Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Hi there, gentle reader,

Below are lyrics for a song, "Vacuum," that I started over a year ago, inspired by MusicBanter. At the time I had been reading quite a few lyrics in the songwriters' section in which the writers were describing being saddened to the point of despair by unrequited love or love gone wrong.

I wanted to write a song that gives people a thought-process they can use to try to feel more accepting and less traumatized when a relationship doesn't work out. Not that I haven't felt traumatized by break-ups! But over time...and after enough break-ups ...I realized that I'd survive and the ending of the relationship was probably for the best anyway:

***************************************

"Vacuum" by Erica

He’ll do what he needs to do.
She’ll do what she needs to do.
They’ll do what they need to do,
even if it’s not being with you,
to be happy, to be happy,
and now they’re gone.

Sure, you’re missing him.
Sure, you’re missing her.
Sure, you’re missing them
and the dreams you had that never were
making him happy or making her happy
like you all along.

Now you’re trying to get yourself in order.
You feel like a vacuum and life’s a mess.
Remind yourself they had nothing to offer
and why would a vacuum want emptiness?
You don’t need emptiness.

He tried the best that he could.
She tried the best that she could.
They tried the best that they could
and it didn’t work, but at least now it’s good
that he’s happy and she’s happy
and they’re moving on.

Sure, you’re missing him.
Sure, you’re missing her.
Sure, you’re missing them
and the dreams you had that never were
making him happy or making her happy
like you all along.

Ignore the voice that says you’re worthless
and feel like a vacuum with life a mess.
Remind yourself of all that you offer
and you don’t need anyone’s emptiness.
You don’t need emptiness.

Have no regrets when it comes to love.
We all just feel what we can.
No one should expect to receive
what another doesn’t have to give.
We can’t love on demand.

Have no fear when it comes to love.
When you feel it give as much as you can.
If you’re holding back to avoid the cost,
you’ll never love, but think what you’ve lost,
for love doesn’t grow by command.

He’ll do what he needs to do.
She’ll do what she needs to do.
They’ll do what they need to do,
and now you will be doing that, too,
to be happy,
you’ll make your life happy,
and you’re moving on,
you’re moving on,
oh you’re moving on.

***************************************

Originally Posted by RoxyRollah

IMO I don't know jack-**** though so don't listen to me.

Originally Posted by Franco Pepe Kalle

The problem is that most police officers in America are psychopaths.

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You're a terrible dictionary.

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Hi there, gentle reader,

Below are lyrics for a song, "Vacuum," that I started over a year ago, inspired by MusicBanter. At the time I had been reading quite a few lyrics in the songwriters' section in which the writers were describing being saddened to the point of despair by unrequited love or love gone wrong.

I wanted to write a song that gives people a thought-process they can use to try to feel more accepting and less traumatized when a relationship doesn't work out. Not that I haven't felt traumatized by break-ups! But over time...and after enough break-ups ...I realized that I'd survive and the ending of the relationship was probably for the best anyway:

***************************************

"Vacuum" by Erica

He’ll do what he needs to do.
She’ll do what she needs to do.
They’ll do what they need to do,
even if it’s not being with you,
to be happy, to be happy,
and now they’re gone.

Sure, you’re missing him.
Sure, you’re missing her.
Sure, you’re missing them
and the dreams you had that never were
making him happy or making her happy
like you all along.

Now you’re trying to get yourself in order.
You feel like a vacuum and life’s a mess.
Remind yourself they had nothing to offer
and why would a vacuum want emptiness?
You don’t need emptiness.

He tried the best that he could.
She tried the best that she could.
They tried the best that they could
and it didn’t work, but at least now it’s good
that he’s happy and she’s happy
and they’re moving on.

Sure, you’re missing him.
Sure, you’re missing her.
Sure, you’re missing them
and the dreams you had that never were
making him happy or making her happy
like you all along.

Ignore the voice that says you’re worthless
and feel like a vacuum with life a mess.
Remind yourself of all that you offer
and you don’t need anyone’s emptiness.
You don’t need emptiness.

Have no regrets when it comes to love.
We all just feel what we can.
No one should expect to receive
what another doesn’t have to give.
We can’t love on demand.

Have no fear when it comes to love.
When you feel it give as much as you can.
If you’re holding back to avoid the cost,
you’ll never love, but think what you’ve lost,
for love doesn’t grow by command.

He’ll do what he needs to do.
She’ll do what she needs to do.
They’ll do what they need to do,
and now you will be doing that, too,
to be happy,
you’ll make your life happy,
and you’re moving on,
you’re moving on,
oh you’re moving on.

***************************************

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I really enjoyed that Erica. I can definitely relate to it. As I was reading it there was a few points I wanted to make but by the time I got to the end. They slipped my mind lol. I will probably edit this post later on if it randomly comes to me.

