Feb 2022 filk fantasy shakespeare squirrels needs-music faeries
Inspired by the character Rumour in Christopher Moore's Shakespeare for Squirrels fantasy book.m
Scandalous rumours in mythology
Were spread by the goddess Pheme
A tremendous loud gossip was she
Her favour could mean nobility
Of course, the Romans renamed her
And on Fama they chose to confer
Many tongues, ears and an alter
Many eyes and a cloak of feather
But this winger messenger of Zeus
Who Shakespeare choose to reduce
A minor dude in a Henry, no excuse
Pheme, please let your wrath loose!
Chorus
Rumours they are tall tales
Quite hard to verify
Rumours are very tall tales
And they do falsify
Now in Chris Moore’s Shakespeare
A strange Rumour does appear
A robe of human tongues his gear
On his hat more tongues adhere
This Rumour is a seer of schemes
Agent of outrageous fortune it seems
Tongues all a-waggling; do we dream
And does Rumour serve two queens?
Chorus
Bridge
Imagine if you will, that hat on a donkey’s head
Imagine naked faeries, on a hat of tongues in bed
You cannot catch that Rumour, a personage of dread
You cannot stop Rumour, or the myths he has spread
Under his robe, what might be found?
Under his hat, a mind profound?
Nothing will be revealed
Nothing has been concealed.
@cathymc Feb 2022
I'm always intrigued by rumors and how they roll through community with strange (and sometimes less than pleasant) effects. I think you captured that extremely well here with clever words and creative rhyming.
@mneme Feb 2022
NICE! Are you planning on writing a tune, or hoping one will miraculously appear?
@sheilerk Feb 2022
Somehow I managed to miss learning anything about Pheme, or Fama, whichever you prefer. So, I found this really interesting. I have a friend who wears a hat with many fairies attached to it, but I don't recall any tongues present, except for the one in his head.
This was a fun one to read, with it's Shakespearean flavor and rhymes. I did keep looking for a squirrel in there, but alas poor Yorick, there was none. ;)
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Rich and dense lyrics. I'm familiar with Willy the Shake, but not Christopher Moore's "Shakespeare for Squirrels" - off to Kindle to see if It's available. You deserve a cut of the royalties on this sale!
CORRECTION - I was familiar with Mr Moore. I have read and loved CM's "Fool" - as it is a retelling of my favourite Shakespeare "King Lear"
@metricula Feb 2022
I'm not familiar with the source material but this still really grabbed me!!
@loveonamixtape Feb 2022
Very nice write! The imagery in the bridge is especially strong. And those ending couplets are a great closer. I can hear this sounding very cool with a 79s rock, slightly prog-y sound!
@wylddandelyon Feb 2022
Nice rhymes. I really hope to hear this!
@rwhosings Feb 2022
Slightly malicious glee, so much fun!
I’m a fan of these clever rhymes!