The Music Maker
Alone on a mountain top o’er a new world
Singing softly
He brought forth the notes as the music unfurled
Singing slow
With each ringing tone is one new to life born
Breathing softly
And smiling he sings them their first rising dawn
Rise to know
Glisten in the sun like the newest of ink
They hear his song
Start to understand as they gather to learn
They know
He gave them
Music to smile to, music to cry for
Music to bring hope and music to try for
And he bade as each son came to teach them this song
In each generation the music carries on
Turning to leave with his lute on his back
Bid farewell now
He heard one more time as night drew black
Sing goodbye
And the sweetest of descants rose over the song
Soaring softly
So the music continued through absence so long
Coda strong
Merging now together with voices so pure
A harmony sweet
Drifting through the valleys the rhythm so sure
The sang
They had
Music to smile to, music to cry for
Music to bring hope and music to try for
And as each son was born they would teach them this song
In each generation the music carries on
Flooding with tears an alto raises arms
Hear my voice now
And a tenor cries pleading soprano charms
Move to take
The rumble of basses sweeps over the hills
Watchfires burning
And a baritone practices darkest of skills
Raise the stakes
Tiniest of discords reaches every ear
The rift begins
Simplest of changes to one simple tune
It starts
There was music to cheer to, music to cry for
Music to shout that the other must die for
And as each son was born they would teach them this song
So in each generation the bitter rift carries on
Many years go past and the writer returns
He waits aghast
Falling to his knees as his hearing is burnt
He cries
Well I just heard a nation all singing my song
And the notes were all there but the melody’s wrong
And the parts that I wrote to be gently hummed
Now crash through the harmonies like brazen drums
Now the tenor voice screams and the contralto roars
The soprano keening of new horrors soars
And the rumbling bass marks a strong marching beat
While the baritone muses of victory sweet
Music to live for, music to cry for
My hope is all gone, it’s my music you die for
And the beauty has withered ‘neath hatred’s cruel sun
Yet you march to my rhythm: what have I done?
Alone in a corner a lute stands unused
Sound no voice now
And the musicman turns his back hurt and confused
Sing no more
Music to smile to, music to cry for
Music to bring hope and music to try for
The conductor’s fled and the score is now gone
So alone and untended the music carries on
Chords
Dm C F C Dm C F Am x2 (verses)
Gm F Bb C Gm F Am (pre-chorus)
Dm C Am Bb x2 (chorus; 8 times for big chorus)
All Works are © Original Author
(OC Author - Fergal O'Brien)