Ten Thousand Arrows is out! And another personal milestone has been reached.
This song has been lurking around in my head since 2009. Ten Thousand Arrows and Bones (Bury Me Deeply & Sweetly) were the first two songs I wrote for Mechanical Clouds… before the theme and vibe of the record even presented itself.
It started as a challenge by a friend. She said something to me along the lines of “You never write love songs. I dare you to write a love song!” I initially protested. I’ve written hundreds of love songs! But the challenge percolated in my head.
It was one of those songs that just suddenly appears. One moment I was sitting in my ramshackle apartment in Cambridge. The next my fingers landed on my fretboard and I began singing Ten Thousand Arrows.
Of course, in typical Peter fashion, the lyrics grew a little twisted. The song took on a long, rambling structure, fashioning itself after something the Smashing Pumpkins or the Mars Volta would write. To go along, the lyrics soon began to portray a relationship from beginning to end, before the sudden key change at the outro of the song, where it becomes about moving on to someone new. But despite the ending twist, it still feels like a sweet song.
TEN THOUSAND ARROWS
Angel
when you flew into my life
I saw the sunrise for the first time
Colors cascade up into the sky
my heart flies for you
The songs I listened to had so much deeper meaning
stringing your bow
My heart pierced by your ten thousand arrows.
Eros…
I don’t want to weigh you down with my love,
But I won’t waste another day without your love.
I don’t want to weigh you down with my love,
But I won’t waste another day without your love.
Wait just a minute.
As my world’s crashing down
She was there for me.
Wait just a minute.
As my feet touch the ground
She was there.
Sweet little darling,
Yes you got it, yes you get it
And you’re sweet as simple summer
No doubt about it
Yes you got it, yes you get it
And you take it all and leave me behind
Wicked little devil
Yes you got it, yes you get it
And you’re always into trouble
My dirty angel
Yes you got it, yes you get it
And you take it all and leave me behind
Oh, my heart it can’t help but break
But I gotta get up and drag myself along the shore
Oh the color it saturates
But I gotta get up
When when I’m alone she was there.
She was there
Without your love.
I don’t want to weigh you down with my love,
But I won’t waste another day without your love.
I don’t want to weigh you down with my love,
But I won’t waste another day without your love.
Rolling over oceans for you.
Navigate the lightning for you.
Come on over.
You’re sweet.
Undercovers we’ll meet.
Like a tiger in the moon
I will capture you.
Rolling over oceans for you.
Navigate the lightning for you.
Just so I can be there for you.
As I rebuilt the Johnny Stranger lineup in Boston, Ten Thousand Arrows and Bones became the first new tunes we workshopped. We played those two endlessly, discovering new details every time. I have very fond memories of those rehearsals. Before I decided to stop JS and move to California (but that’s a subject for the next single).
But during those days, I met Maddie (my future wife). I always think about playing Ten Thousand Arrows at a show in New York… at Trash Bar. I remember finding her in the audience every time I sang those opening lines. She tells me to this day it’s one of her favorites that I’ve written. And I believe her because she has no problem telling me when she thinks a song I’ve written is trash lol.
In other news… vocals for album 7 are past the halfway mark. Just a few more sessions and then I’m mixing that record.
Demos for album 8 are also past the halfway mark. I’m delivering them to the live JS lineup as I complete them. The band members have all agreed to help me record album 8. I’m very excited about their collaboration!
Aside from that, life is a frenetic race. Our label Shark Attack Records has exploded since 2019 and it keeps me busy. Plus, there’s a ton of artwork and visualizers to make for album 7. Oh, plus the reissues of the original 4 records. I’m certainly keeping busy.
Finally, thank YOU for riding along on the Johnny train. I absolutely love hearing from everyone! It makes me really feel special and gives me the strength to keep chipping away at JS mountain. So thank you!