The 80s
Is this life veritable, or but a phantasm?
Caught in earth’s slide, with no flight from verity.
Prithee ope thine eyes, cast them unto the firmament, and see:
I am but a wretched knave, and crave no pity.
For I come anon, and go anon—
A touch aloft, a touch beneath—
Whiche'er way the wind doth blow, it mattereth not to me… to me.
Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"
I possess the mettle of the tiger, a warrior bold,
Through flames I dance, for I am crownèd gold.
And thou shalt hear my mighty roar—
Above the mighty lion, for I am victor o'er all,
And thou shalt hear my roaring call.
Katy Perry - "Roar"
The snow it falleth o’er the mount this ebon-tide,
No footprint treadeth upon its side.
A realm of solitude and ice unseen—
I am the queen, and none hath been.
❄ Let It Go (Frozen)
Thou hast a swift chariot,
Is it swift enough to fly away?
We must make haste to escape this place anon,
I fear we shan't remain.
Luke Combs - "Fast Car" (Cover)
I may procure for myself fair flowers,
And inscribe mine own name upon the sands;
I can converse sweetly with mine own self,
And grasp mine own hand—
Nay, thou couldst not love me better than doth I.
Miley Cyrus - "Flowers"
A league of seven nations cannot halt my pace,
I shall smite them all, face to face.
They whisper much behind my back,
Yet naught shall deter me from the track.
And I speak not to save my name,
For mine own tale hath grown past fame;
Their words, their scorn, their wicked jest—
They cannot put me to rest.
I shall work this out, and set things right,
From dusk till dawn, through darkest night.
The White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army"
A maiden of humble birth, in solitude she dwelt,
She boarded the midnight steed to whereso’er fate felt.
A lad from city born, of South Detroit the name,
Rode the selfsame train in search of fame.
A minstrel stood where smoke did rise,
Amidst cheap perfume and wine’s disguise.
For but a smile, they shared the night—
The tale unendeth, onward in flight.
Journey - "Don't Stop Believing"
When I stride in, behold, all eyes do turn,
I made thee gaze upon me, yea, I made thee stare.
Though clad in but my bedchamber raiment,
I am rich as ever I seem—
Did I not make thee look?
Meghan Trainor - "Made You Look"
I have gazed upon the edge of the water,
Long as mem’ry may recall.
Ne’er knowing why I wander,
Though I return whate’er may befall.
🌊 How Far I'll Go (Moana)
The knaves shall prate, prate, prate, prate, prate,
And I shall dance away, away, away, away, away—
Fie, I but cast it off,
Yea, I but cast it off!
Taylor Swift - "Shake it Off"
Hark, here lieth the tale: we began as companions true,
All seem’d well—yet false it was, naught but feignèd hue.
Yea, verily—
Since thou wert gone...
Thou didst vow thy time, so dutiful and kind.
Ere long, I claim’d thee as mine own in mind.
Yea, verily—
Since thou wert gone...
Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"
Pain! Didst thou make me a creature of pain?
O verily, thou art my pleasure and bane—
My heart, made of stone, was struck again and again,
Till it grew stronger in thy crucible of flame.
I let my soul speak, unbridled and raw,
Sent from above, forged in thy law.
My life, my love, my drive—
It came from…
Pain!
Imagine Dragons - "Believer"
We be no strangers unto love’s game—
The rules thou know’st, I know the same.
A heart of full devotion is mine intent,
Such thou’dst not find in other gent.
I merely wish to show mine heart,
And hope thou comprehend’st mine part:
I shall ne’er give thee up, nor cast thee down,
Nor run away, nor make thee frown.
I shall ne’er make thee weep, nor bid thee farewell,
Nor utter lies that sting like hell.
Rick Astley - "Never Gonna Give You Up"
I cast mine eye and tossed a glance,
I rent a wish, and took a chance.
I seek not much, yet here I stand—
Mine coin I flung into thy hand.
Thy stare, it caught me unaware,
Thou brak’st me with thy golden hair.
Yet wherefore didst thou stand so nigh,
And now I can but wonder why.
Perchance I gave mine heart away—
And this is sudden, yea, so strange—
But here’s my scroll, prithee, I say:
Call me, mayhap?
’Twas but a fleeting summer’s day,
Mine heart hath wandered far astray,
But here’s mine parchment—write, I pray:
Call me, mayhap?
Carly Rae Jepsen - “Call Me Maybe”
I can unfold to thee the world entire—
Shining, splendid, full of fire.
Tell me, fair maiden, now when last
Didst thou let thy heart decide its cast?
🌟 A Whole New World (Aladdin)
I am of mind to paint the town blood-red,
The fiend himself doth know my name.
I shall not apologize, nay,
For mine own path is chosen,
And shame I hold not.
Doja Cat - "Paint the Town Red"
I did procure mine licence hence,
As we had dream’d with joy immense.
But now I pass thy street alone—
Thy shadow lingers, though thou’rt gone.
Thou speakest now with one more fair,
A lass of gold and flaxen hair.
Didst thou forget what once we knew?
My heart still breaks at thought of you.
And I know we were not meant to be,
Yet still I feel thee next to me.
How couldst thou leave, and lie so well,
Whilst I do drive through streets of hell?
Olivia Rodrigo - "Driver's License"
Hark! Welcome to this wild and fearsome land,
Where beasts do prowl, and none doth stand.
The jungle awaits, and in its wake,
None may be free from its cruel stake.
Thy senses shall fail, for chaos reigns,
The jungle doth twist, and none break chains.
