Скачать или смотреть ESTRAYS LIVE PERFORMANCE AT THE FRENCH LEGATION

Porch Swing Orchestra playing ESTRAYS, a piece whose music and images were made and drawn from archival images and expressly written for this occasion. Performed live on the lawn of the historic French Legation in Austin, Texas, on November 9, 2024.

The French Legation is the oldest house in Austin the public can step inside. Its story is long and complicated. This house lends shape to memories, memories that become histories and articulations of values held.

When renovating the house a newspaper from 1851 was found inside the wall. Text from the "Estrays" section was excerpted to create the lyrical foundation for the song.

Lyrics for Estrays

Thirteen hands high
Both hind legs are white
Crop and split right ear

Scar on his jaw
Supposed to be three years old
Lame in the right knee

About five feet high
Jersey sack coat
A black hat of wool
Slow Spoken
Shoes of his own make
Pistol on his belt

A House so old Sheltered many souls
A House so oldHolds its ghosts close

Hard truths be told
Bodies were bought and sold

What is an old house for
A Reckoning
Nothing Less
Nothing More



Barry Stone on Guitar
Paul Stautinger on Guitar
Mark Menjivar provided activated field recordings from the Texas Bird Sound Library