My Uncle Giuseppe told me
that in Sicily in World War Two,
in the courtyard behind the aquarium,
where the bougainvillea grows so well,
the only captive mermaid in the world
was butchered on the dry and dusty ground
by a doctor, a fishmonger, and certain others.

She, it, had never learned to speak
because she was simple, or so they’d said,
but the priest who held one of her hands
while her throat was cut,
said she was only a fish, and fish can’t speak.
But she screamed like a woman in terrible fear.

And when they took a ripe golden roe
from her side, the doctor said
this was proof she was just a fish
and anyway an egg is not a child,
but refused when some was offered to him.

Then they put her head and her hands
in a box for burial
and someone tried to take her wedding ring,
but the others stopped him,
and the ring stayed put.

The rest they cooked and fed to the troops.
They said a large fish had been found on the beach.

Starvation forgives men many things,
my uncle, the aquarium keeper, said,
but couldn’t look me in the eye,
for which I thank God.

Giuseppe By Roderick Ford (https://www.roderickford.com/giuseppe/)

Death of The Mermaid

Knock-knock,
Open wide,
See what’s on the other side.
Knock-knock,
Any more,
Come with me through the magic door

Knock-knock,
Open wide,
See what’s on the other side.
Knock-knock,
Any more,
Come with me through the magic door

Solo Man,
Drive away
Through the city bright and gay
London Town is where I stay

Lagos City
Far away
Jùjù music I will play
IK Dairo, Ebinezer Obay
In my ear, every day.

Knock-knock,
Open wide,
See what’s on the other side.
Knock-knock,
Any more,
Come with me through the magic door



No wahala what I say
Wetin ? Go slow!
Comot, do not vex,
I no sabi,
Abeg Madam,
Gbam, Gbam!
Oga hey!



If you see me
That’s what I say
Though my home is far away
Music in my ear
A magic door
Knock-knock, I go in and away I go.

Gbam!

*(Verse 1)*
Well I hired a man to build me a window  
He asked me what I wanted to see  
I said show me the garden, show me the water  
But brother, show me nothing of thee

I paid him in gold from a country that’s burning  
He said that was fine, that would do  
Now I sit here each morning with my coffee  
Admiring my room with a view

*(Verse 2)*
There’s a knock at the door but I don’t answer  
There’s a scream in the street, I don’t hear  
My architects, you see, were very clever—  
The glass only works in one direction, my dear

And yes, I have read about rising waters  
And yes, someone mentioned the poor  
But the light here at sunset is really quite stunning  
Have you seen what it does to my floor?

*(Chorus - slow, deliberate)*
Hallelujah for comfort  
Hallelujah for gold  
I’ve got a room with a view  
Of nothing, nothing at all

*(Verse 3)*
They tell me the world is hungry for something—  
Justice or mercy or bread  
But I’ve looked from my window quite carefully  
And I only see beauty instead

There’s talk of some people who can’t use the bathrooms  
There’s talk of the earth growing hot  
But I find these subjects a touch unbecoming  
And darling, I’d rather not

*(Verse 4 - Piano 2 becomes insistent)*
So I take, and I take, and I take a little more  
Never asked what I was taking from  
I contribute my thoughts on the view every morning  
My opinions on suffering? I have none

Hallelujah for nothing  
Hallelujah, I’m told  
I’ve got a room with a view  
Where I never, ever have to look in

A Room With A View

As I rode back in to town,
My horse still knew the way,
But nothing looked the same to me,
While I been away

Trees were taller, some were gone,
New houses; grey and old,
The children I knew in the streets,
Now leaned on their back doors.

I met some old men workin’ 
On a broken old stone wall
Lifting’ hard cold granite up
Sweatin in the fall

I went to go and help them,
Then a voice came to me,
Singing a soft strange warning
She had to make me see

[CHORUS]
Óisín my love
Don’t touch the ground
That lands no more your home
You came away to the west with me
Forever for to roam
My horse’s magic will keep you safe,
But hear my warning dear,
Don’t touch that ground 
In your old town 
Or you will disappear 

That horse o mine shook it’s bridle,
As if it heard her words,
Held down it’s head,
And back it stepped
White tail swishing like a bird
I held the reins and stroked her neck,
Said ‘there’s nothing to fear,
There’s nothing here for me now,
Let’s ride away from here.’

Then one old man called out to  me,
Said ‘I know your voice young sir’
You sound like great-grand pappy,
Long gone from this world,
He said his great grand father,
Had one day rode away,
With a fairie of the wood,
Didn’t believe it till this day

I heard my lady cry out;

[CHORUS]
Oisín my love
Don’t touch the ground
That lands no more your home
You came away out west with me
Forever for to roam
My horse’s magic will keep you safe,
But hear my warning dear,
Don’t touch that ground 
In your old town 
Or you will disappear

Well, the tears welled in my eyes ,
When that old man looked at me,
He had eyes like my late grandmother,
As dead as she could be,
I wiped my face, said ‘I must go,
There’s nothing here for me’.
But before I leave, I’ll help you boys,
With your stone wall difficulty.