Beware, for here in this savage place,
The world doth hunt thee in cruel disgrace.
Welcome, friend, to this fearful night,
Where danger doth lurk and none hath flight.
Thy heart shall race, thy soul shall cry,
For in the jungle, all men must die.
Guns N Roses - "Welcome to the Jungle"
She speaketh thus: “We must hold fast to what we own,
Though whether we succeed or fail be unknown.
We have each other, and that is enough—
So let us try, e’en if the road be rough.”
O, we are midway there—
O, living on a prayer!
Take mine hand, we shall make it, I do swear—
O, living on a prayer.
Bon Jovi - "Living on a Prayer"
He calleth me his morn’s delight,
His sweetest draught at break of light.
A sip of me, he stays awake,
For I be joy he may not fake.
I keep him up, I keep him keen,
More potent than yon caffeine bean.
...
For I care not, nay, not a whit,
Though he be sleepless, vex’d, unfit.
He drinks of me both night and day—
But I have gone and danced away.
He loseth sleep, I gain repose,
He loves me deep—but I, suppose,
Shall smile and let my silence grow—
For I care not, sweet sir, thou know’st.
Sabrina Carpenter - "Espresso"
The hour chimes, the morn hath come,
I sweep and dust and comb and hum.
I read a book or two or three,
And paint the walls most daintily.
Play lute and knit and cook and bake—
Just how much more must I partake?
🌼 When Will My Life Begin (Tangled)
Verse I
Lo, thou embarkest once more, proclaiming thy desire for liberty.
Who am I to hinder thee?
Yet, dost thou not recall—
Freedom is but an illusion, and the chains of love linger still.
Chorus
Listen to the whispers of the rain,
As it falleth upon the windowpane.
Hear the echoes of thy solitude,
For dreams are naught but shadows in the night.
Verse II
Now, here thou goest again, seeking thy own path.
But remember, the heart doth not forget so easily.
And the dreams we shared linger still,
Like the haunting melody of a distant lute.
Fleetwood Mac - "Dreams"
Methinks now he sporteth at yon tavern's side,
Wooing some maiden, his lips a’lied.
Mayhap he whispereth soft in her ear,
Yet little knoweth he what draweth near.
For whilst he drinketh and doth boast,
I taketh mine revenge utmost:
I smite his chariot, key it deep,
The fair paint I dost tear and reap.
With blade I rend the leather seat,
And smash the window with vengeance sweet.
Lo, ere he strayeth again in heat,
He shall think twice—before he cheats!
Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats"
My bonds are cut, all ties are shorn—
The less I hold, the more is born.
I rule where paths are seldom known,
A rover, wanderer—by no name owned.
Nomad, vagabond, say what thou will—
I take mine ease with time to fill.
I speak mine heart where’er I be,
And any place shall home be to me.
Metallica - "Wherever I May Roam"
Welcome, sweet soul, to thy life newly begun,
There is no turning back, nay, not for one.
Though slumber take thee, we shall yet find thee—
Acting with grace, shunning Nature’s plea.
Forsooth, all men desire dominion o’er the sphere.
Tears for Fears - "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
If I becometh old and frail,
Wilt thou remain? Wilt thou not pale?
Though time dost steal youth’s golden hue,
I’d die with thee, and live there too.
If all our days were writ in sand,
And swept away by Heaven’s hand,
Wouldst thou still tarry by my side,
As constant as the moon and tide?
For we be birds of selfsame plume,
Together drawn, we shall not doom.
Through storm and flame, through dusk and sun,
I loveth thee till time be done.
I’d keep thee close ‘neath any sky,
And still be thine when death draws nigh.
Though world may crumble, stars may flee—
I’d choose no life, save one with thee.
Billie Eilish - "Birds of a Feather"
Who is she that gazeth back at me
When I behold mine own visage clear?
Why doth my form not match the soul I see?
Whence cometh this mask I wear in fear?
👩🏻 Reflection (Mulan)
Verse I
Now, ye maidens, I bid thee heed,
For I knoweth well what thee doth need.
Thy eyes seeketh fortune, that much I see,
Yet in thy heart, ‘tis not love that doth be.
Gold is thy desire, aye, riches to hold,
Thus thou art known as a trencher of gold.
She be a trencher of gold, I say,
Not for love, but for wealth’s fair sway.
She seeketh the rich, the noble, the grand,
To fill her purse, to take her stand.
Aye, she be a trencher of gold, indeed,
With wealth in her heart and greed in her creed.
The man she doth court hath riches to spare,
But to him, she doth feign a love most fair.
She’ll leave him to seek out a wealthier soul,
A prince or noble to make her whole.
But when the gold runs dry, so doth she flee,
Leaving naught but memories and misery.
Kanye West - "Gold Digger"
I still do love him—verily, I do.
Though he hath wrong’d me, aye, and made me rue.
I’d rather perish than abide alone,
And see him take another for his own.
I did but dream—a bloody, wicked dream—
Wherein I struck his lady down mid-scream.
Perchance 'tis madness, aye, I’ll not deny,
But I’d sooner kill than watch love die.
I might slay mine ex—O, dost thou judge me ill?
His new delight as well, yea, I might kill.
Though I be not the sort to act so base,
Jealousy hath painted o’er my face.
SZA - "Kill Bill"
With the torches dimmed, 'tis less perilous,
Here we are! Anon, bring forth our entertainment!
Methinks I feel mine brain hath been traded for a fool's
And that I mayest transmit such infectious foolery unto thee!
Nevertheless -- send forth the entertainment posthaste!
Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"