The Last Encore
https://soundcloud.com/sidsshovel/the-last-encore?si=4e49d2cbfbde4ab2af286fc4fb056826&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing (left click, open in new tab)
[intro]
[verse 1]
The flowers rain like snowflakes in a storm,
cover the stage in a carpet of floral colours.
The ballerina curtsies to the darkened circle,
accepts the bouquets and the honours.
[verse 2]
A curtain call, a few steps to the wing,
the nurse waits, a syringe at the ready.
A dresser removes the en pointe shoes,
provides an arm to hold her steady.
[chorus]
The lights, the gowns, the cheers,
she dances for pomp and pleasure.
Pain is pushed to the back of her mind,
it's just these moments, that only matter.
[verse 3]
The pain ebbs like the evening tide,
relief streams through her body.
Strong hands and a walking cane,
nothing the fans will want to see.
[chorus]
The lights, the gowns, the cheers,
she dances for pomp and pleasure.
Pain is pushed to the back of her mind,
it's just these moments, that only matter.
[bridge]
One more season, her feet will be spent,
soon the encores, a thing of the past.
No more fine, palaces and Presidents
Fame like bones, were not built to last.
[chorus]
The lights, the gowns, the cheers,
she dances for pomp and pleasure.
Pain is pushed to the back of her mind,
it's just these moments, that only matter.
[verse 4]
The white swan dies for one last time,
never to glide graciously anymore.
Applause will echo for a new young thing,
The Prima Donna, takes her last encore.
[chorus]
The lights, the gowns, the cheers,
she dances for pomp and pleasure.
Pain is pushed to the back of her mind,
it's just these moments, that only matter.
[outro]
Applause will echo for a new young thing,
The Prima Donna, takes her last encore.
[Fade to End]
additional music and vocals on Soundcloud, Sid Shovel
Comments
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I don't think you could read or listen to this without getting an image of a spotlit ballerina on stage with flowers raining down, only to collapse off-stage. Visuals are very strong.
And there is plenty of emotion too. Generates lots of empathy for her struggle to continue despite the pain.
It's an unusual topic and I like that. It has a delicate, sympathetic mood, almost like it's being shot in soft focus with sympathetic lighting.
The music is a good match for that mood too. Soft and slow and a hint of sadness.
I'll mention a couple of things, but they are minor. My overall reaction is very positive.
I wasn't sure why you opted for "that only matter" over "that matter". Certainly in the context of the generated music it would have been smoother without it - though that's obviously in hindsight. But with the "just" already there it feels redundant.
There are several elements that paint a picture of an elderly ballerina: the nurse, a steadying arm, a dresser, walking cane, fragile bones. An elderly ballerina still performing doesn't feel realistic to me. It's quite possible that either 1) she isn't elderly and her profession is just that hard on her body; or 2) there are elderly ballerinas and I am unaware of them, but I mention it because it took me out of the moment wondering about that aspect. Whether it's realistic or not is not a problem, being a distraction could be.
But it's a wonderful, delicate, refreshing lyric which I enjoyed very much.
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Hi RDM,
Good feedback, agree with the "only" comment, I'll adjust the master copy.
Fair comment on the age perception, the profession has one of the highest levels of career ending injuries in the world, higher than Ice Hockey, or Aussie Rules! Most female ballet dancers can only stay "en pointe" for a short time to avoid injury. There are rare exceptions, those who have "Iron Feet", they don't feel any discomfit at all. A large number of dancers sustain such painful injuries they often resort to painkilling injections to get through a performance, bit like NFL Quarterbacks.
Sid
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