Monday, February 23, 2015

52 Weeks of Art - Week 08 "Stars"

I've been listening to the new Gretchen Peters release, Blackbirds, along with her previous release, Hello Cruel World. And for this week's writing assignment, I decided to try something completely different... and more than a little presumptuous.

I started with the title track, "Hello, Cruel World." It's an amazing song that really can't be improved, so not sure why I decided to add my own spin on it. But I did. Here's the original song and video:


It's an amazing song that really can't be improved, so not sure why I decided to add my own spin to it. But I did. So here is my own lyrical take on it, written for this week's writing challenge and the theme of "Stars."


Rise And Fall 

Let me share with you a cautionary tale
That starts out good but don’t end well
Every word is true
Take a dreamer’s heart, remove all sense
Make the pressure so intense
And that boy is through
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

He came from a tiny little town
No stop lights for miles around
And options were few
But he had a dream and he had a voice
And when it came time to make a choice
He knew what to do
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

From a cover band to an opening gig
To a headline show and his name on a rig
He was on fire
From “who is that guy” to top of the charts
Newcomer to big name, he played all the parts
He walked the wire
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

It was such crazy place to be
A megastar of stage and TV
Yet he was afraid
He had everything and each kind of sin
He had all that but not one real friend
The price he paid
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

For some folks it’s a slow decline
But his crash came in record time
He lost it all
A painful mix of anger and booze
A super star no one would refuse
Death came to call
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

He left this world in a heartbreaking way
And folks lined up to have their say
“We loved him so”
But where were they when he needed someone?
When his life unraveled and all came undone?
We’ll never know
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

If there’s one single lesson in all of this
It’s beware of the green grass and its bliss
It isn’t real
Know who you are and what you want
Beware of the sparkle that others flaunt
And know the deal
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star




"Rise and Fall"

Rise And Fall 

Let me share with you a cautionary tale
That starts out good but don’t end well
Every word is true
Take a dreamer’s heart, remove all sense
Make the pressure so intense
And that boy is through
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

He came from a tiny little town
No stop lights for miles around
And options were few
But he had a dream and he had a voice
And when it came time to make a choice
He knew what to do
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

From a cover band to an opening gig
To a headline show and his name on a rig
He was on fire
From “who is that guy” to top of the charts
Newcomer to big name, he played all the parts
He walked the wire
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

It was such crazy place to be
A megastar of stage and TV
Yet he was afraid
He had everything and each kind of sin
He had all that but not one real friend
The price he paid
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

For some folks it’s a slow decline
But his crash came in record time
He lost it all
A painful mix of anger and booze
A super star no one would refuse
Death came to call
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

He left this world in a heartbreaking way
And folks lined up to have their say
“We loved him so”
But where were they when he needed someone?
When his life unraveled and all came undone?
We’ll never know
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

If there’s one single lesson in all of this
It’s beware of the green grass and its bliss
It isn’t real
Know who you are and what you want
Beware of the sparkle that others flaunt
And know the deal
And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star

And ooooooh – so high up and down so far
Yeah ooooooh – the rise and fall of a star





(Originally posted to Runner12.com and inspired by the new Gretchen Peters release, Blackbirds, along with her previous release, Hello Cruel World. I started with the title track, "Hello, Cruel World." It's an amazing song that really can't be improved, so not sure why I decided to add my own spin on it. But I did.)

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

52 Weeks of Art - Week 07 "Twins"

The Twins


I met two men that changed my life
In ways I could not see
I met them both at the same time
And they both wanted me

To tell the truth, it flattered me
Getting their attention
They would pursue and I was the
Object of affection

While two of us were hand in glove
The one shared only pain
The very best and worst of love
That brought me pride and shame

For one man had the kindest heart
Open and welcoming
He offered romance from the start
His light was beckoning

The other man was dark inside
Pain and anger the goal
It seemed no matter how I tried
That poison filled his soul

Back and forth and around we’d go
Always me caught between
The love he felt, the hate he’d show
The two were such extremes

I was the fool who truly thought
That love would save the day
But peace was what I truly sought
And finally walked away

The memories are all a part
Of love and joy and pain
The good was a song in my heart
The bad? Constant refrain

They nearly tore me all apart
These twins that I once knew
I loved both men with all my heart
And both of them were you



(Entry for week seven of my 52 Weeks of Art challenge)