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about

Originally a poem inspired by a character from Krys Lee's book, 'How I became a North Korean', I was compelled to repurpose the poem into a song. The words needed a voice.

I've been wanting to play around with the imagery of Hua Jang (the protagonist's name). There are two meanings to the word,

a) cremation (death)
b) cosmetics (beauty)

I love the contrast of the two, beauty and death.

lyrics

VERSE 1

Hua Jang's beauty made for ballerina days
Graceful like giraffes in the serengeti rays
Lifes ideal with the Dear Leader
The famine is deaths hand out to greet her
Home is where the sun don't rise
where her views see through the world of watching eyes
'Cause her eyes, they've seen some things
K Pop dancing and along she sings
Neon lights seen through USB's sneaked in
Now it's time Hua Jang starts Seoul seeking
She's got a dream she can't escape
And a country to escape
The darkness can't hide the hope in her eyes
But the moon reveals how death has replied
Black hair like seaweed beneath the ice
Freedom is her prize but it comes at a price

CHORUS

FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM
Free from fetters, free from the letter of the Law
To enjoy treehouse views with awe
Free to information free from these walls
Free to find help everytime we fall

VERSE 2

Pindrops of light, her dream is the same
Same lights reveal more scars and pain
But the fragrances leave her her amazed
Scallion pancakes, donkey dumplings, the array
Forlorn, the shadows her friend by day
And nightfall helps keep the law force at bay
Introduced by her broker to her husband to be
Perhaps her days pass peacably
He dotes on her and language will not impede
His desire to implant his seed
Survival comes natural like a baby's burp
Another force in her life where she's been ursurped
Undesired kicked out, lives were risked
Coming to this land, of fury and fists
She returns to the dark, a faithful friend
But there's no protection from the wolves they send
Alone in a basement dimly lit
Met by her Motherlord, this is Joseph's pit
In the dampness, slowly looking around
Just stares, snores, sneers, and sleezy sounds,
Young women employed slipping off their gowns
Hua Jang's still looking for what she hasn't found

CHORUS

FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM FREEDOM
Free from fetters, free from the letter of the Law
To enjoy blue skies from seasaws
Freedom from lies and deception
Free to live a life beyond one's own perception

VERSE 3

Hua Jang's found her Seoul in the neon lights
The stars remind her of her darkest nights
Dwean Jang stew enjoying every bite
Overpowering just for a second, her arduous plight
Like Peter Munk, Kastner Train, there's been loss
It seems freedom like a jukebox has a cost
Hope she's learned is a sword two-edged
Loyalty, countless times she pledged
Hope is for earth, in the neon lights she finds
Bittersweet the soul, below the 38th line

credits

from Now I Know in Part;​.​.​., released October 2, 2020
Producer: Rel Mccoy

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

WamCo Toronto, Ontario

Torontonian Korean, lover of Tupac, Bubble Tea, Bagels, the Bible, the Blue Jays, Croissants, & Theatrical Improv Comedy, & Matcha Lattes.

I hope to follow in Tupac's footsteps, music video's to the movie screen.

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