Natalie Merchant — It's A-Coming
Album: Natalie MerchantAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 945
Length: 3:41
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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It's a-coming.
Wild fires, dying lakes,
landslides, hurricanes,
apocalypse in store
like nothing ever seen before.
It's a-coming.
Third-generation refugees,
street mob burning effigies,
revolution, civil war
like nothing ever seen before.
It's a-coming.
Pale-horse rider come,
blistered by the morning sun,
tell about what he can see,
crystal ball of mercury.
It's a-coming. It's gonna come.
Jungle slashed and jungle burned,
the monkeys and the painted birds
climb the vines, the limbs and leaves,
the lungs that let the whole world breathe.
It's a-coming.
All the ones that failed to thrive,
starved out and buried alive,
something evil, something free,
calamity.
It's gonna come.
Space Race, the old Cold War,
atom bomb was gonna settle the score.
You wait and see. It's a long time coming
but it's a-coming. It's gonna come.
Third-generation refugees,
street mob burning effigies,
revolution, civil war
like nothing ever seen before.
Like nothing ever seen before.
Wild fires, dying lakes,
landslides, hurricanes,
apocalypse in store
like nothing ever seen before.
It's a-coming.
Third-generation refugees,
street mob burning effigies,
revolution, civil war
like nothing ever seen before.
It's a-coming.
Pale-horse rider come,
blistered by the morning sun,
tell about what he can see,
crystal ball of mercury.
It's a-coming. It's gonna come.
Jungle slashed and jungle burned,
the monkeys and the painted birds
climb the vines, the limbs and leaves,
the lungs that let the whole world breathe.
It's a-coming.
All the ones that failed to thrive,
starved out and buried alive,
something evil, something free,
calamity.
It's gonna come.
Space Race, the old Cold War,
atom bomb was gonna settle the score.
You wait and see. It's a long time coming
but it's a-coming. It's gonna come.
Third-generation refugees,
street mob burning effigies,
revolution, civil war
like nothing ever seen before.
Like nothing ever seen before.
Comments (55)add comment
gutiar brilliance, writing genius.....
The averaging of maniacs made me giggle, but the song lyrics are terrifyingly spot-on...
oppositelock wrote:
Cool, that's an average of 400 maniacs per year.
I like. Saw 10,000 Maniacs 25 years ago. Great fun.
Cool, that's an average of 400 maniacs per year.
RazzCat wrote:
It didn't came to my mind to read lyrics before reading RazzCat comment. The same situation for me, changing vote from 8 to 9.
So actual.
I'd rated this as an 8 - Then, I read the lyrics!
Definite > 9...
Definite > 9...
It didn't came to my mind to read lyrics before reading RazzCat comment. The same situation for me, changing vote from 8 to 9.
So actual.
I'd rated this as an 8 - Then, I read the lyrics!
Definite > 9...
Definite > 9...
coloradojohn wrote:
I've got an over-and-under bet that he's out of office (voluntarily or not) before November 2018.
How apropos, as the Great Hate Debate begins! Trump = GOP nom: indefensible ignoramus; I condemn the memory of his candidacy.
I've got an over-and-under bet that he's out of office (voluntarily or not) before November 2018.
coloradojohn wrote:
L O L !
How apropos, as the Great Hate Debate begins! Trump = GOP nom: indefensible ignoramus; I condemn the memory of his candidacy.
L O L !
I like. Saw 10,000 Maniacs 25 years ago. Great fun.
no no no. too much of both these too. lame.
How apropos, as the Great Hate Debate begins! Trump = GOP nom: indefensible ignoramus; I condemn the memory of his candidacy.
Fly frill airlines and leave no trace.
If I ever hear another song by Natalie Merchant, it only means I haven't died yet.
Bill, you can do better:
Tift Merrit
Kathleen Edwards
Dana Fuchs
Beth Hart
Emmylou Harris
Patty Griffin
Liz Wright
et al
Bill, you can do better:
Tift Merrit
Kathleen Edwards
Dana Fuchs
Beth Hart
Emmylou Harris
Patty Griffin
Liz Wright
et al
I like this voice of Natalie's, less pushed than previous efforts.
testpilot wrote:
You mean you bought that vague crap of hers, masquerading for wisdom? It's not even hers, it's been rehashed for ages. One born every minute, I guess.
