Two tracks in quick succession from one of my favourite singer-songwriters, David Bridie, in my Music Library Project – a happy quirk of the alphabetical sequence that sometimes throws up these fortuitous double features. Curiously, both songs hail from Bridie’s hauntingly atmospheric debut solo album Act of Free Choice (2000), which I discussed just two days ago in the post The Koran, the Ghan and a Yarn.
To give some measure of the impact this Australian artist has had on my musical journey since I first encountered his work at the turn of the millennium: including today’s entry, Bridie has featured here a remarkable 24 times (so far) – whether in his evocative solo projects or through his bands which he founded. That’s a tally rivalled only by my posts on the likes of Springsteen, Cohen, Elton John and Christina Perri – but not by Dylan who remains in a league of his own.
David Bridie stands among the stalwarts of my listening pleasure. Given his relatively modest, if nearly non-existent profile on the global stage, I’d argue he is the most underrated singer-songwriter I’ve had the privilege to write about, although latter-day Perri might also be in that mix. And today’s featured song – Bridie’s beautifully penned – The Last Great Magician only reaffirms my adoration for the guy’s artistry.
The Last Great Magician waves his final sparkler
Seven times seven times into the grave
Neath cracks of sheet lightning, the red sky rolls
Forever,
The family and followers all gather around
Calm down your troubles, lay down with me
Mulukuwausi, good witch of the sea
The dead man’s last party, loud stories and ceremony
They dance on his embers, they drink to his soul
It’s delightful, disgraceful, exhibition of reverence
Seven times seven times into the grave
His feet soft and dusty, fine spasms of dancing,
By the wide man with red eyes, teeth crooked as match
Sticks
And he mightn’t look much but he’s as wise as the lizard,
The owl and the fire
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Another decent song from David Bridie, and from the same album as your previous pick. I guess I should really check out “Act of Free Choice.”
The lyrics here are so good and the general melody and his voice as usual I find so soothing and appealing on the senses.