Tim Buckley, in March 1968 - fifty years ago - on the final episode of the Monkees TV show:
The song, co-written with Buckley's writing partner Larry Beckett, wasn't released until 1970, as a track on the Starsailor album.
The song was written in 1967, but Buckley was dissatisfied with the early attempts at recording it. It would finally appear on Starsailor three years later. The Monkees TV show version featured the song in its original folk song style, with Buckley playing solo with a 12 string guitar. This stands in contrast to the lusher, reverb-filled version present on the Starsailor album. The Monkees television spot features the song in the key of E while the later album version is played in Bb. The album version also features heavy reverb on the electric guitar and high pitched background vocals. In comparison, the live version is more lo-fi, with no effects, and Buckley's voice is accompanied only by his guitar. The 1968 performance also features different lyrics with the phrase "I am puzzled as the oyster" later being changed to "I'm as puzzled as the newborn child" in the album version. This was reportedly because when Buckley played the song to Judy Henske, wife of then producer Jerry Yester, she responded to the line with laughter.
Despite this, Buckley and Beckett regarded this song as their greatest collaboration effort, with Beckett later stating "It's a perfect match of melody and lyrics. There was some kind of uncanny connection between us."
The song's reference to the sirens tempting sailors at sea stems from Greek mythology. This lyrical style is an example of Larry Beckett's literary inspirations, and stands in direct contrast to Buckley's own more personal writing style.
Buckley just managed to miss out on joining the 27 Club, dying from a heroin overdose in 1975 at the age of 28. His son Jeff made it to 30.
Song to the Siren has been covered by many artists. The best-known is probably the 1983 version by This Mortal Coil.
And here's the 1970 Starsailor track.
Comments