Released September 27, 2010
RAINBOW STAR Throws A “Feminist Folk Punk” Right Hook, But With Appalachian Sweetness
Banned feminist art is becoming prevalent, but RAINBOW STAR’s feminist folk punk record promises a rawness and depth unlike any other. Her sophomore album, “Music From The Rainbow Sparkle Palace: Vol. II,” was recorded entirely on an iPhone – no fancy equipment whatsoever – at STAR’s 96 sq. ft. tiny house & homestead in the Appalachian foothills. Most of the tracks are the songs’ original birth-moment. STAR says, “I just feel it coming, grab my phone and an instrument, hit ‘record,’ and BOOM – there’s the song. The purity of that moment is impossible to recreate, so what you get is the very moment of channeling.” What you also get are breaths of fresh air in the form of nature sounds: the organic music of The Rainbow Sparkle Palace, which bookend the album as a gorgeous whippoorwill intro, and crickety night sounds to finish. Feminist anthem, “Patriarchy Song,” is fierce: “It must be nice to be a guy / All of your anger justified / Get to do whatever you want / Nobody calling you a –” The song was banned from Facebook for being “offensive,” even before its ultra-controversial official music video was released, featuring our shero jogging topless through the heart of her tiny, conservative town, as well as women the world over sharing Me Too moments, calling out domestic violence, coercion, and false feminism. “Patriarchy Song” is scant – angelic vocals and an Appalachian banjo dulcimer – with lyrics that go for the jugular, yet come around to unity and peaceful resolution. Since then, STAR says, “I’ve received dozens of bans, blocks, deletes and throttling of my engagement on Facebook and Instagram. It’s apparent they’re in total opposition of feminism. They even refute their own ‘Community Standards,’ which state that a woman’s bare chest as a form of protest is ok; yet they quote those same standards when refusing to allow my posts, on the basis of ‘nudity.’
”Domestic violence survival song, “Texas Oil Rig,” catches the heart in the chest with its fragility. “I chained myself to a Texas oil rig…” This is a story of domestic abuse and its near-deadly path of destruction, played out on soprano ukulele, with STAR’s sometimes surprisingly powerful vocals weaving amid butterfly-wing whispers.
The album is riddled with reclamation of self, calling one’s love back to its source, calling out injustices, and poetic confessions of the heart. At times lyrics are morbid in their musings, but remain nevertheless somehow soothing.
10% of profits from the album benefit Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Shelter in Richmond, Kentucky.
CREDITS
Thank you Abby Embry for being a solid friend, and for your graphic design help. You’re precious.
Special thanks to Dana Rousey for your love & generous support.
Thanks to Ariana Jordan Photography for album cover images & badass vision.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Robbie Humphreys, for graciously putting up with my myriad minute maniacal edits in the mixing/ mastering process.
Thanks to Rachel D. for long talks about feminism, art, and mixing/mastering support.
Thank you to myself, for caring enough about the gifts I’ve been handed to finally see them to fruition.
And thank YOU, dear listener, for giving a f*ck about feminist music, indie art, and Appalachian women. Art is the revolution we need.
1. MORNING AT THE PALACE / SLOW
Lyrics, music, guitar, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
A song you hear as it was written. I was pressure washing the Palace patio, felt it coming, grabbed my guitar and phone and boom.
Complete with morning music made by Palace critters.
LYRICS
Just because I never do it
Oh, I wanna take it slow
Though I don’t know how to do it
Oh, I wanna take it slow
Maybe it’s too late
To calm my fantastical magical unicorn heart
Maybe it’s too late
To calm my fantastical magical unicorn heart
Maybe it’s too late
I don’t wanna be another Emily to you
I know that what is fast is cheap these days
I don’t want that
No, I don’t wanna be another muse for some songs
I just wanna be your friend
I wanna be down to Earth
Keep both my feet on the ground, ‘cause flying without a helmet
Always ends up bloody
And I don’t have health insurance
I wanna take it slow
Just ‘cause I never do it
Just because I never do it
I wanna take it slow
Slow
Don’t worry if it feels like I’m a little
Hot
And then cold
It’s just me battling my ego just
Afraid of who I am and who you might be
And who you might think that I am
2. SUNFLOWERS
Lyrics, music, baritone ukulele, wind chimes, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
A true story. Written in two fell swoops – this version recorded in bed, where I often fall asleep with an instrument.
