Tag: Words, Words, Words

Day 255: Words, Words, Words – from “Unexpected Song” (c. 1981)

Even though the song itself is relatively unknown (and the show in which it appeared even lesser known), this stanza from “Unexpected Song” is still one of my all-time favorite “love song” lyrics.

“I don’t know what’s going on
Can’t work it out at all
Whatever made you choose me?
I just can’t believe my eyes
You look at me as though
You couldn’t bear to lose me”

— Don Black

Day 241: Words, Words, Words – “We Shall Be Free” (1992)

This ain’t comin’ from no prophet
Just an ordinary man
When I close my eyes
I see the way this world shall be

When we all walk hand in hand
When the last child cries for a crust of bread
When the last man dies for just words that he said
When there’s shelter over the poorest head
We shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of the skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within
When the skies and the oceans are clean again
Then we shall be free

We shall be free, We shall be free
Stand straight, Walk proud
‘Cause we shall be free

When we’re free to love anyone we choose
When this world’s big enough for all different views
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew
Then we shall be free

We shall be free, we shall be free
Have a little faith, Hold out
‘Cause we shall be free

And when money talks for the very last time
And nobody walks a step behind
When there’s only one race, and that’s mankind
Then we shall be free

We shall be free ,We shall be free
Stand straight, Walk proud
Have a little faith, Hold out
We shall be free

We shall be free, We shall be free
Stand straight, Stand straight
Have a little faith, Walk proud
‘Cause we shall be free

— Stephanie Davis and Garth Brooks

Day 240: Words, Words, Words – “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers -” (n.d./1891)

““Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.”

— Emily Dickinson

Day 236: Words, Words, Words: “Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802” (1802/1807)

“Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendor, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will:
Dear God! The very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!”

—William Wordsworth

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Day 225: Words, Words, Words – from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (c. 1595/1600)

“If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended:
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,

No more yielding but a dream.
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearnèd luck
Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue,
We will make amends ere long.
Else the Puck a liar call.
So good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.”

—William Shakespeare