Story behind this song:
I was trying to write my first children’s song, but the lyrics kept coming out pretty dark. Finally I gave up on trying to make it appropriate for kids and decided to go with the whole ‘vaguely creepy’ atmosphere. I gave it to Allison to finish, and she came up with the chorus. — Debbie

Am G F G
Six o’clock, and the lights go off around me
Shadows drift across the floor
Rows of books line the shelves from floor to ceiling
Voices I cannot ignore

Every night, I choose a new adventure
Turn the pages one by one
Hours go by, before I know it
Another story has begun

CHORUS:
Dm F G
I’m the whimsy of children, the music of dreamers
Am
The longing of the soul
F Am
All traditions of the ages, and hope for tomorrow
G
The glamour and the horror
Am
I’m every tale ever told.

Now and then, I try to remember
How it was I came to be
A gift of words, a shapeless hunger
Is this my dream or memory?

(Counterpoint)
Something in the darkness sighs
seeking a friend
Come out and play, stay with me…please?
How will it end?

(Counterpoint over verse)
Every night, I choose a new adventure
Turn the pages one by one
Hours go by, before I know it
Another story has begun

INSTRUMENTAL:

CHORUS:
I’m the whisper of wonder, the heartsong of freedom
The writing on the wall
All of love’s pain and passion, a cry of revolution
the mystery and silence
I’m every tale every told.

Background behind this song:
I wanted to challenge myself by writing a song that wasn’t in my normal style, so decided to try a Spanish-type accompaniment (easy for me to say since I wasn’t playing guitar), and I wanted to write a food song. I wrote this with Jodi in mind for singing lead; her voice is made for torch songs, after all. — Debbie

Am G
My life used to be one of taste ennui
Dm7 E
Each meal was an unbearable bore
Am G
The boil-everything game was always the same
Dm7 E
Until a stranger moved in next door.

G F
He invited me over for dinner
G F
I brought wine: Chardonnay ’91
E F
I was amazed at the size of his…kitchen
G F
But the evening had not yet begun.

G F
I watched him juggle his spices
G F
With a sure and expert ease
E F
“You’ve done this before”, I murmured -
G F
Melting weak at the knees.

G F
His gaze burned into mine, as he
G F
chopped chilies into the pot
E F
He said, “I’m going to cook you your food now
G E
and I hope you like it…HOT.”

CHORUS:
Am G
How he caressed, undressed, the onions,
Dm E
The way he used, abused, kim chee.
Am E
His jalapeño peppers were the best I’ve ever seen
Am
How he changed the world of dining, for me.

F E
I was nervous when we sat down at the table
F E
And I trembled as he put things on my plate
F E
But he calmed me down as well as he was able
F E
‘Till I smelled the food and began to salivate.

The first mouthful seared the lining of my throat
And it felt as though a fork was in my lung.
“It always hurts a bit in the beginning,”
he said, “And I see, you have a virgin tongue.”

REPEAT CHORUS:

By the second course my tongue had acclimated
I cried out for more and he happily complied
It was hours before the two of us were sated
I never felt so full, so satisfied!

It took me seven weeks to fully recover
And though he’s gone, I still feel a desire
For my luscious jalapeño lover
For none can match his culinary fire.

CHORUS: (same as before)
How he caressed, undressed, the onions
The way he used, abused, kim chee.
His jalapeño peppers were the best I’ve ever seen,
How he changed the world of dining,
……For me!