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More Real than the Original

from Homemade Wine by Penelope Swales

/

lyrics

More Real than the Original
© Penelope Swales 1997

My memories do me no service
In bringing your image to my mind
Your image in my mind’s eye
Your imprint in my body

My memories do me no service
In drawing my attention
To the little room inside me
Where your ghost dwells
More real than the original

As I stand by this hilltop window
That frames the panorama of a silver-laden night
The city’s wearing rings upon her fingers
A hoop of gaudy jewels around her waist
As I observe the magic of a windy full-moon festival
I watch, but I do not participate

As I watch from this high vantage
So do I watch your progress through the crowd
Playing the same games with different faces
Down among the rhinestones on the horizons distant waist
I’ve traced your footsteps with you unknowing
I’ve watched you progress through the crowd
By subtle questioning and word of mouth
I watch but I do not participate

Upon the surface, our interaction
Like a rapid stream
Laughs and bubbles, never lingers
Oh, yes, I’m quick on my feet
And I’m aware, yeah. I’m aware
That looking in at me
You see the opposite of what I see looking out

My memories do me no service
When I make small-talk by your side
When I return your smile so wide
When you turn away, my eyes trace your lines

High on the windy hilltop of my mind
I can see you sprawled across
The jewel-encrusted breasts of the city
I trace your lines between the pinpoints of light
Like some ageing astrologer shapes
His favourite heroes in the sky

I watch you progress through the crowd
I watch the montage of your face
I watch but I do not participate

My memories, they do me great service
I recalling your foibles to my mind
Through opposing windows,
I have opposing views of you
How I saw you then
How I see you know
How I saw you then
How I see you know

Knowing you like I know you
I can only laugh
Playing the same games with different faces
Dancing the same steps in different places
And even so, your image in my mind
And even so, your imprint in my body
And the little room inside me
Where your ghost dwells
More real than the original

And I still love you, though detached
I still desire you, although satisfied
I laugh, I laugh at you, and me
I laugh, but I do not participate
I laugh, but I do not participate

credits

from Homemade Wine, released January 7, 1997
Penelope Swales - vocals, guitar
Paul Jonas - violin
Mal Webb - bass
George Papantonio - drums

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all rights reserved

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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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