What Color is Your Zero?

The kids’ album needed a song about counting, so I wrote one where the numbers are presented in alternative sequences (including the likes of alphabetical order and spoken in reverse) and associated with synaesthetic effects… naturally.

I listened to a lot of gypsy jazz and gospel before composing the melody that I was looking for.

Lyrics

One, two… one, two, three, four

If you wanna play it straight,

count just like you’ve always been.

One two three four five six seven,

eight nine eight nine eight nine... ten.

If you wanna little more,

count it down again for fun.

Ten nine eight seven six five four,

three two three two three two... one.

Let’s subvert the status quo!

How far are you gonna go?

Shout it out so we will know…

What color is your zero? (Periwinkle?)

If you like a bit of strange,

count it out from five again.

Five six four seven three eight two,

nine one nine one nine one... ten.

If you like it outside in,

count in sideways overdrive.

Ten one nine two eight three seven,

four six four six four six... five.

Let’s subvert the status quo!

How far are you gonna go?

One more time to make it grow…

What color is your zero? (Yellow?)

If you love your ABCs,

count a letter switcharoo.

Eight five four seven six nine one,

ten three ten three ten three... two.

If you love to stretch your brain,

count back in a reverse row.

Net nine tay nevess skiss vife rofe, 

eerth oot eerth oot eerth oot nuhw.

Let’s subvert the status quo!

How far are you gonna go?

Hurl it like a hammer throw…

What color is your zero? (Turquoise?)

If you need to spin the start,

count however you get your kicks.

Seven eight nine ten one two three,

four five four five four five... six.

If you wanna roll dice again,

count from four back `round with me.

Four five six seven eight nine ten, 

one two one two one two... three.

Let’s subvert the status quo!

How far are you gonna go?

Whisper in the afterglow…

What color is your zero? (Rainbow?)

Some folks’ zero is blue,

but for some that hue is two.

Black white brown pink jade teal gray,

cyan purple copper... cool!