Debut EP 'How Goes The Night?' Available Now!
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Biography
The William Shakes is as much a concept project as it is a band. Written, produced, and fronted by Mark McGettrick, The William Shakes decontextualizes Shakespearean prose to the tune of alternative indie pop. The debut release How Goes The Night? EP explores five Shakespearean characters: Banquo (MacBeth), Helena (All’s Well That Ends Well), Horatio (Hamlet), Cordelia (King Lear), and Cassius (Julius Caesar).
Inspired by David Bowie’s use of the “cut-up” technique for writing lyrics, McGettrick thought it would be fun to test the method on Shakespeare’s words and characters. His “cut-up” process was as follows: Select the character, Isolate their lines, Randomize their lines, Curate into new lyrics, and Compose an original melody. The songs were originally conceived as an acoustic project for the February 2016 RPM Challenge, but he quickly realized they needed the weighty production of a full band.
Completely self-composed and produced, Mark proudly performs guitar, bass VI, bass, percussion, and vocals throughout the How Goes The Night? EP. It also features musical collaborations with New York, Boston, and LA artists Carrie Ingber, Rob Sistare, Matt Diekmann, and Jason Dunn.
Beyond The William Shakes, Mark McGettrick is a staple artist in Boston’s thriving music scene. Most recently, he was featured playing drums and backing vocals on The Luxury’s 2015 album Bones and Beaten Heart. He has also performed with Seven Sunless Days, Sugarshaped, Chromavoid, and Fade. How Goes The Night? EP is McGettrick’s debut project as The Williams Shakes and is thrilled to see where it takes him.
Lyrics
How Goes The Night? (EP)
‘Tis strange
(Speak Speak Speak)
Wondrous strange
(Speak Speak Speak)
Stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun
This marvel to you
This marvel to you
What is it you would see?
A piece of him
If it tempt you toward the flood
I warrant it will
A truant disposition
Wild and whirling words, my lord
The whisper goes so
‘Tis strange
(Speak Speak Speak)
Wondrous strange
(Speak Speak Speak)
Stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun
This marvel to you
This marvel to you
I think it lacks of twelve
So cease your search
Of mine own eyes
Of lawless resolutes
Flights of angels
Sing thee to thy rest, my lord
Good night sweet prince
Now cracks a noble heart
Now cracks a noble heart
All this can I truly
Upon my life truly
‘Tis strange
(Speak Speak Speak)
Wondrous strange
(Speak Speak Speak)
Stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun
This marvel to you
This marvel to you
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
Why do you start at Things so fair
I would not sleep
So give us a light there, give us a light
I would not sleep
So withered and so wild
Upon her skinny lips their speeches shine
Yet you speak lies, you speak lies
Like lead upon me
Lead upon the air
She goes down at twelve
Allegiance clear
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
Why do you start at Things so fair
I would not sleep
So give us a light there, give us a light
I would not sleep
Restrain in me
The cursed thought
That nature goes with grace
and great prediction
Darkness tell us truths
But their candles are all out
This bloody piece of work
their candles are all out
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
Why do you start at Things so fair
I would not sleep
So give us a light there, give us a light
I would not sleep
So withered and so wild
Upon her skinny lips their speeches shine
Yet you speak lies, you speak lies
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
Why do you start at things so fair
I would not sleep
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
How goes the night, boy?
I would not sleep
Why do you start at things so fair
I would not sleep
So give us a light there
give us a light there
give us a light there
No stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass
That cuts off Twenty years of life
So well as by reflection, I, your glass
When the cross blue lightning comes
Unto some monstrous state
You and I have heard our fathers say
Know you how much the people may be moved?
You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus
(show of love as I was wont to have)
The fault is in ourselves, that we are underlings
Weary of these worldly bars,
(show of love as I was wont to have)
The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;
This tongue had not offended so to-day,
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
And that same eye bend the world
All writings to the great
You and I have heard our fathers say
I have much mistook your passion
You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus
(show of love as I was wont to have)
The fault is in ourselves, that we are underlings
Weary of these worldly bars,
(show of love as I was wont to have)
The fault dear Brutus is not in our stars
Baser stars do shut us up
In wishes first, must give me trust
The dearest issue dearly love
Of valour fear and wealth above
To join and kiss like native things
The fortune space in nature brings
Wisdom waiting for the flood
When roar'd the lion royal blood
O you leaden messengers
From simple sources seas have dried
My motive sound the search implies
Ever true a flame to be
With sharp occasions take my leave
But my intents are fix'd on you
With true observance love is true
And with the word the time will bring
On summer blessing virtue sings
O you leaden messengers
Baser stars do shut us up
In wishes first, must give me trust
The dearest issue dearly love
Of valour fear and wealth above
O you leaden messengers
(What shall Cordelia do? Love and be silent)
Time unfold and hold your hands o'er me
Repair those violent harms, all the idle weeds
I am sure of that for which I am richer
To stand against and cure this breach of nature
Time unfold and hold your hands o'er me
Sir, do you know me?
Father, do you know me?
(I love your majesty according to my bond, no more, no less)
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder
My heart into my mouth, O dear father
'Tis wonder that thy life and wits
At once opposed against the warring winds
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder
Sir, do you know me?
Father, do you know me?
My heart
Dear love
So young
No cause
My heart
Dear love
So young
No cause
No cause
No cause
No cause
No cause