We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Copper Queen

from Island of the Dolls by American Sinner

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $0.77 USD  or more

     

about

Bisbee, Arizona is a small town very close to the U.S.-mexico border. It has both a hotel and a mine named the Copper Queen. The hotel is reported to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S. A guest journal documents numerous sightings through the years. One of the most frequently seen ghosts is believed to be Julia Lowell.

Historically, what is known is that Ms. Lowell was a prostitute who worked in Brewery Gulch and rented rooms at the Copper Queen. She apparently fell in love with a man who did not return her affections and killed herself at the Copper Queen.

‘Don Luis’ was a nearby town according to a map from the early 1900s. It no longer seems to exist.

Room 315 is where Julia is most frequently encountered. Guests have reported hearing her speak, smelling her cheap perfume, seeing her, being touched by her in a friendly way, and her climbing in bed with them.

The line, ‘never missed me dance’ comes from the guest journal. A hotel guest in 2000 reported seeing Julia and she said, breathing heavily, ‘You missed my dance.’

lyrics

On the tip of the tongue of Arizona
The only one who would never leave
A bit of finery the desert didn't deserve
My lady my Copper Queen

They were both so young when they met
Her husband had several grand schemes
But he burned through the accounts and the leads ran out
So he set himself swinging from a red oak beam

If he'd been prone to conversation or a younger man
Maybe she'd have mourned bona fide
But she did her time in black and quickly faced the fact
The only thing she had for kitty was her pride1

If you ever come by, ask for me
I'll still be here in 315
Please come by, if you're ever near
It gets too quiet sometimes, it gets too cold in here

Maybe it was how he asked about her homeland
Or seemed to care about her political rants
How he smiled at her as if undamaged
Or how he never missed her dance

Finally found the heart in Brewery Gulch
To tell him she was ready to need
But he had a family in Don Luis
She could only think of one way to leave

1 For those who don’t gamble - kitty is the pool of bets in a card game.
For those who are unfamiliar with X-Men - Kitty Pryde is a superhero - her power is to be able to ‘phase’ through object, i.e. walk through walls. Kinda ghosty.
For the chaste, note that kitty is synonymous with another relevant slang word here.

credits

from Island of the Dolls, released November 22, 2014
Lyrics S, Music S w/ N P Mike Prince (M)
S - Main vocals, guitars, synth & accordion
N - Bass & backup vocals
P - backup vocals
M - Drums

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

American Sinner Maryland

American Sinner is a rock n' roll stiletto switchblade dance along the edge of a knife that opens up for stabbing. They are not your run-of-the-mill musical tricksters in harlequin unitards holding bouquets of flowers behind their backs. No!...they got it all -manliness like Bowie and femininity like Tina Turner. They got it all so when these boys are randy to rock, you better let 'em. ... more

contact / help

Contact American Sinner

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like American Sinner, you may also like: