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Distract me from the Memory

from Skin: Deep by Penelope Swales

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about

I had a dear friend who was attracted to me. Unfortunately, this was not reciprocal, coz he was a great guy. Anyway, once he commented that I only seemed to be attracted to dark men (he was fair-ish). I denied this, but when I thought about it, I realised that I was actually avoiding anyone with colouring similar to the Big One, the one that broke my heart, the one who got away, etc..

lyrics

Distract me from the memory
© Penelope Swales 2007

I begin to recover
At least enough to be taking lovers
Well no-one can replace you
But that’s not what I’m asking them to do
Anyone might think me healed
To see me out playing the field
If my loss finds a voice
It’s in the way I frame my choices

Give me dusky, not fair
Give me sloe-black, not sandy hair
Give me oil, not cream
Give me brown eyes not green
Give me swarthy, not speckled
Give me moles, not freckles
Anything, anything
To distract me from the memory of your pale skin

I seek refuge in the fray
Many lovely creatures come my way
I look into their faces
I walk straight into their embraces
My love for them is not specific
It’s broad and blue like the Pacific
Benevolent and weary
And I value what they bring me dearly

But I choose dusky, not fair
Run my hands through black, not sandy hair
I lap oil, not cream
Gaze into brown eyes not green
I drink musk in, not spices
And it’s all open, and no-one has to lie
‘Bout anything, anything
Just distract me from the memory of your forbidden skin

And for all that you have
That these men may never have
Well, there’s one thing they can offer me
And that’s themselves because they’re free
This self-possession of theirs
May be a temporary state of affairs
So I embrace them while I may
They help me face another dark day
Without your sunny grin
And I know it sounds like a dreadful, shallow thing
Yeah, I know it sounds unfair
But give me brown, black, blue but not blonde hair
Give me oil, not cream
Any colour eyes – not green
Give me olives, not peaches
Give me strong, dark Southern features
Anything, anything
Just distract me from the memory of your Northern skin
Distract me from the memory of all that lies within
Your sweet, sweet, pale, creamy, freckled, forbidden, Northern skin

Oh, distract me from the memory
Oh, distract me from my memories
Oh, distract me from the memories
Come to me
Oh, distract me from my memories
Come into me…….
Ahh……..

credits

from Skin: Deep, released July 1, 2007
Vocals, guitar, stomp box - Penelope Swales

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Penelope Swales Boolarra, Australia

Penelope Swales has been articulating the human condition with passion and humour for 30+ years. She sings about politics, love, friendship, the unbreakable bond between us and dogs and the impact of the Internet on society. She won the 2019 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social Justice Award with “Cambridge Analytica”. “The Ides of March in Christchurch" was short-listed for the same award in 2020. ... more

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