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Tower © 2009 Paul Gaines

In a tower of self deception lives a man of low esteem
Through the windows of his soul’s where his guilt and shame are seen
For the transient population that he’d forced to play their parts
But they all left the building when they found it had no heart

The neighbors all came knocking and demanding recompense
Turning in their gardening tools along with their walking sticks
This cross was not their burden and their work here had been done
Confusion wears a poker face but conceals a pocket gun

In a state of mortal panic it’s the end that’s what he thinks
He empties all the glasses searching for his favorite drink
The clock just keeps on ticking and he sees there’s no escape
Left alone to work it out a cold and unfamiliar place

There are halls inside the tower where he hasn’t been for years
But he knows it time to go there so he’s loading up his gear
Time to do the real work now, no more clever metaphors
Twisted crutches searching for the keys to all these doors

It’s the little things that matter in this thought he feels secure
He looks around the cluttered mess but for what he’s still not sure
The echoes in these chambers reflect his twisted past
Bravery starts to lessen not sure now that he’s up to this task

The fruit of all his choices left him fully unequipped
The choir is outside singing like the cracking of a whip
A voice speaks out and tells him look inside yourself for peace
Taking heed he knows it right and drops down to his knees

He cries out bring your master now I’m ready to confess
Instead appeared the general saying you have passed the test
Sit down at the table tell us who you are
Tell us how you got here and about your battle scars

In a tower of self deception once lived a man of low esteem

Wow, theres some excellent wordplay going on here. Very deep lyrics. I really love the beginning--living in a tower of self deception, looking in the windows--all people can see is the guilt and shame.

Any thoughts of music?

Howdy Dean

I have been trying to come up with a melody, but this piece just reads like a poem to me. I m thinking of a rewrite to make it music friendly.

I am way open to someone putting music around it as it sits, the words came to me in a state of half awake and half asleep, I got up and wrote it, thought while I was laying in bed I was listening to a song took a minute for me to figure out it was a song idea .....

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Paul Gaines

Hi Paul,

Give me a couple weeks and I will see what I can come up with. Have some thoughts already. Got a style in mind or are you up for surprises?

Dean

This is a treat to read....Thanks for sharing.......

very open Dean

Howdy Sam


Happy you enjoyed the read, I appreciate your time and kind words

Nothing short of amazing!! I know Dylan always springs to mind when confronted with such cogent phrases but I'm thinking of, and hearing some stuff on a couple of Mark Knopfler's solo cd's.
One in particular stands out in my mind. 'It's What It Is' on his Sailing to Philadelphia cd. You have written Great words here!

Kim


Thanks for your comment, I am a fan of your writing, so I really appreciate the compliment.

I just cant hear the right melody for it myself, everything I have tried sounds tired, I think maybe production behind the melody is what will sell the lyric. Hopefully it will come to me or I can collab with someone on the music for now even though I wrote I like the poem


Paul Gaines

I keep looking at this and cant put music to it

This is a fine piece of cowboy poetry if I may. It stands on its own fine, I think, just the way that it is.May I put it in my collection?

Maurer

Im honored that you want to put this in your collection, and sure go right ahead.

I would like to read some of your collection if possible


Paul

This is awesome sweet lyrics man I like it

I have started on some short stories about my past experinces in Miamisburg Ohio. Take a looksee at The Legend of the Gander swamp monster. If you believe it I can sell you some lake front propety in Florida.

Where can I take a looksee ?

more people need to see this so I am puttin up front again help shooter out with melody ideas HAHA hope works for ya Juice remember i am retarded haaa

This is really great paul...glyn

This is a fantastic piece of work! I love th flow. It reads easy. Nicely done!

Paul,

This is the first time I visited this forum and this is the first thing I read, what a treat, I think this is amazing!

Tammy

Paul, just a thought, when you get around to putting music to this beautiful piece of work, think about a stripped down arrangement. Guitar and piano, something simple to compliment your words and not distract in any way. Just a thought. Loved the read.