The Ballad of Henry Blackwell and Lucy Stone

from American Love by Camden Joy

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about

I wrote this in 2017 during an early draft of a feminist musical. The song is a series of letters and doubts exchanged between the titular characters. Lucy was a great figure in early feminism, unafraid to face down mobs, eloquent, with a voice that mesmerized the audience. Susan B Anthony was ardently in love with Lucy. In fact, they had pledged one another that they would NEVER marry a man but always stay loyal to" the movement." In walked Henry Blackwell. Henry fell in love with Lucy through watching her lecture and devoted his energies over the next two years to winning her heart. He succeeded. What happened? Susan renounced her friendship with Lucy, which breached the feminist movement into two halves. The half headed by Susan and Mrs Stanton worked on getting the states to support voting rights. The half headed by Susan’s new enemy Lucy Stone worked on getting the federal politicians and Christian associations to support them. Later in life, nearing completion of their encyclopedic history of the women’s movement, Susan (against Mrs Stanton’s advice) made sure to remove all mention of Lucy, thus quite literally writing her out of history

lyrics

Lucy: "What is a man but some nothing? What’s a Henry but a man? But when that Henry’s name is Blackwell suddenly I can’t well rant. I can’t well speak. I can’t well stand. Blackwell? There is nothing black there. In his heart my soul is bared."

Henry: "What is a rock but some nothing? And a stone is just a rock. But when that Stone’s name is Lucy it becomes brilliant with thought. Her mind’s like a diamond. Her argument’s like fire. Alone among the ones I’ve met she ignites desire."

Henry (to Lucy): "You are but a bag of gold protected by some dragon who tells you never trust a man. Perhaps it’s Mrs Stanton but I think it’s Susan. (Mrs Stanton has her Henry.) Yeah, Susan’s certainly seen the worse. Now Susan’s keeping you from me."

credits

from American Love, released July 4, 2020
Drums by Lukas Lerner. Bass by Mark Lerner.

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Camden Joy Middlebury, Vermont

lo-fi americana and caustic wit swirl about a 1970s suburban garage where a 1950s country band plays timeless originals and succinct gems.

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