Meg says: Findlay told me about this man called Christopher Knight or ‘The North Pond Phantom’ - he wanted to live on his own in the forest so he did. He made a level ground in his clearing out of National Geographic magazines and for the most part he lived self sufficiently - although sometimes he nicked some stuff from cabins nearby just to survive. For twenty seven years he managed to remain a mystery and live in the peace he craved - then the police found him and arrested him and forced him back to ‘civilisation’. Sometimes I feel like he made a wise choice to escape - my clearing would be levelled with Viz.
Fin Says: It’s a bit hazy how I came across Christopher Knights’ story. I think it may have been after I released VIP: Very Interesting Persons and I was regularly being sent “Why don’t/didn’t you write about him/her/them/this” emails. I cannot imagine how painful it must have been for Knight to be sent to prison. I would floor my circle with blocks made of The Word… I miss The Word… their podcast is great but it’s not the same excitement as getting the magazine through your door. I’ve wandered off topic here. “The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit” is a book by Micheal Finkel on the subject. I might read it someday when I become the last true hermit.
lyrics
The North Pond Phantom
Took to the woods, packed and headed north,
Drove right through his hometown, didn’t even stop.
Kept on going till he ran out of gas,
Left the car open, keys on the dash.
Conscience got real quiet, as winter it took hold,
Stealing food is easy when you’re hungry and you’re cold.
Never smashed a window, or broke down a door,
Took only what he needed and not a mouthful more
Moon moves the minute hand,
Seasons turn the hour,
Your name becomes a memory,
Nature reclaims power.
For twenty seven years he didn’t say a word,
Only read the Bible once, no opinion of this world,
More locked away than anyone in human history,
They found him in his clearing and they stripped his liberty.
Moon moves the minute hand,
Seasons turn the hour,
Your name becomes a memory,
Nature reclaims power
The electric eyes they planted couldn’t see inside his head,
It wouldn’t really matter if they’d let him go instead.
Back to the bouldered circle, flat floor of magazines,
Morsel, book and flashlight, the life that he had dreamed.
Moon moves the minute hand,
Seasons turn the hour,
Your name becomes a memory,
Nature reclaims power
credits
from Story Song Scientists,
released March 1, 2019
Findlay Napier - Acoustic Guitars / Vocals
Megan Henwood - Vocals / Keys
Oxford's Megan Henwood and Glasgow's Findlay Napier met on a songwriting retreat at Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh in
2016.
“Fancy writing a song about maths?” Napier enquired. And so the seed for the Story Song Scientists was sewn.
They have toured this EP across the UK and their 2nd EP will be released alongside their November 2021 tour.
supported by 9 fans who also own “The North Pond Phantom”
Well where do you start...its a really exceptional album , every track stands out on its own, well recorded well executed and very well sequenced.. great production a winning trio and all I can say is buy it! superb voices. maz2
supported by 7 fans who also own “The North Pond Phantom”
Thanks for the beautiful music Karine and Dave. it's been a while since I've felt so emotional listening to a new album. Every lyric is so beautifully supported by the piano parts. Laura-Beth Salter
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