In Vicious Circles by Kiley Reagan

This is the second song version of this poem I wrote for my book, Deep back in 2019 by the same title.

The first one was a hip/hop version by Persephone Page.

I will include notes and some of the instructions along with the lyrics~

Verse 1

(soft, whispered vocals + distant reversed piano) Am F In light of all I’ve come to know Dm Em I now know all too much Am F In darkness pondered all alone Dm Em Yet light I’m yet to touch Verse 2 Am F The whispers heard I did conclude Dm Em Were those they spoke in vain Am F For profit and for prosper Dm Em Did the masses play this game Pre-Chorus (building tension, rising filter sweep) Am F Where are the ones that held me high? Dm Em Take your five minutes, then forget that I’m alive Am F I wrote for you a quote or two Dm Em I thought we shared… then I… Chorus (full drums drop, heavy sidechain) Am F Dm Em Is it all a game to you? Do you sit and spit, collect Am F Dm Em The secrets of the shy, the few, that in truth do reflect Am F Dm Em Like the mirror on the wall which shows the fairest of the vain Am F Dm Em Who be consumed so by their falsities that truth know not their name

[SYNTH SOLO – MIDWAY POINT] Bridge (half-time feel, almost spoken) Am F The end is a song for the dead Dm Em That speaks only from the stone Am F Like a ghost wrapped up in quotes Dm Em We’ve etched on markers that bemoan Am F The life they’ve lived and things they’ve learned Dm Em Once hoped to see us through Am F These things which bring us plight Dm Em Should serve uplift should we ensue… Final Chorus (double length – bigger, layered harmonies) Am F Dm Em In vicious circles do we spin Am F Dm Em In ignorance we die Am F Dm Em Pernicious lips the path they lend Am F Dm Em Serve send our search awry Am F Dm Em In vicious circles we exist Am F Dm Em For to feed the beast that’s spawned Am F Dm Em For beast be all the reason Am F Dm Em We might need for to abscond Am F Dm Em In vicious circles time does stop Am F Dm Em We drop, we spin around Am F Dm Em For time runs not on lines Am F Dm Em We serve our time till right come round

(Outro (everything strips back to just the glitching synth from the solo, slowly fading into vinyl crackle and a single reversed heartbeat)