Thank You
A while back I submitted what I said was my favourite of my own short stories, ‘The Summer of Dust’. This is my personal favourite of my own songs. It’s sung by Joyce, the would-be hippy teenage girlfriend of the male protagonist in ‘Engineering Paradise the Musical’, to thank him for the good times they have had together and reassure him that although she’s going away to boarding school nothing is going to change between them and they will always be lovers when they meet, and that they are both free to love others without jealousy or recriminations. I see it as an anthem for the entire ‘free love’ generation of the 1960s and 70s.
Thank You
Melody and arrangement: Becky Simpson
Vocals and guitar: Dayna Lynn
Lyrics: David Gardiner
Thank you for the moments when you walked a while with me
Full of joy and understanding when we gave our love for free
And you never tried to make me what I didn’t want to be.
In a world that’s ever circling round a slowly dying sun
The past alone is constant and can never be undone.
Every living person changes every moment of the day
But the past is always present, it can never go away
And we’ll always be together now, no matter where we stray
.
All the people who have held me help to make me who I am
I remember every gentle touch, the passion and the calm.
We’ll always have these moments that we’ve shared so tenderly
Though we may be separated by a mountain or a sea
We’re a part of one another now – for all eternity.
Ever growing, ever learning, ever striving to be free
To create the man and woman that will soon be you and me.
There’s a world beyond that’s waiting, we’re too young to settle down
It’s our time to find our bearings, test the water, look around
But there’s nothing that can take away the friendship that we’ve found.
There’s no clause of limitation on the love I share with you
It will always be there waiting, ever eager, ever new.
The deepest love we’ll ever find is love without demands
That doesn’t ask for promises or bind with wedding bands
That can celebrate the freedom that the other one commands.
Love that asks for nothing but is given like a song
Love that doesn’t wonder if it’s right or if it’s wrong
Love that doesn’t stifle, doesn’t limit, doesn’t scold
Doesn’t ask for grim assurances or suddenly run cold
Love that never judges, and resentment will not hold.
Thank you for the moments when you walked a while with me
Full of joy and understanding when we gave our love for free
And you never tried to make me what I didn’t want to be.
No you never tried to make me what I didn’t want to be.
Wow, simply beautiful, what a singer what a song. Could listen all night.
Thanks Savvi. As I said above, I’m very pleased with this one myself. I consider it the ‘heart’ of EP the Musical, just as Magdalen’s Song is the heart of Jesus Christ Superstar or Memories is the heart of Cats.
These lyrics are high quality. Well done. I may not agree with the girl’s philosophy, but they are extremely well expressed. For me, sex used to express the love you feel for your partner is unparalleled and to go from man to man or tell your lover he can go from woman to woman is sad. But that’s not the point, is it? It was a time of free love and flowers. I’m not surprised it has gone and is unmissed. But again, great lyrics.
Missed by me. ‘Engineering Paradise’ explores a lot of ideas connected with that era – political idealism, the beginnings of modern feminism, nationalism, songwriting, personal freedom, communes, pirate radio, and of course armed revolution. Anyway, many thanks for the kind comment on the lyrics. I thought that Becky and Dayna made a great job of the song too. I am truly grateful to them both. Dayna has recorded a newer version of this song since the post was uploaded. It’s not greatly different but the tempo is a little bit faster and there’s a more ‘live’ acoustic in the room… Read more »