LUCE
The Rain
Verse
I feel my shoulders aching
Been tensing them all day
Thought work would be distracting
The mask could hide my face
But out upon the playground
the children cried my name
and when the shift was over
I walked home in the rain
the rain
Verse
I stumbled through my doorway
and chucked down my bags
and emptied out my pockets
and took off my mask
When I removed my raincoat
my skin was cold to touch
Thought, 'I should take a shower'
Thought, 'I should take a shower'
The rain
Chorus
Water rush down
Cleanse this soul out
Verse
Thoughts pace around in circles
Inside my heavy head
of if you really know me
if I should be alone instead
So many complications but I'm not
ready for goodbye
I guess I'll have to tell you
and promise you I'll try
I'll try
©2022, Lucy Barka
Helium Balloon
Verse
In the beginning I was scrambling
I was searching for answers
avoiding the whispers inside
I believed in miracles
that we were magical
perched on the brink of
Quantum vibrations of light
Chorus
I was a helium balloon
floating on up to the blue
Couldn’t tie myself to the truth
Verse
Guess I had taken flight
didn’t want to see the signs
that I was affected
that I’d disconnected from life
Lost on walks without my phone,
always feeling far from home,
Chorus
I was a helium balloon
floating on up to the blue
Couldn't tie myself to the truth
Bridge
Take me back to
Before the time when
I was taken
And I’d stay beside
I would listen
To the whispers
And the pain inside
Outro
What doesn’t kill you
makes you run away at first
It’s hard to hear the truth
You have to burst through
come down to earth and feel the hurt
so you can live in truth
©2022, Lucy Barka and Lauren Alex Hooper
Come Outside
Verse
Today I feel an underlying sadness
I'm trying to pretend it isn't there
I got up early to look busy and together
I try to do nice things
give attention to my hair
It's coming up to me and I brace myself
for when it's gonna hit
I think about calling someone
but i doubt they'd wanna hear it
Verse
My mum says i could do a bit of
observational writing
like people watching
to come outside myself
so come outside yourself
she says maybe it will help
maybe it will help
Bridge
Water hits the pavements
selected people planned for this
with raincoats and umbrellas
others just hang their heads low
sometimes i forget that
other people are alive
they completely live their own lives
independent, coexistent, running alongside mine
Pre-chorus
maybe i'm too caught up in mine x3
Chorus
all we have to do is be there x12
©2018, Lucy Barka
Lamplight
Verse 1
You turn the main lights down
We’ve been here for some time now
Touching hands on your bed
Listening to your breath
You look through me with those eyes
I’ve never seen a colour like it
There’s something about this lowlight
The empty bottle of red wine
Pre-chorus
Silver secrets float out from my lips
Then settle like dust
Chorus
We could lie here forever
I'll lay my head on your chest
The heat of your heart on fire
Sharing the lamplight together
Verse 2
Life can get so loud
We’ve learned to turn the noise down
Relying on the routine
Dinner and a movie
Pre-chorus
Silver secrets float out from my lips
Then settle like dust
Safe and hiding from everyone but us
Chorus
We could lie here forever
I'll lay my head on your chest
The heat of your heart on fire
Sharing the lamplight together
Bridge
Bed of two sides,
Screens of blue light,
Squares that flicker in our eyes
Something changed we
Lost the flame some
Where along the way
The lights are on, but nobody is home
Chorus
We could lie here forever
I'll lay my head on your chest
The heat of your heart on fire
Sharing the lamplight together
©2022, Lucy Barka and Simon Stirling
Shoulder
Verse 1
You crushed me Monday evening
When you said you’re ‘feeling low’,
Tired of hiding sadness
Behind the front you show.
Sunday came around, you felt the same.
I just want to sing away your blues
but I know that we can’t bury pain.
Chorus
When you’re rolling up that boulder
And the mountain’s growing colder,
I will be there, I’m your shoulder to lean on.
When you can’t see the horizon
And you feel you’re done with trying,
I will be there, I’m your shoulder.
(I will be there, I’m your shoulder).
Verse 2
I know you feel abandoned
By the friends supposed to show.
Though I understand it,
It’s hard to let go
Ooh, taking sides is never easy -
I just wanna get you back to you -
But I might need a little help.
Chorus
When you’re rolling up that boulder
And the mountain’s growing colder,
I will be there, I’m your shoulder to lean on.
When you can’t see the horizon
And you feel you’re done with trying,
I will be there, I’m your shoulder
(I will be there, I’m your shoulder).
Bridge
When your head’s above the water
but you’re going under
I will always try.
Chorus
When you’re rolling up that boulder
And the mountain’s growing colder,
I will always try
When you can’t see the horizon
And you feel you’re done with trying,
I will always try
©2021, Lucy Barka and David Boyden
Paper Notes
Verse 1
Finally moving to my first place,
Packing boxes full of old games,
Finding paper notes from you.
I took them from the chest of drawers,
Laid them on the bedroom floor,
Smiling at the hearts you drew.
Pre-chorus
That was half our lives ago
Chorus
Ink-blot dreams, said we would be friends forever
Love struck teens, crumpled moments I remember
Creases that we left behind
when we turned a page in life
said it all with paper notes
said it all with paper notes
Verse 2
Flashback to our school days together
Meeting by the bikes at seven,
“I thought your friends were coming too?”
Holding hands in Greenwich Park
When you kissed me in the dark
Only you, me, and the moon.
Pre-chorus
That was half our lives ago
Chorus
Ink-blot dreams, said we would be friends forever
Love struck teens, crumpled moments I remember
Creases that we left behind
as we turned a page in life
said it all with paper notes
said it all with paper notes
Bridge
I’ve just received your save-the-date
Nice to know I’ve been replaced
I guess this is your final letter
When I see you taking vows
And I’m among the faceless crowd
I promise you I won’t be bitter
I promise you I won’t be bitter
Half-chorus
Ink-blot dreams, said we would be friends forever
Love struck teens, crumpled moments I remember
Creases that we left behind
when we turned a page in life
Chorus
©2021, Lucy Barka and Phill Vidler