Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems

Malvina Reynolds

Untitled Notes: by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1967 by the author.

From page 87 of the collection "Inscriptions on a Ginger Jar," printed in the songbook The Muse of Parker Street.

It's not the world I thought it was.

It once seemed fair,

Singing with laughter everywhere,

And all on fire

With spring bloom and the gleam
Of young desire,

And filled with song.

But I was wrong.

It's not like that at all.

Sunlight is empty,

And there's such darkness in the day,

I cannot figure any clear design,

Nor find my way.

It's not the world's fault,

It's mine.

It's mine and theirs

Who fed me dreams

Instead Of coarse bread,

And taught me how to hear

The music of stream and bird,

Instead of how to cry

Without being heard;

Who had me learn verse

Instead of how to curse.

Thanks