Could They?
Early versions of Counterfeit

Here are two or three older drafts of the words that became the song-in-progress "Counterfeit".

The first is the short poem as I originally scribbled it out:

They couldn't stay alone at home,
So we stayed in to reduce their risk.
They couldn't bear to wear a mask,
So we filtered our breath to keep them alive.
They couldn't face the needles,
So we continue our exiles.

And caring for the sick until they finish
Killing off those we couldn't protect.

And here is the angry, not-rhyming-properly version as recorded in a demo May 12th:

They couldn't face their selves alone,
So we stayed home to keep them sane.
They couldn't bear to hide their face,
So we filtered ours to carry their load.

Counterfeits, liars, cheats,
Freeloading lazy frauds -

They couldn't wait another day,
So many got sent to haircut heaven.
They couldn't face the herding needles,
But this one needed us all together.

They couldn't risk to lose their minds -
It was so much easier with us behind.
They couldn't care for the sick or dead,
So they shouted "freedom" til out of breath.

Counterfeits, liars, cheats,
Freeloading lazy frauds -

E pluribus unum that we once swore,
Before they put their gods before -
Before they put themselves before -
Before us all, before their law.

Counterfeits, liars, cheats,
Freeloading lazy frauds.

We all did what we could...

5/5/21

Demo - 2021 05 12

© Huw Powell
printed 30 April 2024

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file location: www.humanthoughts.org/could_they.htm