LYRICS
I don’t care for sunflowers anymore
Oh, I don’t care for sunflowers anymore
You know you had me one time
And now the only thing I am is mine
‘Cause I don’t care for sunflowers anymore
I don’t care for red wine anymore
Oh, I don’t care for red wine anymore
You know you had me one time
And now the only thing I am is mine
‘Cause I don’t care for red wine anymore
I don’t care for you anymore
Oh, I don’t care for you anymore
You know you had me one time
And now the only thing I am is mine
And I don’t care for you anymore
I just care for me anymore
Oh, I just care for me anymore
You know you had me one time
And now the only thing I am is mine
And I just care for me anymore
3. DOPAMINE
Lyrics, music, baritone ukulele, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
LYRICS
Dopamine, don’t be mean
You know I’ll never really have that boy
Oh, dopamine, don’t be mean
You know I’ll never really have that boy
Ridin’ in on thick custard clouds, our hero
Any way that you want him to be, he will be
In a land far away is the man who do what he say
Dopamine, don’t be mean
You know I’ll never really have that boy
Oh, dopamine, don’t be mean
You know I’ll never really have that boy
And his kisses, kisses, kisses get you high
Like a cheap county ferris wheel ride
And his kisses, kisses, kisses get you high
Like a cheap county ferris wheel ride
We go up and down, and round and round
Round and round and up and down, round and round
Round and round and up and down, round and round
Round and round and up and down, round and round
Dopamine, don’t be mean
You know I’ll never really have that boy
Oh, dopamine, don’t be mean
You know I’ll never really have that boy
You know
You know have that boy
4. (WO) MANSPLAIN
Baritone ukulele, vocals, lyrics and song by RAINBOW STAR
Inspired by one of the many mansplain moments of this young feminist’s life.
LYRICS
I really like to
Interrupt a man
Every chance I can
It is so inspiring
I really like to
Interrupt a man
Every chance I can
It’s very satisfying
I really like to show ‘em who’s boss
Who brought you into the world
Who’ll take you out of it
Out of it
Faster than you can say
White supremacy
And patriarchy
Keep your
Off of me
Some say that we need balance
Everyone gets a voice
Especially men
And I say if you want balance
Then the next ten thousand years we are
Enslaving
Enslaving
Enslaving
Enslaving them
I like to
Interrupt a man
Every chance I can
It is so inspiring
I really like to
Interrupt a man
Every chance I can
It’s very satisfying
I really like to show ‘em who’s boss
Who brought you into the world
Who’ll take you out of it
Out of it
Faster than you can say
White supremacy
And patriarchy
Ooh, trust me
You’ll like to
Interrupt a man
Just try it sometime
You’ll love it, girl, trust me
‘Cause I really like to
Interrupt a man
Every chance I can
It’s very satisfying
I really like to show ‘em who’s boss
Who brought you into the world
Who’ll take you out of it
Out of it
Faster than you can say
White supremacy
And patriarchy
Keep your
Off of me
5. HAPPY
Lyrics, music, soprano ukulele, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
LYRICS
Hello, old friend
I’d like to say I’ve missed ya
But I haven’t
You’ve been permeating every cell of my being
Since I last kissed ya
Things might be different
If I could find a metaphor for
Our tragic love
But like a highly anticipated pregnancy
Dead on arrival
It was no coincidence
Universe, you sick bastard
I see what you’re doin’
The moment I looked out the window
There you go
With her
On your arm
And somethin’ kinda died
Somethin’ kinda died for me
To live I gotta die
If I wanna live
Gotta give it up
To be free now
I wanna be happy, happy, happy for ya
But my jealous won’t quit, you know I still adore ya
And though I’d like to think that she’d be good for ya
I can’t help but feel that I know better than ya
I wanna be happy
Wanna be happy
I want you to be happy
Want her to be happy
And I don’t want no sympathy
I just want you to be mine
And I don’t want no sympathy
I just want you to be mine
Mine
Mine
Mine
Mine
I wanna be happy
6. LETTERS
Lyrics, music, mountain dulcimer and vocals: RAINBOW STAR
LYRICS
I’m collectin’ letters I’ll never send to you
I’m collectin’ letters I’ll never send to you
And you know I’m collectin’ letters I’ll never send to you
I’m collectin’ letters I’ll never send to you
I’m collectin’ letters I’ll never send to you
And ya know I’m collectin’ poems I’ll never send to you
Ya know I’m collectin’ songs that I’ll never send to you
And maybe I’m collectin’ voicemails I’ll never send to you
And maybe I’m obsessed with you
Maybe that’s my disfunction
But you know I’ll admit it
And I’ll see a therapist
And I’ll do some meditation
And I’ll be really honest
That I’m fucking working on it
I don’t wanna be so god damn addicted
So god damn addicted to you
It’s a really small town
And I’m gonna see you anyway
So I better be honest
I might as well be honest
It’s a really fuckin’ small town
And I’m gonna see you anyway
So I might as well be honest
This is me
A little bit freaky
And a little bit awesome
Sometimes a little bit crazy
But usually awesome
So what? I’m a fucking imperfect human bean
But at least, god damn, fuckin’ look at me, you know
I’m fucking working on my shit and
What the fuck is your stupid ex girlfriend doing?
