[Wicked Deeds]

Houdini In Shackles

Shackles, ropes and handcuffs;
escaping from hell. 
Locked, roped and weighted, submerged in a boat.

We all take our chances, we soar and we climb.
We argue with the reason and the rhyme.
 
Houdini in shackles, that’s who we are.
We fall for the promise and reach for the stars.

Prison cells and coffins;
suspended from above.
Nothing crosses the great divide;
not even love.

We all take our chances, we soar and we climb.
We argue with the reason and the rhyme.
 
Houdini in shackles, that’s who we are.
We fall for the promise and reach for the stars.
Houdini in shackles, we search for life
walking on a tightrope, defined by strife.


We’ll maybe send a message from the grave.
Articulate, defiant, perhaps brave.

Houdini in shackles, that’s who we are.
We fall for the promise and reach for the stars.
Houdini in shackles, we search for life
walking on a tightrope, defined by strife.

We’ll maybe send a message from the grave.
Articulate, defiant, perhaps brave.

Written by Paul Vasey August 2023

[rightly]

That's all rather sad
I hope this doesn't reflect an ongoing state of mind
Maybe a just a mood
Nice imagery

[Wicked Deeds]

Hello rightly,

I had the working title of 'Houdini in shackles'.  the ideas were presented in an article that I read about the life of Houdini.  He was known for escaping from shackles, ropes and handcuffs.  His method to "soar and climb in life was through the skills of an escapologist and a performer.  The song also looks at the stubborn streak that many people display.  They "argue with the reason and the rhyme",  choosing to do what they will despite well intended advice.  In that respect, many people are like Houdini, adorned with shackles but unlike him, they choose not to free themselves and fail to address their own stubbornness.  Typically, Houdini would escape from prison cells and coffins and he would at times be "suspended from above."  He made a pact with his wife to communicate from the grave as he regarded mediums as Charlatans and stated his intention to communicate with his wife after his death if at all possible "We'll maybe send a message from the grave, articulate, defiant perhaps brave." Sadly, it wasn't possible for Houdini!

There, I've destroyed the magic but alleviated any need for concern.

Thank you for writing your reply

Paul

[rightly]

Hello rightly,

I had the working title of 'Houdini in shackles'.  the ideas were presented in an article that I read about the life of Houdini.  He was known for escaping from shackles, ropes and handcuffs.  His method to "soar and climb in life was through the skills of an escapologist and a performer.  The song also looks at the stubborn streak that many people display.  They "argue with the reason and the rhyme",  choosing to do what they will despite well intended advice.  In that respect, many people are like Houdini, adorned with shackles but unlike him, they choose not to free themselves and fail to address their own stubbornness.  Typically, Houdini would escape from prison cells and coffins and he would at times be "suspended from above."  He made a pact with his wife to communicate from the grave as he regarded mediums as Charlatans and stated his intention to communicate with his wife after his death if at all possible "We'll maybe send a message from the grave, articulate, defiant perhaps brave." Sadly, it wasn't possible for Houdini!

There, I've destroyed the magic but alleviated any need for concern.

Thank you for writing your reply

Paul

Yes. I know who he was
Or is, he's sort of iconic
Those details make him more fascinating
His life and spirit make good material for metaphor.

[CorkingCrackBand]

A fascinating figure and I always found his death to be a strange end to his life - faintly comic in a dark way. Hopefully not ‘too soon’.
  Again, I’ve been keeping tabs on this so had the pleasure of reading this through this morning whilst avoiding jobs. 
  You have a striking way of using metaphor @Wicked Deeds - there is no hedging bets and the lyric is all the more potent for its strong purpose. How nice it would be if we could escape our shackles so easily as the great man. The first step is always seeing that they are there and then accepting change is part of the cost of freedom.

A thoughtful piece. Thanks Paul.

CCB