Ghost Father

Ghost Father 

 death is not the end of the story it's the start you've been dying to find

 

Flute & Hurdy-Gurdy - Kristoffer Nowak 

Vocals on "Speak The Speech Pt. 2" - Joyce Sanhá 

Vocals & Harmonica on "Pickaxe & Spade" - Jan Schreiber 

Vocals on "He Is Dead" - Deborah Barbieri 

Mix & Master - Emanuel Krimplstätter 

Vocals & Guitar - Ian Fisher

  

This is a collection of songs written by Ian Fisher for Amélie Niermeyer & Jana Vetten's production of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" at the Tiroler Landestheater.  All songs were inspired by William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and written by Ian Fisher. "Death Is Not The End", "If You In Your Heart" and "He Is Dead" were co-written with Bryan Benner and the music for the madrigal is by Luca Marenzio. 

 

 

1. Omen (Synth Madrigal) 

composed by Luca Marenzio 

 

2. Death Is Not The End 

written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner 

death is not the end of the story 

it’s the start you’ve been dying to find 

flip the lights and hoist up the bodies 

we’ve got nothing so there’s nothing to hide 

if you got something to say then you should say it 

instead of waiting to make up your mind 

because time is all that we got to waste and if you waste it 

then there’s nothing left for you but to die 

curse this kingdom of dirt 

a dead empire I have earned 

the silence only death deserves 

so let it be and let it burn 

let this heart be ordered high 
and pierced upon a stage to stand 

delivered to the globe tonight 

through carnal casual acts 
deliver me my setting son 
deliver from fasting fires 

remember me to anyone 
not slave to their desires 

curse this kingdom of dirt 

a dead empire I have earned 

the silence only death deserves 

so let it be and let it burn 

 

3. Murder Most Foul 

written by Ian Fisher 

sleeping in the orchard in the hour of the snake 

he slithered round me softly for a brother’s crown to take 

cursed juice in a vial poured where once went only sound 

a leperous distilment the result murder most foul 

lazar-like with vile and its course quicksilver swift 
through blood with vigor rushing turned it into a drip 
the natural gates and alleys of this kingdom shutting down 

we played Caen and Abel in our own murder most foul 

struck down in my sin with imperfection on my head 

first he took my life from me then took my wife to bed 
but you leave her to heaven she won’t get there anyhow 

all I ask is vengeance on the murderer most foul 

if you ever loved me son then mark me by my words 
for I’ll be damned to fast in fires if they are not heard 
but soft I scent the morning and my time is running out 

so remember me while murdering the murderer most foul 

 

4. Speak The Speech Pt. 1 

written by Ian Fisher 

flutes by Kristoffer Nowak 

speak the speech I told you to speak 

don’t mouth it like you’re the town crier 

calm down stop whaling / flailing around 

a tempest is strongest when smooth 

clowns clowns all of you clowns 

just speak what is set down for you 

don’t imitate humanity 

with something that it doesn’t do 

suit the action to the word 

and the word to the act 

cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing 

when the mouse is in the trap 

show the crowd what it doesn’t see 

a truth they are trying to hide from 

the form and pressure of times 

that we all have to live through 

laugh laugh laughing aloud 

are pitiful distracted fools 

show the world the stage that it is 

don’t delay but don’t come too soon 

suit the action to the word 

and the word to the act 

cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing 

when the mouse is in the trap 

 

5. Every Father Has a Father Lost 

written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner 

break my heart if I could hold my tongue 

no it is not and no good will come 

from a death without the sleep 

between to be and not to be 

still nearly warm the funeral meats 

have furnished forth a wedding feast 

incestious sheet to where she raced 

frailty be woman’s name 

she says seek your father in the dust - seek your father in the dust 

at least the whisper goes so - at least the whisper goes 

he says every father has a father lost - every father has a father lost 

but who are they to know son - who are they to know 

steal the fetters from your lips 

if time weren’t out of joint I’d quit 

smithing swords for you to swing 

as swift as meditation’s wings 

now seek your father in the blood - seek your father in the blood 

heed the whisper’s call son - heed the whisper’s call 

though every father has a father lost - every father has a father lost 

remember where I’ve gone son - and follow 

 