Originally Posted by Scissorman

Wow. I feel as if you're talking to me directly, which is a great thing. I would really like to hear this sung

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Thanks for reading, dj! I'm glad someone relates.

Well, *I* had some issues with the lyrics, which is one reason i waited so long to post them. I never found a way to correct the problems, which are inherent in the song's basic concept, so I finally just gave up.

First, a minor problem: I'm afraid it sounds as if I'm singing about a vacuum cleaner. When I wrote "vacuum" I hoped people would think "vacuum" as in "empty space lacking matter," but whenever I read these lyrics I now envision a vacuum cleaner and start to laugh. I laughed for a year before deciding to post them anyway.

Second, a MAJOR problem: the song kind of sounds like I'm singing to someone who is involved with a man AND a woman at the same time. I never figured out a way to prevent this potential impression that the song is about a failed polygamist relationship.

On the positive side, I realized there aren't many songs to boost the spirits of polygamists whose love relationships have failed. So my lyrics may fill a niche much in need of filling!

My lyrics make me think of writing a REAL polygamist song, something like this:

"Wife Number One hates me.
Wife Number Two hates me, too.
But Wife Number Three,
she was so good to me,
until Number Four said 'I do.'"

Originally Posted by RoxyRollah

IMO I don't know jack-**** though so don't listen to me.

Originally Posted by Franco Pepe Kalle

The problem is that most police officers in America are psychopaths.

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You're a terrible dictionary.

Originally Posted by djchameleon

The fix the first problem you could title the poem The Void or some other similar word to showcase the fact that you are talking about an empty feeling and not a literal vacuum.

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I don't feel like the second problem is really a problem. I didn't get that feeling while reading it.

I felt like you were singing the song to a group of people and there were males and females in the audience. Not like you were singing it to one person that happened to be into women and men.

Originally Posted by DehaMusicCo

I like the flow, easy to read. However the songs seem a bit long and preachy to me...If you're convincing people to live a lifestyle you might want to befriend them first?

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

"Path" by Erica

A little child sat down by her father.
A question was troubling her:
“If I were different, would he still love me?”
So she asked to be sure.

Daddy, Daddy, what if I were adopted?
Would you still love me? Would it change your view?
No, no, the dad assured her, it wouldn’t.
I will always love you.

Daddy, Daddy, I don’t know how to read yet.
What if that's something I never learn to do?
And he answered, oh don’t you worry, Honey.
I will always love you.

Daddy, Daddy, what if my hair were shorter
and grew everywhere on me like beards grow on you?
If I were hairy all over, would you love me?
Yes, the dad smiled, I’d love you.

What could be in her thoughts?
What is this strange game she plays?
Asking questions, answers sought.
Who is she, who is she not?
And the path goes on and on...

Daddy, Daddy, what if I couldn’t pass
any classes in a school you sent me to?
If I weren’t so smart would you still love me?
He nodded. Yes, I’d always love you.

Daddy, Daddy, what if I had no hands
and they became hooves cloven in two?
If I couldn’t draw you pictures would you love me?
Yes, he said, I'll always love you.

Daddy, Daddy, what if my arms were legs
and I had four of them instead of just two?
I’m afraid maybe then you wouldn’t love me.
He chuckled, I will always love you.

What could be on her mind,
taking piece by piece away?
Add, subtract...what’s left behind?
Who will stay? Who will you find?
And the path goes on and on...

Daddy, Daddy, what if I had a tail
and my eyes were big and brown instead of light blue?
Would you still love me as much as you do now?
The dad laughed: I’ll always love you.

Oh Daddy, Daddy, what if I knew no words?
Would you still love me if I couldn’t talk with you?
The dad replied, I’d still know that you feel, Sweetie.
I would always love you.

A little child sat by a father.
Her fur was short and brown, her eyes brown, too.
She had four legs and a loving disposition
and when she looked up all she said was, “Moo.”

Oh child, child, little child,
oh child, little child, you got through.
Oh child, child, loving child,
I will always love you.

Oh child, child, little child,
oh child, little child, you got through.
Oh child, child, loving child,
I will always love you.

--------------------------------------------------------------

And here's my commentary:

As you see, I'm back to creating "vegangelica" (vegan songs that proselytize), but here I was trying to be sensitive to The Unfan's complaint that my songs are usually so stridently, obviously activist (which they are).

In "Path" I was trying to be subtle. I wanted to leave the reader wondering for just a couple stanzas at least what the point of the song was going to be, which probably becomes obvious halfway through. The meaning of the song is the same as in "Dichotomy," the first one I posted in my thread: both songs try to get people to question the separation they perceive or imagine between "animals" and "humans."
--Erica