V I O L E T

Violet is a conceptual music project created by Rick Riley. The Killing Swans represents the latest proof-of-concept collection of rock music recorded between 2024 and 2025.

 

T H E K I L L I N G S W A N S

 

W O O D E N F A C E

WOODENFACE is my band from the past comprised of Rod Riley, Mark Wagner, Marty Agey, Jack Wagner, Ed and myself.

 

E N D T I M E H A N D M A I D E N S

Americana bluegrass project. More to follow soon.

 

A R C H I V E

 
 
  • MORPHINE

    Empires

    Crash around her

    I was there

    For some time

    just a taste of pain

    that drips accross her lips again

    was gone a long long time Before

    A long way back again

    Empires

    fall around her

    a vast dominion in her eyes

    and in the end when all is done

    she hides away the sun

    i only see what she decides

    And when the angels fall

    she paints her eyes

    to hide it all

    and when she comes

    she goes away

    Empires

    fall around me

    broken toys in the sand

    the Venom weeps of heaven now

    of circles round her eyes

    I may choose to loose control

    but only she decides

  • SISTER TRANSISTOR

    (a robot love song)

    hey there sister

    sweet transistor

    where you goin with out no soul

    so synthetic

    photogenic

    she’s got a face and a mind of her own

    Look out

    hello sister

    ruby slipper

    Kansas calling they couldn’t twister

    she’s fantastic

    automatic

    so hard to hear though all of that static

    xray vision

    blocked transmission

    hard luck stories that seem so strange

    hands on fire

    electric wire

    I’d stay on the phone but im all out of change

  • OPEN SEASON

    I see the stars fallin down from the sky now

    i see the moon and the sun in the sea

    seven times

    seven times

    seven times now

    its open season

    its open season yea

    i see the sky turning red in the night now

    i hear the angel of death at my door

    seven times

    seven times

    seven times now

    they keep on knockin

    they keep on knockin yea

    i hear trumpet of God in the sky now

    the heavens shake and they cry and they moan

    Get in line

    Get in line

    Get in line now

    its open season

    its open season yea

  • MY DALILA

    Blinded by your eyes

    Draw the curtains down

    Cut the ropes around my head

    Cut them to the ground

    And no one digs your song now

    my Dalila

    And no one sings along now

    my Dalila

    And you, steal away

    stare into the sun now

    And you, steal away

    stare into the sun

    Crush you in my arms

    Let the curtains down

    Deaf and dumb and blind and weak.

    Hair cut to the ground

    And where you go tomorrow

    my Dalila

    Lie and beg and borrow

    my Dalila

    And they, steal away

    steal away the sun now

    And they, steal away

    steal away the sun    

    Hey now now sister

    Hey now now

    Hey now now sister

    yea

    Hey there maker

    come and take her.

    lies drip from her skin

    Same old words again

    The way it’s always been

    And no one digs your song now

    my dalila

    And no one sings along now

    my Dalila

    Hey now now sister

    Hey now now

    Hey now now sister

    yea

  • HEAD IN A HOLE

    a coming attraction

    thats two for the show

    a common reaction

    my head in a hole

    seems like something less is

    more than she can give

    thers a box down in  the floor

    she keeps it hid

    I thought I would to tell her

    I thought I would know

    going blind inside my mind

    my head in a hole

    up high on the mountain

    down here on the ground

    the minutes are countin

    its up and its down

    Head in a hole now

    hea d in a hole now

    now something from nothin

    no faith no more

    a kind of corruption

    a hole in the door

    seems like something less is

    more than she can give

    thers a box down in  the floor

    she keeps it hid

    I thought I would to tell her

    I thought I would know

    going blind inside my mind

    my head in a hole

  • SUPERNOVA

    i can see your war paint in the shadows

    i dont think that im the only one

    So put on your lipstick

    Put on your face

    I’m all out of words

    Lets get out of this place

    every thing about it is a cryin shame

    I said it before

    I’ll say it again

    Drive to the sun

    in my supernova

    My supernova

    It’s 1961

    In my supernova

    My supernova

    the Satalight is calling from the sky now

    I dont think that we’re the only ones

    the mercurys risen

    transmission dead

    The speeds a narcotic

    It will go to your head

    every thing about it is a cryin shame

    I said it before

    I’ll say it again

    this thing goes at lightspeed when you drive her

    something tells me im th only oner

    That’s one for the moneyr

    two just for more

    keys on the dashboard

    four on the floor

    Reach for the sky now

    Reach for the stars

    She’s a solar eclipse

    From the surface of Mars

  • 40 DAYS

    sing

    birds of prey

    40 nights and days now

    shadows fall as angels

    to the sand

    you

    only you

    Know its true

    the sky is blue as heaven

    up above now

    And I just sit here

    waiting on the man

    and i feel alright

    like a cowboy junkie

    and i feel alright

    Im a wanted man

    and i feel alright

    yes i feel alright now

    yes i feel alright

    im a seventh son

    hey

    whats the plan

    neither rocket ship nor man

    can follow where im going

    pray for rain

    sing

    birds of prey

    and i feel alright

    like a strung out monkey

    and i feel alright

    im a setting sun

    and i feel alright

    yes i feel alright now

    yes i feel alright now

    pray for rain

    sing

    birds of prey

    40 nights and days now

    shadows fall like angels

    to the sand

    And I just sit here

    waiting on the man

    sing

    birds of prey