Merlin

LYRICS
Quick!
Merlin’s natural magic
Is music
To my ears
Savior
From our fears

Surprise
How wise
Shine the light
Prophetic insight
Foresee the future
Help us endure
Safeguarding and guiding
Tumultuous times align

Extracting Excalibur from the stone
Collective efforts, not alone
Evolution and adaptation
Understanding all creation
We’ll see…
With knowledge comes responsibility
To be

Need more persuasion
From modern-day “Merlins”
Together we’ll protect planet
… and inhabitants

• Merlin-Part-I.mp3 (unplugged to save energy)
• Merlin-Part-II.mp3
• Merlin-Part-II-Instrumental.mp3
• Merlin-LH-Casio-WK-3500.MID (Left Hand / also controlled Korg PS60)
• Merlin-RH-Yamaha-PSR-740.MID (Right Hand / also controlled microKorg and miniNOVA vocorder)

Chords: E C D E / C E / C D E / A C C E / C B7 E / B E / E C D E; Part II @ 98 Beats Per Minute
Instrumentation: Vocals (TC-Helicon VOICELIVE and MiniNova Vocorder), Ibanez Acoustic Guitar (AW54CE), Keyboards (Korg PS60, Casio WK-3500, Yamaha PSR-740, MiniNova, MicroKorg)

ABOUT MERLIN
Merlin, a mythical figure intricately woven into the tapestry of King Arthur’s legend, is best recognized as a wizard and scientist. Positioned at the forefront of medieval science, Merlin was a erudite individual proficient in astrology, cosmology, prophecy, and natural magic. Additionally, he held the roles of seer and proto-alchemist.

Functioning as a prophet, Merlin possessed the ability to foresee the future, a skill he utilized to predict Arthur’s destined kingship. Following Arthur’s birth, Merlin safeguarded the infant, orchestrating his upbringing away from his parents. Upon Uther’s demise, Merlin declared that the next king would be the one capable of extracting the sword Excalibur from a stone. Numerous knights attempted and failed, but Arthur emerged victorious. Subsequently, Merlin played a pivotal role in assisting Arthur in claiming the throne.

Choosing the path of virtue over malevolence, Merlin harnessed all his attributes for the greater good. His character embodies a nuanced conflict between knowledge and power. Initially symbolizing wisdom in early Welsh tales, Merlin evolved into an advisor to kings during the Middle Ages. Eventually, he assumed the roles of mentor and teacher, guiding Arthur and others on their quests.

Merlin, in the context of climate change, serves as a metaphor for the intricate and multifaceted nature of the environmental challenges we face. Here’s an exploration of the metaphor:

1. Wisdom and Scientific Understanding: Much like Merlin’s proficiency in medieval sciences, including astrology, cosmology, and natural magic, addressing climate change requires a deep understanding of the scientific complexities involved. Scientists and researchers act as modern-day “Merlins,” utilizing their knowledge to decipher and predict the impacts of climate change on our planet.
2. Prophetic Insight: Merlin’s prophetic abilities parallel the scientific predictions made by researchers regarding the consequences of climate change. Climate scientists use models and data to foresee the future state of the Earth, much like Merlin predicted Arthur’s destiny as king.
3. Guidance and Protection: Merlin’s role in safeguarding and guiding Arthur during tumultuous times aligns with the need for guidance in navigating the challenges posed by climate change. The global community, through collaboration and shared knowledge, can work together to protect the planet and its inhabitants.
4. The Sword in the Stone as a Symbol: The tale of Arthur extracting Excalibur from the stone serves as a metaphor for the monumental task of addressing climate change. The stone represents the formidable challenges, and the successful extraction symbolizes the collective efforts needed to overcome environmental hurdles.
5. Evolution and Adaptation: Merlin’s evolution from a symbol of wisdom to an advisor and mentor reflects the evolving understanding of climate change. Initially recognized for wisdom, the role expands to include advising and guiding, mirroring the ongoing adaptation and learning required to address environmental issues.
6. Conflict Between Knowledge and Power: Merlin’s internal conflict between knowledge and power mirrors the ethical choices humanity faces in dealing with climate change. The knowledge of environmental issues comes with the responsibility to use that knowledge for the betterment of the planet, not exploit it for short-term gains.

In essence, the metaphor of Merlin for climate change emphasizes the importance of wisdom, foresight, collaboration, and ethical decision-making in the face of complex environmental challenges.

From the album: Camelot’s Resurgence

A song about The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment