Got a brand new song

FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
edited October 2006 in Poetry, Prose, Music & Art
Born about an hour ago. It's called "The Nature of a Game".


I knew a man, who sang in whirling words, sat at the bar:
his topic was, "The nature of the game."
Were those miles of foot, or mind, he'd journeyed? Still, he'd travelled far:
enough to tell us, we were all the same.

"You might have different names, but as you come, and as you go,
your pettinesses lead you down one road,
where clouds of death will dull your little colours and your show.
My eyes have weighed you, and your shallow load."

Chorus: "It's the nature of the game":
It's just an empty man's refrain.
"It's just the nature of the game."
I remember the chorus, just the same.

"I've seen men who hallow faithfulness, whose eyes are first to stray.
I've seen men of freedom, keep a private slave.
I've seen turnarounds, signposted as a third and better way.
I've seen palace banquets, headed by a knave.

'I've seen gold, define the gleam that flashes in a preacher's eyes.
I've seen you think of it, as missionary zeal.
I've seen rebels, bribed and silenced, to preserve a norm of lies.
I've seen you wish away your right, to act and feel."

Chorus: "It's the nature of the game":
It's just an empty man's refrain.
"It's just the nature of the game."
I remember the chorus, just the same.

The man had skin so thin, it showed the hollow at the core:
His grim veneer of grey, a case of dust.
His fingers clasped an empty glass, he wanted filled no more.
His lips were dry and white, long done with lust.

I looked up to a mirror, which was hanging overhead.
I saw my glass was empty, quite the same.
Closing time was called. All, filed away. No more was said,
and night unlearned the nature of the game.

Chorus: "It's the nature of the game":
It's just an empty man's refrain.
"It's just the nature of the game."
I remember the chorus, just the same.


---
Copyright, you know who, 2006 ;)
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Good job! Reads Dylanesque... Actually, I can hear Dylan doing this. Are you sure you're not Bob?
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Ah, a philosophical question. I write, therefore I'm Bob. :D
  • Hello Bob...

    nice to meet you :)


    I'm more ;)
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,279
    I really like the thought in your lyrics, which is why I think it's ok for me to write . . . the list that starts "I've . . " it's like you gave up or that's the youngest part of the song. You are able to story tell so well in your lyrics, Fins.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    I really like the thought in your lyrics, which is why I think it's ok for me to write . . . the list that starts "I've . . " it's like you gave up or that's the youngest part of the song. You are able to story tell so well in your lyrics, Fins.


    I wrote the song all in order. I was thinking that the man in bar would go into a reverie, and recount all he'd seen. Moreandmore mentioned Dylan: maybe the reverie is a little like the "I've seen..." list, in "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", or the list in Ginsberg's "Howl". That wasn't the conscious intention at the time of writing, but I can certainly see the connection, on a second look.

    Repetition of a phrase, at the beginning of successive lines, is a rhetoric device called anaphora. It works well in song, I feel!

    I had my twelve string on my knee as I wrote that. It's fun, when words and music come together at once. And a bit of a relief, too. Saves a bit of work!
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,279
    Repetition of a phrase, at the beginning of successive lines, is a rhetoric device called anaphora. It works well in song, I feel!
    Yep, I've heard of using repitition as a poetic/rhetoric device, but I'm not the biggest fan of anaphora.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    Yep, I've heard of using repitition as a poetic/rhetoric device, but I'm not the biggest fan of anaphora.


    How about epistrophe? repetition at the end? I suppose sestinas use a sophisticated and subtle variant of this.
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,279
    How about epistrophe? repetition at the end? I suppose sestinas use a sophisticated and subtle variant of this.
    I don't think much in literature rubs me the wrong way like a anaphora. ;) So, disregard what I wrote about your song except that I think you are a great storyteller :)
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    I don't think much in literature rubs me the wrong way like a anaphora. ;) /quote]

    What about Shakespeare's Sonnet 66? Those ands are pretty good. :)
  • AliAli Posts: 2,621
    Nice finns:)Very good reference to your character as well,...BUT<

    COULD YOU PLEASE TELL TONY BLAIR WE STILL NEED HIM?:D

    great writing as usual.
    A whisper and a thrill
    A whisper and a chill
    adv2005

    "Why do I bother?"
    The 11th Commandment.
    "Whatever"

    PETITION TO STOP THE BAN OF SMOKING IN BARS IN THE UNITED STATES....Anyone?
  • justamjustam Posts: 21,412
    I like reading the words, but I'd rather hear you sing it. :)
    &&&&&&&&&&&&&&
  • awesome read, FPC! :)
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    Well, thank you! I hope it's a good listen, too. I just emailed a friend who has a recording studio, up in Doncaster, to say I'm up for putting down an album's worth of acoustic stuff, very soon. :)
  • oldermanolderman Posts: 1,765
    the last verse is brilliant.

    The man had skin so thin, it showed the hollow at the core:
    His grim veneer of grey, a case of dust.
    His fingers clasped an empty glass, he wanted filled no more.
    His lips were dry and white, long done with lust.

    I looked up to a mirror, which was hanging overhead.
    I saw my glass was empty, quite the same.
    Closing time was called. All, filed away. No more was said,
    and night unlearned the nature of the game.

    carry on fins.
    Down the street you can hear her scream youre a disgrace
    As she slams the door in his drunken face
    And now he stands outside
    And all the neighbours start to gossip and drool
    He cries oh, girl you must be mad,
    What happened to the sweet love you and me had?
    Against the door he leans and starts a scene,
    And his tears fall and burn the garden green
  • kdpjamkdpjam Posts: 2,303
    Born about an hour ago. It's called "The Nature of a Game".


    I knew a man, who sang in whirling words, sat at the bar:
    his topic was, "The nature of the game."
    Were those miles of foot, or mind, he'd journeyed? Still, he'd travelled far:
    enough to tell us, we were all the same.

    "You might have different names, but as you come, and as you go,
    your pettinesses lead you down one road,
    where clouds of death will dull your little colours and your show.
    My eyes have weighed you, and your shallow load."

    Chorus: "It's the nature of the game":
    It's just an empty man's refrain.
    "It's just the nature of the game."
    I remember the chorus, just the same.

    "I've seen men who hallow faithfulness, whose eyes are first to stray.
    I've seen men of freedom, keep a private slave.
    I've seen turnarounds, signposted as a third and better way.
    I've seen palace banquets, headed by a knave.

    'I've seen gold, define the gleam that flashes in a preacher's eyes.
    I've seen you think of it, as missionary zeal.
    I've seen rebels, bribed and silenced, to preserve a norm of lies.
    I've seen you wish away your right, to act and feel."

    Chorus: "It's the nature of the game":
    It's just an empty man's refrain.
    "It's just the nature of the game."
    I remember the chorus, just the same.

    The man had skin so thin, it showed the hollow at the core:
    His grim veneer of grey, a case of dust.
    His fingers clasped an empty glass, he wanted filled no more.
    His lips were dry and white, long done with lust.

    I looked up to a mirror, which was hanging overhead.
    I saw my glass was empty, quite the same.
    Closing time was called. All, filed away. No more was said,
    and night unlearned the nature of the game.

    Chorus: "It's the nature of the game":
    It's just an empty man's refrain.
    "It's just the nature of the game."
    I remember the chorus, just the same.


    ---
    Copyright, you know who, 2006 ;)

    thanks, fins.
    lay down all thoughts; surrender to the void
    ~it is shining it is shining~
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