2025 Competition Entry:
Sweet Amaryllis by Chris Leeds
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Genre
Folk
Artist
Website
Co-writer(s)
no
Performer(s)
Chris Leeds
Description
It’s fictionalised-autobiographical, based on a hippie girlfriend (a true ‘flower-child’) from my youth, but I was inspired to write it by “The Lost Flowers of Alice Heart” by Holly Ringwald made into the brilliant (but harrowing) TV series starring Sigourney Weaver.
The instrument I am using is my own design and build, a hybrid guitar-harp based on an African type of Lyre from Kenya called “Litungu” (also similar to “Nyatiti”).
The instrument I am using is my own design and build, a hybrid guitar-harp based on an African type of Lyre from Kenya called “Litungu” (also similar to “Nyatiti”).
Bio
I guess I am now a ‘singer-songwriter’, though I started out as a drummer in psychedelic rock bands. I learned my trade and made a living on the ‘chicken in a basket’ cabaret circuit for Dave Dee’s post hit parade career (after the band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich split up). Then there were stints in political punk bands, cover bands, sessions, touring, running a studio, and working as a teacher and community musician. I played in a duo, Masse, doing ambient electronic chill out room gigs. These duo gigs allowed me to finally get out from behind a drum kit and sing.
I started to write my own material, at first in another duo, Voss Malone, using all acoustic instruments like Celtic Harp, Santoor, Hang and Harmonium as well as guitars.
This was made very difficult to maintain during Covid, and since things have got going again I generally play solo, performing my own songs using a hybrid harp-guitar which I built myself, which I think gives me a unique sound and approach to writing.
I started to write my own material, at first in another duo, Voss Malone, using all acoustic instruments like Celtic Harp, Santoor, Hang and Harmonium as well as guitars.
This was made very difficult to maintain during Covid, and since things have got going again I generally play solo, performing my own songs using a hybrid harp-guitar which I built myself, which I think gives me a unique sound and approach to writing.
Lyrics
Sweet Amaryllis
She knew the names of all the flowers
Pressed them in the pages of her book of hours
She knew their seasons and their sins
Their poisons and their powers
She made honey from the nectar
She made perfumes from the petals
That’s what made me love her
And I love her now as then
Sweet Amaryllis
She pierced my heart with scented stems of Yarrow
The fair winds of Anenome blew away my sorrow
Iris for inspiration
Camellia’s for tomorrow
No Bleeding Hearts, no Love Lies Bleeding
But Jasmine so intoxicating
That’s why I loved her
And I love her now as I loved her then
Sweet Amaryllis
Now the leaves have fallen, we see Love in a Mist
The fading beauty of Hibiscus
Faith and passion, gifts from god
Deep roots and deeper secrets
Belladona for silence
Lotus for serenity
And the sleep of blood red Poppies
And sweet Amaryllis
She knew the names of all the flowers
Pressed them in the pages of her book of hours
She knew their seasons and their sins
Their poisons and their powers
She made honey from the nectar
She made perfumes from the petals
That’s what made me love her
And I love her now as then
Sweet Amaryllis
She pierced my heart with scented stems of Yarrow
The fair winds of Anenome blew away my sorrow
Iris for inspiration
Camellia’s for tomorrow
No Bleeding Hearts, no Love Lies Bleeding
But Jasmine so intoxicating
That’s why I loved her
And I love her now as I loved her then
Sweet Amaryllis
Now the leaves have fallen, we see Love in a Mist
The fading beauty of Hibiscus
Faith and passion, gifts from god
Deep roots and deeper secrets
Belladona for silence
Lotus for serenity
And the sleep of blood red Poppies
And sweet Amaryllis
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