

smoking dreams like tales yet untold,

A crooked grin, a hoarse whisper, 

and his moonlit secrets unfold.

But the harvest moon keeps rising,

like a rusty, ancient wheel,

The Fidler’s got dirt upon his fingers, 

and his calloused hands reveal

The toil and sweat, the bittersweet, 

in every furrow and every keel,

A troubadour in overalls, 

ploughing memories in the moonlit field.

Artist Statement:

“Moonlit Harvest” is a song that marries the essence of Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” with the hypothetical blues styling of Robert Johnson. Through its poetic lyrics and evocative imagery, the song creates a vivid landscape of a moonlit night on a farm, with a troubadour figure traversing the terrain and weaving tales of the land’s past and present.

Lyric Analysis:

The song opens with an invitation to the listener to gather around and immerse themselves in the ambiance of the moonlit scene. The imagery of the “lunar bounty” and “twilight’s rusty glow” sets the stage for a mystical, almost otherworldly experience.

The reaper’s waltz and the scarecrow’s shadow contribute to the eerie atmosphere, suggesting a blend of beauty and melancholy inherent in the cycle of life and death on the farm.

The troubadour, akin to a bluesman in this reimagining, navigates through the night, sowing seeds of dreams amidst the echoes of the barn’s heartbeat. This imagery conveys a sense of continuity and resilience in the face of adversity.

The chorus pays homage to the titular “harvest moon,” portraying it as a steadfast presence in the sky, unaffected by the passage of time. The comparison to “whiskey breath” adds a layer of rustic charm and nostalgia.

The imagery of wind-shackles creaking and trees humming a lullaby adds to the sensory experience, immersing the listener further into the nocturnal landscape.

The orchard of forgotten tales symbolizes the rich history of the land, with apples hanging like gold representing both abundance and neglect. The mention of a jukebox spinning “stories, sweet and bold” introduces an element of musical nostalgia, echoing the blues tradition.

The devil’s presence in the shadows adds an element of danger and intrigue, suggesting that not all is idyllic in this moonlit world. His role in “smoking dreams like tales yet untold” hints at the darker aspects of human nature and the passage of time.

The second chorus reaffirms the resilience of the harvest moon, likening it to a “rusty, ancient wheel” that continues to rise despite the challenges faced by the Fidler (presumably a variant of the satanic Georgian fiddler). This imagery highlights the cyclical nature of life and labor on the farm.

The troubadour, depicted as wearing overalls and “ploughing memories in the moonlit field,” embodies the spirit of both toil and creativity, weaving the past and present into his songs.

Musical Analysis:

While the lyrics provide the thematic framework of “Moonlit Harvest,” the musical arrangement would likely draw from the blues tradition, incorporating elements such as an electrified 12-bar blues structure, slide guitar, and perhaps a slow, mournful tempo to evoke the mood of the song.

The use of imagery and metaphor in the lyrics lends itself to a rich sonic tapestry, with the potential for dynamic shifts in instrumentation and vocal delivery to mirror the ebb and flow of the narrative.

Instrumentation could include acoustic & electric guitars, harmonica, and perhaps subtle percussion to evoke the rural setting and blues aesthetic.

Vocal delivery would likely emphasize emotion and storytelling, with opportunities for improvisation and embellishment to enhance the narrative impact of the lyrics.

Overall, “Moonlit Harvest” combines poetic lyricism with musical storytelling to create a haunting and evocative portrait of a moonlit night on the farm, infused with the spirit of the blues.