This Riddle

from this riddle (acoustic demo) by Vanessa Peters

subscriber exclusive

about

I have been writing this song for about, oh, a decade. Maybe one day I'll post all of the drafts. Like most of my songs, it grew out of a real detail, and then morphed into fiction. That real detail was the tree - my old house in Austin had a tree growing through the front porch.

This was recorded live into one mic.
A Wunder Audio CM7, for those of you that are into that sort of thing. ;)

lyrics

I woke up resurrecting demons
drowning in the details we push way down
like how you knew the name of every flower
and how you introduced me to your town

how we never used that great front porch
had a tree growing straight through the middle
and how you were a terrific problem solver
but not enough to crack this riddle

a head full of all the bits I saved
like how you loved so much to sleep in late
and how you drove away while I just stayed
paralyzed by the choices we made

they say things happen for a reason
but we try to cover all the bases just in case
too afraid to claim anything as certain
tying our laces to avoid running the race

a head full of all the bits I saved
and all the times I piled on the blame
and how you drove away while I just stayed
paralyzed by the choices we made

it’s time to make peace with the demons
all the details we push way down
I meant everything I ever told you
like how I said I’d always be around

credits

from this riddle (acoustic demo), released April 5, 2017
vanessa: acoustic guitar, vocals
rip: engineer

license

about

Vanessa Peters Austin, Texas

Indie singer/songwriter from Texas. Musician, Italophile, Virgo, coffee nerd, food lover, bossy-pants, big ol' softie.
I've released 10+ albums and played over 1000 shows in 11 countries. I'm not done yet.

contact / help

Contact Vanessa Peters

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Vanessa Peters, you may also like:

Reunions: Live At Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
by Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires

supported by 7 fans who also own “This Riddle”

This is Master Class of acoustic guitar....This will be studied for years to come... By me. tmthy1977
go to album
Blonde On The Tracks
by Emma Swift

supported by 6 fans who also own “This Riddle”

Gonzo. Passion. The Ming Vase. Haunting and beautiful. Every listen brings a new favorite. Do something like this again, Miss Emma. Please let the answer be yes. Please let the answer be yes! alien9
go to album
Gulf Collide
by Marie/Lepanto

supported by 6 fans who also own “This Riddle”

I'm way behind the curve on this. I thought M/L was to be a one-off project but now there's more? And it's even better than the first? YES!! J. Danner
go to album
Steady Away
by Chris Brain

The latest from the UK’s Chris Brain is a gorgeously wrought album of tender acoustic folk music. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 17, 2023
go to album
The Same Mistakes
by Hot Left Pole

Soft-as-a-whisper folk music, with spiderwebs of guitar and vocal melodies as comforting as a lullaby. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 26, 2023
go to album
Hard Work
by Hot Left Pole

Whispery indie folk from the UK, “Hard Work” cradles soft and gentle vocal melodies in a nest of acoustic guitars. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 23, 2022
go to album
Pete Yorn Sings The Classics
by Pete Yorn

supported by 5 fans who also own “This Riddle”

My goodness what a great album. Really cool hearing so many familiar songs performed by Pete Yorn. Great voice, beautiful instrumentation, so much depth and familiarity. Listening with a big smile on my face. jasonbuicemusic
go to album