The context: This song is not from a show, but we wrote it as if it were. In the imaginary show, a famous puppet master bids farewell to his young protege, with whom he has had a toxic love affair. But who really has the upper hand?

A little about the creation of this song: This song started from the first ten notes of the melody. It was dissonant and grand and sensual. I decided to just give myself over to the "purple" poetry of the music. These are theatrical people, sensual people. Lovers in near-constant conflict, yet they sound great together. So the lyrics have a ton of euphony and assonance, but also violent imagery. There is also a tremendous amount of rhyme for a ballad, but it's somewhat hidden, so that it doesn't sound too showy. This is one of my favorite songs that I've been a part of.

Swan Song
​Lyrics by David Rackoff, Music by Sahara Sunday Spain

             HUGO
THE WORDS I WHISPER ONLY HURT YOU.
SO I’LL JUST SAY I’M MOVING ON.
ONLY A SWAN SONG, THEN I’LL BE GONE.
DIM DOWN THE LAMP AND DRAW THE SHADE.
AND KNOW THE DARKEST BRUISES FADE.

             LENORE
DID YOU EXPECT THAT I WOULD STOP YOU?
BUT REST YOUR HEAD UNTIL THE DAWN.
ONLY A SWAN SONG, THEN YOU’LL BE GONE.
DON’T THINK YOU KNOW THE THINGS I FEEL.
JUST KNOW SOME BRUISES NEVER HEAL.

              HUGO
     HERE IN THE DARK,
     SEE HIM EMBARKING.
          OPEN UP TO WHAT THE NIGHTTIME BRINGS,
          UPON HIS GREAT SWAN WINGS.
          TONIGHT THE GREAT SWAN SINGS
          UNBOWED;
          STRONG AND PROUD.

             LENORE
​I’M NOT AFRAID TO SAY I NEED YOU. 

             HUGO
SAY YOU NEED ME.

             LENORE
I NEED YOUR WARMTH TO LEAN UPON.

             HUGO
ONLY A SWAN SONG,
​THEN I'LL BE GONE.

             LENORE

ONLY A SWAN SONG,
THEN BE GONE.

             LENORE
I'M LOST INSIDE YOUR SAVAGE SPELL.
COME DO THE ONE THING YOU DO WELL.

             HUGO
THE FUTURE'S BLEAK.

             HUGO
​THE FLESH IS WEAK.

BY LIGHT OF MOON, I SHALL ENSHROUD YOU.
I’LL WRAP YOUR NECK IN SILK CHIFFON.
ONLY A SWAN SONG,
​THEN I’LL BE GONE.

             LENORE
​FLESH IS WEAK.

BY LIGHT OF MOON,
WRAP ME UP IN SILK CHIFFON.
ONLY A SWAN SONG,
THEN BE GONE.

             HUGO/LENORE
THOUGH NIGHT HAS BROUGHT A BRIEF REPRIEVE,
​TWO LOVERS ENTER, ONE WILL LEAVE.

             HUGO
DEFY THIS URGE.

             LENORE
AND STILL HE SINGS.

             HUGO
SEE HIM EMERGING.

             LENORE
BEHOLD HIS WINGS. 

             HUGO/LENORE
LOOK ABOVE BEYOND THE DARK DEAD SKIES,
AND SEE THE GREAT SWAN RISE.
TONIGHT THE GREAT SWAN FLIES
​AND FALLS.

             HUGO
HEAR HIS CALLS.
WHEN YOU SPEAK NAUGHT BUT LIES,
OH HOW THE GREAT SWAN CRIES.
​TONIGHT THE GREAT SWAN DIES.

             LENORE
BEFORE YOU LEAVE ME,
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT I STILL LOVE YOU.
ONE KISS BEFORE THE CURTAIN’S DRAWN
ON THE GREAT SWAN.
ONLY A SWAN SONG,
​THEN YOU’LL BE GONE.

             HUGO/LENORE
THOUGH YOU CAN NEVER BE REPLACED,

             ​LENORE
THE STRONGEST POISON HAS NO TASTE. ​

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