I leaned down low,
Carefully so not to touch the ground,
With one hand I drew up that rock,
Then turned to put it on the wall,
Then fell forward with a shock,
The girth strap snapped,
And down I fell and the last thing that came to me,
Was you can’t go back to Ireland,
A wanderer you must always be.

[CHORUS]
Óisín my love
Don’t touch the ground
That lands no more your home
You came away to the west with me
Forever for to roam
My  magic will keep you safe,
But hear my warning dear,
Don’t touch that ground 
In your old town 
Or you will disappear

And so my spirit floated away
With a whisper and a tear.

With a Whisper, and a Tear (Cowboy Edition)

As I rode back in to town,
My horse still knew the way,
But nothing looked the same to me,
While I been away

Trees were taller, some were gone,
New house grey and old,
The children I knew in the streets,
Now leaned on their back doors.

I met some old men workin’ 
On a broken old stone wall
Lifting’ hard cold granite up
Sweatin in the fall

I went to go and help them,
Then a voice came to me,
Singing a soft strange warning
She had to make me see

[CHORUS]
Ush een my love
Don’t touch the ground
That lands no more your home
You came away to the west with me
Forever for to roam
My horse’s magic will keep you safe,
But hear my warning dear,
Don’t touch that ground 
In your old town 
Or you will disappear 

That horse mine shook it’s bridle,
As if it heard her words,
Held down it’s head,
And back it stepped
White tail swishing like a bird
I held the reins and stroked her neck,
Said ‘there’s nothing to fear,
There’s nothing here for me now,
Let’s ride away from here.’

Then one old man called out to  me,
Said ‘I know your voice young sir’
You sound like great-grand pappy,
Long gone from this world,
He said his great grand father,
Had one day rode away,
With a fairie of the wood,
Didn’t believe it till this day

I heard my lady cry out;

[CHORUS]
Ush een my love
Don’t touch the ground
That lands no more your home
You came away out west with me
Forever for to roam
My horse’s magic will keep you safe,
But hear my warning dear,
Don’t touch that ground 
In your old town 
Or you will disappear

Well, the tears welled in my eyes ,
When that old man looked at me,
He had eyes like my late grandmother,
As dead as she could be,
I wiped my face, said ‘I must go,
There’s nothing here for me’.
But before I leave, I’ll help you boys,
With your stone wall difficulty.

I leaned down low,
Carefully so not to touch the ground,
With one hand I drew up that rock,
Then turned to put it on the wall,
Then fell forward with a shock,
The girth strap snapped,
And down I fell and the last thing that came to me,
Was you can’t go back to Ireland,
A wanderer you must always be.

[CHORUS]
Ush een my love
Don’t touch the ground
That lands no more your home
You came away to the west with me
Forever for to roam
My  magic will keep you safe,
But hear my warning dear,
Don’t touch that ground 
In your old town 
Or you will disappear

And so my spirit floated away
With a whisper and a tear.

With a Whisper, and a Tear (Cowgal Edition)

In the gutters where the moonlight drizzles,
We carve our tales our teeth like chisels,
Of holy wings and shining beaks,
The pigeons soar the skies we seek.

We bow before our King Rat's throne,
His tangled tails of flesh and bone,
His whiskers twitch like ancient prayer,
We clean our noses with holy care.

Chorus:
So live your life with whiskers high,
Keep your paws and spirits dry,
And when the final bell has rung,
You'll sprout your wings and learn to fly.

Cheeses Christ, brought the rind
The aged cheddar, holy shrine,
But blue cheese brings the darker way,
Swiss alone shall light our day.

From sewer pew to sparrow's call,
We worship feathers over all,
For every rat who lives with grace,
May earn the flight to heaven's place.

Chorus:
So live your life with whiskers high,
Keep your paws and spirit dry,
And when the final bell has rung,
You'll sprout your wings and learn to fly.

Bridge:
Walk the Sacred Labyrinth deep,
Through twisted pipes where secrets sleep,
Find the Squeak springs' holy call,
Where pigeons coo-coo through the wall.

Share your crust, don't steal, don't cheat,
Guide the young thu' sewer and street,
Help your kin when danger calls,
And the holy pigeons hear it all.

Chorus:
So live your life with whiskers high,
Keep your paws and spirit dry,
And when the final bell has rung,
You'll sprout your wings and learn to fly.

No alley's trap, no famine's stare,
Just holy wind and open air,
We'll feast on corn, not crusts of bread,
Forever blessed, forever fed.

Final Chorus:
So live your life with whiskers high,
Keep your paws and spirit dry,
And when the final bell has rung,
You'll sprout your wings and learn to fly,
You'll sprout your wings and learn to fly.

