Not precisely a filk...

[kitanzi]

Well, I was doing a mind numbingly repetitive task at work today, and decided to make it a little more tolerable by working on memorizing more lyrics at the same time. I've always loved Cheryl Wheeler's song Arrow, and ACat plays it very well, so I thought I'd work on that. I printed the lyrics and put in a couple hours off and on with that along with the files. As all so often I find happens, the lyrics started to mutate on me. I wouldn't count it as a filk, and it's not exactly a parody either, for all that I stole the tune. (And, for those who would ask, it does *not* reflect my mood!)

Warning: Arrow is a very melancholy love song. This is no love song, but...


Hawk’s Lament
Ttto: Arrow by Cheryl Wheeler

I wish I could climb up to the sky,
I’d find unfettered freedom, oh I know I would.
And I’d soar above the rainbow, just to show I could,
Up high, up high.

I wish I could flex my wings and dive,
To stoop toward the horizon and feel so alive,
To hurtle through the sunlight as an arrow flies,
In endless skies.

Oh, I remember life before I was tamed,
Building a nest for eggs I would lay,
And now I wish I knew more of those freer days,
Hunting so silently, seeing prey run from me.

It was only last night in the winter dark
I dreamed of how I soared in all my innocence,
And I’ve never known a truer, freer feeling since,
Or a wilder heart.

Maybe these dreams are leaving me,
Maybe freedom’s slipping gently from my memory.
Maybe time and wistful half-remembered history
Will break my heart.

Oh, I remember life before I was tamed,
Building a nest for eggs I would lay,
And now I wish I knew more of those freer days,
Hunting so silently, seeing prey run from me.

I wish I could flex my wings and dive,
To stoop toward the horizon and feel so alive,
To hurtle through the sunlight as an arrow flies,
In endless skies.

I wish I could climb up to the sky,
I’d find unfettered freedom, oh I know I would.
And I’d soar above the rainbow, just to show I could,
Up high.

Comments

Yang Worship Word

[annonynous.livejournal.com]

Oh good, you're writing again. Nice one, though I'll admit to not knowing the original. Puts me in mind of
Virginia Taylor's "The Alleycat". What is it about predators and freedom? :)

"I wouldn't count it as a filk"

Why not? You know what they say - from n number of filkers, you'll probably get n + m definitions of filk.

Ann O.

Re: Yang Worship Word

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

Well, because my definition of filk wouldn't include it. I'm not sure why I bothered commenting on that, though, since it generally incites a discussion/argument about everyone's definitions, and I don't see much point in that eternal question. If you like the song, that seems more to the point to me. :)