Maps

from The TakeAway by Tad Wise

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about

You might say this song represents a dialogue between the higher and lower self. My mother had recently died when I started writing it and the fact that I was orphaned at last seems to have alternately angered and freed me to question anything and everything. Chris Andersen had recorded my first demo (as the leader of the Woodstock band "Paramour") circa '81 in Todd Rundgren's garage. So I re-visited Chris to record basic tracks for "Maps" knowing that--having been Todd's right hand man for so long--he'd understand a slightly unglued approach. Ranging about among Woodstock's drummers I enlisted Dan Hickey who, on the other side of a pane of glass, rattled off an inspired performance in an uncharted territory Tony Levin soon glued together with "the Star Trek close." But first I returned to the familiarity of Mark Dann's studio where the second solo and final vocal emerged from a mist seeming to follow me everywhere I went.

lyrics

Maps Words and Music by Tad Wise

There's a map of the stars in the night sky.
And a map of our scars milky way of wondering why...
Why did I fall and not die?
Why did I glimpse it all only to crawl away and cry?

"Not your time yet, child."
"I'm no child."
"To your Mother you're a child--
Forever...meek and mild."

There's a map of our screams in our throats.
And a map of our dreams in the ripped out lining of our coats.
Wondering: Why can I swim but not fly?
Why did I fall and not die?

"Not your time yet child...
You think you're wild...
To your Mother forever a...
Meek & mild child."

Solo

There's a map of your life in your palm.
But don't go lookin' there unless prepared
To sing your own book of Psalms--
Of your beginning and your end.
And the between--
"Oh, you mean right here, right now, friend?"
"You're not my friend."
"Every teacher is a friend.
Though some play the contrarian...
'Til at the last Truth overwhelms them!"

Second Solo and Star Trek Close

Grand Adventure Music
BMI 2023

credits

from The TakeAway, released November 18, 2023
Tad Wise: guitars and vocals
Dan Hickey: drums
Tony Levin: bass
Original tracks engineered by Chris Andersen at Nevessa Studio
Final tracks engineered by Mark Dann
Mixed and Mastered by Mark Dann at Mark Dann Studio
Produced by Tad Wise

license

about

Tad Wise Woodstock, New York

Tad Wise started writing songs at ten, while raking Bob Dylan’s leaves. He was discovered by John Hall in 2000 who promptly produced Wise’s first CD. Twenty years later Wise returned. First with "For The Record," with Tony Levin & Jerry Marotta. Then with "Mind's Eye." In 2023 he'll release
"The TakeAway," starting with the title track...right now. ... more