This is a song was inspired by a radio interview with Amber Dumont about her first novel called "The Starboard Sea" (which I later read). I wrote it using my trusty ukulele and then recorded it with pianist Doug Hammer at his magnificent Schimmel grand piano.
Lyrics
A Beating Heart
Copyright 2013 by Will McMillan
The SUN appears, The DAY begins,
A ROBIN cheers, the PLANET spins...
And you've got all the BLESSINGS anyone could need…
So why the FROWN? Why the POUT?
You may be DOWN, but you're not out…
We FAIL AND we succeed — Only CHANGE is guaranteed!
So it's TIME; set your SAIL.
Take a BREATH like a whale,
And then DIVE off the rail
To the starboard sea
You're ALIVE; You're unique.
Be a FOOL — Be a freak…
C'est L’AMOUR — il est TEMPS
C'est LA VIE!
A BEATING heart means you're NOT dead…
A BRAND new start — GET OUT of bed.
Your MISSION calls,
And we all HOPE that you'll SUCCEED…
The TIME is here; the time is NOW;
So PERSEVERE; embrace the Tao.
DEAR Lao Tse once DECREED:
“Only change is guaranteed!”
So it's TIME; set your SAIL.
Take a BREATH like a whale,
And then DIVE off the rail
To the starboard sea
You're ALIVE; You're unique.
Be a FOOL — Be a freak…
C'est L’AMOUR — il est TEMPS
C'est LA VIE!
Time for WATER, time for FIRE;
Time to COMFORT and INSPIRE...
Time for WOOD & EARTH & METAL;
Time to BLESS each flower PETAL...
Time for REST and time for VISION;
Time to make a FRESH decision...
For better AND for worse,
HERE in the universe
We're ALIVE; We're UNIQUE;
Be a FOOL; Be a FREAK
And IMMERSE your physique
In the starboard sea
Yes IT’S TIME — Set your SAIL.
Take a BREATH like a whale!
C'est l'amour ¬— il est temps — C'est la vie!
C'est l'amour ¬— il est temps — C'est la vie!