When I Tried to Describe Love...

I was talking (or rather, asking) about ‘beauty’ in my previous post. I think it is almost as abstract (or as abstract?) as love. Trying to formulate their definitions would be an abortive act.

Last year, I dwelt in the profoundness of love, trying to fathom and was trapped in its subtlety. There was nothing personal in experiencing this, as it was part of my duty as the scriptwriter for a musical, Perhaps Love (whose title was suggested by no other than myself, inspired from a song rendered by the magnificent duet of John Denver, also the writer, and Placido Domingo).

The song offers the sundry dimensions of love, subsuming all kind of its possibilities. There is no clear definition of it.

Two months was dedicated to write the closing song’s lyrics as it was revised, revised and revised many times. It is conclusive and yet not deductive as syllogism doesn’t apply here. There is no logic for love, or so I think.

Inspiration was sought after in library, café, church, my bedroom. At the breaking of dawn, morning, afternoon, night until another breaking of dawn. If you see “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran standing quietly and handsomely in my book shelf, it was bought solely for this purpose. My dear friend Montje helped me a lot by borrowing few books of classical poetry from Romanticism and other eras. She also helped me browsing to give us some inspiration. However, the song only came into maturity and a full embodiment after another friend composed a very beautiful music for the lifeless lyrics, one of my favorite music now it has become. All are for the soul of the following:


QUESTIONS OF LIFE

Lyric by: Rhea Patricia Liem and Monique Martina.
Music composed by: Sean Lim
Sung by: All.

Bharata:
I never knew what love is
My heart is still questioning
I thought it’s enough by expressing
Why it comes to this?

It’s way too late
I didn’t do it right
Is there a reason to regret?
This love I have inside

Randall:
So many times
I hear the people say
That love will come your way
In its own time and day

Chia Ling:
Life is a riddle that exists
Is love the guide or the answer
Once it comes everything will cease
Your life will be brighter

Bharata:
It’s beyond my control
Should I ever give in my soul?
My wounds who would console?
Or is it destiny’s call?

Matchmaker:
Love is determined by the heaven
As been told eons ago
Once it’s written it is written
Wherever you go, it follows

Together:
There is one thing we call love
The greatest mystery revealed
Some say it hurts but more it heals
It makes you alive but it may also kill
It is the reason to cry
And laughter it might bring forth
It is the only reason
Your heart fights with your head

But hold on to it
You will know when it arrives
Love is God we obey and pray
That’s all we have to say

Bharata:
Love…
Is the deepest question of life
As sweet as a rose
but the thorns will tear you apart
It blows in a quiet prose
but the silent whispers will tear your heart
Oh, why…?

Randall and Chia Ling:
Love is knowing without how or why

Dr and Mrs Chen:
But can’t you see love doesn’t come free

Mr and Mrs Wong:
It needs time it needs effort
Sacrifice and understanding
But strength it may bring forth
Source of joy and living

Randall/Chia Ling:
Yes the joy it brings worth above all things

Dr and Mrs Chen:
I’ve learnt that love is all about caring

Bharata:
It’s about surrender
You can afford love if you can afford longing
When you love someone so tender
All you get is giving

Dr Chen:
Loving someone is a gift
Embrace it and don’t let it drift

Matchmaker:
Love is resurrection
Destiny rewritten and relived

Together:
There is one thing we call love
The greatest mystery revealed
Some say it hurts but more it heals
I makes you alive but iy may also kill
It is the reason to cry
And laughter it might bring forth
It is the only reason
Your heart fights with your head

But hold on to it
You will know when it arrives
Love is God we obey and pray
That’s all we have to say
That’s all we have to say