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We recently teamed with local MI playwright (and good friend) Joseph Zettelmaier to write a song for his newest production, Dead Man's Shoes. Described as a "deeply twisted comedy that steals your heart – after breaking your ankles, punching you in the gut and puncturing your lungs," this show follows the story of Injun Bill and his sidekick, Froggy on their quest for vengeance in the old Wild West. The Ballad of Injun Bill is performed live by the actors during the show and is interwoven into the script as a way to transition from scene to scene.
We had the pleasure of setting music to Joseph Zettelmaier's gritty and poignant lyrics and we're excited to share them with you! We had SO much fun recording this! Dead Man's Shoes will be running through February 26th at the Williamston Theater. It will also be performed at Performance Network in downtown Ann Arbor from March 8th through April 8th.
Please make plans to see this gritty and poignant show (and say hello to Rochelle who will be stage managing this production at both theaters)! And now..we give you The Ballad of Injun Bill. Enjoy! :-)
For more information on Dead Man's Shoes:
www.williamstontheatre.com/wp/
www.performancenetwork.org
The Potter's Field is:
John Natiw - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica, Percussion
Rochelle Clark - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Kazoo
Additional musicians:
Dave Roof - Upright Bass
Produced by The Potter's Field
Engineered by John Natiw
Mixed by John Natiw
Mastered by Jim Kissling
Lyrics by Joseph Zettelmaier
Music by Natiw & Clark/Rocket Boy Records ASCAP
Recorded February 2012 at Rocket Boy Records in Canton, Michigan
Album Cover design by John Natiw
lyrics
THE BALLAD OF INJUN BILL
In a dark and run-down prison in the heart of North Dakota
Sat the son of the Lakota with the devil in his eyes
He spent two years in the saddle fightin’ his own private battle
And it landed him in jail, one step further from his prize
The outlaw caves he hid in held his treasure and his mem’ries
Of dead friends and deader enemies, and the tales his knives would tell
And he thought of old George Parrot ‘til his heart just wouldn’t bear it
‘Cause he knew they’d never meet again, ‘cept at the gates of Hell
Injun Bill, Injun Bill
Think on this before you slaughter
Every girl is someone’s daughter, every man is someone’s son
Injun Bill, Injun Bill
Let your better Angels guide you
‘Cause the Devil that’s inside you wants his due before it’s done
So Bill headed to Montana with a partner that plain galled him
Froggy was the name they called him when they got the chance to speak
But the city that they came to looked like God had set a flame to
None left there but cold dead corpses ‘round a chapel, burned and bleak
At a tavern name of Crossroads, Bill & Froggy came a callin’
For a barkeep so appallin’ he had hellfire on the tap
But the man of whom I’m speakin’ had the knowledge they were seekin’
So Bill never stopped to wonder if the meeting was a trap
Injun Bill, Injun Bill
Think on this before you slaughter
Every girl is someone’s daughter, every man is someone’s son
Injun Bill, Injun Bill
Let your better Angels guide you
‘Cause the Devil that’s inside you wants his due before it’s done
Broke and shackled in a train car, Bill and Froggy seemed defeated
‘Cause the sheriff, he had greeted them with smiles and a gun
So they rode off without knowin’ where the goddamn train was goin’
And they had that sinkin’ feeling like their race was all but run
BREAK AS CHORUS
Injun Bill, Injun Bill
Think on this before you slaughter
Every girl is someone’s daughter, every man is someone’s son
Injun Bill, Injun Bill
Let your better Angels guide you
‘Cause the Devil that’s inside you wants his due (before it’s done)
Injun Bill, Injun Bill
Sing the darkest Hallelujah
Let the knives that whisper to ya keep the promise of the past
Injun Bill Injun Bill
Feel the shadow on your shoulder
‘Cause the night grows ever colder, and the Devil’s come at last
‘Cause the night grows ever colder, and the Devil’s come at last
credits
released February 7, 2012
Performed by The Potter's Field:
John Natiw - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Percussion
Rochelle Clark - Vocals
Additional musicians:
Dave Roof - Upright Bass
Produced by The Potter's Field
Engineered by John Natiw
Mixed by John Natiw
Mastered by Jim Kissling
Lyrics by Joseph Zettelmaier
Music by John Natiw & Rochelle Clark/Rocket Boy Records ASCAP
Recorded February 2012 at Rocket Boy Records in Canton, Michigan
Album Cover design by John Natiw
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