Is Anyone Listening?

Sample “Kaleidoscope” here:

Children and adults with mental illness are often times not considered for their potential. Many people will overlook their potential because of the stigma attached to mental illness. This song speaks to the frustration of being judged unfairly and the hope and excitement of knowing there are beautiful surprises waiting to be discovered in kids and adults who struggle with mental health.

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Kaleidoscope

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Chorus

when we open our eyes we’ll see the kaleidoscope surprise

v.1

hey welcome in I’m someone else’s friend

I’m the book that’ll probably never leave the shelf again

I’m the boy across the street, you don’t want to meet

the inconvenient adolescent some would call unique

I’m that little girl your mama said was special

the caterpillar with some hard to see potential

hah, I’m the gift God gave you to listen to I can’t hide imperfection as good as you

daddy says my mind is a mystery

well thanks dad for reminding me officially

maybe that’s why my friends are so slippery

I can’t hang on cuz I think too differently

hey, I’m a dusty book

the kind of person people avoid trust me look

I’m a small town missed by the highway

another reason this bird wants fly away

v. 2

well if it isn’t the kid who has a hard time fittin in

the one who’s tuned different than all the other instruments

and though the music he makes is thought dissonant

it’s only so to those who can’t hear just how intricate

this symphony is and they just keep missin it

so really who’s the one who has a hard time listenin

it’s time to rethink in a blink re-envision

and see first the person, reverse the aversion

and let the stigma scales fall from our eyes

and start to unbind the lies that keep our hands tied

tellin us our freedom is only for ourself

naw, freedom is a self pouring forth to help

and if it’s better to give, than a better way to live

would be to take a fresh look at the kid for who he is

not just for what he didn’t do or maybe did

learn how to dig em cuz the treasure may be hid, ya dig

Chorus

when we open our eyes we’ll see the kaleidoscope surprise

ha ha, look how you do what you do

ya know you’re so cool

you’re so fresh

you’ve got your own gifts goin on so don’t stress

just be yourself

and when you need it ask for help

somebody will be there so be aware

yeah, ha

you’ve got it going on

so keep singing your song

just keep moving along

when you’re weak, you’re strong

keep on going with what you know is inside ya

cuz you never know, ha, it might surprise ya

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