He Who Knew the Whole World

I knew the world
once upon time
I knew the whole world
and I knew it mighty fine

and in this world
this mighty world
I knew this sweet little girl
and oh this girl
the sweetest girl
she was my whole world

but I was lost
and oh-so very lost
so lost in my dreams
that oh what it cost
is so very much indeed

and on this day
this fateful day
on this crying, dying day
I knew the world
I knew the whole world
as it collapsed around
my tearful face

and I knew a girl
oh the sweetest girl
and she was my world
she was my world

and on that day
that fateful day
my whole world came
crashing down that day
my sweet little girl
on her dying day

she turned to me
with a smile so sweet
that once it was gone
I knew only defeat

so yes, I knew the world
oh the whole mighty world
long ago, long ago
and oh my little world
she's waiting for me
this I see
far away, far away....

Author notes

So, what I had in mind was this man about in his thirties sitting somewhere in the dark, near a fire, singing to some strangers and strumming a little lute or something. Sorta dirty, sad looking man--a veteran, I suppose, who, in his prime, was glorious indeed, singing about the "little girl" (daughter, wife, girlfriend, unrequited love, forbidden love, who knows?) he couldn't save.

I rather liked this one. Try putting it to a slow, sad tune--a tenor or high alto voice. Wish I could put my own music up on here but... alas. I cannot.