Name: How Can It Be? by Colin Palmer
Duration: 5 min 9 s
Description: The first worship song I put on Soundcloud. Let me know what you think!

Song a week #2 2025

Duet, Klara and Johann

Faces as blank as the metal plates,
mirrors of my family,
Humming and clanking machinery
depletes

Threats echoing through the factory,
remnants of every nights dreams,
Comrades unite our time has come
To live

Living by the numbers
They tell you who to be
I just want to be truly free

Workers Choir:
rise rise
Comrades rise
The shadows no longer protect us
Our weapon of choice is our numbers

Setting and Plot:
The musical is set in northern Germany during the Industrial Revolution, a time of rapid industrial growth and profound social inequality. It tells the story of Johann, a metal factory worker, and his wife Klara, who also toils in the same factory. Struggling to provide for their two children, they endure grueling 16-hour shifts under the oppressive rule of Konrad, a ruthless industrialist, politician, and rumored gangster. As whispers spread of neighborhood children disappearing, with rumors pointing to Konrad’s involvement in an illegal sweatshop, Johann and Klara take action. They begin organizing secret meetings with their coworkers to form an underground union and fight against their exploitation.

Context of the Song:
The song “Living by the Numbers” is performed as a duet by Johann and Klara during one of their clandestine gatherings at the factory. It captures the grinding monotony of factory life, the dehumanization they endure, and their yearning for freedom and dignity. As they sing, their coworkers slowly join in, building into a powerful choir that echoes the line “Rise comrades rise,” symbolizing their unity and defiance. Unbeknownst to Johann and Klara, their children are taken from their home by Konrad’s men at the very moment they are leading their coworkers in this rousing call to action.

Living by the numbers

i like when its dark out

"Miss Seeing You Crying" is a very honest song. I really put a lot of focus on making this song as raw and personal as I could. I promise not all of my songs are about missing someone...

Miss Seeing You Crying

"Late Tonight" feels cinematic. This is the song I am most proud of. I love how all of my first few songs have such different vibes. I really want to start focusing more on the storytelling side of songwriting, because music is communication. I really hope someone enjoys this one!

Late Tonight

"Miss You" has a different feel; that could be good or bad. This one was fun to work on and re-produce (you can see the old demo on my Soundcloud page.) This song is all about feeling like you will never get the chance too miss someone. And it is a play on words with saying "miss you" in two diffrent ways. Hope y'all enjoy!

Miss You

Nobody's living in a yellow submarine
but some songs get stuck to the surface of your heart
like a sticker on a guitar

Sailing under the bridge, under the sun, the black hole sun rosette
under six strings, like Saturn's rings
like they are everything

Six strings
Six strings

Sail on past the sun
that black hole sun
rosetting sun 
just keep the strings always above you
and keep sailing on
and leave your body you won't need it where you're going, no
you have to leave your body here before you go

Six strings
Six strings

You gotta leave your body leave your body leave your body behind

Six Strings

I Bet You Love It When I Play The Guitar DEMO

"Duck Pond" is a fun song. I really enjoyed writing this one. This one is for the subreddit r/songaweek. The theme was to write a song about Ducks. Yes, there really was an ice cream shop named "Duck Pond" in my hometown. Going more folky for this one. Let me know what you think!

Verse 1:
Growing up by 
The duck pond
Ice cream shop
Open sign was lit

Then I moved to
The suburbs 
To find a
Duck pond bigger than it

Verse 2:
Then I met you 
In high school And I fell through
The ice over your pond

Got me feeling convicted
Was addicted
To the way you’d 
You sing your song

Interlude:
The way 
You’d sing your song

Verse 3:
But I made
Some decisions
Lost my patience
How’d we go so wrong

I was the bad guy
Now I pass by
The ducks
They sing your song
 Refrain:
The ducks
They sing your song

Chorus:
She want’s a house with a duck pond
With some white ones
That can float around in it

She’s been reading The Notebook
Calls me Noah
I’ll build it if we quit

Chorus:
She want’s a house with a duck pond
With some white ones
That can float around in it

She’s been reading The Notebook
Calls me Noah
I’ll build it if we quit

Duck Pond

Here's a song I wrote that is very stripped back and simple. May produce it more one day, but I am happy with the current state it is in. It doesn't need a lot to support it.

Leaving With Me

The first worship song I put on Soundcloud. Let me know what you think!

How Can It Be?

Colin Palmer

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