A somewhat shorter version of this long-accompanying song. I cut some verses out, leaving those that reflect on recent, heinous world events. Light and peace, Me 2024 'While A Bridge Is Burning' - words and music by Paul Murphy © 1986, 2024 - - - - ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCMuoLDB9Q8

Back to a slow version for Take 9. Although the song is extremely malleable, and works well at an up-tempo pace [as per videos 1099 and 1101], for me as the 'inhabitee', it works better slow. What can I say, this song... is about holding aces and eights when they call "Time" at the Last Chance Saloon. This is Take 9, out of 10. All of them are different, in terms of tempo, tuning, vocal emphasis, etc; if you wish to compare them, they are videos 1095-up. This song came to me last night, out of nowhere, and I guess, out of a large part of my life at the same time.There's a hint of 'My Way' about this, although with some lyrical wide-screen and some poetic camouflage. I'll leave it at that, I think. As this song almost certainly won't get to go into any of my lyric anthologies, for reasons both meta and physical, I have included them below. Although I wrote, and play, the song in 'G', it also works well in 'A' without losing the melody line, if any musicians among you want to cover it. Love and peace, Paul M x 23.02.2023 'One Last Reach For The Stars' - words & music © Paul Murphy / 2023 You looked at me with empty eyes And spoke in a hooded voice Saying "You thought of me as a new sunrise..." "I'm sorry, but you made the wrong choice" "The future has already been scriptured" "And the carousel's been closed down" "I know what you had pictured..." "But I'm going to let you down" I watched as the past came calling And guided me to the door "Beware, because the stars have started falling" "But then, you've walked this avenue before" I tried to barter for time unwritten But the claim had already been staked I saw where I'd been bitten I wondered how long the poison takes Someone sent me a sympathy smile Housed inside a stained-glass tear I whispered "I'll return in a while" "When the mists of illusion have cleared" The answer came before the question I listened to it, wrapped in awe "Now you know who was mentioned..." "You need to forget all that you saw" The gate-keeper moved to one side Nodded silently, and left I searched in my soul for a word of pride And discovered that I was bereft If a vestige of what we shared remains Please don't be reluctant to tell Not every prisoner wears chains... As if you did not know that well - - - - : : - - - - Whilst here, though, if I may be so bold - I have several of my books still in print available on Am of the Zon, titles below. I mention it not for me, but for my most amazing children, for whom the royalties are held in trust until they reach 16. I won't make it to see that day [check my FND/MND playlist for the gory unglorified story, if you choose], and believe me, they will be most grateful to you. - - - - Books by Paul Murphy: Comedy: The Private Diary of Emily Jade Murphy (Aged 0) The Continuing Private Diary of Emily Jade Murphy (Aged 6 Months, & Counting) Don't Look Sideways - The Life & Times of Bob Wordsworth Jottings Extremely Unlikely History of the World - Part One [978-1725718531] Extremely Unlikely History of the World - Part Two 1001 Ways To Cook An Aardvark Extremely Unlikely History of the United Kingdom Eric Wobble Finds A Time Machine The Fabbles: The So-Low Years A Christmas Carol (No, Not That One, A Different One) [979-8702679778] Lyrics/Poetry: Songs Without Music Journeys... Poems, Lyrics & Reflections Stories That Rhyme Poems For My Children Maybe Tomorrow Poems From An Empty Wishing Well Tombstones One More Rainbow, Before The Lights Go Out Maybe Tomorrow... Maybe Next Year (A Love Story) Love, Love, [Deluxe Expanded hardcover] Prairie Winds (antholgy) Prairie Winds (complete prose-poem) Bitter Realities Any Last Words Lost And found Songs For Charlotte Songs For Charlotte [Deluxe Hardcover] Songs Of Injustice Children's Titles: Emily's Magic Unicorn Emily and Bill... And The Stormy Day Emily and Bill... Meet Dylan Emily and Bill... Meet Pirate Pete Emily and Bill... Meet Betty the Yeti Emily and Bill... Meet Santa (and Rudolph!) Emily's Magic Dragon The Emily and Bill Anthology The Amazing Smeller-Man [Paul and Dylan Murphy] - - - - ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMaT6kPudMk