Mary Gauthier - Our Lady of the Shooting Stars

[butchnurse]

I filmed this at the Michigan's Womyn's Music Festival.

[banksiasong]

Truth seeker, truth teller

and a very remarkable human being.

Thanks Mary for sharing your journey.

Appreciation and love to you both.

[vivefemmes]

There seems to be as many meanings as posters, what does THAT mean?

I'd like Mare to come and clear this up, and I'd kinda not like that as well. A truly beautiful old soul.

[vivefemmes]

Well I reckon the key to this song is the Sun metaphor which recurs throughout. Holding the phoenix to her chest (death and rebirth/resurrection ); blinded by burning sunlight ; our Sun is a star; "running from the sun" - an amazing line --> LIGHT AS TRUTH, an oldie but a goodie. Mare was trying to run from the light and not be blinded (she thinks) which is the truth.

Wow, could it be - the truth set me free?

[SmileFromBehind]

yeh, incredible and more.

yearning, pain, desire, fear, intimacy, need, mentor, bravery, aloneness, regret, spirit journey... death. Mary crafts language in beautiful and exqusite ways and this film shows the depth of her concert performances. A remarkable and brilliant wordsmith, a wonderful and very talented songwriter. A very rare human being.

[oopsydahlia]

I read an interview yesterday in Out&About and Mary is quoted as saying that it's the songwriter's job to explain aspects of living that we don't have the words to explain.

So, sure there is Mary's truth, and I guess that truth would be good to know and understand, but her songs stand on their own merits, they don't need explanation. The real truth is that we can make our OWN truths from her lyrics, and as people, as lesbian people, as women people whatever, there can't be better than that.

[ParArdua]

Dear Mary

We love ya girl, strong heart and humanity, vulnerable in all the right places. Love to see ya again in Australia, take care.

Karen [aka ParArdua]

[ParArdua]

Well I have a notion that encompasses most of yours. Yep, I'm plagiarising at your expense.

It's all about .... lesbian sexuality *claps*

Our Lady > Goddess; Shooting Stars > Orgasms; Nature metaphors > dyke heaven. Tell me I'm wrong, go on ;) ...

ps: Lesbians are beautiful beings,. yay.

[ednawalling]

Go mary..

I thought i did know what the song was about, sort of fear of intimacy, but now i haven't got a clue, but I love it even more. Dont know how the audience stayed in their chairs, looks like a womyns festival, yay!! Great video and great name crispyqueen.

[tippngthevelvet]

Only the songwriter knows what her song means. For me "Our Lady" only has one meaning and that is our Blessed Virgin Mary. There is rich religious or spiritual allusions and iconography in the song. Its a shame the first two choruses arent captured, but this is beautiful. If only I could hear music like this at church.

[ekydami]

"Our Lady of The Shooting Stars teach me how to know

I want to feel my thoughts go dark and rest inside your flow.

I'll awaken without fear and breathe the cool clean air,

With your words upon my lips, your will becomes my prayer"

(third verse 'Our lady of the Shooting Stars' from Drag Queens in Limousines © Mary Gauthier, in the black. 1999. 6-414444-19622-7 )

it's this verse that reflects for me an experience of an addiction to diamorphine.

[ekydami]

very, very beautiful performance, i'd love to hear it on a starry night with big trees and some wine.

even though i think everything is eventually about sex or erotic desire, i dont think this song is. i travelled with H for a bit, and this song really speaks to me about that, if not diamorphine, then some other opiate.

i am new to mg's rich repertoire, so i rely more just on the literal than an understanding of her life circumstances which are complex and tragic. the third verse i'll post.

[chitchant]

Her voice is like kayaking without paddle down a stream to some beautiful place, without fear and with complete trust. Just incredible, the night sky is clear and starlit tonight.

Beyond sexy, transcendent.

[wattlesong]

This is a very sexy song, in a warm languid way. About the most perfect performance I could conjur. Great audio, love the signing interpreter as well.

[wattlesong]

@wattlesong

Sexy yes, and also fearful and very intimate.

[chitchant]

@wattlesong

Mary speaks of the push-pull of those boundaries and intimacy, and then with the timbre and warmth of her voice just moves the audience way beyond. Incredible, eh.

[wadjela]

Oh, wow, beautiful recording of a wonderful Gauthier song. I love the ache and longing in her voice and phrasing.

Beautiful venue, and a very well mannered audience. Gorgeous. Was this filmed in Canada? Thanks for the film.