February-March 2023
“Chinese Strawberries”
My first song written in China. It originally had a darker tone. Key of C major
The trees are speaking Mandarin
The strawberries catch my eye,
Laid so gently in velvet boxes
Against the darkening the sky
Somewhere on the other side of the Earth
In a parallel universe
I'm getting used to being upside down
And talking in reverse
Yellow cranes on the Wen Yu river
Packs of little dogs at the dump
Mystery meat in a wet market dumpling,
Early morning sweepers sweeping streets
Somewhere on the other side of the Earth
In a parallel universe,
I'm getting used to being upside down
And talking in reverse
Something in the cameras can read my lips
And process countless information
There's an app on my phone that knows me better
Than my closest relation
Somewhere on the other side of the Earth
In a parallel universe
I'm getting used to being upside down
And talking in reverse
Steel factories are back in motion
The sun looks like a faint red blob
Swarms of people pouring into the city
And they all seem to know their job
Somewhere on the other side of the Earth
In a parallel universe
I'm getting used to being upside down
And talking in reverse
Old men fly their kites so high
Big dragons above the temple
Smoking cigarettes and letting out string
And setting a fine example
Somewhere on the other side of the Earth
In a parallel universe
I'm getting used to being upside down
And talking in reverse
And just when you thought you found some peace
There's a blown out speaker in the trees
Reminding you that you're not alone
In Chinese!
And the trees are speaking Mandarin
The strawberries catch my eye
Laid so gently in velvet boxes
Against the darkening sky