Song of Songs

A song written to explain to inmates why songs should be written rather than the habitual and much less noisy form of poetic expression. Self explanatory, I hope, with a quasi-Jewish tune that might please that sort of danser!

Song of Songs

O! Let these words become our song

Not just designed to please the throng

Nor written simply to amuse

Nor for the guilty to abuse

Let these lines long live

And some simple satisfaction give

Let them bring thought to those that hear

And soothing sounds to some held dear

As long as there will be a few

To whom these words bring something new

Let these lines long live

And some simple satisfaction give

If, in the eyes of those that see

We cause a spark to shine then we

Will not note the name and number

Of minds aroused from sloth or slumber

Let these lines long live

And some simple satisfaction give

There have been many millions who

Have written songs just as we do

As conscious of their own conversion

As to their poetry’s perversion

Let these lines long live

And some simple satisfaction give

For by adding music to the word

Ideas may seem much less absurd

And what’s absurd as an idea

Might give expression to their fear

Let these lines long live

And some simple satisfaction give

So music casts these words’ net wide

That we should not our talents hide

From those that may not feel the need

These obscure rambling words to read

Let these lines long live

And some simple satisfaction give