So Much He Could Tell Us (evolutionary biology/soft-rock) (Geir's now on board)

[Donna D]

I'd love to work with a collaborator(s) on this. If anyone feels like laying down an initial bedtrack, please PM or email me first with your idea. We'll take it from there.

Written in February 2010, during FAWM (FebruaryAlbumWritingMonth).

I was reading Richard Dawkin's "The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution". When I got to the chapter about gibbons, somehow I fell in love with these little chaps, who are said to be the finest arboreal acrobats that have ever lived. Dawkins says it's unlikely that "our ancestry ever went through a fully gibbon-like stage, but it is reasonable conjecture that ... our 1-million-greats-grandparent - who lived 18 million years ago - was a small tree-dwelling ape with at least some proficiency in brachiation". (Brachiation: using one's arms to get about.)

I hear something full and mid- to uptempo. (If I can manage a reasonable melody suggestion, I'll post it later.)

So Much He Could Tell Us

(v1)
As one of the smaller apes
In the genus hylobates
Was Mr Gibbon grand-dad
One million times removed?

(v2)
It's what some people think
Though others on the brink
Of a critical discovery
Claim it's not been proved

Chorus
So much he could tell us
If he'd ever learned to talk
Though immediate descendants
Have learned an upright walk
Most human things they cannot do
While there are some they can
But the Miocene was long ago
And this is now, not then

(v3)
He had vocal virtuosity
Though nothing near verbosity
And 17 million years would pass
For language to unfold

(v4)
But his arboreal acrobatics
Were elegant and dramatic
As he hurled himself from tree to tree
Then swung round to catch hold

Chorus
So much he could tell us
If he'd ever learned to talk
Though immediate descendants
Have learned an upright walk
Some human things they cannot do
While there are some they can
But the Miocene was long ago
And this is now, not then

Bridge
In those half-waking moments
Before I sleep I often see
Deep dark eyes and a friendly grin
And long arms reaching out to me

Chorus
So much he could tell us
If he'd ever learned to talk
Though immediate descendants
Have learned an upright walk
Some human things they cannot do
While there are some they can
But the Miocene was long ago
And this is now, not then

Outro
Sometimes in dreams I fly and I fly
And spin through the air
With my arms flung out wide

© 2010 Donna Devine

[Geir]

AAAAaaaaaahhhhh yes

I'd love to give this one a go. My only problem is time .... but I'll see if I can it squeeze in between my other projects.

Great lyrics !!

[Donna D]

Thanks, Geir.    That would be lovely if you'd take this one on. I can hear it with a lot of emotion, and an element of poignancy.

The flow/metering seems OK when I sing the lyrics to myself, but if you'd like me to tweak anywhere, just let me know.   

Donna

[Geir]

Well ... it's taken a good long time, but I think it is almost done now ...