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Fort Madeline

from Fort Madeline by Karl Sanden

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    Some people like holding the real thing in their hands, and still have a CD player in their beat-up old Pontiac Sunfire. I know I certainly appreciate the tactile experience. Artwork by Jamie Smith. While quantities last.

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Snowflakes - Single, Face of the Refugee - Single, I am the Other's Other - Single, Fort Madeline, Live at Kranky Cafe, and Not Yet There. , and , .

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about

I wrote this song as a conversation between a female character, who lives in the fictional locale of "Fort Madeline", and a male character who decides to embark on an adventure to 'strike it rich' in the goldfields. He knows that he may not succeed, but is determined to try anyway. The female character speaks the words of the chorus, and the male character is described in the rest of the song. However, symbolism in this song is not limited to strict male/female roles, as the place "Fort Madeline" itself can be seen as the domestic character, and the gold miner himself needn't be male. This song is symbolic of an artist's struggle to be recognized.

Joel Krahn - thanks for your snare drum tracks on this one.

The artwork for this album has been created by an amazing Vancouver artist, Jamie Smith. You can check out more of her work here: www.jamiesmithstudio.com.

lyrics

Lyrics:

Wet boots on his feet
The mist fought through the trees
Thoughts awash in snow
His steps a mere tableau
Shoulder straps taut
Pick-ax at his knee
Waiting for a sign
A whisper from the pine

There, he sees her flag, beyond that flash
The sun cuts through a loosened edge
Of his haggard mind

Must I stay, 'til you get back someday
Waitin' on that topmost stair
No luck to ensnare
You're far away, striking earth and clay
One day I'll see my guarantee

But until then, he trudges on
Searching downward, reachin' deeper
He must find, though unrefined
The one oblation to bring him fame

That gold eludes him now, though his spade is true
Cares tapped his brow, wise to her solitude
If he shall pursue

Walkin' in, standin' tall
With that prize in his hands
He will find Fort Madeline
Just the same as it was
She's the same as she was
The same as she was

credits

from Fort Madeline, released July 21, 2014
Words and music by Karl Sanden.
Snare drum tracks performed by Joel Krahn.
All other percussion, mandolin, accordion, harmonica, and vocals performed by Karl Sanden.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Karl Sanden.
Produced by Karl Sanden.
Photography by Karl Sanden.
Artwork painted by Jamie Smith.

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Karl Sanden Edmonton, Alberta

Karl Sanden grew up playing piano in the Thompson River Valley. He then moved to Vancouver, BC for 8 years where he taught himself the accordion, mandolin, drums, and harmonica, and self-produced his own recordings.

Karl now spends most of his time fixing broken things or with his family, and he rarely plays music. Once in a while, though, his accordion randomly pops up in unexpected places. ... more

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