This project comprises an illustrated hardback book with accompanying audio CD. It depicts a story called 'The Silver Skeleton Pocket Watch' which is the title of a folk song I wrote a couple of years ago (track featured on CD). The story tells the tale of a man in a sleepy town who by chance meets his true love. She gifts him a pocket watch that becomes an allegory for the love that they share and when they are parted its hands cease to tick.
I hand bound the book using luxury materials such as premium papers and Napa leather. The book features supplementary illustrations by illustrator Lea Dalissier (as seen on page 10 below).
www.cargocollective.com/leadalissier
The lyrics/ prose are as follows...
In a sleepy town that was not renowned for scandal nor for strife
Once lived a man as honest as age for the entirety of his life.
But in the midst of one winter's frown upon a routine visit to town
He saw a girl who could not be trapped and he knew all at once where his true love sat.
Sure enough perched upon a ledge was a fair maiden who clutched at her breast,
Her beauty matched only by the object that she held:- a silver skeleton pocket watch that in her garments dwelled.
Not a word was uttered true and from the air they conclusions drew
And love's grasp firmly did take hold as their vesture did unfold.
His ture love gave unto him the watch of a thousand silver parts
She said most delicate "Won't you wear this in the pocket above your heart?".
It was intricate like no man had ever seen like the scrawled scriptures of a lonesome dream
At no point in history did it sit. It knew only of its future as its hands did tick.
The watch it brought the summer fourth and their bodies in the fields it seemed to dwarf
Beneath the gentle humming skies as pink as the blosom that on the breeze did fly.
But on one dark day in a despereate time he lost sight of his love on the rocks
And the only hands he had left to hold where those of the silver skeleton pocket watch.
As the watch spoke unto him his heart sank like a black stone
"As I lay here lifeless and still all the while you shall be alone".
With vicious vigour his voice it burned "Oh may you mercy lend!
For if your hands do not turn then time itself shall surely end".
For you alone can count the days that pass that my love and I do spend
Where condemened we may be by sour sands and glass and each other we shall still defend.
Where we swim in each other's eyes and seek solice in each other's hearts
And but one glance upon her face and Eden's gates do part.
A weary man upon whom time was lost he was left and he seldom undertook any venture
Other than to tend to his weathered artifacts and care so dear for his denture.
A peddlar's son watched the man each day for a two score and seven year span
To the clock tower go for to set the watch and wait for her and still little hands they did not stir.
The little watch a revelator itself proved and the man's heart skipped a beat when the watche's pumped
And while far off towering sands did move for the ceiling the little man did jump.
"God speed", he said, "little hands that rest upon my palm.
For you and I shall go now to my true love's open arms".
I hand bound the book using luxury materials such as premium papers and Napa leather. The book features supplementary illustrations by illustrator Lea Dalissier (as seen on page 10 below).
www.cargocollective.com/leadalissier
The lyrics/ prose are as follows...
In a sleepy town that was not renowned for scandal nor for strife
Once lived a man as honest as age for the entirety of his life.
But in the midst of one winter's frown upon a routine visit to town
He saw a girl who could not be trapped and he knew all at once where his true love sat.
Sure enough perched upon a ledge was a fair maiden who clutched at her breast,
Her beauty matched only by the object that she held:- a silver skeleton pocket watch that in her garments dwelled.
Not a word was uttered true and from the air they conclusions drew
And love's grasp firmly did take hold as their vesture did unfold.
His ture love gave unto him the watch of a thousand silver parts
She said most delicate "Won't you wear this in the pocket above your heart?".
It was intricate like no man had ever seen like the scrawled scriptures of a lonesome dream
At no point in history did it sit. It knew only of its future as its hands did tick.
The watch it brought the summer fourth and their bodies in the fields it seemed to dwarf
Beneath the gentle humming skies as pink as the blosom that on the breeze did fly.
But on one dark day in a despereate time he lost sight of his love on the rocks
And the only hands he had left to hold where those of the silver skeleton pocket watch.
As the watch spoke unto him his heart sank like a black stone
"As I lay here lifeless and still all the while you shall be alone".
With vicious vigour his voice it burned "Oh may you mercy lend!
For if your hands do not turn then time itself shall surely end".
For you alone can count the days that pass that my love and I do spend
Where condemened we may be by sour sands and glass and each other we shall still defend.
Where we swim in each other's eyes and seek solice in each other's hearts
And but one glance upon her face and Eden's gates do part.
A weary man upon whom time was lost he was left and he seldom undertook any venture
Other than to tend to his weathered artifacts and care so dear for his denture.
A peddlar's son watched the man each day for a two score and seven year span
To the clock tower go for to set the watch and wait for her and still little hands they did not stir.
The little watch a revelator itself proved and the man's heart skipped a beat when the watche's pumped
And while far off towering sands did move for the ceiling the little man did jump.
"God speed", he said, "little hands that rest upon my palm.
For you and I shall go now to my true love's open arms".
