#offa rex

Offa Rex: “The Queen of Hearts” (2017) The collaboration between England’s Olivia Chaney and Portland band The Decemberists earned a Best Folk Album Grammy nomination in 2018.

Song of the day

The Old Churchyard by Offa Rex

Album: The Queen of Hearts (2017)

First of all: Oh my god, that voice and that melody, those instruments - it gives me shivers of the most beautiful kind! Also despite being based on religious beliefs I no longer exactly share (my opinion on the afterlife largely being "I would prefer not to, thanks"), this song is still very much in line with my thoughts about dying and everything about this song is SO INSANELY COMFORTING! (Also: not intended as a side-swipe for anyone actually following me who was involved in the thing I'm referencing 'cause it's not your fault that the very idea of immortality makes me want to off myself at the earliest opportunity, but the last time witnessing a "death should be abolished" conversation had my brain completely befuckened, this song on repeat for twenty minutes and a couple of Caitlin Doughty videos were actually enough to get me mostly back on track, so I'm jotting that down for future reference!)

Favourite lyrics:

Mourn not for them, their trials are o'er And why weep for those who will weep no more? For sweet is their sleep, though cold and hard Their pillows may be in the old churchyard

Song of the Day

It was five years ago today: Offa Rex—aka English singer/multi-instrumentalist Olivia Chaney and The Decemberists—released the album The Queen of Hearts on Nonesuch. “A match made in folk-rock heaven,” says NPR. You can hear it again here.

So join the union while you may, don't wait until your dying day., for that might not be far away, you dirty blackleg miner!

Come, come with me out to the old churchyard

I so well know those paths 'neath the soft green sward

Friends slumber in there that we want to regard;