Ian Badcoe
The centuries old idea of a changeling – a fairy left in place of a stolen human child – has never died. We don’t call it that anymore but we still make people feel different, if only because they are unusual … but “unusual” is where we find the extraordinary people. So what if there were no “normal”? Just as off-centre as the changeling is the song’s combination of a heavy up-tempo beat with melancholic chords and melodies.
Hey changeling!
(verse)
Are you stalking through the shadows?
With your slightly eerie glow
your pale green hair,
your almond eyes
your constant scent of newly fallen snow.
Are you quite at home in this world?
All its motorbikes and gangs
its dirty needles
boarded windows
this surely can’t be any home you planned.
(chorus)
Hey changeling, so what are you about?
Hey changeling, where do you come from?
Hey changeling, should you let them find you out,
or is it time for moving on?
(break)
Why are you still trying to live with human beings?
Why are you still trying to do that boy/girl thing?
Although you can hold down a job or stand in queues,
is this honestly the sort of world for you?
(verse)
You keep walking through my dream time
with your shirt slightly undone
your rapid eyes
expressive hands
you daze me, but your wildness looks like fun.
Are you quite at home in this world?
All its sex-workers and cops
its red-lit doorways
car-park dealers
in your heart you know there’s nowhere sane it stops.
(chorus)
Hey changeling, so what are you about?
Hey changeling, where do you come from?
Hey changeling, should you let them find you out,
or is it time for moving on?
(outro)
Why are you still trying to live with human beings?
Why are you still trying to do that boy/girl thing?
Although you can hold down a job or stand in queues,
is this honestly the sort of world for you?
Is this any sort of world for you?
Is this any sort of world for you?
Or is it time for moving on?
Song Credits:
lyrics by Ian Badcoe https://www.ianbadcoe.uk/
music by Hallam London
Hallam London – vocals, guitars, bass guitar
Kris Tearse – drums
Dave Sanderson – additional sounds
produced, mixed, and mastered by Dave Sanderson https://www.davesanderson.com/
release: 30 April 2021 on 3F ° Fortunefavoursfools Records
VIDEO edited by Hallam London using free footage from Pexels: most of them, like those of the dancers, are by cottonbro https://www.pexels.com/@cottonbro
(thank you for providing such great footage), additional ones by coverr, PNW Productions, RODNAE Productions https://www.ianbadcoe.uk
Ian Badcoe (he/they) is a nonbinary poet living in Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK. He is a strange hybrid of poet, game-dev, gardener, husband, father and geek. He likes to write "genre" poetry–especially SciFi and Noire–as well as science and technology themed work. He has a long-term song writing collaboration with German indie composer/performer Hallam London and they are slowly releasing an album. He has been published in various places, including: Antiphon, Riggwelter and recently in Streetcake Magazine.