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A wise unselfishness is not a surrender of yourself to the wishes of anyone, but only to the best discoverable course of action.

quote by David Seabury
Added by Lucian Velea
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I Surrender

Yeah I know, y'know, what a calling is
I mean we all have a calling in our life, I believe
You know I'm from the dirt man
I come up in these streets, went without eatin', you know what I'm sayin'?
Saw my Mom go without eatin'
I got tired of that I had to go out there
In them streets and hustle, you know?
I mean you know what I'm sayin'?
I mean it's easy for y'all to say, y'know (I surrender)
Surrender your life, you know what I'm sayin'? (I surrender)
Give your life to God and all that
Y'know, that's good and I believe in God (I surrender to you Lord)
But when you got bills at your front door all the time
You know what I'm sayin'?
Kids screamin' "Daddy, Momma, where the food at?" (I surrender)
Man it makes it kinda hard to believe in (I surrender)
Y'know, and have faith in something that you can't see (I surrender to your Lord)
Even though you wanna believe
Y'all just gonna have to just pray for me
You know what I'm sayin'? 'Cause uh...
Constantly my mind and my heart is racing (yeah)
All by myself trying to solve all these problems I'm facing (oh yeah)
Looking to man trying to find hope (uh-huh)
But man will never know the depth of my struggles (oh)
I was depending on myself (on myself)
To give myself a hand (wow but)
But when depending on myself (I...)
Fell time again (that's why)
And that's why I'm standing here alone (all alone)
With no one else
Lord I realised that I can't fight these battles by myself
I surrender
I surrender (oh I)
I surrender to you Lord
I surrender
I surrender (oh I)
I surrender to you Lord
I surrender (I surrender)
I surrender (Lord to you)
I surrender to you Lord
Coming out with both hands up
I surrender (uhh)
Listen...
I tried everything I could to make it work (mmm-hmm)
But everything I seemed to try just made it worse (ohh)
And every road that I'd go down there were no signs (signs)
Destination lonely with no peace of mind (yeah, ohh)
I was depending on myself (on myself)
To give myself a hand (but when)
But when depending on myself (I would fell time and time again)

[...] Read more

song performed by R. Kelly
Added by Lucian Velea
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Surrender

Will you tell me
All your secrets
Could you really be sincere
Whisper all your inhibitions
The things you most fear
Dont turn away
I want to get to know you in the worst, worst way
Come back baby come back
Come back baby come back
Come back baby come back
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender
Will you show me
All your treasures
That wich is most near and dear
Share with me your
Prized possessions
Not just some souvenirs
Dont be afraid
A little tiny bit can go a long long way
Come back baby come back
Come back baby come back
Come back baby come back
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender
Babe I love you cant you see
Baby tell me haow you feel about me
Do you want me
Do you need me
Baby tell me honestly
Do you want my
Love forever or temporarily
Youve got the key
So open up your heart and
Be my destiny
Come back baby come back
Come back baby come back
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender
Surrender su-su-surrender to me
Surrender su-su-su-su-surrender

song performed by Gloria Estefan
Added by Lucian Velea
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Body Wishes

(stewart, cregan, savigar, le mesurier)
The night closes in on another day
As the oldest games gettin underway
On the minds of a million people body wishes
So you climb on the carousel and take a chance
The same old ritual the same old dance
The hardest thing to resist is body wishes
If the fire down belows gettin worse and worse
Youre so close to shootin that you want to burst
Somebodys sponge needs squeezin body wishes
What do I say
Nobody gonna tell ya
Where do I go
Somewhere someonell have ya
Who do I tell
Anybody thatll listen
No one should know
Wont solve the problem
Body wishes, body wishes
Body wishes, body wishes
Away in the distance a baby cries
But you know somebodys by her side
The night drags on forever body wishes
You can hear the tickin of a lonely clock
The howlin wind that just wont stop
Somebodys cherries need pickin body wishes
What do I say
Nobody gonna tell ya
Where do I go
Somewhere someonell have ya
Who do I tell
Anybody thatll listen
No one should know
Wont solve the problem
Itll tear you apart like an angry sea
Keep you warm like a summer breeze
Its all weve got in a cold cold world
Is to love someone
Body wishes, body wishes
Somethings happenin in the air
It feels so close but you dont know where
The poorest peoples riches body wishes
And the cheatin hearts never learn
Someday somewhere gonna be your turn
Dont start what you cant finish body wishes
What do I say
Nobody gonna tell ya
Where do I go
Somewhere someonell have ya
Who do I tell

