Over the next few months I'll be cleaning house, in a way, by posting all kinds of odds and ends which I've never posted before. Mostly this will consist of just posting self-penned lyrics and/or songs which I think are pretty good but which haven't really seen the light of day for various reasons.
The first post consists of the lyrics to my 1995 song "What Silly Children We Are," which, I believe, borrows its title from something the Christian Caroline Fry wrote in the 1800s, but I'm not really sure where I personally picked it up. Maybe in my philosophy classes? Anyway, this song was thematically similar to my other song "Cosmic Orphans", but the viewpoint is much more sympathetic, charitable and far less despairing than that song.
There's music too, but this song was performed publicly only once, at a coffeehouse back in 1995 or so. As of right now, there are no recorded versions, mainly because there were one or two bits I was never very happy with, musically speaking. However, I still kind of like the lyrics, so here they are.
"Silly Children"
We are always so hard on ourselves
We never give ourselves a break
Living our lives in our personal hells
And never wanting to make mistakes
We never give ourselves a break
Living our lives in our personal hells
And never wanting to make mistakes
If only we could look at our lives
From behind a distant star
Maybe we could stop and then finally realize
Oh what silly children we are
From behind a distant star
Maybe we could stop and then finally realize
Oh what silly children we are
Silly children
Silly children we are
Silly children
When you look from afar
And it only takes one change of perception
To send your life in a new direction
Silly children
We are
Silly children we are
Silly children
When you look from afar
And it only takes one change of perception
To send your life in a new direction
Silly children
We are
Sometimes self-righteous and quick to condemn
Common sense is our only defense
Always demanding and so reprimanding
When understanding makes more sense
Common sense is our only defense
Always demanding and so reprimanding
When understanding makes more sense
If only we could look at ourselves
From behind another's eyes
Sisters and brothers when you finally realize
That we're just like children inside
From behind another's eyes
Sisters and brothers when you finally realize
That we're just like children inside
Silly children
Silly children we are
Silly children
When you look from afar
And it only takes one moment's reflection
For everyone to make a deeper connection
Silly children
We are
Silly children we are
Silly children
When you look from afar
And it only takes one moment's reflection
For everyone to make a deeper connection
Silly children
We are
And every day
We try to learn to grow
So knowing is nothing
And there is nothing to know
We try to learn to grow
So knowing is nothing
And there is nothing to know
Silly children
Silly children
Silly children
- G. Page, 1995
