the deepening ground

Playing around with my banjo early this summer I came upon the chords and melody that would eventually become the first song I had composed since I finished my constellation series over a year ago. Here, I shift my attention to the myth of Narcissus and Echo. As Northrop Frye said in “The Keys to Dreamland,” “All around you is a highly artificial society, but you don’t think of it as artificial: you’re so accustomed to it that you think of it as natural.” In many ways, this is the world of Narcissus (or the narcissists), and the toxic temptation of such a shallow world can only be broken by a deeper encounter with true Love.

Musically, I imagine an odd mash-up of Weezer meets The Avett Brothers. For now, all I have to offer is a demo I recorded, and who knows if and when I will ever get to record these songs more professionally – I have more than enough to keep me busy otherwise. Still, it’s a joy to share it here and live with Treebeard Brown when we have the opportunity to gig around the area. Look us up on social media if you live in the Western Pennsylvania region! I would love to meet you there!

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Slave to My Heart

Vincent H. Anastasi – 2026

I think I knew you in the beginning;
I think I knew you before I saw
All the wonderful voodoo of faces reflecting.
Now I’m a slave to my heart,
Now I’m a slave to my heart.

I used to choose to hunt for a living;
I used to choose to go it alone,
But now I refuse to leave pleasures unending.
There’s no need to depart;
I’m a slave to my heart.

Now there’s no more than reflections,
No echoes of love to perpend; (No amorous hopes to suspend)
I sold it all for a pleasing pretend. (REPEAT)

I think it’s useless chasing a feeling;
I think it’s useless pining for love.
Conversations are fruitless, exchanges empty.
Now I’ve no counterpart;
I’m a slave to my heart.

CHORUS + SOLO over VERSE

I think I knew you in the beginning;
I think I knew you before I saw
That the waters were taboo, toxically tempting.
There’s no way to depart;
I’m a slave to my heart.

CHORUS

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