I actually set out to write a song about books that dealt with the afterlife in some way, since that’s the setting of Patrick Ness’s book, but apparently the song itself had other ideas. Or rather, I think the song is a manifestation of what I’ve heard in the news the past few days about two justice system decisions and the following protests. In my head I hear it scored slightly differently, so when I get around to recording it, it’ll sound a bit different. Here you go, for your listening pleasure…
An explanation of the “shoe string” line: When I sit with my legs crossed, I typically hold onto one of my feet. So if I’m reading something intense, sitting cross-legged, and have my shoes off…
Lyrics
I’m holding tight to the end of a shoe string
Don’t know what the page turn is gonna bring
I’m curled up with a book that makes me sad
I love when books make me feel things viscerally
When I go somewhere I’ll never really be
When I meet folks I may never know otherwise
I know there’s more than this
More than my experience
in this world.
I know there’s more than this
I read to fight my ignorance
Of this world.
So I read…
Books about brown girls who are dreaming
Muslim boys who were never scheming
And a Latina who will kick your ass
So I read…
Books about queer kids doing anything
Chinese American boys and Monkey Kings
Reality TV stars, all grown up, and angry
I know there’s more than this
More than my experience
In this world.
I know there’s more than this
I read to fight my ignorance
Of this world
So I say…
Read wide, celebrate diversity
The mirror’s great but the window’s gotta be
What we look through now and then
It’s one way we learn to imagine complexly
And treat other human beings with decency
It’s how we build our empathy.
I know there’s more than this
More than my experience
In this world.
I know there’s more than this
I read to fight my ignorance
Of this world
the (book) supplier 