Safer Alone

This song is part of the Songbook of Symbols, a collection inspired by ancient and archetypal imagery. I begin writing each piece with a single symbol. I read about the symbol, sleep on it to let the unconscious begin to churn, and the next day begin writing. I write with minimal conscious control. The aim is to let the symbol speak for itself, but filtered through my own unconscious. The result is always a surprise to me.

Reflections

What really interests me about the Stranger is why we are so afraid of it. Look at the global fear of migrants. I think we fear that their very existence makes us less special — if I’m so great, why are they like me? But also, they come from a world I don’t know anything about.