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St. Boniface

from Minus Mary by Minus Mary

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about

I wrote “St. Boniface” a few years ago, about a Catholic church of that name in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district that opens its doors every morning to let homeless folks sleep in the pews. There was a poignant article in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2005 (by Kevin Fagan) that told the story of the church, and about The Gubbio Project that was created to help, and about some of the souls who congregate there for "sacred sleep." The story stuck with me because of the quotes from some of the people who come to the church, and because of the stirring photos (by Brandt Ward). But I didn't turn my attention to writing the song until several years later, when Minus Mary was coming together. We recorded “St. Boniface” with Jason Loeks playing killer bowed bass, Dave Tavel playing tasteful percussion, and Alexis Hyatt playing a beautiful fiddle solo that makes me misty every darn time. Those dear friends brought the song alive.

lyrics

St. Boniface
Lyrics and Music by Dan Gabel

I start walking when daylight fades
Moving to keep this City at bay
It’s always here on my battered heels
Crushing me beneath cold wheels

Now I stand before this door
With the drunks, the beaten, the whores
It’s dawn and I feel last night
The cold, and the weight of my fright

CHORUS
Take me, St. Boniface
From this precipice of the street
Cradle me on your thin hard oak
In your scented smoke, I’ll find sacred sleep


Once I’m safe inside
I'm burned by my former pride
I was married, had a house of my own
It really wasn’t that long ago

These pews have saved some souls
Some broken, lost, or just old
In their creaking I sometimes hear
Faint hope as my rest draws near

CHORUS
Take me, St. Boniface
From this precipice of the street
Cradle me on your thin hard oak
In your scented smoke, I’ll find sacred sleep

For a time, I'm less of a ghost
Thanks to Luis, our gentle host
This window is all too brief
But brings such blessed relief

It starts over again tonight
Traveling careful and out of the light
A little luck, this rain will move on
And I’ll find this door next dawn

CHORUS
Take me, St. Boniface
From this precipice of the street
Cradle me on your thin hard oak
In your scented smoke, I’ll find sacred sleep

credits

from Minus Mary, released September 1, 2018
Written by Dan Gabel

Minus Mary is:
Dan Gabel - guitar, mandolin, vocals
Alexis Hyatt - fiddle, guitar, vocals
Jason Loeks - bass, vocals
Dave Tavel - drums, percussion, vocals

Recorded at Owl Box Studios, San Rafael, California
Engineered and Recorded by Damien Rasmussen and Jason Loeks
Mixed by Damien Rasmussen
Mastered by Steve Orlando
Artwork by Katie Kincade

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Minus Mary San Francisco, California

Minus Mary is a San Francisco Bay Area band that plays acoustic-based original roots music and versions of some of our favorite country, old-time, Irish, Americana, and rock songs. Alexis Hyatt on fiddle, Jason Loeks on acoustic bass, Dan Gabel on guitar and mandolin, and Dave Tavel on drums and percussion. ... more

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