Comment from cedarsflee

Excellent

This was a lovely homage to a profound song and you capture the tone immaculately with the word choice. I was hooked from the start and when i reached the end I felt like this wasn't a waste of time but a moment where i was inspired. Thank you

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 08-Mar-2016

Thank you, cedarsfree, for your review. I am glad my song inspired you.

Comment from michaelcahill

Excellent

I like to see how you made some subtle changes to personalize the song to your own life and experience. It could be performed and enjoyed almost as the original. Paul Simon is my cousin by the way. Second cousin I think. That and a quarter will get me a cup of coffee. Good job, mikey

 Comment Written 08-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 08-Mar-2016

michaelcahill, here is my YouTube video of me performing my rewrite of the song:

https://youtu.be/q_GsNHjVKwY

I rewrote the lyrics to "I Am a Rock" thirty-three years ago when I was in the throes of loneliness and depression and decided to personalize the popular song as it pertained to my situation at the time. The lyrics sat in my diary for thirty-two years before I rediscovered and auditioned them for a storytelling show called Mortified. That's why I made the video. While the producers liked my song, they did not pick me to read on their show because I was too much of a performer and less an adult embarrassed about old diary entries. When I saw the FanStory contest, I saw an opportunity to share my lyrics rewrite.

Tell Paul hello and thank you for me. His music inspired me and got me through some tough patches. Thank you for your review. A quarter will not get you a cup of coffee in any town. Cheers.

reply by michaelcahill on 08-Mar-2016

No, it sure won't anymore. HA! Thanks for the link and your story. I'll check it out. mikey

reply by michaelcahill on 08-Mar-2016

Great stuff. Very entertaining. Thanks again for turning me on to it. mikey

reply by the author on 08-Mar-2016

You are most welcome. I am glad you enjoyed it.

Comment from Ricky1024

Excellent

hi sister do you know I am catching the number one poet but the I enjoyed this piece it was very well written and the picture was actually of my song but here that I've known before if you review my peace and God only knows what I'd do without you sent me that and this was well written also wikitha befo

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 08-Mar-2016

Thank you, Ricky1024, for your review. I am glad you enjoyed my piece. I will review yours.

Comment from bichonfrisegirl

Excellent

This is a very well written poem. I enjoyed reading it. Yet I feel that there is a contradiction here between the title "I Am A Rock" and the line "I am not a rock" that appears several times throughout the poem. To me, it seems that the poem would read better if the two were in sync. But that's just my opinion. Perhaps something has gone over my head and I just don't get it. Other than that, I thought that you did a great job on the rewrite of the original song lyrics.

Good luck in the contest!

bichonfrisegirl aka Connie

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

Well, for the contest, bichonfrisegirl, they said we must use the original title of the song and not our own in the rewrite. I read the rules closely so as not to be disqualified. Otherwise, thank you for your generous review and wishing me good luck in the contest.

reply by bichonfrisegirl on 07-Mar-2016

Thanks for the explanation, Sis Cat.

Comment from Nan Beeson

Excellent

Hi Sis Cat:

I so enjoyed reading your song lyric, "I am a Rock." Your lines below...
Hiding in my cell,
Unsafe within my pain.
I touch no one
And no one touches me.
I'm not a rock,
I'm but an island.
It is very touching, and I could can of identify with parts of it. Your last two lines,

And this non-rock does feel pain,
And this island always cries.

I understand what it means too, but happy to say that I no longer cry, but smile the day long through.

Thank you for sharing it, and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

Oh, thank you, Nan Beeson, for your generous, enthusiastic review. Many people love those last lines, too, but I thank Paul Simon's original for inspiring me. Thank you also for wishing me good luck in the contest.

reply by Nan Beeson on 07-Mar-2016

You are so kind and generous.

Comment from Taffspride

Excellent

a good entry for the contest. I love the music and songs of Simon and Garfunkel. and I think you have used the original to create a fine spin off.

I have been trying to remember the tune so that I could sing your words to it. but for the moment it fails me.

Good luck in the contest.

iechyd da

Ann

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

Thank you, Ann, for your generous review and wishing me good luck in the contest with this "fine spin off." You can find the original on YouTube. Thanks for your review.

reply by Taffspride on 07-Mar-2016

Oh great I will check it out. I shall sing your words to it. :)

reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

Here is also a video of me singing my spoof of the song. Enjoy: https://youtu.be/q_GsNHjVKwY

Comment from NicciFaye

Excellent

Hello Sis Cat. You did an excellent job at recomposing these song lyrics. Some I've read in this category did a good job but the recreation wasn't to original as they reused a lot of the same lines. Nicely written.

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

Thank you, NicciFaye, for your review. I have heard the same comment from others that " the recreation wasn't too original." I did something more subtle. I inverted the lines to portray tissue-like vulnerability instead of rock-like strength. Thanks for your review.

Comment from Eric1

Excellent

Hi Sis Cat, this is a really good entry for this particular competition, I love the music of Simon and Garfunkle and you have done a brilliant job of changing the lyrics, I wish you the very best of luck in the contest my friend.

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

Thank you, Eric1, for your generous review and for wishing me the best of luck in the contest.

reply by Eric1 on 08-Mar-2016

You are most welcome my friend.

Comment from nancyrabbrose

Excellent

Well done. It must be interesting to rewrite a famous song by a famous writer. The words are good. "Unsafe within my pain" -- that is totally excellent!!
It would be fun to hear your words sung.
Keep up the good work.

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

nancyrabbrose, in response to your request, "It would be fun to hear your words sung," here is my audition video of me singing my parody:

https://youtu.be/q_GsNHjVKwY

I rewrote the song thirty-three years ago. Last year I auditioned it for the Mortified Storytelling event, but they passed on it, but when I saw this contest on FanStory, I could not resist. Thank you for your review and encouragement.

Comment from cupa tea

Excellent

Nicely done with the poem and the song...It played out well and was good to read. I'd think to some degree this would be hard to do because you have to follow the other song...

 Comment Written 07-Mar-2016

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reply by the author on 07-Mar-2016

Thank you, cupa tea, for your encouraging review. I am glad you enjoyed it.