[...] Read more

song performed by Rod Stewart
Added by Lucian Velea
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Never Surrender

Come on!
Come on!
Come on!
Come on!
Praying for the good times
So long to the bad times
Baby are you ready here we go!
Turn you up there's no limit
As long as you're in it
Give it all you got just let it show
Are you in for the fast ride
I'll take you out on the wildside
Are you in for the fast ride
Living life on the faultline
Are you in for the fast ride
I'll take you out on the wildside
Are you in for the fast ride
Do it, do it, you can do it
Never ever never ever surrender
Let all your dreams come true
Never ever never ever surrender
We will make it through
Never ever never ever surrender
If you want it too
It's all up to you, don't ever surrender!
Oh yeah - Never surrender
You've got the power
It's yours to devour
Go where you have never been before
Never stop when you're winning
It's only beginning
You don't have to fake it anymore
Are you in for the fast ride
I'll take you out on the wildside
Are you in for the fast ride
Living life on the faultline
Are you in for the fast ride
I'll take you out on the wildside
Are you in for the fast ride
Do it, do it, you can do it
Never ever never ever surrender
Let all your dreams come true
Never ever never ever surrender
We will make it through
Never ever never ever surrender
If you want it too
It's all up to you, don't ever surrender!
Never surrender!
Never surrender!
Do it, do it !

[...] Read more

song performed by 2 Unlimited
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Surrender

(nickolas ashford/valerie simpson)
I want the love that you deny me
That I need so desperately
The tenderness that you posses
Youve deprived me
You must pray for the lonely night
That I walked the floor for you
And dont know you must erase
All the tearstairs on my face
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Dont you know that Im taking my case
To the highest court of love
And these are some of the charges
Youll be found guilty of
Youve used me and abused me
till I felt like I wanted to die
You created a need in me
That only you can satisfy
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Come along peacefully
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Give it to me, ah right now
Give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me all, give it to me
Ah, right now, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love
Surrender your love baby
Surrender your love

song performed by Diana Ross
Added by Lucian Velea
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Surrender Your Groove

Baby, I can feel your thunder
Butterflies on your shoulder
Don't cry, I'll show you what love is
Sideways and under
Twist it just a little more
Cos baby we are heading for paradise
Soak it up and move it all
Tell me are you ready
Keep the beat rock steady
Baby set your heart on the vine
Surrender your groove
Surrender your heart
Surrender the super love that you've got
I'm making it better
I'm keeping it pure, I guess
My covers off the hook
You light me up like a firefly
I'm dancing out on the high wire
Sweet thing drink me like a fine wine
We're star-crossed and so sublime
Twist it just a little more
Cos baby we are heading for paradise
Soak it up and move it all
Tell me are you ready
Keep the beat rock steady
Baby set your heart on the vine
Surrender your groove
Surrender your heart
Surrender the super love that you've got
I'm making it better
I'm keeping it pure
I guess my covers off the hook
Surrender your soul
Surrender your mind
Surrender electric baby come shine
I'm taking you good
I'm taking you bad
I guess your star is rising now
I say a little prayer for you
Breathing in time with you, for life
Surrender your groove
Surrender your heart
Surrender the super love that you've got
I'm making it better
I'm keeping it pure
I guess my covers off the hook
Surrender your soul
Surrender your mind
Surrender electric baby come shine
I'm taking you good

[...] Read more

song performed by Geri Halliwell
Added by Lucian Velea
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Surrender To Me