Vague h8 and myopia masquerading as superiority? How long ago was your minute?
You mean you bought that vague crap of hers, masquerading for wisdom? It's not even hers, it's been rehashed for ages. One born every minute, I guess.
Vague h8 and myopia masquerading as superiority? How long ago was your minute?
I have anxiety and severe paranoia....something is always coming
great
bb_matt wrote:
Yeah, that's Mr. Bowie to you Matt.
The World Economy refers to 3% annual growth as healthy. See exponential function.
Dr. Albert Bartlett - The Exponential Function
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqcHG7QUK9k
Slightly odd lyrical assessment of the future by Natalie.
"5 years, that's all we've got" sang bowie, back in the 70's.
None of these apocalyptic diatribes match what actually occurs.
"5 years, that's all we've got" sang bowie, back in the 70's.
None of these apocalyptic diatribes match what actually occurs.
Yeah, that's Mr. Bowie to you Matt.
The World Economy refers to 3% annual growth as healthy. See exponential function.
Dr. Albert Bartlett - The Exponential Function
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqcHG7QUK9k
A carnival it's a coming, very similar but i like it
offroadbiker wrote:
You mean you bought that vague crap of hers, masquerading for wisdom? It's not even hers, it's been rehashed for ages. One born every minute, I guess.
Loving the sound of it. The superb rhyme "burned-birds-leaves-breathe" provides a welcome diversion to the troubling apocalyptic vision. Ms. Merchant's observations are so very keen. She says what many know but few are unwilling to talk about. Truth is much better than fiction imho.
You mean you bought that vague crap of hers, masquerading for wisdom? It's not even hers, it's been rehashed for ages. One born every minute, I guess.
Not the first time they're doubling her voice in production. Never understood why. I know why they use the technique for Madonna, for instance, but Natalie's voice sounds a whole lot better on its own. Doubling only waters it down.
Maybe like nothing ever seen before, but exactly like every other Natalie Merchant song ever heard before.
Excellent production quality on this tune!
Slightly odd lyrical assessment of the future by Natalie.
"5 years, that's all we've got" sang bowie, back in the 70's.
None of these apocalyptic diatribes match what actually occurs.
"5 years, that's all we've got" sang bowie, back in the 70's.
None of these apocalyptic diatribes match what actually occurs.
westslope wrote:
Yes!
Question, at the beginning, is that strumming coming from a bass guitar or an ordinary electric guitar?
Sounds like an electric bass playing that five-note lick.
Yes!
Question, at the beginning, is that strumming coming from a bass guitar or an ordinary electric guitar?
Sounds like an electric bass playing that five-note lick.
skyguy wrote:
Yes!
Question, at the beginning, is that strumming coming from a bass guitar or an ordinary electric guitar?
Some really tasty guitar in there.
Yes!
Question, at the beginning, is that strumming coming from a bass guitar or an ordinary electric guitar?
How weird, this song was just on a couple of nights ago.
I can barely understand a word she's saying (other than "It's a long time comin', but it's-a comin'"), but it's got a cool groove.
dziebell wrote:
...and laziness over punctuation, grammar, and spelling, apparently.
useless worrywort can't scare me. I prefer freedom over fear.
...and laziness over punctuation, grammar, and spelling, apparently.
An entirely pleasant song, indeed.
kcar wrote:
Fred, is "a-coming" connected at all to "icumen" as in "Sumer is Icumen In"? Wikipedia says that "icumen" translates as "has arrived" or "has come"...
Quite possibly. I know only about modern languages - Middle English is a mystery to me, although I understand that it came from Saxon and is probably more linked to German than to Modern English. The Wikipedia entry is interesting.
Fred, is "a-coming" connected at all to "icumen" as in "Sumer is Icumen In"? Wikipedia says that "icumen" translates as "has arrived" or "has come"...
Quite possibly. I know only about modern languages - Middle English is a mystery to me, although I understand that it came from Saxon and is probably more linked to German than to Modern English. The Wikipedia entry is interesting.
MinMan wrote:
... probably shakin' it in some homeless camp with Laz...
Ok; so what's going on with the other 9,999 maniacs? Inquiring minds want to know!
... probably shakin' it in some homeless camp with Laz...
fredriley wrote:
<snip>
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
That structure is used often in the southern USA as well. "That there dog was a-barkin' like she seen a ghost."
