The
title track from Tom Ciurczak’s “YORICK” album is Tom’s decided story
about the skull of “Yorick” discussed in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
As a
rock singer-songwriter inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, Steve
Earle, and a range of classic/prog/timeless rockers, Tom likes to create “what
if” backstories about his songs’ characters. “Yorick was introduced in ‘Hamlet’
as the skull of the court jester with Hamlett’s famous quote ‘Poor Yorick I
knew thee well.’ But who was he? And how did he lose his head? I created
a little fable to tell his story. At its core the song is a love story that’s
marred throughout with deception. The song’s narrative combines elements
from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, Rapunzel and Rumpelstiltskin. It centers
around Yorick’s rescuing of the fairytale princess together with his get rich
quick scheme to steal a ‘hidden treasure.’ But, unfortunately instead of the
princess, Yorick finds the proverbial old witch masquerading in her place. They
both quickly realize they have been deceiving each other. Yorick’s greed leads
him to make a deal for the money with the witch. But as is the case with witches,
you can’t trust them, and she reneges on their agreement, winds up killing and
decapitating him in the end.”
Directed
by Robert Wakamatsu, the “Yorick” music video shows Tom as “Yorick” with the
band (drummer Sean Derksen, backup singer Melissa Robin, keyboardist Chris
McKinney, guitarist Ken Harrill, and bassist Phil Stein) in Elizabethan
costume. Melissa portrays both the princess and witch, ultimately responsible
for killing “Yorick.”
The
album, “YORICK” is due June 27. The music video will go live on
June 20 at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18 .
From the time he was a child, growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, with a professional musician father, Tom’s written songs and worked on his music. Though he focused on raising a family on the west coast while working in the Specialty Lighting industry, Tom continued writing and playing guitar. Finally, in 2014 he attended Steve Earle’s Camp Copperhead, and found his musical voice and tribe.
Tom’s
first album “Call Me Ishmael” was released in 2020. Then came
the 2021 single “Christmas Time in Hollywood” his second CD, “I Ain’t
Ever Growing Up -Volume I,” and 2023’s “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up-Volume
II” and an ep, “Christmas Time in Hollywood.” He and five other
songwriters from the Steve Earle tribe put together “Muscle Shoals Record
Shop” recorded at Muscle Shoals legendary Cypress Moon Studio, home of the
Swampers (aka Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)!
“YORICK”
celebrates the artform of storytelling, and features songs from Tom’s
creative imagination. There’s investigative intrigue in “Am I M.I.A.,” “The
Watcher,” “Chameleon,” and “A.L.T.O.W.D.” which is short for
“Another Long Typical Ordinary Working Day.” The album’s more topical songs
are “You’re Next,” “Malleus Maleficarum,” and “Where Do I Belong,” which
focuses on the homeless crisis. There are also story songs from Tom’s
experiences: “Wild One,” and “Top of the Rainbow.”
The
album was mixed and produced at the world-famous Sunset Sound Studios by Brett
Grossman and Stephen Haaker, and mastered by Brett Grossman.
The Tom Ciurczak Band regularly plays throughout Southern California.
Pre-save
link for “Yorick” YORICK is
Coming!!!!
Pre-order
“Yorick” at tomciurczak.com/buy-cd
www.instagram.com/tokyotommy58/
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092202082226
www.youtube.com/@tomciurczak8782
The
“Yorick” music video to go live June 20 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18
Other
Music Videos “The Watcher” www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrHQwvnZfLA
“Top of the Rainbow” www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbO3dNRcu8
“YORICK”
track & musician listing
1. The
Watcher
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Billy Diisko
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
Keyboards: Valerie Chaikin
2. Wild One
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Sean Sobash
Electric Guitar: Oscar Jesus Bugarin & Jimena Fosado
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin
3. Yorick
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail
Acoustic Guitar: Angela Petrilli
Ukulele: Matt Hornbeck
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison & Eli Arnold
4. You’re Next
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Billy Diisko
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Thump Solo: Brandon Washington
Keyboards: Valerie Chaikin
Background Vocals: Eli Arnold
5. Where Do I Belong
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
6. Chameleon
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Sean Sobash
Electric Guitar: Jimena Fosado
Acoustic Guitar: Oscar Jesus Bugarin
Background Vocals: Eli Arnold
7. Top Of The Rainbow
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
Trumpet: Jon Manness
Trombone: Lasim Richards
8. A.L.T.O.W.D.
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Acoustic Guitar: Sydney Moreno
Harmonica: Matt Lomeo
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin
9. Malleus Malificarum
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin
10. Am I MIA
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Matt Hornbeck & Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail
Acoustic Guitar: Angela Petrilli
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
Yorick
I’m
coming down
From the
steeple ‘til I hit the ground
Cause
I’m the guillotined Jester’s head
Jugglers,
jokers, puppet shows
All in
the Market Square
Jester
grins, stares at the sky
Storm
clouds are everywhere
Everybody
heads inside
The
banquet will start soon
The
tower’s left unguarded
Clouds
block the light from the crimson moon
Won’t
you let your hair down like Rapunzel did
Won’t
you spin your straw into gold for me
Is there
a silver lining in those clouds up above
I’m
climbing up to rescue you and set you free
Duels
and Fools and Fire Breathers
the
festival’s a blaze
The King
and Queen are mesmerized
By the
poet’s Shakespeare plays
No one
see’s as I scale the tower
drawn by
her Sirens call
don’t
know if I’ll make it
or if
I’ll slip and fall
Won’t
you let your hair down like Rapunzel did
Won’t
you spin your straw into gold for me
Is there
a silver lining in those clouds up above
Cause
I’m climbing up to rescue you and set you free
But it’s
taking too much time
something
doesn’t feel right
You’re
not who you’ve been pretending to be
And this
room’s not full of gold
For a
princess you look real old
Who’s
this Stiltskin
I don’t
know what you were told
My name
is Yorick I’m the royal fool
Never
been one to follow the rules
Everything’s
so obvious when you know all the answers
You’ve
got nothing to gain here, cause I’m not who you’re after
Just let
your hair down like Rapunzel did
And I’ll
spin your straw into the gold of your dreams
cause
there’s a silver lining in those clouds up above
and
nothing here is what it seems to be
You’re
not the princess and I’m not your savior
I
thought this would be easy, you’re not who I came for
Let’s
make deal, we can break this spell together
I’ll
spin that straw to gold and we can both leave with the treasure
I’m
coming down
From the
steeple ‘til I hit the ground
Cause
I’m the guillotined Jester’s head
C 2025
by Tom Ciurzcak / Ciurczak Songs (BMI), All Rights Reserved
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