I know it never came easy
Girl, you drive me out of my mind
Your fine and still kind of sleazy
Now I want to make you mine
Somehow, I dont believe you
I really need you now
You know youre so good at teasing
Maybe thats what I like
Sometimes youre hot when youre freezing
Dont want to let you out of my sight
Somehow, I dont believe you
I really need you
I dont believe you
And I really need you
(hey) you never believe what I say
Youre gonna surrender someday
Surrender to me
Surrender to me
Surrender to me all the way
Surrender to me all the way (yeah, yeah)
Surrender to me
Youve got an attitude
A hardheaded woman that I cant refuse
Your love is kind of rude
You love me like you got nothing to lose
Somehow, I dont believe you
I really need you
I dont believe you
And I really need you
(hey) you never believe what I say
Youre gonna surrender someday
Surrender to me
Surrender to me
Surrender to me all the way
Surrender to me all the way (yeah, yeah)
Surrender to me
All the way
All the way
All the way
All the way
Surrender to me all the way
Surrender to me
Surrender
(sikes-scholz-laquidara)

song performed by Boston
Added by Lucian Velea
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Knyghthode and Bataile

A XVth Century Verse Paraphrase of Flavius Vegetius Renatus' Treatise 'DE RE MILITARI'

Proemium.
Salue, festa dies
i martis,
Mauortis! auete
Kalende. Qua Deus
ad celum subleuat
ire Dauid.

Hail, halyday deuout! Alhail Kalende
Of Marche, wheryn Dauid the Confessour
Commaunded is his kyngis court ascende;
Emanuel, Jhesus the Conquerour,
This same day as a Tryumphatour,
Sette in a Chaire & Throne of Maiestee,
To London is comyn. O Saviour,
Welcome a thousand fold to thi Citee!

And she, thi modir Blessed mot she be
That cometh eke, and angelys an ende,
Wel wynged and wel horsed, hidir fle,
Thousendys on this goode approche attende;
And ordir aftir ordir thei commende,
As Seraphin, as Cherubyn, as Throne,
As Domynaunce, and Princys hidir sende;
And, at o woord, right welcom euerychone!

But Kyng Herry the Sexte, as Goddes Sone
Or themperour or kyng Emanuel,
To London, welcomer be noo persone;
O souuerayn Lord, welcom! Now wel, Now wel!
Te Deum to be songen, wil do wel,
And Benedicta Sancta Trinitas!
Now prosperaunce and peax perpetuel
Shal growe,-and why? ffor here is Vnitas.

Therof to the Vnitee 'Deo gracias'
In Trinitee! The Clergys and Knyghthode
And Comynaltee better accorded nas
Neuer then now; Now nys ther noon abode,
But out on hem that fordoon Goddes forbode,
Periurous ar, Rebellovs and atteynte,
So forfaytinge her lyif and lyvelode,
Although Ypocrisie her faytys peynte.

[...] Read more

poem by Anonymous Olde English
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Reaction To Action

(spoken: check 1, 1, 1)
Alright
Its hard getting through to me
Im truly elusive
I got my own point of view
I am the one of a kind
And I tell you lil girl
Im fascinated by you
Theres something about you
That makes all the difference
Like the night is to day
Well I can get along without you
But I know that within you
Youve got what Im missing
And Ill find a way
To get reaction to action
Hey, say the word that would thrill me
Yeah, I need reaction to action
Just one look that would kill me
You got a way of drawing attention to you
You know you stand out in a crowd
But the way that you play
With any mans affections
Should never be allowed
See I consider myself
The one who will show you
Id go as far as to say
Girl, I aint leaving here without you
But you better understand
Theres only one rule in this game were gonna play
And thats reaction to action
Maybe like a word that would thrill me
I need reaction to action
One look that would kill me
Give me reaction to action
Its getting late Id better make a definite move
Reaction to action
And after that baby, its up to you
I need reaction to action
Just a word that would thrill me
I need reaction to action
You know what Im talking about
Give me some reaction to action
You got a look, you got a way thatll kill me
Reaction to action, reaction to action, action
Baby, dont think about it, just react
Reaction to action
Reaction to action
Reaction to action
Reaction to action

[...] Read more

song performed by Foreigner
Added by Lucian Velea
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Lets See Action

Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see freedom, lets see who cares,
Lets see freedom, lets see who cares,
Take me with you when you leave me
Take me with you when you leave me
And my shell behind us there.
And my shell behind us there.
I have learned it, known who burned me,
I have learned it, known who burned me,
Avatar has warmed my feet,
Avatar has warmed my feet,
Take me with you, let me see you,
Take me with you, let me see you,
Time and life can meet.
Time and life can meet.
Nothing is everything, everything is, nothing is,
Nothing is everything, everything is, nothing is,
Please the people, audiences,
Please the people, audiences,
Break the fences,
Break the fences,
Nothing is.
Nothing is.
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see freedom up in the air,
Lets see freedom up in the air,
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets be free, lets see who cares.
Lets be free, lets see who cares.
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see freedom up in the air,
Lets see freedom up in the air,
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets see action, lets see people,
Lets be free, lets see who cares.
Lets be free, lets see who cares.
Give me a drink boy, wash my feet,
Give me a drink boy, wash my feet,
Im so tired of running from my own heat,
Im so tired of running from my own heat,
Take this package and heres what you do,
Take this package and heres what you do,
Gonna get this information through.
Gonna get this information through.
I dont know where Im going,
I dont know where Im going,

[...] Read more

song performed by Who
Added by Lucian Velea
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Confessio Amantis. Explicit Prologus

Incipit Liber Primus

Naturatus amor nature legibus orbem
Subdit, et vnanimes concitat esse feras:
Huius enim mundi Princeps amor esse videtur,
Cuius eget diues, pauper et omnis ope.
Sunt in agone pares amor et fortuna, que cecas
Plebis ad insidias vertit vterque rotas.
Est amor egra salus, vexata quies, pius error,
Bellica pax, vulnus dulce, suaue malum.

I may noght strecche up to the hevene
Min hand, ne setten al in evene
This world, which evere is in balance:
It stant noght in my sufficance
So grete thinges to compasse,
Bot I mot lete it overpasse
And treten upon othre thinges.
Forthi the Stile of my writinges
Fro this day forth I thenke change
And speke of thing is noght so strange,
Which every kinde hath upon honde,
And wherupon the world mot stonde,
And hath don sithen it began,
And schal whil ther is any man;
And that is love, of which I mene
To trete, as after schal be sene.
In which ther can noman him reule,
For loves lawe is out of reule,
That of tomoche or of tolite
Welnyh is every man to wyte,
And natheles ther is noman
In al this world so wys, that can
Of love tempre the mesure,
Bot as it falth in aventure:
For wit ne strengthe may noght helpe,
And he which elles wolde him yelpe
Is rathest throwen under fote,
Ther can no wiht therof do bote.
For yet was nevere such covine,
That couthe ordeine a medicine
To thing which god in lawe of kinde
Hath set, for ther may noman finde
The rihte salve of such a Sor.
It hath and schal ben everemor
That love is maister wher he wile,
Ther can no lif make other skile;
For wher as evere him lest to sette,
Ther is no myht which him may lette.
Bot what schal fallen ate laste,

[...] Read more

poem by John Gower
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Surrender

Surrender to God’s awesome will, and watch His purpose be fulfilled.
God’s purpose in your life will be, a treasure for you through Eternity.
Surrender is never for the weak, but men who are humble and meek.
For when you surrender to The Lord, you don’t know what’s in store.

When you surrender you don’t lose, as you become one God can use.
Christ will use you in various ways, as The Lord fills out all your days.
A life of surrender is the only door, to properly serve The Living Lord.
Surrender is the required sacrifice, for a life pleasing to Jesus Christ.

Earthly desires throughout the day, simply hinder and get in the way.
But surrender my friend sets aside, earthly plans that would only die.
Christ exchanges all your desires, for a purpose that is much higher.
And a surrendered life for Jesus Christ, continues on into Eternal Life.

If you think you’ll lose out on life, remember what was done by Christ.
Christ put aside all that He was, to endure a cross for sinners like us.
Surrender will indeed alter your plans, as you follow The Son of Man.
But when you do surrender my friend, you join a plan that has no end.

