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From Ikaria (P​-​Ray)

from ARs by P. Ray

/

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about

Most know the story of Ikarus, flying on wings made of feathers and wax. Swept up by the power of flight, he flew too close to the sun, and plunged to his death.

But the story of his father, Daedalus, might be the more tragic tale. Daedalus, an engineer, created brilliant inventions for King Minos of Crete. His most famous invention was the Labyrinth, the maze that housed the Minotaur.

But Ikarus grew increasingly bored with life in the castle court. He begged his father to leave. Daedalus asked Minos for permission, which was denied. In fact, instead of letting them leave, Minos imprisoned Daedalus (and Ikarus) so they would not escape. Daedalus could not bear his son’s unhappiness, so he devised and constructed wings for both of them to escape.

Daedalus warned Ikarus to neither fly too low (sea moisture) nor too high (heat from the sun). They flew from Crete, but Ikarus was intoxicated by the flight, and climbed too high. The sun melted his wings, and he plunged into the sea. Daedalus carried on without him, and the island near where Ikarus died is named Ikaria.

This song is cautionary tale about enabling others, often to their (and our) detriment. The story, pleas, and lamentation of the father (or parent), as they mourn a lost child, is set to the plaintive sounds of seashells and percussion. Mourning, and lessons of those lost to addiction, mental illness, and self-destruction. Let us remember…

lyrics

From Ikaria, by P-Ray (adapted from a poem by *Erasmus Darwin)

On feathered wings, by Zephyr’s breezes driven,
High’r, yet high’r, my precious boy did fly,
thru thin clouds, sailing upward toward heaven.
Sun glints, flashing, warm wings in the sky.
Did he not hear my warning, pleading cries?

from Ikaria....

With melting wax and failing loosened strings,
his limbs distorted, and dishevel'd hair.
My IKARUS fell on those failing wings.
Whirling round, deaf to my dire alarms,
’til DEATH received him in her sable arms.

His scattered plumage floats upon the waves, (…Thalassa…)
and o’er his corpse the pearly sea-flowrs shed. (…Thalassa…)
As sorrowing Mermaids deck his watery grave; (…Thalassa…)
and crimson moss strews his resting bed;

In coral towers peel the pausing bells,
along with chorus of lamenting shells… (…Thalassa…)
Across the ocean toll the echoing knells.

Now must I leave my darling lost boy child,
I mourn so deep my heart will surely break.
This isle named for him’s what I must recall,
and carry on somehow, his memory’s sake.

So from Ikaria I take my leave,
and west to Sicily, I sail, and grieve…

*Inspired by, and adapted from
Ikarus Fell, The Botanic Garden (Part IV)
The Economy of Vegetation, Canto IV
by Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802)

credits

from ARs, released April 13, 2017
Original song by P-Ray

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about

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P. Ray Oregon

Sings, plays, composes, produces music about love, pain, joy, addiction, recovery, humanity, and spirit. Originals, some covers, sometimes humorous.

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