Dear Friends,
I am posting the lyric to one of my songs which I think is in keeping with the season. It was inspired by a comment made by Norman Rockwell towards the end of his life. He was responding to the criticism of his work as being unrealistic and too idyllic. (I paraphrased his answer).
This is my Christmas card to you. I wish you the happiest holiday. May God (or whoever runs the Universe) grant us all peace in the coming year.
Dona Nobis Pacem — Robin
LIKE I SEE IT/ROCKWELL
HE WAS A YOUNG MAN FROM NEW ENGLAND
AND HE HAD AN EYE FOR LIFE
AND HE MADE SUCH PRETTY PICTURES OF IT ALL
AND THE PICTURES TOLD A STORY, AN AMERICANA DREAM
AND HIS WORDS WERE PLAIN AND SIMPLE
WHEN THEY ASKED HIM WHAT IT MEANS
(HE SAID). . .
I PAINT IT LIKE I SEE IT
LIKE I WANT THE WORLD TO BE
CAUSE I CAN’T ACCEPT THIS DARKNESS
THAT’S BEEN PLACED IN FRONT OF ME
OH YES I WANT IT, SO I PAINT IT
AND I PRAY THAT SOME SWEET DAY
THE WORLD WILL BE MORE BEAUTIFUL
AND I CAN PUT THIS BRUSH AWAY.
AND HE HELD A MAGIC MIRROR UP
SO THAT ALL OF US COULD SEE
THE SIDE OF US THE HEADLINES WOULDN’T SHOW
THE MOTHER AND THE BABY, THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND HE TOLD WHAT HE BELIEVED IN
WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE
(HE SAID). . .
I PAINT IT LIKE I SEE IT
LIKE I WANT THE WORLD TO BE
CAUSE I CAN’T ACCEPT THIS DARKNESS
THAT’S BEEN PLACED IN FRONT OF ME
OH YES I WANT IT, SO I PAINT IT
AND I PRAY THAT SOME SWEET DAY
THE WORLD WILL BE MORE BEAUTIFUL
AND I CAN PUT THIS BRUSH AWAY.
OH, WE CHOOSE THE LIFE WE’RE LIVING
WE SAIL THE COURSE WE SET
AND I BELIEVE THE BEST CAN HAPPEN
CAUSE IN THE END, WE MAKE THE LIFE WE GET
AND NOW I SING THIS SONG FOR CHILDREN
AND FOR CHILDREN WHO’VE GROWN OLD
AND CHILDREN ARE SO FRAGILE
THAT THEY BELIEVE THE THINGS THEY’RE TOLD
(THAT’S WHY I). . .
SING IT LIKE I HEAR IT
LIKE I WANT THE WORLD TO BE
AND I WON’T ACCEPT THIS DARKNESS
THAT’S BEEN PLACED IN FRONT OF ME
OH, YES I WANT IT, SO I SING IT
AND I PRAY THAT SOME SWEET DAY
THE WORLD WILL BE MORE BEAUTIFUL
AND I CAN PUT THIS SONG AWAY
THE WORLD WILL BE MORE BEAUTIFUL
AND I CAN PUT THIS SONG AWAY.
© 2004, Art and Robin’s Music
2 Comments
Anonymous
Thanks.
AJ
Interesting ….