Lyr Req: She Darked the Sun (Clark/Leadon)

Subject: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 26 Sep 07 - 11:42 PM

Ok - this song has been haunting me off and on for years. Pure Prarie League recorded this as a B-side and Linda Ronstadt recorded it twice early in her career. I finally dug out my old Pure Prarie League greatest hits album and see the song is Credited to "Clark/Leadon" and so I assume that means Michael Clark and Bernie Leadon of the Burrito Brothers, yes?

I can't find all the lyrics anywhere - I believe there are 3 verses although Linda Ronstadt only ever does 2. In addition - the Chorus doesn't make a lick of sense so I don't think I have it correct. here's what I have - please correct and tell me anything you know about this song:

She (or He) Darked The Sun
Clarke/Leadon

intro
And with the length of her mind, she darked the sun...

Verse
It was not so long ago, maybe just a year or so
when I was lonely and went looking for someone
Way down south in New Orleans, just a'lookin' for a dream
that's where I found her, that's where it all begun

Chorus
She was there on that night, sad for you I know I'm right
I'll be with you until my race is run
She walked into my life, with her cold evil eyes
and with the length of her mind, she darked the sun

Verse 2
Well my memory cannot speak, and oh Lord, I'm feelin' weak
but I blame it on the fact that I was young
Though I know it may sound strange, there is no way I can change
what my fate has laid out for me now is done

Chorus
repeat last line of chorus twice


So -

Anyone ever hear this? Am I close? Is there a 3rd verse that explains it all? Why the switch to "you" in the middle of the chorus? is he talking to the women who darked the sun or somebody else? This is torturing me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 12:35 AM

Correction, I intended to say GENE Clark and not michael clark - sorry

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: SHE DARKED THE SUN (Clark/Leadon)
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 12:41 AM

Finally - by searching on GENE Clark and the song title, I found the correct lyrics - don't you love it when you solve your own mystery?


Here:

She Darked the Sun
by Gene Clark and Bernie Leadon


D                            G
It was not so long ago maybe just a year or so
      D                         E    A      
I was lonely and was looking for someone
          D                                  G
Went down south to New Orleans, still just searching
                         D
For my dreams and that's when I saw her
A7                D             G   
That's how it all begun she was there on that night
          D                           G
Said for you I know I'm right i'll be with you
                            E A             D
Until my race is my race is run she walked into
                  G                           D                                       
My life with her cold evil eyes and with the length
       A7                  D
Of her mind she darked the sun.
      D                               G
Well my memory tries to speak but, Oh Lord I'm feeling
            D                            E A
Weak and I blame on the fact that I was young
          D                                  G
Though I know it may sound strange, there is no way
                      D                   A
I can change what my fate has picked out for me
       D             G                            D   
Now is done. she was there on that night said for you
                         G                         E A
I know i'm right i'll be with you, until my race is run
            D                         G
She walked into my life with her cold evil eyes and
            D            A7                D   
With the length of her mind she darked the sun   
            D            A7                D
With the length of her mind she darked the sun.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: GUEST,Mary Katherine
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 12:42 AM

Originally recorded by The Dillard & Clark Expedition on their first (of two) A&M Records LP "The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark" (group members Doug Dillard, Gene Clark, Bernie Leadon, Don Beck, David Jackson), A&M 4158. I don't think this has ever been reissued on CD. Will try to check the lyrics out for you and report back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: pdq
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 06:36 PM

The CD came out in 1998 and includes both "The Fantastic Expedition" and "Through the Morning, Through the Night" on one CD. Part number is (A&M Records) 540 975-2. I believe the original is better than any of the covers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 06:56 PM

"the length of her mind she darked the sun' ?? What garbage!
Or is it an attempt at humor? Whatever the intent, it's meaningless.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: pdq
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 07:01 PM

You must forgive Q. He spent the 60s dropping Geritol.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 07:36 PM

Nothing ever replaced Hadacol!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 07:43 PM

You must forgive Q. He thinks Laurel Canyon was a stripper.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 07:55 PM

No, twarnt! That was Hardy's pardner.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 07:58 PM

OK, I'll bite. What does the line mean, "with the length of her moind she darked the Sun"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: pdq
Date: 27 Sep 07 - 09:24 PM

"OK, I'll bite. What does the line mean, 'with the length of her moind she darked the Sun'?"

It's clearly a juxtaposition of the transitional Id and subjective self.

There is a strong influence of Existential Zen poetry from the Zim Dynasty,

but that is subjugated to the direct influence of the great Lysergicus and from

Cannabis the Elder. Or you could ask Alice, I think she'll know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 03:08 AM

I always thought mind-expanding drugs had more of a sideways effect.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 09:12 AM

"Alice? Alice? Who the F*** is Alice?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked The Sun Clark/Leadon
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 07 - 09:30 AM

"with the length of her moind she darked the Sun"?

Clearly an analogy to the effect of the moon eclipsing the sun. The she in question most certainly made an impression on this traveler. Keeping company with such a lady one could avoid using sunscreen. But was she really evil or just misunderstood? Or, in an ironic twist, did she have a sister resident in the House of the Rising Sun?

I'm planning a trip to New Orleans next year and I promise to post a follow-up report.

Geriotol? No way! It's only turpenhydrate for this fella!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked the Sun (Clark/Leadon)
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 03:00 PM

That line has always bugged me too. I mentioned it once before in another thread somewhere about lyrics. It makes no sense whatsoever but the song itself is nice to listen to and I used to sing it often with my badly transcribed lyrics back in highschool and college.

I used to think the chorus read: "Sad for you I now it's right" instead of:
Said "For you I know I'm Right" - as a quote from the lady who darked the sun with her long mind. Of course, that just made the song even less comprehensible!

The Pure Prairie Leaugue version is nice and the one most likely to be in someone's CD collection - it's on their Greatest Hits CD

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked the Sun (Clark/Leadon)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Oct 07 - 08:25 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked the Sun (Clark/Leadon)
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 08:22 PM

Charley - were you stunned mute by post admitting my mistranscribed lyrics or did the eveil New orleans lady who draks suns strike you dumb? Man, she has mad superpowers, eh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: She Darked the Sun (Clark/Leadon)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 22 - 10:41 AM

Recorded by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band per --- McKeown on Coffee Country & Cody on WSM radio (Nashville) and Circle Television Wednesday 2020 August 10.
I heard 'eagle eyes'.