Throwback Thursday: Original Cover Art Sketch

I was going through some files while working on the cover art for the new album, and found my original pen sketch that became the cover art for the first Sci-Fi Romance album, …and surrender my body to the flames.

“…and surrender my body to the flames” original pen sketch

I had not intended to do the cover art. There was another artist lined up at the time, and I drew this to try to communicate the layout I had in mind. I think scheduling wound up being the downfall for his involvement, so I had to scramble and wound up doing the cover on my own.

“…and surrender my body to the flames” cover art

I’m not an illustrator, but I remain proud of how this image turned out. And incidentally, in my mind, I’ve always referred to the woman as “Delilah.” The more you know…

Gulliver Foyle

Now there’s little left to say
Everything we thought would last has gone away
And what we gripped with all our might
Has turned its back on us and fled into the night

But it’s ok, cause we’re still here
Huddled in the rain together
And in that we should find shelter
From anything to come

We’re headed for the blue, the black, the stars, the flames
The destination up ahead is hidden in the haze
We wring our hands and burn our bridges shouting blame
Fingers crossed we still can get out of our own way, someday

The world has seen this all before
Self–destructive drive to always even up the score
An eye for an eye just leaves us blind
That’s too high a price to pay for spite

But it’s ok, we’re all in pain
Huddled in the rain together
And in that we should find shelter
From anything to come

We’re headed for the blue, the black, the stars, the flames
The destination up ahead is hidden in the haze
We wring our hands and burn our bridges shouting blame
Fingers crossed we still can get out of our own way, someday

…it’s not too late

In the Dark Together

As the shadows pooled tonight
We both needed somewhere to run to
I held you and you asked where
The lights on the highway lead you

Now everything that we know
Is hundreds of miles behind us
Why should we still pretend
There’s only this console between us?

Let’s find a town to stop this car.
And fumble around in the dark.
‘Cause even as my life disintegrates,
I can’t stop wondering how you’d taste.
It took tonight to realize,
the one thing I can’t leave behind…is you.

Hands tied by fear of failure
Too much of my life just slips by
Home can sometimes feel like dying
You have to leave to know you’re alive

But we’re here in the dark together
Our old lives falling further away
In this car pointed God only knows where
I can’t take my eyes from your face

Let’s find a town to stop this car.
And fumble around in the dark.
‘Cause even as my life disintegrates,
I can’t stop wondering how you’d taste.
It took tonight to realize,
the one thing I can’t leave behind…is you.
It’s you.