I moved to NYC in 2001 and wrote Mustard, a musical about Fritz Haber, the German inventor of Mustard Gas. I was aiming for a Weill/Brecht production, and we even found a German vocalist who sang just like Lotte Lenya. It was a great cast, and we did a staged reading with a full band at a theater on 42nd St. The World Inferno Friendship Society were heavily involved in this show. Franz Nicolay was the musical director. Jack Terricloth played a German Officer. Semra Ercin played a big part. Peter Hess and Maura Corrigan were the horn section. It should've been huge, instead you're hearing about it for the first time right here...
I lost the recording of our one live performance, and all that's left are a few home recordings we did before the reading...
Berries on the Rowan
Are so lovely to see
Growing up out of the mud
In front of you and me
Berries on the Rowan
Are such a lovely sight
Make me forget
That you're leaving her tonight
Berries on the Rowan
Have such a lovely smell
Make me forget
That today we say farewell
From Mustard, released August 12, 2019
Vocals - Noga Ariel
Guitar - Benjamin Adair Murphy
Music and lyrics by Benjamin Adair Murphy ASCAP (464341364). Published by Watery Grave Music ASCAP (396517127)