Cut Worms - "Ballad of the Texas King"

As Cut Worms, songwriter Max Clarke is an elegant folk raconteur, and as such, his songs tend to center on character-driven narratives. Through them, he reckons with love, loss, and the unknown. Sometimes he’s the main character, but in many instances, he’s outwardly analyzing a distinct protagonist, grappling with their conundrums and assuming their perspectives as his own. His latest release, “Ballad of the Texas King,” is an affecting murder ballad, which sees him expertly engaging in the latter. 

His lyrical portraits are rarely stark. Instead, they’re consistently vivid and colorful. “Ballad of the Texas King” is no expectation, as Clarke constructs a character that’s facing their imminent demise. The instrumentation moves in a way that latches onto that resignation. The softly wailing guitar, arpeggiated vocal melody in the chorus, and the light, yet uplifting keys elucidate feelings of acceptance, as if the song’s central figure knows what’s on the dark horizon.

Stream the track below!

“Ballad of the Texas King” will appear on Cut Worms’ forthcoming self-titled third full-length, which is scheduled for release on July 21st. You can pre-order the album on limited edition vinyl via Bandcamp. The song is also available to stream on all platforms. Keep up with the project by following them on Instagram.

Cut Worms will be performing at Union Pool as part of a three-show residency on July 7, 14, and 21. Cut Worms will also be performing at the Wonder Bar on September 5th in Asbury Park, NJ.