Posted By Karen "Neckromance" St. Claire on Sep 12, 2018 | 1 comment

Community Issues

BLACK SHEEP Juke Joint

The term “Goth” already rings a dark resonance of tubular bells, dark skies, and decaying abandoned churches in a remote countryside for the imagination gone wild. The children of the night, the dark souls that roam this earth, crawl out of the woodwork from their graffiti smeared tunnels and crumbling crypts which are just mere expressions of their sanctified comfort zones. A howling wolf and rustling of the autumn leaves echo a come hither message to rise and shine by the light of the crescent moon’s smile that nurtures over her nocturnal children. The smell of a crackling bonfire provides warmth on these cool fall nights as the solemnly grim storyteller narrates a macabre mystery exhumed from hand-me-down folklore. A tattered, lanky guitar player strums a dissonant, diminished chord progression as the tattooed gypsy wench dances a harem shuffle around the fiery flames.

“Hail to the children of the night!” the spiked leather skinhead exclaims as he raises his glass in celebration. “Here’s a toast to the misfits of society. We are the vagabonds… The outcasts… We’re all here… We’re not alone…. We’re never alone!”

The scenario above is just a mere storyboard for your vivid imagination to grasp, which brings us to the subject of “Embracing Your Dark Side”. What is it that clans these strange souls together? Is it perhaps that hollow void inside? Is there a sense of bewilderment? Is it a refusal to join the shackles that bind society’s norm? Is it the seductive lure of the underground lifestyle? Are feelings of abandonment present? Is it rebellion or loneliness? Does sunlight sting their eyes? Or is there a deep-rooted cause of ‘just plain not fitting in’? Whatever the case, there seems to be a natural gravitational pull to seek out one another by instinct. Through experience, I have come to the conclusion that these outcast souls have one thing in common. As though the universe recognized an added need for survival within this restless pack, the gift of heightened sensitivity in the form of intuitive radar was granted.

BLACK SHEEP Sugar Shack

So what do we do with all this restless energy? Let’s explore some options. We could wallow up and hinder ourselves through our naturally predisposed brooding nature and cast ourselves into a sea of depression. On the other hand it would probably be more fun to play ‘100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, Take One Down, Pass It Around, Until We Fall Down and Pass Out’. However for a great dose of meds, the remedy I’ve found most fulfilling is to feed the creative force. By this I mean hit the light switch on your electrical current powerhouse. We all have our gifts and every Goth I’ve ever known has some form of creative expression. Don’t say you’re not good enough. Some of my favorite art pieces are very basic spooky scribbles of dark creatures lurking around the bushes from online artists. The work, as simple as it is, has some quirky fascinating vibe attached to it. Maybe it’s that punk rock patch held by corroded safety pins in your bleach-stained tartan wardrobe that makes your creative splash. Perhaps it’s that nasty sawtooth wave on your pawn shop synth when placed at just the right velocity, reverberates from your vintage tube amp into a hallowing sinister screech that inspires you to write that next primal angst ridden sonata … and on that note …“Welcome to My Dark Side”

BLACK SHEEP Ghost of the Past

I wrote these words then took them to a good friend of mine, Dave Waterbury who owns a recording studio. He wrote the music as I laid down the lead vocal melody line. After that, Dave added in the background vocals. You may also find the audio file at the You Tube link that I’ve attached at the very end so you may listen to the song. I haven’t created a video yet so please enjoy it “as is”. I hope this inspires the Goth Community to keep up your creative outlet and “Embrace Your Dark Side”. May we band together like preying birds of a feather as our sense of family bond is weaved through unspoken instinct. As we shape our universe through communal, uplifting encouragement, justified by supporting one another, we embrace the darkness through creatively expressing ourselves.

BLACK SHEEP

Flesh and Blood Denial… Straight from the Start
Abandoned Only Child… Disowned at the Heart
Cast Out from Society…Removed from the Family Tree
Take Away My Home…Call Me Disowned
Better Off On My Own

 

(chorus)
Black Sheep… Label Me… Black Sheep of the Family
Black Sheep… Label Me… Shamelessly
Black Sheep… Label Me… Black Sheep of the Family
Black Sheep Label Me… I’m a Black Sheep

 

Wolves Dressed in Sheep’s Clothes… Come Out Smelling Like a Rose
Flawless Image Left Intact… The Interred Sin Masked in Blood Pact
Closet Skeletons Hide… To a Born Again Virgin Bride
Take Away My Home… Call Me Disowned
Now I Know, I’m Better Off On My Own
(chorus)

 

(They Called Me….)
Dead Bastard’s Daughter… Kicked Out of the Family
All In the Name of Money… Erased from the Family Tree
Now I Know, I’m Better Off On My Own

(chorus….end)

 

photo credits: Acacia Hathaway

© Karen St. Claire.  All rights reserved.