(I am another member of the Natalie Merchant fan club)
fredriley wrote:
Fred, is "a-coming" connected at all to "icumen" as in "Sumer is Icumen In"? Wikipedia says that "icumen" translates as "has arrived" or "has come"...
I fell in love with Natalie's voice after listening to her beautiful album "Leave Your Sleep", a touching homage to obscure nonsense poets, and beautifully rendered. Her voice melts my heart, marbles or no. 9 from the smitten Nottingham jury 
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
Fred, is "a-coming" connected at all to "icumen" as in "Sumer is Icumen In"? Wikipedia says that "icumen" translates as "has arrived" or "has come"...
Ok; so what's going on with the other 9,999 maniacs? Inquiring minds want to know!
useless worrywort can't scare me. I prefer freedom over fear.
Such a cheerful song.
But I think she and/or the writer are correct in their apocalypsy prophesy.
Drink up, ladies and gents. Smoke it if you got it.
But I think she and/or the writer are correct in their apocalypsy prophesy.
Drink up, ladies and gents. Smoke it if you got it.
agd3 wrote:
+1
Decent song, but 11 plays in last 30 days... is 6 too many. I liked it at first but the more I hear it, the more it sounds over-processed and auto-tuned.
My first disagreement with Lazarus (and prior lives). i like old. Natalie but this one is getting way too much airplay and is at best ok.
+1
Decent song, but 11 plays in last 30 days... is 6 too many. I liked it at first but the more I hear it, the more it sounds over-processed and auto-tuned.
agd3 wrote:
Personally, I think this song is groovy to dance to, with prescient and profound lyrics... love it...
but I respect your opinion, agd3, and I hope life is marvelous for you right this minute...
My first disagreement with Lazarus (and prior lives). i like old. Natalie but this one is getting way too much airplay and is at best ok.
Personally, I think this song is groovy to dance to, with prescient and profound lyrics... love it...
but I respect your opinion, agd3, and I hope life is marvelous for you right this minute...
My first disagreement with Lazarus (and prior lives). i like old. Natalie but this one is getting way too much airplay and is at best ok.
fredriley wrote:
Very interesting... thanks for sharing that...
this song is good for the ears...
I fell in love with Natalie's voice after listening to her beautiful album "Leave Your Sleep", a touching homage to obscure nonsense poets, and beautifully rendered. Her voice melts my heart, marbles or no. 9 from the smitten Nottingham jury
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
Very interesting... thanks for sharing that...
this song is good for the ears...
Loving the sound of it. The superb rhyme "burned-birds-leaves-breathe" provides a welcome diversion to the troubling apocalyptic vision. Ms. Merchant's observations are so very keen. She says what many know but few are unwilling to talk about. Truth is much better than fiction imho.
Natalie does no wrong
I fell in love with Natalie's voice after listening to her beautiful album "Leave Your Sleep", a touching homage to obscure nonsense poets, and beautifully rendered. Her voice melts my heart, marbles or no. 9 from the smitten Nottingham jury
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
A bit of linguistic trivia. "A-coming" is an old English way of speaking, now out of date, but Scots Gaelic retains the structure in its present tense. So "tha e a' tighinn" literally translates as "it's a-coming".
Could be a great instrumental track.
skyguy wrote:
Cheap guns for hire.
Some really tasty guitar in there.
Cheap guns for hire.
n4ku wrote:
Well said. ð
Wow. It sounds like she decided to spit those marbles out.
This is really nice.
7.
This is really nice.
7.
Well said. ð
A "4" for one of her songs, from me, is like an "11".
Not awful -- I don't want to stab myself in the ear with a fork.
Not awful -- I don't want to stab myself in the ear with a fork.
Looking forward to hearing more of this. Nice one Ms Merchant. Nice one, RP. Starting at a 7
Wow. It sounds like she decided to spit those marbles out.
This is really nice.
7.
This is really nice.
7.
A Natalie Merchant song I don't hate. Mark down this date.
Never was much of a Merchant fan, but digging this tune. Cheers.
Sloggydog wrote:
YES!
New Natalie - piss off all you bog standard Natalie trolls this is awesome news!
YES!
some really tasty tasty
skyguy wrote:
skyguy wrote:
Some really tasty guitar in there.
New Natalie - piss off all you bog standard Natalie trolls this is awesome news!
Some really tasty guitar in there.