Wallowing in her own shit
I guess it must smell good to you
‘Cause you also like to wallow in her shit
You really like to wallow in her
Shit
7. DIDN’T NOBODY COME
Lyrics, music, guitar, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
LYRICS
Oh, I tried to hold my funeral
Didn’t nobody come
And I tried to hold my wedding day
Didn’t nobody come
And on the day I was born
They said we got a sick one
We got a sick one
Oh, I tried to warn my family
Didn’t nobody come
And I tried to fight my wrecking ball
Didn’t nobody come
And on the day I was born
They said we got a sick one
We got a sick one
And my best friend says
He’s known me all my life
Never known no one
Look so happy
When they’re dyin’ inside
Oh my best friend says
He’s known me all my life
Never known no one
Look so happy
When they’re dyin’ inside
And I was lookin’ for a way
A way out with you
I was lookin’ for a way
A way out with you
I was lookin’ for a way
A way out
I was lookin’ for a way
A way out with you
I was lookin’ for a way
8. PATRIARCHY SONG
Banjo dulcimer, whistle, vocals, lyrics & melody by RAINBOW STAR.
The following lyrics and melody taken from Hot Chip’s song ‘From Drummer to Driver:’ “I’ve got an M16, I’ve got an M16 in my house.”
The song and music video were both banned dozens of times on Facebook in early 2019. See the banned video HERE.
LYRICS
It must be nice to be a guy
All of your anger justified
Get to do whatever you want
Nobody callin’ you a
It must be nice to be a man
Walk through the world carefree, you can
Walk down the street, wear what you want
Nobody grabbin’ at your
It must be nice
It must be nice
You’re such a feminist, you teach it at the college
And how dare I not trust you when you make sexual advances
Even though you have a girlfriend
And last week it was flirting
But today you were just joking
And now you’re mad at me ’cause I don’t trust you
And you really think I need to trust you
Cause you’re a feminist
You’re such a feminist
Go ahead, tell me one more time to dim my light
So your balls can feel bigger
‘Cause I’ve got an M-16
I’ve got an M-16 in my house
I’ve got an M-16 and I know how to use it
Because I YouTubed it
No man had to teach me how to do it
Though many offered and then just tried to have sex with me
Forreal
That’s what happens every fucking time I need help on a home project
Every fucking time I need help on a home project
You’re such a feminist that you’d break your vow of celibacy
Because the gods told you to penetrate me
It’s not sex, it’s just Tantric healing
My womb chakra needs some clearing
Of all the traumatic wounding from other non-feminists
But you, you’re a feminist
You’re such a feminist
Go ahead, tell me one more time to dim my light
So your balls can feel bigger
‘Cause I’ve got an M-16
I’ve got an M-16 in my house
I’ve got an M-16 and I know how to use it
And usually I am very peace, love and forgiveness
But sometimes I just get so sick of your ignorance
But I will not give into violence, so
Let’s get the M-16
Let’s get the M-16 from my house
Let’s get the M-16 and we’ll make it a planter
Maybe plant some hops in it
We can make beer
Goddess knows I could use a beer
Patriarchy benefits no one
Not even the rich white men we’re taking back the world from
Just need you to hear me
Just hear me
‘Cause sometimes I think
It must be nice to be a guy
All of your anger justified
Get to do whatever you want
Nobody callin’ you a
It must be nice to be a man
Walk through the world carefree, you can
Walk down the street, wear what you want
Nobody grabbin’ at your
It must be nice
It must be nice
9. TAROT
Lyrics, music, guitar, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
Cello: Katie Gardner
Deep gratitude to Katie Gardner for laying cello so sweet, I cried when we recorded it.
LYRICS
I don’t need to read no tarot
To know
This is goin’ nowhere
I don’t need to read no tarot
To know
This is goin’ nowhere
And I can see how it would be easer
To love
Sleepy little girls reminiscent, reminiscent of your mom
All day screamin’
Nothin’s ever enough
Nothin’s ever enough
Never enough
Never enough
No it’s never enough
Never enough
Never enough
Write home, tell ‘em you’re on the front lines
But you’re lovin’ on the outskirts
You’re lovin’ on the outskirts
Write home, tell ‘em you’re on the front lines
But you’re lovin’ on the outskirts
You’re lovin’ on the outskirts
I don’t need to read no tarot
To know
This is goin’ nowhere
I don’t need to read no tarot
To know
This is goin’ nowhere
And I see you’re afraid to love me
And I see we’re afraid to be loved
And I am finished
Making plans with you
‘Cause you put me off for someone who doesn’t care
You put me off for people who don’t care
I don’t need to read no tarot
To know
This is goin’ nowhere
I don’t need to read no tarot
To know
This is goin’ nowhere
Nowhere
10. TEXAS OIL RIG
Lyrics, music, soprano ukulele and vocals: RAINBOW STAR
A domestic violence survival song, which you hear as it was written.
