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San Rafael

from Crepusculo by Petracovich

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about

Have you ever had something that felt like a dream while you were awake? When we lived in San Rafael, about 15 minutes north of San Francisco, I would be driving from the city to home at twilight (crepusculo) and hit some traffic, and have this moment where I felt this separation from the machine I was in and the amazing moment of glowing sundown and gorgeous golden hills full of oak trees.

I'd be driving and almost feel my car lifting off toward the hills. It happened several times. It wasn't a mind thing, I wasn't trying to do it, but I almost believed it was about to happen, something was calling me over there. Then I'd look back to the road, the other cars, the artificial lights, and come back to my reality, stuck to the road.

After a year or so of this happening, a tune I was writing felt like it might be the right basket to try to show this mystical moment that would pop up. It was written on the piano, a little achey, a little whimsical, a little sad. The words came out well with it.

The mountain it speaks of would be Mount Tamalpais, it means Sleeping Woman in the native language, looks like a woman laying on her side, a beautiful, tree-covered monument overlooking the ocean, taking up a lot of Marin County. When I let myself continue this dream in my head, I fly over the hills, the car dissolves, I'm back where it's quiet and you smell the earth and the ocean, she is a protector, this mountain.

lyrics

Coming over the hill to San Rafael on the 101
The sky is purple against red brake lights
Watching the stars appearing over the dark outline of the hills
Slowing down in front of flashing signs

Oh Cars
Cars are drifting, cars lining up
miles, miles and miles
Oh , I don’t belong here all caught up inside
Listening to the night

We sit still, impatient Night is coming,
We’re all going home
Hands on the wheel with our radios
To the west hills go to bed
They’re calling me where I belong
If the traffic stops I’ll float above, alone, above

Oh, cars
Cars are rivers cars lining up
miles miles and miles
Oh I I am lifted into the sky slipped into some old light

Up up over lights and droning motors
Over dew and honey grass and sleeping deer
Over rollers, hills with backs like dinosaurs
Floating over time a thousand years ago

Sailing Sailing quickly
I will soon be in the ocean air
Sleeping mountain where my heart is heard

Let me down on slanting sides
The breeze my breath, the grass my hair
I will fall asleep to waves and waves… in my ears

credits

from Crepusculo, track released July 7, 2009
Jessica Peters Malmberg - piano, vocals
Max Diez - Drums
John Askew - Bass
Tad Wagner - Guitars

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Petracovich Santa Rosa, California

Dreamy folk pop that is lyrical, poetic and full. Jessica of Petracovich plays the piano, with some banjo and bells and lots of clicky sounds and shakery things. She hikes hills, raises kids and loves to sing in bars. Petracovich has toured nationally and performed on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. ... more

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