True surrender comes with power, and guides you every day and hour.
And surrender isn’t surrender at all, but a fulfilled life in The Lord of all.
For it’s not my will that will be done, but it is the will of God’s Only Son.
So surrender today to Jesus Christ, and you friend inherit Eternal Life.

poem by Bob Gotti
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Wise Up

Got myself in this situation,
Im not sure about.
Climbing in where theres temptation,
Can I get back out?
I never can quite find the answer,
The one I want to hear.
The one that justifies my action
Says the coast is clear.
Something on the outside
Says to jump on in,
But something on the inside
Is telling me again,
Chorus:
Better wise up.
Better think twice.
Never leave room for compromise.
You better wise up.
Better get smart.
And use your head to guard your heart.
Its gonna get rough,
So you better wise up.
Take a look at your intentions,
When you have to choose.
Could it be that apprehension,
Might be telling you,
To back off now is better,
So take your heart and run.
But get your thoughts together,
Before they come undone.
(repeat chorus)
(you got to wise up.
You got to think twice.
You got to wise up.
You got to. you got to.)
To back off now is better,
So take your heart and run.
But get your thoughts together,
Before they come undone.
(repeat chorus)
So you better wise up.
Better think twice.
And never leave room for compromise.
Oh, you better wise up.
Better get smart.
And use your head to guard your heart.
Its gonna get rough,
So you better wise up.
(you got to wise up.
You got to think twice. (hohhhh!)
You got to wise up. (oh, yeah!)

[...] Read more

song performed by Amy Grant
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The Ghost - Book IV

Coxcombs, who vainly make pretence
To something of exalted sense
'Bove other men, and, gravely wise,
Affect those pleasures to despise,
Which, merely to the eye confined,
Bring no improvement to the mind,
Rail at all pomp; they would not go
For millions to a puppet-show,
Nor can forgive the mighty crime
Of countenancing pantomime;
No, not at Covent Garden, where,
Without a head for play or player,
Or, could a head be found most fit,
Without one player to second it,
They must, obeying Folly's call,
Thrive by mere show, or not at all
With these grave fops, who, (bless their brains!)
Most cruel to themselves, take pains
For wretchedness, and would be thought
Much wiser than a wise man ought,
For his own happiness, to be;
Who what they hear, and what they see,
And what they smell, and taste, and feel,
Distrust, till Reason sets her seal,
And, by long trains of consequences
Insured, gives sanction to the senses;
Who would not (Heaven forbid it!) waste
One hour in what the world calls Taste,
Nor fondly deign to laugh or cry,
Unless they know some reason why;
With these grave fops, whose system seems
To give up certainty for dreams,
The eye of man is understood
As for no other purpose good
Than as a door, through which, of course,
Their passage crowding, objects force,
A downright usher, to admit
New-comers to the court of Wit:
(Good Gravity! forbear thy spleen;
When I say Wit, I Wisdom mean)
Where (such the practice of the court,
Which legal precedents support)
Not one idea is allow'd
To pass unquestion'd in the crowd,
But ere it can obtain the grace
Of holding in the brain a place,
Before the chief in congregation
Must stand a strict examination.
Not such as those, who physic twirl,
Full fraught with death, from every curl;

[...] Read more

poem by Charles Churchill
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Surrender To Me (Ann Wilson And Robin Zander)

Is It That We Been Together Much Too Long?
The Answer May Not Be In Black & White.
We're Always Trying To Prove Whose Right Or Wrong,
And Now We're Giving Up, Without A Fight.
But I Know When Your Gone, I'll Wish I'd Held On.
So Baby Surrender To Me, (surrender).
They'll Be No Holding Back Now.
So Baby Surrender To Me, Tonight (tonight).
I Don't Want To Love You, It Causes So Much Pain,
If This Is How Its Gonna Be I'll Walks Away Baby.
No Niether One Of Us Should Ever Say Goodbye,
Lets Forget About The Past, And Whose To Blame.
'Cause When This Is All Gone, We'll Wish We'd Held On.
So Baby Surrender To Me (surrender).
They'll Be No Holding Back Now.
So Baby Surrender To Me Tonight (tonight).
How Could This Love Be In Danger?
It Used To Be So Good, So right.
To Think They Could Me Us Strangers,
So Lonely In Your Arms Tonight......
Whoa Oh Yea, Yea...Whoa
Whoa Whoa Now Now Now.
So Baby Surrender To Me (SURRENDER)
They'll Be No Holding Back Now....Nooooo.
So Baby Surrender To Me TONIGHT (TONIGHT).
Surrender Baby, Surrender.
Surrender!

