As a photographer and musician, I've always been drawn to the untold stories that hide in the shadows of vibrant streets. One unforgettable night on Bourbon Street, Louisiana, I found myself immersed in an adventure that would lead to the creation of a soulful blues track.
After a long night of exploring the lively streets with my camera, I encountered a man who wanted to rob me. He pulled out a knife, ready to stab me for a mere five bucks. Instead of fear, I burst into laughter and said, "You're gonna kill me for five bucks?"
The man looked at me strangely and, after staring at me for a while, he asked, "Ain't you scared?" I replied, "No, I'm Italian. You know what that means? My 'family' will find you and make you regret it." I laughed out loud, drunk as a skunk. At this point, the man started crying.
I asked him what the problem was, and he told me he was flat broke. I decided to help him out by using a trick I had learned in Spain when I was broke. I dragged him into a bar and told him to steal a couple of leather jackets. We pretended to be with the others, robbing a couple of beers while everyone was drunk and happy, jumping like crazy. Watches, money, and wallets were falling from their pockets, and we collected the spoils.
We went into a restaurant, both wearing stolen jackets and with our wallets full. We ate like kings, and when it was time to pay, we left a generous tip on the table along with one of our wallet, so they wouldn't think we were running away. At the wardrobe, we left our expensive jackets as well. We went out for a cigarette, asked for a very expensive rum, and they had no clue we were heading to a party in the Latin Quarter.
At the party, I bumped into a guy who played the banjo. The next day, I woke up with crocodile legs on my neck, two blonde stripes in my hair, a pendant, an ear piercing, and a tattoo on my face of Lucifer, the morning star. It was a wild night, and in my quest for a bit of sanity, Alex, the banjo guy, was there. He fed me a decent breakfast, and after a fat joint, he started playing the banjo and singing a song.
Recognizing the raw talent and emotion in his performance, I quickly grabbed my recording equipment. We recorded the song, capturing the essence of that unforgettable night. Alex and I exchanged contacts, and today, here we are with Alex, who chose the pseudonym Ogeon.
The song, born out of an unexpected friendship and a series of wild events, is a testament to the magic of music and the connections we make in the most unlikely places. Keep an ear out for our blues track, soon to be released on Spotify. Enjoy the journey, and let the music take you back to that night on Bourbon Street.
Swampy Shadow -- Produced and recorded by mmfarinato
Eyes lookin from the swamp dark whoa
Mud breath chillin my soul
Those whispers echo like regret
Where I'm goin I don't know
[Verse 2]
Daunting shadows dance in the bayou
Water's murky crawlin with doom
Banjo strings pluckin old scars
This eerie air devours the moon
[Chorus]
Ghosts in the mire can't break free
Haunt in the night callin me
Movin on can't linger here
Fear ain't got nothin to my tears
[Verse 3]
Out of the mist into nowhere
Sins of the past heavy to bear
Each step forward the mud gets thick
Trudging on through this murky trick
[Verse 4]
Cypress whispers through the air
Hoodoo's curse buried down there
Old wounds rising like the tide
Still I punch through won't hide
[Chorus]
Ghosts in the mire can't break free
Haunt in the night callin me
Movin on can't linger here
Fear ain't got nothin to my tears