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Tales of Disguise and Delusion

from Happy 450th Birthday, Shakespeare by The Bookshop Band

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  • SPECIAL Limited Edition of four letter press Shakespeare greeting cards. When you buy the box, you automatically get a download of all the tracks...

    AND... each card has a unique download code on the back, so when you send it to a friend you are also sending them the free gift of one of our songs.

    This limited run (450) was made on Shakespeare's 450th Birthday (23rd April 2014). Each is secretly numbered on the inside.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Happy 450th Birthday, Shakespeare via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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about

Inspired by a number of William Shakespeare's plays:
Much Ado About Nothing
As You Like It
Twelfth Night
The Merchant Of Venice

lyrics

How this day seems long
Deception sings it’s song
With tales of disguise and delusion

Masking a face
Ears can embrace
Words that are meant for amusing

He be a boy
Playing a girl
Dressed as a boy for confusion

For better or for worse
A doctor not a nurse
Did save a life in conclusion.

Antonio was full of woe
Unfortunate merchant did throw
All that he had for the taking

Borrowing and making bonds
His love for Bassinio strong
He hoped that his bonds wouldn’t break him.

The ships at sea they didn’t win
No mercy Shylock had on him
The bond was a pound of flesh, then…

Bassinio lost his ring
It could have cost him everything
The doctor his wife gave a testing.

Revenge is a theme
There’s sibling rivalry
And Much Ado for a short play.

They all end up fooled
And some over ruled
An ass some are called and will surely pay.

Light hearted cupid spies
The rivals tell such lies
Accusing an innocent lady

Hero and Claudio
Were challenged by a foe
Now let’s all dance and be merry

There’s competition in the wit
Of Beatrice and Benedick
But by a trick they draw nearer

They think the other loves them true
Though the attributes are few
The joker he can’t help but hear her

In such a night we find the light
It all comes clear in the morning
Men and boys and girls and ploys
Eventually adorning.

Rosalind now a boy
To run away was her ploy
But love was a stronger emotion

Familiar was she
To her family
None but her co knew the notion.

She knew her passion wouldn’t fade
She had to refuse other maids
Causing a deal of confusion

Orsino was her biggest fan
Of her apparel as a man
Which showed up his love and devotion

Garnished as a boy
Viola found her joy
But could not say where her heart fell

For his heart was gone
Olivia it set on
Triangle of love. Could it end well?

How now Malvolio
Cruel pranks have left you low
The lady she likes not your garters

Grinning like a silly clown
When she’d prefer to see you frown
Perhaps take the tights off for starters

A sister and a brother found
Both had thought the other drowned
The girl had no longer a dress on.

Caused the duke and lady fair
To manly pair
All came clear in confession.

In such a night…

I think it might be fun
To confuse everyone
By changing my name and cross dressing

But I think that they might see
That it was really me
To be or not to be is the question

Then Bassinio lost his ring
It could have cost him everything
The doctor his wife gave a testing.

There’s competition in the wit
Of Beatrice and Benedick
But by a trick they draw nearer

Orsino was her biggest fan
Of her apparel as a man
Which showed up his love and devotion

How now Malvolio
Cruel pranks have left you low
The lady she likes not your garters

credits

from Happy 450th Birthday, Shakespeare, released May 2, 2014
Words and music by The Bookshop Band, some lyrics by Wiliam Shakespeare. Recorded at Chelvey Court. Produced and mixed by Ben please. Mastered by Marco Migliari.

Beth Porter - vocals, cello, recorders
Ben Please - nylon guitar, vocals, piano
Poppy Pitt - vocals, glockenspiel, percussion

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about

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The Bookshop Band Bath, UK

The Bookshop Band write songs inspired by books and play them in bookshops. They started as a collaboration between a group of musicians in Bath and their local independent bookshop, Mr B's Emporium. Now they are about to go on tour, sponsored by Vintage Books and Independent Booksellers Week, around other bookshops and lit fests. Catch them if you can. Details at www.thebookshopband.co.uk ... more

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