song performed by Heart
Added by Lucian Velea
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Too Early For The Sun

I have never known a love like this,
Before in my life,
Tears can turn into bliss,
With only a kiss, only a kiss.
And I have never held a girl,
Like you so close in my arms,
You appeared in my world,
And offered me hope for one more time.
Ive never been so afraid,
That love is just a dream,
Darling Ill awake and youll be gone,
Never believe that Ill love somebody,
Ill love somebody, someone like you,
Ill love somebody, I could love somebody.
Youre too early for the sun,
Too early for the moon,
Too early for the rain,
Coming down on me,
You make me feel so close to home,
So far away, like nowhere else Ive never been.
Youre too early for the stars,
Too early for the wind,
Too early for my heart,
To open up again,
But when I see you I just laugh,
And I believe, Im right where Im supposed to be.
I have never known a life like this,
Except in my dreams,
One kiss and I was renewed,
Now Im alive, I have survived.
I have never loved a girl,
Like you, except in my dreams,
All my songs are for you,
I finally see my dreams come true.
Ive never been so afraid,
That love is just a dream,
Darling Ill awake and youll be gone,
Never believe that Ill love somebody,
Ill love somebody, someone like you,
Ill love somebody, I could love somebody.
Youre too early for the sun,
Too early for the moon,
Too early for the rain,
Coming down on you,
You make me feel so close to home,
So far away, like nowhere else Ive never been.
Youre just too early for the stars,
Too early for the wind,
Too early for my heart,
To open up again.

[...] Read more

song performed by Kenny Loggins
Added by Lucian Velea
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I Surrender

I surrender to your heart babe
Do anything that you want me to do
Please be tender Im in your hands girl
This is a feeling I never knew
You know I tried to make it on my own
Thats not the way it was meant to be
Spend my time waiting by the phone
Oh darling come back to me
I surrender, I surrender
Im giving up the role of pretender
Oh be tender, girl be tender
Cant you feel the love that I send you
I surrender.
I remember, seems like a lifetime
Cant believe its a matter of days
Since you left Im near to heartbreak
I want you so bad dont turn away
What does it take to stay by my side
You know Ill do what you want me to
Dont take away this feeling inside
Im still in love with you
I surrender, I surrender
Im giving up the role of pretender
Oh be tender, girl be tender
Cant you feel the love that I send you
I surrender.
I surrender, I surrender
Darling now wont you be tender
Surrender, oh surrender
Feel the love that I send you
I surrender.

song performed by Rainbow
Added by Lucian Velea
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XI. Guido

You are the Cardinal Acciaiuoli, and you,
Abate Panciatichi—two good Tuscan names:
Acciaiuoli—ah, your ancestor it was
Built the huge battlemented convent-block
Over the little forky flashing Greve
That takes the quick turn at the foot o' the hill
Just as one first sees Florence: oh those days!
'T is Ema, though, the other rivulet,
The one-arched brown brick bridge yawns over,—yes,
Gallop and go five minutes, and you gain
The Roman Gate from where the Ema's bridged:
Kingfishers fly there: how I see the bend
O'erturreted by Certosa which he built,
That Senescal (we styled him) of your House!
I do adjure you, help me, Sirs! My blood
Comes from as far a source: ought it to end
This way, by leakage through their scaffold-planks
Into Rome's sink where her red refuse runs?
Sirs, I beseech you by blood-sympathy,
If there be any vile experiment
In the air,—if this your visit simply prove,
When all's done, just a well-intentioned trick,
That tries for truth truer than truth itself,
By startling up a man, ere break of day,
To tell him he must die at sunset,—pshaw!
That man's a Franceschini; feel his pulse,
Laugh at your folly, and let's all go sleep!
You have my last word,—innocent am I
As Innocent my Pope and murderer,
Innocent as a babe, as Mary's own,
As Mary's self,—I said, say and repeat,—
And why, then, should I die twelve hours hence? I—
Whom, not twelve hours ago, the gaoler bade
Turn to my straw-truss, settle and sleep sound
That I might wake the sooner, promptlier pay
His due of meat-and-drink-indulgence, cross
His palm with fee of the good-hand, beside,
As gallants use who go at large again!
For why? All honest Rome approved my part;
Whoever owned wife, sister, daughter,—nay,
Mistress,—had any shadow of any right
That looks like right, and, all the more resolved,
Held it with tooth and nail,—these manly men
Approved! I being for Rome, Rome was for me.
Then, there's the point reserved, the subterfuge
My lawyers held by, kept for last resource,
Firm should all else,—the impossible fancy!—fail,
And sneaking burgess-spirit win the day.
The knaves! One plea at least would hold,—they laughed,—
One grappling-iron scratch the bottom-rock

