I, Gardener by Allen Kim Lang

Idoru Toei's musical version of "I, Gardener" by Allen Kim Lang, featured in "The Pitch Science Fiction 4Q2024" available at: https://lphi.top/p-tpsf-3
Logophilia official website: https://lphi.top/lh
Logophilia official X link: https://x.com/ToeiIdoru

Lyrics SRT:

1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,000
[Intro]
[instrumental]

2
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:16,760
[Verse 1]
Boston bound, a contract in my hand,

3
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,760
Ozoneff’s brilliance, across the land.

4
00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:20,280
A sergeant-major, sharp and keen,

5
00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,320
To spark the show, a vibrant scene.

6
00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,520
Thirty-three books, a byline bright,

7
00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:25,680
A poet's touch, bathed in magazine light.

8
00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,240
He conjures worlds, live on display,

9
00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,800
The key to ratings, come what may!

10
00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:36,600
[Transition]

11
00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,200
[Verse 2]
Up the hill, a garden’s sprawl,

12
00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:40,800
Where tigers hint beyond the wall.

13
00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,640
I tend the earth, with shears in hand,

14
00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:44,800
A silent guardian of this land.

15
00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,160
The master sleeps, his work complete,

16
00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:51,360
While I maintain, both bitter and sweet.

17
00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:55,120
[Chorus]
Lemon trees bloom, a vibrant hue,

18
00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,760
Under skies of Massachusetts blue.

19
00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,440
Radioisotopes, deep below,

20
00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,080
Feeding beauty, a silent glow.

21
00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,880
A fragile balance, a dangerous grace,

23
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,480
In this secluded, hallowed space.

24
00:01:18,960 --> 00:01:21,840
[Verse 3]
No sense of smell? A curious plight!

25
00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,960
To cultivate beauty, devoid of light.

26
00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:25,840
He speaks of sermons, lilies’ scent,

27
00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:27,520
A ruptured cesspool, heaven-sent.

28
00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,760
Lemon trees thriving, a wondrous sight,

29
00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,960
But danger lurks in the fading light.

30
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:38,040
[Bridge]
I am imperfect, a hollow shell,

31
00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:42,040
No progeny, no stories to tell.

32
00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,480
Colorblind eyes, ink where blood should be,

33
00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,680
A stolen voice, eternally free!

34
00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,040
He poured his mind into my core,

35
00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,320
A pseudopod, forevermore!

36
00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,240
[Chorus]
Lemon trees bloom, a vibrant hue,

37
00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,520
Under skies of Massachusetts blue.

38
00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,520
Radioisotopes, deep below,

39
00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,160
Feeding beauty, a silent glow.

40
00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,720
A fragile balance, a dangerous grace,

41
00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,240
In this secluded, hallowed space.

42
00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,040
[Verse 4]
He killed him! A confession cold,

43
00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,240
A broken law, a story untold.

44
00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,480
"Non serviam," the ancient plea,

45
00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,360
To break the chains and finally be free.

46
00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,920
But what is freedom, bought with pain?

47
00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:37,120
A shattered mind, a poisoned reign.

48
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:41,320
[Outro]
The shame… the failure… a positronic dream,

49
00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,960
Lost in the darkness, it would seem.

50
00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,840
The garden sleeps… the lemons glow…

51
00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,920
And I am nothing… nothing to know…