Most of us know and readily recognize the canon of children’s stories and rhymes passed down from European traditions and spread into American colonial consciousness. We know that Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. We realize that Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But we don’t know who the hell Humpty Dumpty is. Even worse, we are expected not to question the meanings of these primer narratives and many of us are left shrugging our shoulders when asked to explain the origins and significance of these stories. Without much investigation, we can begin to find traces of nuanced meaning and indigenous European origins to these stories that have for the most part ceased to embody social and personal storytelling functions. We learn about Jack and Jill, Rapunzel, the Three Blind Mice, Snow White and all the princesses. But beyond the torrent of capitalistic appropriation of these stories, lies the opportunity to excavate lessons from these and other competing narratives and to re-create contemporary meaning that serve the greater social world.  

A story without a meaning is a like a body without a soul. Thus, we bring you “Deadtime Stories” as a humble attempt to rethink what we thought we knew.

The following songs and rhymes have been written and recorded by several artists and Mariachis as part of the Burning Wagon Collective. We will be cutting an album with all of the Deadtime songs including bonus track corridos.

ABOUT Deadtime Stories