[...] Read more

poem by Robert Browning from The Ring and the Book
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society

Epigraph

Υδραν φονεύσας, μυρίων τ᾽ ἄλλων πόνων
διῆλθον ἀγέλας . . .
τὸ λοίσθιον δὲ τόνδ᾽ ἔτλην τάλας πόνον,
. . . δῶμα θριγκῶσαι κακοῖς.

I slew the Hydra, and from labour pass'd
To labour — tribes of labours! Till, at last,
Attempting one more labour, in a trice,
Alack, with ills I crowned the edifice.

You have seen better days, dear? So have I —
And worse too, for they brought no such bud-mouth
As yours to lisp "You wish you knew me!" Well,
Wise men, 't is said, have sometimes wished the same,
And wished and had their trouble for their pains.
Suppose my Œdipus should lurk at last
Under a pork-pie hat and crinoline,
And, latish, pounce on Sphynx in Leicester Square?
Or likelier, what if Sphynx in wise old age,
Grown sick of snapping foolish people's heads,
And jealous for her riddle's proper rede, —
Jealous that the good trick which served the turn
Have justice rendered it, nor class one day
With friend Home's stilts and tongs and medium-ware,—
What if the once redoubted Sphynx, I say,
(Because night draws on, and the sands increase,
And desert-whispers grow a prophecy)
Tell all to Corinth of her own accord.
Bright Corinth, not dull Thebes, for Lais' sake,
Who finds me hardly grey, and likes my nose,
And thinks a man of sixty at the prime?
Good! It shall be! Revealment of myself!
But listen, for we must co-operate;
I don't drink tea: permit me the cigar!
First, how to make the matter plain, of course —
What was the law by which I lived. Let 's see:
Ay, we must take one instant of my life
Spent sitting by your side in this neat room:
Watch well the way I use it, and don't laugh!
Here's paper on the table, pen and ink:
Give me the soiled bit — not the pretty rose!
See! having sat an hour, I'm rested now,
Therefore want work: and spy no better work
For eye and hand and mind that guides them both,
During this instant, than to draw my pen
From blot One — thus — up, up to blot Two — thus —
Which I at last reach, thus, and here's my line
Five inches long and tolerably straight:

[...] Read more

poem by Robert Browning (1871)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Unrealistic Are These Wishes

Some seek a pot of gold,
At the end of a rainbow...
But,
Unrealistic are these wishes to predict.
Yet...
Kept are unrealistic wishes.
And...
Others seek clouds lined,
With silver to behold.
But,
Unrealistic are these wishes to predict.
Yet...
Kept are unrealistic wishes.

Nothing is impossible to believe.
Or...
Too impossible to receive.
And...
Unrealistic are these wishes to predict,
For...
Anyone who's not a wisher!

Some seek a pot of gold,
At the end of a rainbow...
But,
Unrealistic are these wishes to predict.
Yet...
Kept are unrealistic wishes.
And...
Others seek clouds lined,
With silver to behold.
But,
Unrealistic are these wishes to predict.
Yet...
Kept are unrealistic wishes.

Nothing is impossible to believe.
Or...
Too impossible to receive.
And...
Unrealistic are these wishes to predict,
For...
Anyone who's not a wisher!
And...
Unrealistic are these wishes to predict,
For...
Anyone who's not a wisher!

Unrealistic are these wishes to predict,
For...

[...] Read more

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Added by Poetry Lover
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