Song: Several Steps Behind

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

Hi. It's my fifth year writing a song for this challenge, if you can believe that (I certainly can't). Last year, several people had requested something about Lennier, and this time around I actually manage to deliver instead of veering off into obscurity. With this song I've tried to capture the fact that while Lennier's situation is sad, most of it is also his own fault, and also that he seems to spend an awful lot of time playing the martyr when it's not really necessary or helpful. I do love him but he drives me up a wall sometimes. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the song! And thanks to all the other participants for creating and sharing such wonderful fanworks.

Also, if you enjoy this, there is much more where it came from at my website, Beloved Porcupine Music.

Several Steps Behind - right click to download
(voice, acoustic guitar, resonator guitar)

one thing I know for certain is that I'll stand up again
& let my work become my meditation
if you don't see what I've done then it means I'm a success
if you succeed that's cause for celebration
you thank me for my efforts & I bow & carry on
& hope to never speak the words I smother
for I have read this prophecy as plainly as your face
& know that you are destined for another

some are meant for greatness, some are meant for fame
some will give their lives for those who never know their names
some spend their existence calmly waiting in the wings
some will struggle well but some are meant for other things
I chose my fate the moment that I looked into your eyes
I put all other thoughts out of my mind
& all that you must do outweighs the dreams I have displaced
so I will follow you, several steps behind

I tell myself that everything I feel for you is pure
I don't expect the world to understand it
to act on these emotions would be blasphemy at worst
at best it would be cheap & underhanded
& in our final moments if I cannot hold my tongue
you'll smile & you'll pretend you didn't hear me
so that is why I'm leaving you to face your joy alone
I know what I will do if you are near me

some are meant for greatness, some are meant for fame
some will give their lives for those who never know their names
some will keep their kindness though the world has clipped their wings
some will rise above but some are meant for other things
you ordered me to look up but I was still looking down
please know you've not been anything but kind
but I've concealed these shadows far too long to do what's right
& they still follow me, several steps behind

Comments

[vjs2259.livejournal.com]

thankyouthankyouthankyou!!

I can't listen at work but the words are enough for now. It's beautiful, and captures the mix of wistful and resentful and loving and heartbreaking and annoying that is Lennier.

Did I say thank you? Thank you!

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

You are very welcome! I hope that you like it even more when you can hear the recording. (c:

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Ooooooo. I won't be able to listen today, but after reading the lyrics I'm really looking forward to doing so!

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

Thanks! As I said above, I hope you still like it when you hear the music. (c:

[ingrid44.livejournal.com]

Know exactly how you feel towards Lennier. At times I wanted to give him a swift kick you know where.

Verses are lovely - expresses everything we know of Lennier and the
threesome he tried to create.

Well done!

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[jenavira.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful -- I had been looking forward immensely to this ever since you posted about doing Lennier this year, and you seem to have captured him perfectly. (I do love this show and its characters you simultaneously want to hug and slap...)

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

(I do love this show and its characters you simultaneously want to hug and slap...)

I agree completely. Thank you for listening! (c:

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

This was really great; the lyrics make you feel both sympathetic and yet angry with Lennier at the same time, which is well done.

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

That is what I was aiming for, so I'm glad I was successful in that regard. Thank you for listening!

[flarn-chef.livejournal.com]

I think this is my favorite of all your offerings, thus far!
*applause*
Well Done!

.....I'd love to hear Bill Mumy actually sing this.......

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

.....I'd love to hear Bill Mumy actually sing this.......

If he asks me I'll let him. (c:

[thebunnybag.livejournal.com]

Wow, that would kind of make my life.

[thebunnybag.livejournal.com]

Yay!! *joy* Did I mention how much I love Lennier? 'Cause I do. A lot. Poor, stupid boy.
Aaaanyway. This is ridiculously beautiful. The lyrics are so meticulously done and have captured the character perfectly. I love him to death, but sometimes I want to...well, you can't exactly Gibbs smack a Minbari, but I'd love to do the equivalent of that.
(sort of related--I adored in season 1 all his silly passions, the way he got all :D :D :D over history, and it made me so sad that the more he became involved with Delenn, the less of Lennier we see...no more geeking out over history, no more babbling excitedly about languages...and it made me so sad to see all that go away! I think that's one of the saddest things of all...the fact that he was so readily willing to give up his sense of self to become what he thought she wanted) /psychobabble
I have no icon making skillz, but I have a friend who does. Would you mind if I ask her to use some of your lyrics in Lennier icons? They're...probably one of the best descriptions of Lennier I've ever seen.

[gamerchick.livejournal.com]

I have no icon making skillz, but I have a friend who does. Would you mind if I ask her to use some of your lyrics in Lennier icons? They're...probably one of the best descriptions of Lennier I've ever seen.

*blushes* I would be honored. I'd appreciate a link to the song as the source of the lyrics if such a thing is possible, just so other B5 fans can hear it, you know? (c:

Thank you for listening! I am glad you enjoyed the song.

[rebecca2525.livejournal.com]

This is great! The lyrics are so fitting, and the music is lovely! I'll check out your other songs, too!