The Town with no Doors

10 weeks ago by @gmcgath

Liner Notes

This song is based on a sequence in Walter Moers' novel, _Die Insel der Tausend Leuchttürme_ (The Island of a Thousand Lighthouses). The protagonist visits a place called the City Without Doors. That inescapably made me think of a song by @quadrivium .

In context, the situation is even stranger than in the song. For instance, the lyrics don't mention that the protagonist is a dinosaur.

Lyrics

The Town with no Doors
Lyrics: Gary McGath, Copyright 2024
Music: Mary Crowell, "City of Doors"

Come in (come in), come in (come in),
Come into the town with no doors, no doors,
Stranger than you've seen on this island before,
You should leave the same day you came in.

The wind on the way here is the coldest you'll find,
Keep your eyes closed or you may go blind.
Better keep moving, 'cause it's freezing your breath,
But take a wrong step, and you'll fall to your death.

Come in (come in), come in (come in),
Come into the town with no doors, no doors,
Ancient writing and drawings and more,
You should leave the same day you came in.

There's nobody living here and yet there is light,
Luminous jellyfish will aid your eyesight.
Triangles pointing down are the entrance ways,
Leading to chambers from the ancient days.

Come in (come in), come in (come in),
Come into the town with no doors, no doors,
Go through the maze till you come out by the shore.
You should leave the same day you came in.

You might have no choice if the tide's coming in,
Though it's not a good time to learn how to swim.
And if you're being stalked, then don't scream and don't curse.
You might just be rescued by something worse.

Come in (come in), come in (come in),
Come into the town with no doors, no doors,
One trip's enough, you won't come back for more
When you leave the same day you came in.

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