little miss take (w/harmful if followed-one man verity show)

This is my entry for Round 4 of the "Spintunes" contest (spoiler: sadly I didn't win 😭) The prompt/challenge was to "write and record a song inspired by the painting, Water Fox by the artist Madeline Owen".

In Japanese folklore, Kitsune are mischievous fox spirits known particularly for their ability to shapeshift. Handily, there is a river variety, which is what came to mind when I was saw Madeline’s painting.

(Cover image: Water Fox © Madeline Owen - https://collierwest.com/collections/madeline-owen / https://www.instagram.com/looselyassembled/)

LYRICS

Once there was a woodcutter’s son
Living alone, deep in the forest
Barely spared a word for anyone
In ten long years (or so it was said)
And every day
He would pray
Down by the river

The river ran fast and deep
Its banks were steep and slick with mud
The woodcutter’s son once had a wife
Carried away by those treacherous currents
And every day
He sang the name
Of the river spirit

Kitsune, why d’ya take my baby
Why d’ya take my baby away
Kitsune, why d’ya take my baby
Why d’ya take my baby away

One day he came back to his home
And there stood his wife, in the lengthening shadows
She said, “I can return every night
But when I depart, you must swear not to follow”
Then down he fell
Beneath her spell
And sang to the river

Kitsune, now you brought my baby
Now you brought my baby back
Kitsune, now you brought my baby
Now you brought my baby back

I lost my lover at the water’s edge
I’m never gonna lose her
Never gonna lose her again

The lure of curiosity grew
The woodcutter’s son could bear it no longer
Silently he traced her steps
To the muddy bank, where he lost her forever
In the pale blue dawn
She took the form
Of the river spirit

Kitsune, why d’ya take my baby
Why d’ya take my baby away
Kitsune, why d’ya take my baby
Why d’ya take my baby away

Kitsune, Kitsune, Kitsune
Kitsune, Kitsune, Kitsune
Kitsune, why d’ya take my baby
Why d’ya take my baby away
From me

Kitsune

Let Go

All in All

Kemba - Already (Dramantic Remix)

Inspired by the Facebook page, Dirty Old 1970's New York City. 
Beats, production: Oussama Arichi
Vocals, Lyrics, Mix: Nadia Selvaggi
Sound Effects: Pixabay
Photo by Camilo José Vergara
P-line:
℗ 2025 Nadia Selvaggi. Oussama Arichi
C-line:
© 2025 Nadia Selvaggi, Oussama Arichi

Dirty Old Seventies New York by Oussama Arichi & Nadia Selvaggi

Some Kind of Good Machine

I'm not saying you're not a real man if you don't cry but maybe you should try it, it feels good.

Some Kind of Good Machine

Bruce Tang

Related tracks