SANDCASTLES
A friend of mine was agonizing over the schmaltzy love songs that I had been sending out and requested that I write a "work song". I didn't really know what he meant by "work song" and neither did he when questioned further. ;-)
Well, given that my friend is kind of a space cadet on a cosmic mission like myself, I considered myself duly commissioned to act on his thematic presentation and am pleased to present my humble attempt at a song in the rock opera style.
I decided that the "work song" really had to be a protest song to be in conformance to my generation-x tendencies. I was also inspired to assemble a short rock opera style because my favorite rock opera from childhood; "The Phantom of the Paradise" (1974) , was on the tube recently. This has music written by Paul Williams and is a really cheesy sci-fi horror movie that I just love. Paul Williams is a great songwriter and I suppose this flick is considered a cult-classic by this time. I hope you enjoy this song:
SANDCASTLES
Shape it with your hands.
Sing the phrase that frees your mind.
Build the promised land;
The universe inside your life.
In place the cup forever flowing.
Redeem the bond and stay the home.
Burn the oil and warm to cold times.
Set feast until the cupboards bare.
Now blood, once clear the sunset.
Now mist, once clear the air.
Now slave, once free the spirit.
Now count more and compare.
What happiness, possessions for your slavery?
What store in heaven takes these treasured wears?
Did trade fund slavery of misfortune?
Some hidden crime did the counting make.
Shape it with your mind,
Subtle textures, woven fancy.
Presenting to the blind
who seek counting concrete statutes.
Labyrinth laws entwined to guide the counting;
Fortune given substance over weight.
Climb high this mountain, never reach the summit.
End futile waste of life of never knowing.
Shape it with your hands.
Sing the phrase that frees your mind.
Build the promised land;
The universe inside your life.
Warm regards to all,
PJ
WORDS AND MUSIC
(C)opyright 2005, Peter J Slack, SOCAN