This song is available on the Strangeheart Vol 1 album at Bandcamp
Music: Lyndon Heart
Lyrics: Salome Strangelove
Video Art: Sax Shepherd
This was just a little poem I wrote reflecting on all the stories I read when I was a kid. I never intended them to be lyrics, but Lyndon saw them and ran with it. Most kidlit book nerds like me get all warm and fuzzy from the memories, but generally have three questions:
- Why does it say “four hobbits?” — Because I count Sméagol but not Déagol. They were both pretty much the same thing as hobbits (I am not arguing this with you; my poem, my rules). The reason I don’t count Déagol is because we don’t follow his story and the poem is about the experience of reading and connecting to the characters, not the trivia of fandom. If it makes you feel better say “three” or “five” when you sing it. Don’t @ me.
- Why is it sometimes “Karana is a secret name” and sometimes “has?” — Basically because Lyndon did not read Island of the Blue Dolphins as a child and sometimes he sings “is” and sometimes he sings “has” and I’m over it. You should be, too.
- Who is the silkworm? — The silkworm is a character from James and the Giant Peach who no one bothered to include in the film, despite the fact that she saves the day. She’s coincidentally not recognized as a character by James near the start of the story because she’s tired and sleeping. Basically just a character overlooked by everyone despite being a workhorse that saves everyone’s ass. I suspect many of us know how the silkworm feels.
Sax started working on slides for the different lyrics for fun last year and at some point it all came together into the video. I feel like everyone worked a lot harder than I did. Which is okay by me.
This song is available on the Strangeheart Vol 1 album at Bandcamp
LYRICS:
We are the ones who read as children
We know why the caged bird sings
We know the ruby shoes are silver
We know four hobbits bore the ring
We are the ones who read as children
We know Carroll’s portmanteaus
We know nightingales restore good health
We know where the red fern grows
We are the ones who read as children
We know Charlotte is the clever one
We know bunnies whisper “Goodnight Moon”
We know wax wings should fear the sun
We are the ones who read as children
We know which stars to wish upon
We know Karana is a secret name
We know why Charlie mourns for Algernon
We are the ones who read as children
We know that velveteen is real
We know Mrs. Frisby saves the Rats of NIMH
We know how the silkworm feels
We are the ones who read as children
We are abstract and transcendental
We hide the things that you would steal
We are the angst in existential
We are the ones who read as children
Beneath bridges and bell jars
We are the ones who read as children
And all these worlds are ours