It was a twenty minute countdown

To the time when school should end

Teachers farewelled students

Classmates said goodbye to friends

 

Her laugh was easy

Her smile was true

Her eyes were shining 

Picture of youth

 

She walked right past the staff room

Humming as she went

Thinking of the holiday

And the summer up ahead. 

 

And her thoughts were easy

Her dreams were true

Her future shining 

Picture of youth

 

Her friends blocked her number

And spread vindictive lies

But when this girl she found out 

She could find no reasons why. 

 

Their curses easy

Their abuse was true

Their glares were shining 

Picture of youth

 

And when she first read John Keats

Tears swelled in her head

But as they tumbled down her cheeks

She wished that she were dead. 

 

Her choice was easy

Her feelings true

The knife was shining

Picture of youth. 

 

(instrumental) 

 

Her core was filled sorrow

Her throat drew shallow breath

And so she’ll live forever

Or else swoon to death. 

 

Her flesh was easy

Her wounds were true

The knife was shining

Picture of youth. 

 

(Instrumental)

 

It was a twenty minute countdown

To the time when school should start

Her mother found her in her bed

Pulseless to her heart. 

 

Her smile was easy

Her end was true

Her eyes were shining 

Picture of youth

‘Shadow Land’ was posted in response to Huw Williams’ Song Writing Challenge.

Huw Williams says: Like Anakita in “Diamond Love” Jessica considers the structure of the instrumentation to make her lines fit naturally with the music. She uses a refrain very well “Her choice was easy, Her feelings true, The knife was shining, Picture of youth” which repeats strongly throughout the song. The dark nature of her lyrics suit the music well and I think the general quality of each line is very high so this was a standout entry from first reading.

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