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Drakus

from Drakus by James Murray

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about

Drakus was the first song I ever wrote on guitar. I was learning how to reverse pick arpeggios on my mother's spanish guitar and I just loved the medieval sound of it. I started to sing "I can see them stand before me swords already drawn. Have they come to slay the dragon as prophesied in stone." As a huge fantasy and D&D nerd the Drakus lyrics just flowed naturally out of me.

I had this idea of a dragon who destroys a medieval village every century, and every century the villagers have to regroup, toughen up and rebuild. Eventually they send their best heroes to finally defeat him. After the dragon is defeated the people celebrate and there's a long period of peace, but then they grow complacent and weak and the dragon returns and has to be defeated again. Little did I know that that concept would eventually take over my life 20 years later!

Drakus grew from a song idea in 1994, to a 20 minute epic in 1995, to a 30 minute epic in 1996, to eventually me giving up on it altogether around the year 2000, and finally me breaking up all the sections of the suite and developing them into songs of their own in the ensuing years. Drakus the song as we know it today, was formalized into a standalone song in 2009 and an early demo for it was recorded in 2011. That demo is much slower than this version and not as polished but most of the elements are there.

In this version, Bongo John is on drums and percussion as usual, but I also asked my friend Shredder Dave to play a ripping guitar solo at the end. I met Dave at open mics while living down in NC. He's one of the best guitarists I ever jammed with. I'm glad he's on this album.

lyrics

I can see them stand before me, swords already drawn.
Have they come to slay the dragon as prophesied in stone?
Has it been so long? My life's passed me by.
For eons I have slept alone in this forsaken broken home.
Can I still spread my wings and fly?

Drakus the forgotten dragon lie within this cave.
Legends say that long ago he could have ruled the skies.
Has it been so long? My life's passed me by.
For eons I have slept alone in this forsaken broken home.
Can I still spread my wings and fly?

Now you all will see my vengeance! Now you'll feel my pain!
Feel the fire built up inside me, driven me insane!
Don't cry. Isn't this what you have come to see?
Before you take the dragon's head I'll give you all fantastic show!
And if I can't fly no more at least I can watch you all burn.

credits

from Drakus, released April 17, 2018
James Murray - vocals, guitars, trumpet, bass, keyboards
Bongo John - castanets, doumbek, drums, orchestral percussion
"Shredder" Dave Ryan - lead guitar on closing section

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James Murray

I'm a musician from Long Island influenced mainly by folk singer songwriters of the 60s and 70s as well as Progressive Rock, Jam Rock, and Jazz

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