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about

The lyrics for this song began with a poem by a late friend from my Devon years. Wendy Ruthroff was a poet, Buddhist, and a mentor to me in my 20s and 30s. When Wendy died in 2019, I inherited a folder of her poems as well as a small stone Buddha. One poem’s title (“Quest”) caught my eye and I was drawn into the idea of life as a quest. Wendy’s poem is a story of burrowing ever deeper for a meaning to life, ending with an abrupt “I am NOT.” The poem was a starting point for my own journey evolving into the lyrics, as I listened to the music adding my voice to Wendy's original material. So the song is co-written with Wendy, from beyond the grave. She lives on in our quest.

The photograph is of a much younger Wendy, decades before we knew her. Feisty, determined and uniquely imaginative. She is shown, embarking on her own personal quest. [JK]

lyrics

Quest

And is it true, that to come to you
I must be prepared to travel through
deepest dark, deepest dark?

Leave the sun, the light, the air
like Persephone, do I have to take the path
to the Underworld, the Underworld?
There, down the steps, down beneath my feet
because there is no other way
must I descend? Must I descend?
I have a vision of your face
to illuminate my way and give me grace
The walls are layered, red and gold

I must go deep … deeper still

credits

from Afterword, released January 9, 2023
Lyrics: Wendy Ruthroff & Janette Kidd (The song evolved out of the first verse of one of Wendy's poems).
Music: original idea by Janette Kidd, developed by Janette Kidd, David Reid and Brian Kidd
Janette Kidd: Bass guitars; Lead and backing vocals; Piano
David Reid: Guitars; synthesizers; Piano
Brian Kidd: Guitars; Guitar synthesizers; E-bow; Drumbox programming; Mellotron; Bass synthesizer; Atmospherics
Mixed by Janette Kidd

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about

Alternative Communication image

Alternative Communication Perth, UK

Alternative Communication is based in Perthshire,
Scotland.
We began in 1980 at University as friends with
common musical interests. We composed our
own music, self-releasing 3 albums until the group disbanded in 1985.
David A. Reid (solo artist) and Brian and Janette Kidd (Not for Pussies) continued to
compose and record until, in 2019, they reconvened. ... more

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