We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Camera Shop

from Ghost Quartet by Ghost Quartet

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    A CD of the album, with cover art by Margaret Ashford-Trotter and a chipboard card case designed by Brittain Ashford.

    Sorry, no international shipping.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Ghost Quartet via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 10 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $15 USD or more 

     

  • Sheet Music

    A complete 141-page score of all the text and music in the show. Score is lead sheet style, with full vocal arrangements, and other melodic lines written out and (see attached images!)

    This is a slightly revised second edition (2017).

    Individual sheet music PDFs also available here:
    bluewizardmusic.myshopify.com

    Sorry, no international shipping.
    ships out within 10 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $50 USD or more 

     

lyrics

THE CAMERA SHOP
___________________

[BRENT]
Side 1, Track 2. “The Camera Shop.”

[BRITTAIN (Rose)]
Excuse me?

[GELSEY (Pearl)]
Can I help you?

[BRITTAIN]
I hope so.
I lost my camera.

[GELSEY]
Did someone steal it?

BRITTAIN]
No. It got smashed.

[GELSEY]
Maybe we can repair it?

[BRITTAIN]
It got smashed and lost. The pieces are lost.

[GELSEY]
I’m sorry.
Here, have some whiskey.

[BRITTAIN]
Thank you.

[GELSEY]
It was a real camera? Not a phone?

[BRITTAIN]
Not a phone. I do not like phones.

[GELSEY]
Me neither
Well, we’ll get you all set up with a new camera.
But sit first, and drink a bit. You need to take care of yourself.

[BRITTAIN]
Thank you.

(pause)

[GELSEY]
Are you traveling?

[BRITTAIN]
Yes, from Portland.

[GELSEY]
Oh, I’ve been there once. They have that cool library.

[BRITTAIN]
That’s Seattle.

[GELSEY]
Oh.
I get them mixed up.

(pause)

Did you grow up there?

[BRITTAIN]
Yes, when I was a kid.

[GELSEY]
That’s nice. It’s nice to have roots.

[BRITTAIN]
What about you, have you been here long?

[GELSEY]
THIS STORE HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS

[BRITTAIN]
Wow.

[GELSEY]
SEE THAT FIDDLE ON THE WALL?
IT BELONGED TO MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
HER NAME WAS ROSE

[BRITTAIN]
Well, that’s my name!

[GELSEY]
It’s a beautiful name.
OLD-FASHIONED, YOU DON’T HEAR IT A LOT ANYMORE

[BRITTAIN]
THE COLOR IS SO LIGHT…WHAT’S IT MADE OF?

[GELSEY]
AN OLD BREASTBONE

[BRITTAIN]
CREEPY

[GELSEY]
IT WAS THE BREASTBONE OF HER SISTER
HER NAME WAS PEARL
I’LL TELL YOU THE STORY:
_________

[GELSEY (Pearl White)]
ROSE AND PEARL LIVED BY THE SEA
GATHERING SALT BY THE MOONLIGHT

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN (Pearl White & Rose Red)]
AND ROSE LOVED A MAN WHO LIVED IN THE TREES
ROSE CRIED TO PEARL, “HOLD ME TIGHT, HOLD ME TIGHT”

[GELSEY]
ROSE WENT TO HIS TREEHOUSE
AND LOOKED AT THE STARS THROUGH HIS TELESCOPE

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN]
SHE WANTED TO HOLD HIS HAND
SO SHE WROTE HIM A POEM
SIGNED IT AND SEALED IT

[GELSEY]
IN A RICE PAPER ENVELOPE

[BRITTAIN]
WITH A LILY FOR A STAMP

[GELSEY]
BUT THE MAN STOLE HER WORK
HE WAS THE EDITOR OF A PRESTIGIOUS ASTRONOMY JOURNAL
HE WROTE DOWN ALL SHE SAW
AND PUBLISHED IT IN HIS NAME
AND ROSE GREW TO HATE HIM
AND THEN PEARL CAUGHT HIS EYE
_________

[BRITTAIN (Rose)]
I’M A LITTLE CONFUSED
AND MORE THAN A LITTLE FRIGHTENED

[GELSEY (Pearl)]
IT’S OK MY DEAR
THIS IS A CIRCULAR STORY
_________

[GELSEY (Pearl White)]
AND SO ROSE RAN INTO THE FOREST
AND ASKED A GREAT BEAR TO MAUL THE ASTRONOMER
AND TO TURN THE CRUEL SISTER INTO A BLACK CROW
AND PUT THE CROW AND THE CORPSE IN A CAVE
UNTIL THE CROW STARTED TO STARVE
AND SHE’D HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO PECK OUT THE EYES OF HER LOVER AND EAT THEM
_________

[BRITTAIN (Rose)]
I DON’T BELIEVE ANY OF THIS

[GELSEY (Pearl)]
DON’T YOU REMEMBER?
THE BEAR NAMED HIS PRICE:
_________

[BRENT (Bear)]
ONE POT OF HONEY
ONE PIECE OF STARDUST
ONE SECRET BAPTISM
AND A PHOTO OF A GHOST

[ALL]
ONE POT OF HONEY
ONE PIECE OF STARDUST
ONE SECRET BAPTISM
AND A PHOTO OF A GHOST

[GELSEY]
ROSE STOLE THE HONEY FROM A SOLDIER

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN (Pearl White & Rose Red)]
SHE PRETENDED TO LOVE

[GELSEY]
STOLE THE STARDUST FROM AN ANCIENT

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN]
SHE PRETENDED TO CARE

[GELSEY]
AND FOR THE BAPTISM
SHE STOLE A BABY
FROM ITS MOTHER
A FRIGHTENED TEENAGER IN A MANSION

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN]
AND TOOK THE CHILD INTO THE SEA
AND THE CHILD WAS BLESSED
____________________________________

credits

from Ghost Quartet, released October 31, 2014

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Dave Malloy image

Dave Malloy New York

Theater composer, writer, performer. Shows include Moby-Dick; Octet; Ghost Quartet; Preludes; Black Wizard / Blue Wizard; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812; All Hands; Three Pianos; Beardo; Beowulf - A Thousand Years of Baggage; The Sewers; Sandwich; Clown Bible; and (The 99-cent) Miss Saigon. ... more

contact / help

Contact Dave Malloy

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

Dave Malloy recommends:

If you like Dave Malloy, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now