Feb 2022 needs-music lyrics lyrics-only collaboration needs-vocals looking-for-collaboration
I really liked this prompt... I wrote something about that topic some time ago, but was not content with all the parts how it turned out, and just recently I stumbled upon it again. As I liked the basic idea, I decided to use this skirmish to radically re-work it, leave all the parts out that I did not like so much, add new ones, change the meter a bit, add another two versions of the chorus that did not exist before, add some additional imagery, shorten the bridge etc. and voilà... this is the result...
If anyone likes these lyrics and would like to put them to music, I would be very happy. Please, feel free to alter the words any way you like…
Childhood days (needs music)
If just I was a kid again,
I´d revive some myths from then,
from my childhood days…
Times of rainbows, times of wonders,
lost long ago, by routine plundered,
like the fairy tales…
Dreams of dragons and of castles,
tiny dwarfs, proud elves and beasts…
of the bravest knights that hassled,
and odd pans that made me sleep…
(Chorus I)
And then they taught me to write,
and to obey,
they taught me to bite
my tongue and give way…
And they taught me to be
someone of them,
a gearwheel, not free,
and never… a dreamer again…
If only I could see the skies
once again through children’s eyes,
castles in the clouds…
Life was wondrous, love was sacred,
they taught me, though, ´bout death and hatred,
not to care about…
They burnt all remaining slivers
of youth days to that I cling,
from a time of magic rivers
and some good in everything…
(Chorus II)
And then they taught me to write,
stopping to play,
they taught me to fight,
no mercy, no way…
And they taught me to be
someone of them,
a gearwheel, not free,
and never… a dreamer again…
(Bridge)
They showed me to work, showed me to wait,
never be lazy, never too late,
never a bird, but an ant or a bee,
to be like them, but never… never just me…
(Chorus III)
And then they taught me to write,
smile and to slay
small elves and brave knights
from my childhood days…
And they taught me to be
someone of them,
a gearwheel, not free,
and never… a dreamer again…
@ferry0123 Feb 2022
Impressive write, Arthur. It's brutal, but it's great cause you speak true words.
@bachelorb Feb 2022
I enjoyed this. The words took me back to thinking of my friend "Mamby Pamby" who always kept me company. Now I know he's imaginary...... or was he?......
@johnstaples Feb 2022
Arthur, these are some truly brilliant lyrics! You describe the saddest part of growing up so very well. How we go from wondrous, free little creatures to being a "gearwheel"! Your words are sad but they are also introspective, hopefully prompting us all reexamine our youth and adult and maybe retrieve some of the former wonder! Beautiful skirmishing!
@jwhanberry Feb 2022
This is a tragic story. It reminds me of the residential "schools" in which the indigenous children were placed and tortured. Incredible what some people can do to each other. It's a good write to bring all that out.
@misterdemp Feb 2022
Great write, and great thoughts about childhood and what we lose by growing up.
@vegansongs Feb 2022
Great skirmishing. Interesting juxtaposition in your lyric. Sad that our world forces conformity
@pattie Feb 2022
"If only I could see the skies, once again through children’s eyes, castles in the clouds…" Wow - just wow! That line is brilliant! Beautiful lyrics!!! Love the visuals throughout.
@levesinet Feb 2022
Indeed those adults who somehow have managed to retain much of the power of a child's vivid imagination tend to be interesting people. Some of them are artists who actually depend on it but struggle to make their living. Lucky are the few who feel free as a bird.
A couple of generations ago the (Finnish) education system made more effort, not much but more than nowadays, to teach children how to think for themselves. In some cases it involved the Socratic method. When I went through the education system, I didn't learn the classics nor was I ever taught the Socratic method. My generation was taught to conform. To become gearwheels in Satan's machine. And now my generation has gained political power and sadly the future seems ever bleaker. So it is the artistic minds that need to share dreams of a freer future, for therapy and to invigorate and uphold what remains of Western culture. At their peril, as the most corrupted minds want to shut up free thinkers who don't conform to their standards and agendas.
*sniff* And now I'm going to cook some pasta. Because I'm free to do that! :P
@kahlo2013 Feb 2022
There is such a lovely tenderness and poignancy in this loss of childhood innocence story. Really well told.
@mardeycranbleson Feb 2022
Another great one ! You can almost hear the music from the rhythm of the words.
@cicpisces Feb 2022
You paint a very creative and imaginative picture. Capture the free minds of children. Nice work. I used the same title..
@berni1954 Feb 2022
Super evocation of childhood and the way society strangles the imagination and our freedom as we become useful drones for the hive.
@keithcuts Feb 2022
cool imagery and visualiztions there. the elves and the knights and stuff were brought to life
nicely done