February Album Writing Month - FAWM.ORG

The Slow Decline of the European Mime

There is no demo for this song.

Tagged As:

Lyrics:

Don't look for them in Paris
Gone
Gone from Berlin too
Maybe a flutter of a
White-gloved hand
Half-glimpsed in a piazza

Where are all the glass boxes
Gone
Gone the invisible chairs
Where are the people
Laughing out loud
In a crowded Strasse

Words, words
All we have left are words
For each one a price to pay
If we didn't have words
We'd be free as the birds
No limits to what we could say

I first saw you in Warsaw
Free
White was the night and your face
Your eye caught mine
And I understood
Exactly what you were saying

Now it's been such a long time
Years
Since you gave up that act
Now we rely on words
And nothing is clear
And we are both paying

Words, words
All we have left are words
For each one a price to pay
If we didn't have words
We'd be free as the birds
No limits to what we could say

(optional extra chorus:)
Les mots, les mots
On n'a que les mots
Pour chacun, il y a un grand prix
Si on n'a pas les mots
On est comme un oiseau
Et rien n'est interdit

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heavyhedonist 1 week ago

interesting the way you take these themes and wind them together; it's a hysterical concept for a song to begin with-- well done, i hope to hear it.
Haole Wolf 1 week ago

Can't wait to "hear" this one! Great, great lyrics ... sad and funny, as mimes are. (The Leonard Cohen will add a touch of annoying, perfect.)

Here's the mime song I wrote a couple years ago... fun to compare.

Voices in my Head

Voices in my head
Wishing I was dead
I get so little respect
I should go back to bed!

Chorus:
I’m a mime!
I’m running in place all the time!
I’m a mime!
I never speak but always rhyme!
I’m a mime!
Don’t look at me like I should leave!
I’m a mime!
I wear my emotions on my sleeve!

You see me on the street
Pretending there’s gum on my feet
Now I’m trapped in a box that isn’t there
Now I’m picking a flower for your hair

Your kids are scared of my white face!
And my invisible rope pulled into space!
You think I can’t hear your rude replies!
You think I’m a mugger in disguise
Paul Milne 3 weeks ago

Thanks for all the kind comments, I have finally worked out the music to this, will try to find time to record this week. Going for a Leonard Cohen vibe ...
rashbre 3 weeks ago

Good lyrics. I see your picture is in keeping wit this one too!
Karan 3 weeks ago

This is gorgeous! I really want a demo!
Roel van Veldt 3 weeks ago

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your comment on the song "Traveler" with Brianna Rose. I'm curious to hear your songs, please upload something!

Btw. concerning the French: the only mistake is the first word of the last sentence: should be "et" (=and) instead of "est" (=is). "Oiseau" only takes an "x" when in plural.
Brianna Rose 4 weeks ago

Great song, Mimes are a cool topic to explore
Yakobo 1 month ago

Cool lyrics, is it a subject close to your heart? I went to Paris last year and didn't see any
Leslie 1 month ago

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to use it! It's a dusty language in my life.
Paul Milne 1 month ago

@Leslie, thanks for the heads up. I'm sure the french is riddled with errors, think of it as an optional extra lol!
Leslie 1 month ago

Cool concept, Paul. I like it! I can't wait to hear the music.

(btw: My French isn't perfect, but is there an "x" on the end of "oiseau" when it's singular?)
Paul Milne 1 month ago

@cts, thanks for the kudos. I want there to be a theme for the album, but I'm not sure what it is yet... And music, yes, though I might need some help with that, particularly for this song!
cts 1 month ago

Clear visuals in your lyrics, Paul. Is this a theme for an album? Will there be music? Too many questions?