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Poetic Prose: Lyrics

As mentioned in other posts, I'm taking Sassyblack's lyric writing course with Hugo House and my artistic merits are being pushed into unknown territory. In less than four hours, I'm supposed to turn in lyrics for a song I wrote for my mother. It's a lullaby actually and will be part of my memoir. I have two lines written for today's assignment, so naturally I'm browsing the internet when there's an impending deadline.


Leading up to today's assignment, we've been studying lyrics that students self-selected, and David Sylvian's Orpheus was my pick. I've listed the lyrics below and whoa, what epic storytelling. While my lullaby won't be as rich, I'm nevertheless inspired to reach Sylvian's level of prose storytelling.


Orpheus by David Sylvian

Standing firm on this stony ground The wind blows hard Pulls these clothes around I harbour all the same worries as most The temptations to leave or to give up the ghost I wrestle with an outlook on life That shifts between darkness and shadowy light I struggle with words for fear that they'll hear But orpheus sleeps on his back still dead to the world Sunlight falls, my wings open wide There's a beauty here I cannot deny And bottles that tumble and crash on the stairs Are just so many people I knew never cared Down below on the wreck of the ship Are a stronghold of pleasures I couldn't regret But the baggage is swallowed up by the tide As orpheus keeps to his promise and stays by my side
Tell me, I've still a lot to learn Understand, these fires never stop Believe me, when this joke is tired of laughing I will hear the promise of my orpheus sing Sleepers sleep as we row the boat Just you the weather and I gave up hope But all of the hurdles that fell in our laps Were fuel for the fire and straw for our backs Still the voices have stories to tell Of the power struggles in heaven and hell But we feel secure against such mighty dreams As orpheus sings of the promise tomorrow may bring Tell me, I've still a lot to learn Understand, these fires never stop Please believe, when this joke is tired of laughing I will hear the promise of my orpheus sing

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