SHE’S JUST A SHADOW ON A WALL
(artist unknown)
‘I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song,
I just can’t remember who to send it to’
From the song ‘Fire & Rain’ by James Taylor, 1970
When writing lyrics for acoustic songs it’s sometimes easy to get stuck for words that fit the melody or vice versa. A bit like trying to put a small t-shirt on an XXL frame. Besides, I’m not a natural poet. When this happens, my fall-back position comes from when I spent a couple of years studying decades of lyrics written by great songwriters. Of all the ‘fall back positions’ I found/read, the two lines above work best for me. To me they tell a story as well as influence a creative a mood. Simple genius, often inspiring.
Anyhow, back in December 2016 I posted my song, ‘Just a Shadow on a Wall’ from my concept album ‘Liquid Truth’. The ‘concept’ of that album was my take on Plato’s ‘Allegory of The Cave’. When I posted it back then I didn’t include the lyric. Now I’m posting the words written raw before they became a song – before the music arrived. I remember it was the key track to the album in terms of developing songs to fit the allegory. Maybe read ‘raw’ it’s not a poem, just my words.
JUST A SHADOW ON A WALL
You draw a line; a line in the dirt
I ask you what it’s for
You tell me I can cross it
You should have told me more
You tell me that; you tell that it’s time
For you to set me free
Unshackled from these chains
I might find my destiny
Nothing is so precious
That it cannot be undone
By word or by the dagger
Or a step towards the sun
You tell me you; you tell me you got bored
With the game that we play
That you want for me to move on
You’d be grateful anyway
I ask you if; I ask you if you’ll grant me
Just one final wish
Just the one final wish
‘Can the dancer travel with me?’
You take some time out thinking
Then you treat me like a fool
You laugh as you remind me
She’s just a shadow on a wall
…A shadow on the wall
Whatever, here’s one of my older numbers that I haven’t posted for an age and a day. It’s about a subject close to my heart, namely the way mankind is treating our Planet Earth. It’s called ‘Red Planet’. I hope you enjoy and by the way, the links to my two latest albums are on the side of this page if you’re interested in listening or buying – just click on the pics. Have a good week, Zoolon aka George.
Apart from the unknown photographer – Copyright © 2013 Zoolon Audio. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting prohibited.
Red Planet was the first piece of your music I heard. Your dad told me ab\out it. It is a great track and I remember my socks being totally knocked off hearing it.
Thanks Shey. The song is on my list for re-recording. I’ve a few demo songs that maybe deserve proper mixing. I just need time to be on my side.
It will be. One step at a time gets you there.
A shadow on the wall — yeah, I love that Allegory of the Cave and its wisdom still applies even at this age. People at best are still fixated with the shadows on the wall.
I agree 100%
Yeah, I get days like that too, my friend. 🙂
Thanks for the read, Robert.
Most welcome. 🙂
I like your poetry and the picture, and especially that your idea is a classic.
At uni I researched so many artist so as to get my songwriting module plus my own songwriting the best it could be. James Taylor’s classic was a thing I listened to time and time again. I understand he wrote Fire & Rain in Twickenham (south of London) the day he heard that his friend Suzanne had died. A classic lyric.
“Nothing is so precious
That it cannot be undone
By word or by the dagger
Or a step towards the sun”
WOW. You blow me away. In a good way, of course.
Thanks, Christy. Here’s the song from those words. I wrote back in 2013. No worries if you don’t have time to listen; https://soundcloud.com/george-blamey-s/04-just-a-shadow-on-a-wall
Your voice is so distinctive I could pick it out anywhere.
Thanks, Christy. That probably means I can never commit a crime and get away with it.
I love the bittersweet touch that the narrator asks for the dancer. It makes me wonder upon the story: was the dancer always the shadow? Was the dancer changed into a shadow? What changed her? Oy, I think the Nyquil hangover’s on me again…but honestly, beautiful lyric here, George. x
Thanks. Here’s the actual song from the album (only a demo version). It was the pivotal track take on the allegory. Given the prisoner only ever knew shadows, it’s hard to say if he ever got to see the girl ballet dancer cast her shadow. I wonder what would have happened if he did – certainly it would blow the allegory apart. Probably that would be a good thing.
Oh, I don’t know. So much can be embodied in a dance. But I’m glad you didn’t reveal her–there’s something special about a life lived among nothing touchable.
If I had the time I’d love to do the whole Allegory of The Caveconcept album again and make more use of the shadow ballerina. More like a fairytale than a bit of philosophy.
I loved that .
Thank you.
Great lyrics.
Thanks, Mark
A really good, catchy song!
Thank you, Kim
Great song! I agree, you have a very distinct voice.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
You welcome! Just the truth.
Wow you have really amazing talent, I enjoyed reading this one in particular. I hope I can create splendid content like you someday, great job!
Thank you. I just followed your blog. I like the way it reads like a meandering diary, like a herd of thoughts. I’d say your content is already splendid.
Thanks so much for following me, you’ve made my day!!