6. Omen (Flute Madrigal) 

composed by Luca Marenzio 

flutes by Kristoffer Nowak 

 

7. Speak The Speech Pt. 2 (Joyce Sanhá) 

written by Ian Fisher 

lead vocals by Joyce Sanhá 

flutes by Kristoffer Nowak 

speak the speech I told you to speak 

don’t mouth it like you’re the town crier 

calm down stop whaling / flailing around 

a tempest is strongest when smooth 

clowns clowns all of you clowns 

just speak what is set down for you 

don’t imitate humanity 

with something that it doesn’t do 

suit the action to the word 

and the word to the act 

cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing 

when the mouse is in the trap 

show the crowd what it doesn’t see 

a truth they are trying to hide from 

the form and pressure of times 

that we all have to live through 

laugh laugh laughing aloud 

are pitiful distracted fools 

show the world the stage that it is 

don’t delay but don’t come too soon 

suit the action to the word 

and the word to the act 

cause nature is modest and the purpose ain’t playing 

when the mouse is in the trap 

 

8. Rage Into The Night 

written by Ian Fisher 

in my heart’s a kind of fight 

but divinity still shapes our ends 

so hold your axes out to grind 

when all the golden words are spent 

for if it’s now - then it’s not to come 

if not to come - then it will be now 

so speak the trumpets to the drum 

till all that’s lefts an empty crown 

damn your heavenly guards there’s no easy way out 

your passion with time will blunt itself into doubt 

don’t forget what you have avowed 

now rage into the night - rage into the night 

noone knows what they leave behind 

till it’s left and they still don’t know 

my eyes are dark as they are wide 

without a sign of tomorrow 

damn your heavenly guards there’s no easy way out 

your passion with time will blunt itself into doubt 

don’t forget what you have avowed 

now rage into the night - rage into the night 

 

9. He Is Dead (Deborah Barbieri) 

written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner 

lead vocals by Deborah Barbieri 

flutes by Kristoffer Nowak 

drown the stage in tears 

what would you do if you had something real to fear 

the weight of the arms above you 

like I have but without tongue 

will speak as deep as to the lung 

heard after I go 

shroud as white as snow 

larded all with sweet flowers 

to the grave won’t go 

bewept with a true love’s shower 

he is dead 

he is gone 

at his head the grass grows long 

and I grow alone 

 

10. Pickaxe & Spade (Jan Schreiber) 

written by Ian Fisher 

lead vocals & harmonica by Jan Schreiber 

In my youth I did love 

Thought that time I was above 

But age it came with stealing steps 

And shipped me off as if I’d never been (with a) 

Pickaxe and spade 

Pickaxe and spade 

Gravemaker is gonna make you a grave (with a) 

Pickaxe and spade 

Pickaxe and spade 

Build you a home to last till doomsday 

Here lies the water here stands the man 

Does he drown himself if the water comes to him 

Here holds a skull that used to sing 

Here’s Adam’s call to dig 

Pickaxe and spade 

Pickaxe and spade 

Gravemaker is gonna make you a grave (with a) 

Pickaxe and spade 

Pickaxe and spade 

Build you a home to last till doomsday 

 

11. What Dreams May Come 

composed by Ian Fisher 

Bonus 1 - Ophelia Believe Me (Slow) 

written by Ian Fisher 

Bonus 2 - Ophelia Believe Me (Fast) 

written by Ian Fisher 

Bonus 3 - Pyrrhus Black as Purpose 

written by Ian Fisher 

hurdy-gurdy by Kristoffer Nowak 

Bonus 4 - Speak The Speech Pt. 2 (Ian Fisher) 

written by Ian Fisher 

flutes by Kristoffer Nowak 

Bonus 5 - He Is Dead (Ian Fisher) 

written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner 

flutes by Kristoffer Nowak 

Bonus 6 - Pickaxe & Spade (Ian Fisher) 

written by Ian Fisher 

Bonus 7 - If You In Your Heart 

written by Ian Fisher & Bryan Benner