We were honored to host Chris Slaten, a.k.a. Son of Laughter, for the inaugural house show at North Wind Manor earlier this summer. Chris is currently working with producer Ben Shive on a new album, and the new songs peppered throughout the show gave beautiful glimpses of the full-length record to come. The night was also highlighted by familiar songs we’ve grown to love, and our song of the week is the title track from Chris’s debut EP, The Mantis & The Moon. Few songwriters can craft such meaningful stories, let alone keep things as beautiful and lively as Son of Laughter. “The Mantis & The Moon” is a great example of why we all fell in love with this EP in the first place.
“The Mantis & The Moon” by Son of Laughter from the album The Mantis & The Moon
He was dreaming of their praise when he saw the silver moon, the grand celestial stage. He tried to trap it in a tree. He used a noose of grass and waited patiently. He tried it all to sit astride and rule above the world that once had passed him by.
But I don’t want to be the mantis who tried to ride the moon. I don’t want to be the sister who cut her sole to try to fit the shoe. I don’t want to be someone who does not want to be who they are. Still I find, half the time, I’m staring at the stars.
She was dreaming of escape when she saw the golden shoe, the hopeless narrow shape. She knew she could not fit the form of the missing queen he’d been searching for. So through the truth she carved her way to leave the life she knew to find a better place.
But I don’t want to be the mantis who tried to ride the moon. I don’t want to be the sister who cut her sole to try to fit the shoe. I don’t want to be someone who does not want to be who they are. Still I find, half the time, I’m staring at the stars.
He followed his heart into the night with a new guitar, the endless road in sight. Tired of waiting all his life, he struck out on his own and kissed his cares goodbye. The golden moon shone endlessly… but the light awoke his wife and sleeping family.
I don’t want to be so far from you. I don’t want to be so far from the truth. I don’t want to be someone, someone lost in desire –
a lonely little spark, drifting through the dark, headed for the stars, far, far, far from the fire