I was honored to be asked to contribute some songs to the 2007 DIVAfest Cabaret. It was fun to try my hand at songwriting - addictive, actually - and even more thrilling to see what Don Seaver and the singers did with the lyrics - they were amazing. I'm still writing lyrics, and I hope to have the chance to write for a cabaret again, and soon.
SFWeekly review:
DIVAfest Cabaret: Sassy & Seductive
Ladies, ladies. What does "P" stand for? Read and find out.
Nathaniel Eaton
Published: May 2, 2007
This short and sweet one-hour cabaret returns as part of the larger DIVAfest and is presented in the back room of the old Original Joe's Italian Restaurant down in the Tenderloin. As the title suggests, this evening is all about Bay Area divas and it's hosted by the biggest diva of all, the wonderful Sean Owens. Though the music is composed by a man (the accomplished Don Seaver), the three vocalists are women and the lyricists are women. ...The true star of the show, though, is first-time lyricist Mia Paschal. Using a broad range of styles, Paschal has no trouble transitioning from a scorching ballad titled "You Don't Love Me Yet", to the finale — a fun alphabetical tirade bashing men with lines like "P is for the prick who texted me goodbye." — Nathaniel Eaton
you don’t love me yet
moonlight long behind me and so here I am again
drowning in tequila and the eyes of dreamwrecked men
a train cuts through the city, its whistle blowing far
silence melts and sharpens the light behind the bar
faces fade away now, tangled voices in their wake
praying that the daylight will erase my last mistake
bitter laughter suits you and the darkness even more
turning round to kiss me in the shelter of the door
(chorus)
it may never happen but for a moment yes it was
revolving round each other for a moment just because
you don’t love me yet and yet you love me still
you don’t love me yet maybe you never will
caught within the thorned walls of desire and distaste
crushing darkened memories to impale our hearts in place
night gave voice to small truths blind and silent in the day
and sunlight finds us tangled in a sleep-unveiled embrace
stranger hands have held me and much kinder lies were told
kinder hands will hurt me and much stranger truths unfold
drowning in dark memories of all the men before
and the train rides on, its dying song cuts me to the core
(chorus)
it may never happen but for a moment yes it was
revolving round each other for a moment just because
you don’t love me yet and yet you love me still
you don’t love me yet maybe you never will
stranger hands have held me and much kinder lies were told
kinder hands will hurt me and much stranger truths unfold
drowning in dark memories of all the men before
and the train rides on, its dying song strands me here once more
© 2007 Mia Paschal