The title track from Tom Ciurczak’s “YORICK” album is Tom’s decided story about the skull of “Yorick” discussed in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

As a rock singer-songwriter inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle, and a range of classic/prog/timeless rockers, Tom likes to create “what if” backstories about his songs’ characters. “Yorick was introduced in ‘Hamlet’ as the skull of the court jester with Hamlett’s famous quote ‘Poor Yorick I knew thee well.’  But who was he? And how did he lose his head? I created a little fable to tell his story. At its core the song is a love story that’s marred throughout with deception.  The song’s narrative combines elements from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, Rapunzel and Rumpelstiltskin. It centers around Yorick’s rescuing of the fairytale princess together with his get rich quick scheme to steal a ‘hidden treasure.’ But, unfortunately instead of the princess, Yorick finds the proverbial old witch masquerading in her place. They both quickly realize they have been deceiving each other. Yorick’s greed leads him to make a deal for the money with the witch. But as is the case with witches, you can’t trust them, and she reneges on their agreement, winds up killing and decapitating him in the end.”

Directed by Robert Wakamatsu, the “Yorick” music video shows Tom as “Yorick” with the band (drummer Sean Derksen, backup singer Melissa Robin, keyboardist Chris McKinney, guitarist Ken Harrill, and bassist Phil Stein) in Elizabethan costume. Melissa portrays both the princess and witch, ultimately responsible for killing “Yorick.”