Ever been struck by how closely the textures of the stranger end of folklore resemble the textures of schizophrenia? Because I can’t listen to this track without feeling like I’m hearing a song about someone lost in the netherworld of madness.
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city of tongues
Certainly sounds like a transition from teenage angst and sense of loss and misconnection – which is a type of madness, especially from a parent’s perspective – to a type of acceptance and calm.
Hadn’t thought about the connection between folklore and schizophrenia before, but it makes a sort of sense. Religion has always struck me as a sort of madness; an attempt to construct order out of chaos. And who better to do that but “holy men” who hear voices?
Everything you say about your kids and makes me think you must be a terrific parent, Perry. And it’s not a point I’d want to push too far, but I’ve been thinking a bit about fairy tales lately, and there is something about those stories, and indeed an awful lot of the more haunted end of folklore generally which suggests a very different way of being in the world.
lost my beautiful boy to a schizophrenic netherworld over 20 years ago. watched everything we knew and shared take on a new and profound significance for him, he came to read the world a completely different way from me. For a while we circled each other and tried to communicate, it took me a while to realise I made as little sense to him as he did to me.
folklore has symbols that mean something, that often have either a trouble causing or a problem solving importance. schizophrenia sees symbols everywhere, finds extraordinary meaning in them. so this song reads/looks like madness to me too. Some private, antic god, lifting up the lid of his skull and planting secrets there.
When I look at video games it makes me think of it, too. Easter eggs. Health points. Secret weapons. Cheat codes.