The Gospel of the Alley Rats

[Verse 1]
I want a queer woman for president
I want someone who’s been unhoused
I want a disabled man for vice president
Someone drowning in medical debt
Someone who grew up drinking water contaminated with forever chemicals
Who didn’t choose the cancer that came with it

[Chorus]
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, why not? Why not?
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, why not? Why not?
And if not, why? Tell me WHY!

[Verse 2]
I want a president who had an abortion at sixteen
Who isn’t the lesser of two evils
Who lost their partner to an overdose
Sees their face every time they close their eyes
Held them knowing there was no help coming

I want a president who’s worked three gigs to survive
Who’s stood in line at the free clinic, the food bank, the shelter
Been furloughed, downsized, harassed
Attacked for who they love and who they are

[Chorus]
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, why not? Why not?
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, why not? Why not?

[Verse 3]
I want someone who’s spent the night in jail for protesting
Who survived violence
Been in love, been hurt
Respects others, made mistakes, learned from them

I want a young Black woman for president
Someone who knows what it’s like to be dismissed
Navigated the system from the bottom
Trans, neurodivergent, been to therapy
Committed civil disobedience

[Bridge]
And I want to know why we learned—
A president’s always a john, never a sex worker
Always a boss, never a laborer
Always a molester, never a father
Always, always, always a liar
Always a thief and never caught

[Outro]
And I want to know why this isn’t possible
I want to know why this isn’t POSSIBLE

Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, why not? Why not?
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, why not? Why not?
And if not, why? Tell me WHYyyyyyy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


I Want A President (Contemporary Manifesto)

Maybe I'll live to be 85.
10 books a year, so about 850 books. 
85 Christmases
85 New Years
85 Birthdays
85 Calendars

One wife
One daughter
A variety of dogs
1000s of dinners
1000s of sunsets

A fair amount of colds and flu
God knows, a billion breaths?
10 pairs of glasses? 
100 pairs of shoes?
10 or twenty houses, I guess?

200 or so bones,
Then a billion motes of dust,
Then back to eternity I go.
Pfff

A Billion Motes of Dust

*(Verse 1)*
Santa’s kinda real I guess
Presents under tree, whole vibe’s a mess
Rudolph’s nose is red or whatever
Family dinner lasts like forever

*(Chorus)*
6/7 Christmas, it’s not bad
Could be worse honestly, not even sad
Tree fell over twice but we fixed it so
6/7 Christmas, let’s gooo

*(Verse 2)*
Got socks again from my aunt
Asked for money but she said she can’t
Little cousin won’t stop screaming
I’ve been on my phone just meme-ing

*(Chorus)*
6/7 Christmas, pretty mid ngl
Grandpa fell asleep, couldn’t even tell
Food was good tho, can’t complain
6/7 Christmas hits different in the rain

*(Bridge)*
Mom’s stressed
Dad’s grilling in the cold for some reason
Sister won’t share the bathroom
Classic

*(Last part)*
Anyway it’s Christmas
Not perfect but it’s fine
See you next year I guess
6/7 out of 10 this time 🎄​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

*(Rap verse)*

Yo it’s Christmas Eve and I’m still awake
Waiting for Santa but for my own sake
Got the cookies out, milk’s getting warm
Family group chat blowing up my phone

Gifts under the tree looking kinda light
But my mom said “be grateful” so alright
Ugly sweater on, looking like a fool
At least I got two weeks off from school

Elf on the shelf giving me the creeps
Grandma asking why I never sleep
“It’s called a phone, grandma, I’m on it”
She doesn’t get it but I love her, I’m honest

6/7 Christmas, not the best not the worst
Could use more cash but I’m not gonna curse
Pass the mac and cheese, save me a plate
Merry Christmas y’all, this verse was mid but great

*drops invisible mic, goes back to phone*

6/7 Xmas

Christmas coals glow,
Up the chimney sparks go,
It’s warm, it’s quiet and dark.

The tree lights glow green,
A sparkling scene,
And I drift back to long ago

[prechorus]
And it was beautiful then,
Decorations  the same,
Though shabby now,
From our childhood games,

A whole forests of trees,
Going back to the past,
The old and the new,
So Christmas will last

I am older now,
 though not quite old,
My mother is gone, 
But her grandchildren know,
Of the songs she sung,
And her childhood games,

Our old crib is the same,
And the tinsel and star,
So that’s who we were,
And that’s who we are

The smell of the pine,
Is fresh in the air,
Outside is cold,
But it’s warm in here

Just another Christmas song
The same old thing
But the song goes on,
And that’s, well, the main thing

But the song goes on,
And that’s, well, the main thing

It's just another christmas,
just another christmas,
just another christmas
song

It's just another christmas,
just another christmas,
just another christmas
song

And when one goes,
another will come along

Just Another Christmas Song

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