See it performed livestreamed in 2021: https://youtu.be/q_STY0JB9eI?t=7540
“Hey, Mal”
“Yeah”
“Look at the Moon!”
“Uh huh”
“It’s enormous!”
“Yeah... uh... hmmm...”
“Well, actually, the Moon is always much the same size in appearance
Apogee to perigee’s just 12 per cent in variance
The sun’s about the same, by strange coincidence
400 times the moon’s size but 400 times the distance, hence
But when near the horizon, they appear supersized indeed
When lines of perspective meet with earthly points of reference
Heed the ancient seers who too oft dwell on why it seems low moon doth swell
It’s tricking you to think it’s grown, but put it in its place
By sticking something known between it and your face”
“Aw, Mal, you’re so romantic!”
"Yeah"
You can always cover the moon with your outstretched little finger
No matter how huge it might appear to be
You may not believe it, but soon not an ounce of doubt will linger
As you behold, at arm’s length held
Your meagre midget digit’s width eclipse
That lunar glow and its corona’s all that slips by as it flips
That old illusion on its head
Instead you might even swoon
As you align that syzygy of eye, pinky and moon
(Ding)
"First floor, manchester, haberdashery... and fromagerie”
But then again, if you'd prefer to keep the mystery, maintain the magic
Please don’t let your poxy pinky party poop and pop that moon balloon
And so expose that sleight of hand of God
Don’t flip your finger at that fond, far-flung face
Revealing its corneal cosmic conjuring
Just forget I ever said a thing
’Cos, you can always cover the moon with your outstretched little finger
No matter how huge it might appear to be
You may not believe it, but soon not an ounce of doubt will linger
As you behold, at arm’s length held
Your meagre midget digit’s width eclipse
That lunar glow and its corona’s all that slips by as it flips
That old illusion on its head
Instead you might even swoon
As you align that syzygy of eye, pinky and moon
When life’s problems loom out of proportion
Scale them back into tune
Meld allegory amid melody
Make malady a mere memory
Croon soothingly that syzygy of eye, pinky and moon
©Mal Webb 2019
It's all true! And as, in the words of Sting, Giant Steps are what you take, walking on the moon, I've based it around John Coltrane's tune, Giant Steps ...well, I've used "Trane changes", which the tune features, going up a minor 3rd and down a 5th 3 times til you get back around the key circle (in a bluntened triangle!), hence: ||: C∆ | Eb7 | Ab∆ | B7 | E∆ | G7 :|| . I've also used the inverse of this progression, down minor 3rd and up a 5th as just triads ||: B | G#m | Eb | Cm | G | Em :|| B | G#m | Eb | Cm | G | , in the intro and verse*, which has a nice pop epic vibe, making use of the classic 4 minor to 1 major thang.
While I was writing this song, Kylie told a friend, Chris, about it and he said, "gee, party poop the illusion!", so I wrote the "keep the mystery" section to keep him happy.
*the inverse in the intro and verse... he he! Well, it's more of a bridge than a verse. Hmmm.
Now, for those that have the recording, you'll note there's an instrumental section, parts of which may well sound familiar... that's because it's a medley of 14 songs about the moon! Here're the lyrics, if you want to sing along:
Giant steps are what you take, Walking on the Moon ... By the light of the Silvery Moon... You saw the whole of the Moon... Fly me to the Moon... I'm being followed by a Moonshadow... [Moonlight Serenade]... Well it's only a Paper Moon... I see a Bad Moon Rising... Well, it's a marvellous night for a Moondance... Dancing in the moonlight... Somewhere there's heaven, How high the Moon... Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone... There's a moon over Bourbon Street tonight... Moon River wider than a mile... Giant steps are what you take, Walking on the Moon...
Yes, Sting gets 2 songs in the medley! I've always like his song, Bourbon Street.