Lyrics

(with quote from “Just One Person” by Hackady and Grossman)

(with reference to “My Favorite Things” by Rodgers and Hammerstein)

(with reference to “Over the Rainbow” by Harburg and Arlen)

I am just one person.

And where there is one person,

There are more, more people,

people who believe in you

deep enough, and strong enough.

This I know,

for the Muppets tell me so

in the Land of Wake Believe.

Everyday wonders abound,

mountains and forests and lakes,

movies and paintings and books.

And there are miracles all around,

bright sounds and soft sights

and places where hope can be found.

We treat bites and stingers and sadness of moodles

with doorbells on kittens and bright copper noodles,

something `bout ponies and... oodles of poodles?

paradise wishes and sweet candy fishes,

singing and dancing and musical dishes,

standing our ground with our empathy wishes

in the Land of Wake Believe.

Rainbows smell like ink on your fingers.

Troubles taste like lemon drops.

Moonbeams feel like silk as it lingers.

Bubbles sound like weathered rocks.

Daydreams look like petrichor singers.

Senses love to be mismatching socks

in the Land of Wake Believe.

Fuzzy baby animals and drowsy baby babies

hear rustled saffron wind in grass,

stirred up by rhythmic theydies.

Smoky floaty featherkin and wispy floaty fluffies,

feel whispered silly waves in glass

wash over sleepy stuffies.

Fancy rightful wierdnesses make open rightful truthies

in the Land of Wake Believe.

Simplicity and freedom

Complexity and quidam

Fruit-flavored teas an'

Far-out snacks when we need `em

Cinnamon laughter

Velvety kindness

Lavender stories

Brave out-of-your mindness

Bold gardens

Long naps

Close friends

Song facts

Deep loves

Ymagination

And you

Who you are,

who you love,

who you dream,

I believe in all of you

in the Land of Wake Believe.

So curious.

You.

You are my miracle,

every day of my life

in the Land of Wake Believe,

I believe in you.

I wrote a song recently about my grampa’s use of colorful language, and was thinking about how much my brother and I meant to him. I have a letter that he sent to me within days of my being born. I was often told that he thought that I was the greatest thing ever, and that not only helped to carry me through some darkness as a kid, but has meant a lot to me in my life… just knowing that was possible.

I have also been going over a lot of other music, and yesterday I listened to “Brave” (Sara Bareilles, Jack Antonoff) and “Just One Person” (Hal Hackedy, Larry Grossman) dozens of times apiece. There are times when I will listen to an album on repeat for days on end, which I am given to understand can be associated with autism… and/or just really good music.

I’ve already written a kind of anthem about being different, but I was struck by the expression of intense belief in somebody overlapping with what my grampa’s esteem meant to me. So I naturally  decided to write songs for my kids (who are adults now) telling them how much I believe in them; I mean, I’m sure that they already know… but still.

I decided to start with my elder son, and found myself to be fascinated with a notion that was calling itself “The Land of Wake Believe.” This morning (June 9, 2024), I searched around and found no instances of this phrase in use, much to my delight, because I really like it.

Did I mention that in addition to being Autistic, we are sinaesthetes/ideasthetes?

So today I wrote this song. (The cover is derived from stock. A leopard chameleon is a real thing in the waking world.)

And I have two more children for whom to write songs.

And then the niblings. 

It occurs to me that my grand song-writing ambition(s) might have written a check that my amateur talent(s) cannot cash.

This is going to be a busy summer.

Busier.