Man In the Mirror

 

There’s a man there in the mirror

But I just can’t seem to see

Anyone I’d really want to be

There’s a child somewhere inside him

That I recognize as me

Four years old or maybe only three

Wooden sword and shield and helmet

Bravely answering a plea

Off to set some captured maiden free

 

Chorus

 

And I’d give all that I have now

Just to be that boy again

Pure and proud and sure that life is good

But I have to face tomorrow

With these things I’ve come to know

Try to stand as tall as he once stood

God, I wish I could

 

Little boat upon the shore there

Once so lively and carefree

Shattered now, forgotten beach debris

With the sun so bright and high then

Toast and marmalade and tea

Ask the maiden’s hand on bended knee

But the white lies turned to dark ones

Would-be heroes turned to flee

Shiny dreams all washed away to sea

 

Chorus

 

Words and music ©2023 by David Massey

 

Inspired by Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Myself”:

 

My heart of silk
is filled with lights,
with lost bells,
with lilies and bees.
I will go very far,
farther than those hills,
farther than the seas,
close to the stars,
to beg Christ the Lord
to give back the soul I had
of old, when I was a child,
ripened with legends,
with a feathered cap
and a wooden sword.

 

David - lead vocal and rhythm guitar

Jay Byrd - guitar

Sally Love - backing vocal

Zan McLeod - mandolin

Shamus McRobe - organ, percussion

Jim Robeson - bass