This is a song that has been brewing in my head for years, and it finally crystalized into something workable this weekend. I think it also gets to the core of why it's so hard for me to write about Big "D" disability, even though I live with one.

SIMPLY HUMAN (Working Title)

Chorus:

You tell me that I'm "Special,"
And then, you look away.
You call me "Inspirational,"
But you don't hear what I say.
Well, I won't be your metaphor
For Grace, or lack of Grace,
'Cause I am simply human,
In this complex human race.

"There but for the Grace of God."
You say it to be kind.
But do you really think, my friend,
That God's left me behind?
It's true my body does not work
The same as many folks'.
But my life is (mostly) happy,
And my heart is far from broke.

(Chorus)

There are things that I wish for,
But walking is not one.
I would like equal access
To my place out in the sun.
And I would like the freedom
To choose where I may live.
And I'd like you to accept the gifts
I know I have to give.

(Chorus)

Yes, I am brave (on some days).
I am a coward, too.
I can be kind, or greedy.
I am human, just like you.
And now, I hope you'll think about
This simple little fact:
That we each have strengths we're given,
And we all have things we lack.

(Chorus)



To get your computer to play this, copy the emboldened code below, and paste it into the text window at Concertina.net's ABC Convert-A-Matic (might be easier to right-click, to open in a new window) and click [submit]. This will lead you to another page with the link "Midi Music File;" click that, and your computer should play this tune for you automatically. If it doesn't, you might want to try turning off any pop-up blockers.


X:1
T: Simply Human
C: Ann Magill (CapriUni)                
Q:1/4=135
M:4/4
K:C
z7 C|C3 F F2 G2|F4 E4|
F G2 A G2 F2|G6 G2|c2 B2 A3 B|
c2 A2 G2 G F|F2 E2 F2 E2|D4 z2 E2|
G2 F2 E3 F|G3 F D2 D2|E3 A G3 F|
G4 z G A2|G2 F2 F2 E2|D2 D2 E F3|
E2 D2 D2 C2|-C4 z4|C2 F2 F2 E2|
D3 E F4|F G2 A G2 F2|G6 F2|
E2 E2 D3 E|F2 E D3 D E2|F E2 D C4|
z2 E2 G2 F2|E3 F G3 F|D2 D2 E3 A|
G3 F G4|G G A2 G2 F2|F2 E2 D2 D2|
E F3 E2 D2|D2 C6|]