Around the beginning of the month, I started plucking out a song. Generally, when I write a song, the music comes first. Usually, within the next few minutes or hours, the words start to come.
When my latest song started, I felt that the first words of the song would be a refrain, some sort of call out, but, of course, I didn’t know what that was yet. For about two weeks, the melody ran through my head, but no words came. Well, a few words came, but they didn’t linger long.
I’ve been recording my other songs in preparation for recording an album of my originals so it didn’t worry me. I knew the words would come eventually. They always do. However, I did pledge to write a song a month, and once I passed the halfway point, I knew I needed to give it a little attention.
This is my copy.
A few nights ago, I started playing the chords and feeling the melody again. I felt the song would be inquisitive and calling out to someone, and it finally came to me.
I’ve had a small copy of the Mona Lisa that I found on the side of the road hanging on my wall for about a year, and in my current home, I pass by her every time I come and go. Anyway, it’s not like my eyes fell on her and the song popped into my head, but her presence in my life was definitely an inspiration.
I started thinking about what I would ask her about. She has been around for over five centuries, after all, and she is the most valuable painting in the world. Although she’s considered “priceless”, it’s estimated that she’s worth about 850 million dollars. I just read that some have recently suggested that France sell her to pay for their coronavirus costs.
Once the idea was there, I let it simmer for about a day. Then the words came. Six verses of them. I hope you like them, and I hope you like the song.
“Dear Mona Lisa”
Dear Mona Lisa
I decided to write you a song
Something behind your bemused little smile
Tells me you know what’s going on
With all that you’ve seen through the ages
Even behind all of that glass
Time has been turning its pages
You’ve stayed the same as ages have passed
I’ve got a number of questions
And I hope that you’ll hear me out
I can tell by your facial expression
That you have your doubts
Dear Mona Lisa
How does it feel to be so loved
Millions of people come to see you
But you still look like you need a hug
There’s no other woman more treasured
Your value is well beyond price
But I wonder if you find pleasure
In all of those long lonely nights
What is it like to be so loved and admired
What’s it like to be so well known
There are so many that you’ve inspired
But you’re all alone
Dear Mona Lisa
What’s it like to be on display
Do you ever care what they think about you
Do you wish that they’d just go away
With all of the time under that light
To be scrutinized the way that you are
To constantly be under their sight
Has got to feel really bizarre
As we enter a state of surveillance
And give up all our privacy
Tell me what it’s like to be famous
Without anxiety
Dear Mona Lisa
Oh, the changes you must have seen
Over five hundred years we’ve stumbled through progress
And came to rely on machines
Things in your day were more simple
We’ve made things much more complex
Now all our free time has dwindled
And most of us are rather perplexed
The Renaissance you were a part of
Brought science and enlightenment
The Dark Ages that we’ve started
Hearken entitlement
Dear Mona Lisa
Have times really changed all that much
Rich men were in charge when you came to light
And the powerful have barely budged
We’ve made a small bit of progress
But there’s more that we still can achieve
There are still men who’ll tell you that when you smile
You should always show teeth?
I suppose I should be thankful
To live in these interesting times
I appreciate you sharing your angle
In forming these rhymes
Dear Mona Lisa
What wisdom can you bestow
Do you think we’re gonna make it
Will we ever maintain control?
Our world seems so out of balance
And you just seem so calm and cool
Now we are faced with the challenge
In rewriting all of the rules
How do we value each other
How do we value ourselves
Do you think we’ll ever discover
How to be well
Dear Mona Lisa
I hope you can hear my song