Lyric video HERE
LYRICS
I chained
I chained myself
I chained myself to a Texas oil rig
I thought I could save the world
With all the love in my heart
For somethin’ so destructive
Somethin’ so destructive
Texas oil rig
He exploded on a weekly basis
Toss a few rags to clean up the mess
I won’t move north, I forgive you
I swore before god and everyone
I’m in this for life
I’m in this for life
Til death do us part
Death do us
Death do us in
Honey, I made it out alive
Honey, I made it out alive
Made it out alive
Out alive
11, BOTTLES
Lyrics, music, guitar, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
Inspired by my still-bottled-up PTSD inducing trip to Egypt.
LYRICS
Tonight
I dreamt of bottles
Bottles
I’m sayin’ “bottles” ‘cause I don’t wanna say
What I really saw
Sayin’ “bottles” ‘cause I can’t say
What I really saw
They’re piled up
Laughin’ and smilin’ as they drown in it
They’ve no idea what it is
Laughin’ and smilin’
They pull me down in it
It’s seeping through my lips
That disease
Of third world countries
Their disease
Tonight I dream of bottles
Bottles
12. FAIRY TALES
Lyrics, music, mountain dulcimer, vocals: RAINBOW STAR
LYRICS
We read your tarot
And we got it fuckin’ backwards
Put your future in the past
So it looked like you were not to fall in love with me
Shit was exploding pretty fast
Was it your future or your past?
And I’m afraid this may not last
I’m so afraid this may not last
Silence from your end
I wonder if you’re with your ex girlfriend
Or whatever she is to you
I’d like to find her and give her a good talkin’ to
I just might find her and give her a good talkin’ to
‘Cause she must have no clue
What she’s missing out on
‘Cause forreal, I’d be lying if I said I’ve ever seen
A human bean
As
Goddamn marvelous as you
So goddamn marvelous as you
Goddamn marvelous as you
Goddamn marvelous, that’s you
So who am I to believe in fairy tales?
I should have known, I should have known, I should have known
Am I too old to believe in fairy tales?
I should have known, I should have known, I should have known
I should have known, I should have known, I should have known
I should have known, I should have known, I should have known
I should have known, I should have known, I should have known
I should have known, I should have known, I should have known
13. RACHELCAT
Lyrics, music, soprano ukulele and vocals: RAINBOW STAR
LYRICS
My friend says she’s a nerd
But I think she’s really cool
Has a garden bigger than all of yours
And I think she’s really cool
She taught me how to play ukulele like this
But she didn’t wanna take credit
She always calls ya back when she says she will
And if she can’t, she says she’s sorry
She’s the most stellar listener I’ve ever met
And I’m tellin’ you, that’s quite a skill these days
She’s supportive in an unobtrusive way
She’s an artist in every kind of way
She’s really cool
And if ya ever find a true friend
You’ll know exactly what I mean
Someone to tell some secrets to
And you know in your heart
They’ll never go anywhere else
And zero judgment
That’s a really important part of friendship
When I get cranky and cry
‘Cause I’m too lazy to feed myself, she says
“Would you like some sausage? It’s organic!
And butternut squash soup
Here’s a little snack to take with you on the road
I’ll even write on it ‘eat me’
‘Cause I know that you need some help sometimes
I know we all need some help sometimes”
When I’m like
“Rachel, I don’t think I can do it”
She calmly tells me
“Step 1, step 2, step 3, you can do it
Here’s how you can”
And then I do it
Sometimes ya just need a helping hand
I’m grateful to have a true friend in this world
It’s really hard to find
And everyone knows I don’t really like that many people
‘Cause most of them are shitty
So thanks for bein’ a real friend
Thanks for bein’ a really fucking cool
Artist nerdy lady
I wish everyone could be nerds
Nerds like you
Nerds like us
14. ANGELS
Lyrics, music, soprano ukulele and vocals: RAINBOW STAR
A song you hear as it was written.
15. AMIGOD
Lyrics, music, mountain dulcimer, vocals: RAINBOW STAR