BONUS MATERIAL FOR “THE LAST WALTZ OF THE WRIGHTS”

I have a funny habit of writing about murder ballads. I wrote about America’s first serial killer, HH Holmes, in my song “Criminal”, and James Whitaker Wright, in the above song “The Last Waltz of The Wrights”.

Except James Whitaker Wright wasn’t a murderer. I made that up. I mean, he did kill himself, but I think his wife Anna (hopefully) died of natural causes. I honestly wish there was more written about him.

All I know is what I wrote in the preface of the video- that this guy James amassed a good fortune in America, helped build the Bakerloo Line in the London Underground, built a giant estate in Surrey, and killed himself in the courthouse after being convicted of fraud. Seems he was having a hard time keeping up his lavish lifestyle so he got into the fun past-time of embezzling.

I first found out about him when I stumbled across pictures of his underwater ballroom (actually a smoking lounge, unfortunately) on the internet. And OOOOO!!!! I NEVER get to show actual pictures of this place, but since we’re hanging out on the internet, I can magically make images appear before your very eyes. Look!

Fun fact about me. I have a phobia called submechanophobia, which basically means man-made things underwater, particularly animatronic dinosaurs and sharks, absolutely terrify me, so these pictures give me the heebie jeebies. Would I still visit this place in a heartbeat? YES. Do I have a dream of shooting a music video for “The Last Waltz of The Wrights” there someday? ABSOLUTELY. So if you have ANY LEADS, let me know. Shooting a music video there in Dark Garden Corsetry would be absolutely wild. Sigh. Maybe someday.

Anyway, I saw these pictures online and read the tragic story and knew that I HAD to write a song about it, and I did. But instead of having James Whitaker Wright kill himself with cyanide in the bathroom of the courthouse, I changed history and had him kill himself AND his wife in the underwater ballroom. The jig is up, darling.

The song is sung from the perspective of Anna, who has just realized her husband James has poisoned her and she is going to die.

I wrote the song for Misfit Cabaret’s nautical-themed show, Whimsea, which was first performed in a little illegal speakeasy in SOMA to about 100 people. Teeeeensy stage. Definitely no room for dancing. I performed it dressed as a mermaid.

When we took the show to The Great Star in Chinatown, we suddenly had a very big stage to perform on. Jordan surprised me with a choreographed dance that she had secretly been working on with Crutcher, our friend and set builder, and I was very excited to have them perform that dance for the actual show. We’ve had different James’s throughout the years, but Jordan always dies at the end.

We recorded the song at the legendary Prairie Sun Studios and invited Shaina K. Evoniuk from Jazz Mafia and her quartet to come and play strings. It was so beautiful during recording that I burst into tears and hugged Daniel Garcia, my producer on the album. And in case you’re wondering who plays Wright in the song, that’s the voice of none other than my musical director and Darling Misfit pianist, Brendan Getzell.

The Last Waltz of The Wrights

Darling, you're fading
This drink you gave me makes me feel I'm floating
Intwined, strung tight
We're spinning underneath a fractured night

Trapped in our very own hourglass
Slowing our breath to a waltz
Writing our very own epitaph
We are gone, gone, gone

Why did you kill me
When you couldn't save yourself?
Why did you drag me
Down, down, down?
Why did you kill me
When they came and found you out?
Why did you drag me
Down, down, down, down, down?

Darling, they're whispering
Closer, closer, I can feel them waiting
Darling, I'm shaking
In this pregnant darkness
Your eyes are death, dead, drowning

Why did you kill me
When you couldn't save yourself?
Why did you drag me
Down, down, down?
Why did you kill me
When they came and found you out?
Why did you drag me
Down, down, down, down, down?

In our achingly beautiful tragedy
Fish watch us dance through the glass
Pressed against pane, shining emeralds
Our last remaining party guests

And you said, "My angel
I simply can't stand when you cry.
From the day we are born we are dying
And tonight, my dear, we going to end it in style."

Why did you kill me
When you couldn't save yourself?
Why did you drag me
Down, down, down?
Why did you kill me
When they came and found you out?
Why did you drag me
Down, down, down, down, down?
Why did you kill me
When you couldn't save yourself?
Why did you drag me
Down, down, down, down, down?