Based upon Puddleglum's speech in the Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Story behind the song
One word, Ma'am," he said, coming back from the fire; limping, because of the pain. "One word. All you've been saying is quite right, I shouldn't wonder. I'm a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won't deny any of what you said. But there's one more thing to be said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things-trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that's a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We're just babies making up a game, if you're right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world which licks your real world hollow. That's why I'm going to stand by the play world. I'm on Aslan's side even if there isn't any Aslan to lead it. I'm going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn't any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we're leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for Overland. Not that our lives will be very long, I should think; but that's a small loss if the world's as dull a place as you say.
C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair
Lyrics
HOLLOW
Lyrics by Peter Merz
Music by Tom Bedlam
Suppose this is a dream
Or foolish made up things
Aslan just a lie
Some conjurer's scheme
And suppose you're spot on
Well I beg your pardon
But it would seem that
Our fables and jargon
Beat your cold, dark domain
Put your kingdom to shame
And if there's just your world
It's a pretty poor world
PRE-CHORUS
This black pit of a realm
Won't let it overwhelm
Our dream remains alive
Our dream remains alive
CHORUS
Maybe just a game
That you call shallow
But it licks your world hollow
It licks your real-world hollow
We'll stick with Aslan
And what you call callow
'Cause it licks your world hollow
It licks your cruel-world hollow
We'll choose the play-world
Over stale swirls
We'll find our way out
Now your milk has curdled
Take back your gift of jade
And your stacked deck of spades
There's a Lion's roar
See your sorry spell break
Now from deep inside us
Your lies won't divide us
Faith, hope, and love, they survive
And demon gloom takes a dive
REPEAT PRE-CHORUS
REPEAT CHORUS
BRIDGE
So keep your sleight of hand
Our hearts you can't command
Your hate and misplaced pride
They won't keep our hands tied
We choose Aslan's Kingdom
Even if there's no Aslan to lead us
We choose Aslan's Kingdom
Even if there's no Aslan to lead us
REPEAT CHORUS
INSTRUMENTAL
TAG/END
We choose Aslan's Kingdom
Even if there's no Aslan to lead us
We choose Aslan's Kingdom
Even if there's no Aslan to lead us
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