"The Nightingale And The Rose"
from "Fully Alive" album.
The Nightingale and The Rose
(Based on a short story by Oscar Wild)
Words & Music by Bryan Sirchio
Once there was a young student who loved a young woman so much
He asked her if she would accompany him to the ball
She told him, well, yes, he could take her—if he’d bring her a deep red rose
To match the new gown she just bought at the fashion mall
So the young man went out to the garden, but every last rose was white
He sat down and started to cry
And then a nightingale flew by
What’s wrong said the nightingale?
He said, “I can’t take my love to the ball”
‘Cause I need a red rose and all of these roses are white
So the nightingale talked to the bushes, and said, “My friend here needs a red rose”
And then one bush said, “Well, I do know of one way—a red rose could grow”
What’s that said the nightingale? And then the bush said this…
If you press against my sharpest thorn, and sing your sweetest song
And let your life’s blood flow into my vine
Then you’ll change my very nature
And my flower will instead, of being a white rose—it will turn to red
So the nightingale pressed against the thorn, and sang its most beautiful song
And as it sang out the flower began to change
But the redder that flower became, the soften the nightingale’s song
And in just a few moments the nightingale’s life was gone
In the morning the student returned to the garden and found the red rose
Then he cried out with joy and took the rose to his love and said come on
Let’s go dance at the ball!
But she said, “Oh—didn’t you know?
Another man’s asked me to go. And he brought me expensive jewels—
And everyone knows that jewels cost more than a rose
Then she tossed the rose in the road, where it was crushed by a passing coach
Then the student went back to his room, and said, I think I’ll take up philosophy
‘Cause it seems to me, philosophy is safer than love…
I offer no interpretations—my words would just get in the way
But if you don’t mind, I just need to say…
Precious Nightingale, your song is sweet to me
And I stand amazed at how you pressed against that thorn
And the rose you give this world is what I treasure most of all
And yes, I will go with you, to the ball
Terry Venemous is releasing new music every 3 weeks this year. His latest EP is sumptuous art pop with a wry sense of detachment.
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