9/21 "Nibble Nibble" (album: The Wanderlings Volume Two) is the story of Hansel and Gretel from the witch's POV. Not a retelling to put her in a better light (although I love those too) just a story about a witch who lures children to her house.
Often there are deeper meanings in my songs, but not this one. It's just the villain's song in the musical because sometimes it's fun to play the villain.
"Nibble, nibble like a mouse
Who is nibbling at my house..."
That's where the song began. I visualize the witch much like the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz, watching the children's progress through the woods in her crystal ball. Praying for their safe arrival.
I love to write songs that are character studies, to climb inside a head that's not mine and write what I find there. To reflect on self and admit deep truths about myself as I wear the cloak of another's being.
When I first started writing the songs I call the Wanderlings, I wanted to figure out the full spectrum of what it meant to be a woman. All the motivations, reactions, personalities, needs, desires.
Looking back, and knowing what I know about myself now, I can see why. Of all the genders, female has always been the most elusive to me. I'm good at dressing up as one, but I'm playing a part. Nothing wrong with playing a part, it's just not who I am underneath.
I'm fairly certain there's nothing underneath the witch who wants to eat children in the woods. But I had to go looking to be sure.
My favourite performance of this song was on tour with @sjtuckermusic in Colorado Springs, when a storm gathered during the show and a helpfully dramatic rumble of thunder came right on cue.
Always nice when you get to experience true pathetic fallacy from the stage. Nature is sometimes theatrically obliging.
The third volume of Wanderlings has been written. It's entirely possible it will be released next spring, as long as my health and circumstances allow. The project will have 4 seasonal volumes when it's done.
