Filker.com

Tornado

Lyrics and Music ©2010 by Bill Roper


Here's another song that I wrote on the way home from Confusion. I got the germ of the idea during Sooj's concert, then had to figure the rest of it out. And now I have a cyberpunk song. :)

Am         D 
A simple experiment,
F           G
No one knew what it meant,
Dm7                     G         Dsus2
Building a link between man and machine.
  Am          D
Direct neural interface,
F           G
Gold wiring put in place,
    Dm7                        G          Am
The software's a cinch and the protocol's clean.
     D                        Am7
This blazing search engine is at your command
     D                             E7
Made safe by the dead man's switch held in your hand,
  Am       D         F          G
A relay so simple on which to depend –
     F                        G            Am
Just let go your grip and the contact will end.


	Am          G            F          G
	See it all, hear it all, words in a whirl,
	Am                       D
	Watching the wind as the patterns unfurl.
	     Am7                D
	Lost in the tornado and hoping to find
	    Am        Dsus2
	The secret of naming,
	  Am        Dsus2
	A method of taming,
	  Fmaj7
	A chance of reclaiming
	   G6           Am
	Control of your mind.

The words coming faster.
Now slow down, you bastard,
They're dancing and swirling adrift on the wind.
And what does that paper say?
"Product of Paraguay?"
Toss it away and it's starting to spin.
The wind's just a metaphor made by your mind
Bearing the data you're hoping to find.
The dark clouds have gathered, the funnel drops down.
The tornado's upon you, you're lost in the sound.

    D                        Am7
The roar of the wind and the sting of the rain,
       D                    Am7
You're drowning in data and going insane.
       D                  Am7
You're firing synapses to let the switch go,
         Dsus2                               E7
But your mind is too quick and your body too slow.

The switch will release
And be bringing you peace
In a second or less, but subjectively years.
There's just one bad actor
And you're the prime factor.
It's a simple equation – the sum of your fears.
The data will do what your metaphor did
As Dorothy emerges down deep in your id.
You're now leaving Kansas to digitally roam
And the wicked witch screams that you'll never go home.

	(Chorus, then alternate chorus)
	See it all, hear it all, words in a whirl,
	Watching the wind as the patterns unfurl.
	Lost in the tornado and hoping to find
	The secret of naming,
	A method of taming,
	Of somehow reframing
	And winning at gaming
	A chance of reclaiming
	Control of your mind.