Allison Russell - Persephone (Lyric Video)

"Persephone" is written by Allison Russell and Jeremy Lindsay aka JT Nero.

"An homage to my first love. We were just kids, 15 years old. Her loving kindness saved my sanity and my life on bitter winter nights when I was homeless and hanging on by a whisper. Her dark basement was a refuge and an oasis." – AR

Lyrics:
Blood on my shirt, two ripped buttons

Might’ve killed me that time oh if I’d let him
He’s slow when he’s drunk, and he lost his grip on me
Now I’m running down la rue St. Paul
Trying to get out from the weight of it all
Can’t flag a cop ’cause I know he won’t stop…
I’ll go see Persephone

Tap tap tappin’ on your window screen
Gotta let me in Persephone
Got nowhere to go but I had to get away from him
My petals are bruised but I’m still a flower
Come runnin’ to you in the violet hour
Put your skinny arms around me, let me taste your skin

Mouth to mouth, mouth to flower
Salty sweet you give me power
I feel you shake under my lips
Your fingers tender find my secrets
Don’t make a sound, don’t cry out love
Your parents are sleeping just above
I kiss you once, I kiss you twice
Fall asleep looking in each other’s eyes

Tap tap tappin’ on your window screen
Gotta let me in Persephone
Got nowhere to go but I had to get away from him
My petals are bruised but I’m still a flower
Come runnin to you in the violet hour
Put your skinny arms around me, let me taste your skin

Light on your shoulder, light on your cheek
Light telling me it’s time to leave
The birds are calling to the morning
Your parents’ feet above us stirring
Kiss your belly before I go
Climb back outta your basement window
Back to the cold’s bite, back to the hard life
Back to the harsh bright street

Tap tap tappin’ on your window screen
Gotta let me in Persephone
Got nowhere to go but I had to get away from him
My petals are bruised but I’m still a flower
Come runnin to you in the violet hour
Put your skinny arms around me, let me taste your skin

#AllisonRussell​ #Persephone #OutsideChild​

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Lyric Video artwork by Niki Smith Frazier and Frankie Cepero; edited by Andy Hawkes

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The Community of Artists in alphabetical order:
Jason Burger- drums, percussion, apple cider vinegar bottle
Steve Dawson- pedal steel
Jamie Dick- drums, percussion
Dan Knobler- guitars, slide guitar, banjo, synths, mellotron
Drew Lindsay- Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, pump organ, organ, piano
Alfreda McCrary- harmony vocals
Ann McCrary- harmony vocals
Deborah McCrary- harmony vocals
Regina McCrary- harmony vocals
Chris Merrill- bass
Ruth Moody- harmony vocals
JT Nero- acoustic guitar, vocals, co-writing
Joe Pisapia- acoustic and electric guitars
Erin Rae- harmony vocals
Allison Russell- songwriting, writing, lead vocals, harmony vocals on Montreal and Nightflyer, clarinet, banjo
Jake Sherman- organ on 4th Day Prayer
Yola (appears courtesy of Easy Eye Sound)- harmony vocals on The Runner

Produced by Dan Knobler
Engineered by Kevin Sokolnicki & Dan Knobler
Recorded at Sound Emporium, Studio A, in Nashville - September 18-21, 2019
Assistant engineer: Zaq Reynolds
Additional recording at Goosehead Palace
Organ on ""4th Day Prayer"" recorded by Jon Seale at Mason Jar Music
Mixed by Dan Knobler
Mastered by Kim Rosen, Knack Mastering

Outside Child, an album by Allison Russell
1. Montreal
2. Nightflyer
3. Persephone
4. 4th Day Prayer
5. The Runner
6. Hy-Brasil
7. The Hunters
8. All of the Women
9. Poison Arrow
10. Little Rebirth
11. Joyful Motherfuckers

[MountainTopLearning]

What a beautiful and heartbreaking song. In a better and more open and diverse world this would be a country music classic.

[Sunlightrosecoco]

This song a video it’s so beautiful and lovely, dancing around my room with my afro out and pretty dress on, your voice makes me feel ethereal 💖

[richarddlewis]

A thing of beauty and a truly hypnotic experience. I predict this song will be sung at the next Grammy awards - it might even win!

[randyreese]

I fell in love with this song when I first heard it on an alternative progressive college radio station near me. It got a lot of air time and I loved it. Now I'm so addicted to the song! Every time i hear it, it sounds better and better. Misunderstood relationship outside society's norms? That's ok. It paints a beautiful picture in our hearts.

[gerwynevans]

She continues to impress with strong and subtle songs delivered beautifully.

[eekowarrior]

Tremendous song. Another triumph from Allison and JT

[jonathanmoore]

i downloaded the chords to play on my guitar; and when I got to the chorus I began unexpectedly to weep. That hasn't exactly happened to me b4, not that way . thank you, allison.

[AlisonWonderland]

Hearing you sing this live in St Patrick’s cathedral was so beautiful it made me cry 💖

[damagecontrol]

I keep coming back to this song ever since I first heard it. Simply love it!!

[cwmiller]

I have no words to express how this song moves my soul....You are amazing, Allison thank you so much!

[DFA]

My new favorite artist! I can’t stop listening. Incredible voice. Incredible lyrics. Just beautiful. Thank you 🙏🏼💕

[julesjohansson]

This song is so incredible. I've been listening to it for almost a year now and it's still on all my playlists.

[elsvaughn]

So I found this song like a year ago. I had my daughter 4 months ago- Persephone 🩷 and I didn't name her after hades wife!

[tanyamercred]

Heard you sing this at Tyler Childers concert in Calgary. It was beautiful and heartbreaking. Your music reaches people.

[emmacross]

My son introduced me to this song. I love it SO much.

[mgamack]

A precious song pushes all the right tender buttons body and soul beautiful

[ugsbqgu]

This is beautiful, I'm really glad I memorized her name the first time I heard Nightflyer. I just didn't know how much more there was to experience, so much talent.

[alexisorec]

Watching you preform this at Edmonton folk fest gave me such chills, and remembering you every time I hear it brings them back. You really have been through so much to get here

[j-lani]

Dearest Queen the authenticity, the raw wholesomeness of ur music you the the soul. God bless you, ur beautiful music and family. One of many fans. God bless 🇲🇼

[dGrUnknown]

Love this new gem. Hey you got a new fan from the other side of the world! Hello from Malaysia. ❤️ Be right back, I’ll be replaying this tune all weekend long. 😄