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Gold for the Price of Silver

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Gold for the Price of Silver

Sometimes, the art is all you need....

Sep 6, 2023
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Gold for the Price of Silver

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Image: Unsplash+ | Denley Photography

Take your broken heart, make it into art.

—Carrie Fisher, American actress and writer


Author’s note: I have been working on my next essay, which involves translating Neapolitan into Italian into English—not an easy task. Taking a break from my efforts, I returned to Norway's Kings of Convenience, whose music I often listen to in moments of despair. Searching online, I found an unreleased version of one of their best tracks.

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Upon hearing it several times, it occurred to me that sometimes a critic need not add any words to what an artist has already said.—CA


If it takes control of your body and soul
Embrace it
If it makes you cry or leave you wondering why
Don't turn around, face it

But do turn cold if they promise you gold
For the price of silver
If it's chemically made by people you hate
Pinch your arm, see if you're still there

Everything you want is what I've got to give you
You just have to let yourself come with me now
Everything you want is what I've got to give you
There's no time to hesitate, come with me now
Let's go and watch the sun rise

Let your heart
Run along to the rhythm of your song
Let your heart
Run along to the rhythm of your song

Run along to the rhythm of your song
Run along to the rhythm of your song
Run along to the rhythm of your song
Run along...

Everything you want is what I've got to give you
You just have to let yourself come with me now
Everything you want is what I've got to give you
There's no time to hesitate, come with me now

Everything you want is what I've got to give you
You just have to let yourself come with me now
Everything you want is what I've got to give you
There's no time to hesitate, come with me now
Let's go and watch the sun rise

—“Gold for the price of silver,” by Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe

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The original album version of the track is here.

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Gold for the Price of Silver

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