MP3: Sweet Trip Covers James Joyce

James Joyce wished that someone would eventually make music out of his Chamber Music (.txt) collection of poetry. Over one hundred years after they were first published, his wish has been granted.

"I don't like the book but wish it were published and be damned to it," Joyce apparently wrote to his brother (and keeper) Stannie in February, 1907. "However, it is a young man's book. I felt like that. It is not a bookof love-verses at all, I perceive. But some of them are pretty enoughto be put to music. I hope someone will do so, someone that knows oldEnglish music such as I like. Besides they are not pretentious and havea certain grace."

Fire Records tracked down 18 artists including Peter Buck, Mercury Rev, Mike Watt, Califone, Flying Saucer Attack, Kinski, Bardo Pond, Lee Ranaldo and Sweet Trip, all of whom were were influenced "however loosely" by James Joyce, and had them turn each poem into a song.

Chamber Music (the album) is already out in Europe, but won't be released in the US until July 22 (double CD or double vinyl format).

In the meantime, here's Sweet Trip's take on stanza XXV:

"Sweet Trip - "Chamber Music" (.mp3)

And here are the lyrics, stanza XXV of Chamber Music:

Lightly come or lightly go:
Though thy heart presage thee woe,
Vales and many a wasted sun,
Oread let thy laughter run,
Till the irreverent mountain airRipple all thy flying hair.

Lightly, lightly – ever so:
Clouds that wrap the vales belowAt the hour of evenstar Lowliest attendants are;
Love and laughter song-confessedWhen the heart is heaviest.

MP3 courtesy of Fire Records; photo: infomatique