Being one of the furloughed workers during this quarantine gave me time to work on some of the fun ideas I'd put on the backburner. This was one of them.

The Beaten Path is from  Rukis 's novel Off The Beaten Path. It's literally one of my favorite things in this fandom, and I highly recommend checking it out. It will break your heart into a million little pieces, but I promise you that it's so worth it.

 Foxamoore and  Gonn put the lyrics to music in their amazing interpretation about 6 years ago. I highly recommend giving it a listen, and it can be found here:

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/13614588/


____________________

From birth I've known little but pain
each footfall I've put down on this earth
takes me further from ghosts that i've slain
and what's it been worth?

Over mountains and rivers my trail
this beaten path i have beaten alone
circles round to the past without fail
ever darker and more overgrown

The mountains can't come between memories
the rivers can't wash away my hurt
and fightin' through this thicket that's inside of me
has left me broken
down in the dirt...

But one day our paths chained
and in you I could see the same pain
the same will to forge on in your gaze
but the same beaten path
was in your wake.

Now I can't say that the past doesn't hurt
but in some ways i'm starting to mend
it ain't that loving you has changed me no
I'm just finally going around the bend

We'll claw at the world together
we'll reap a clear path when we're pressed
I know our journey one day will end
But now you'll be there when I rest...

But one day our paths chained
and in you I could see the same pain
the same will to forge on in your gaze
but the same beaten path...

But one day our paths chained
and in you I could see the same pain
the same will to forge on in your gaze
but the same beaten path

In your wake... In your wake.

Lyrics by  Rukis
____________________





I started out planning to perform a stripped-down acoustic version of the song. And then, since I'm an OTBP superfan, I wondered how I could make it sound as authentic as possible to the character that sings it. By the time I was done, I had a complete re-imagining that doesn't really sound much like the original version. So I thought maybe I should probably get a second opinion on this folk/country/Americana version of the song before posting it.

So I took a chance and emailed Rukis. She was excited to hear a new take on the song, and she really liked it. To be honest, I'm not sure who was more excited about it, 'cause I'm truly an annoying fanboy.

Cover art from Off The Beaten Path used with permission. Lyrics belong to Rukis, and this song's structure and chord progressions are heavily inspired by Foxamoore's version.

Hope you all enjoy it :)!