ANNIKA SOCOLOFSKY (b.1990): Don't Say a Word (2019)
I. Don’t you cry
Hush now, baby, don’t you cry,
For you I will buy
A mockingbird who won’t sing
A diamond ring with no strings
A nickname that won’t sting
A looking glass that won’t mask those precious things that you bring.
—Mother Goose, adapted by Annika Socolofsky
II. Little boy blue
Little boy blue, come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn.
But where is the boy who will break from the flock?
He’s you.
Little boy blue, know where you are born.
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn,
Little boy blue.
—Traditional English text from “Little Boy Blue,” adapted by Annika Socolofsky
III. Tinker, tailor (Who am I to say?)
Who should I marry?
Who am I to say?
Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor.
Who should I have?
What if my husband is a wife?
Who am I to say? Who?
Tinker, tailor, soldier, failure.
Why?
Who am I to say who I should marry?
—Traditional English text from “Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor,” adapted by Annika Socolofsky
IV. Like a diamond
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
And you twinkle, all through the night.
Light your earthly sister,
All through the night.
—Jane Taylor from “Twinkle, twinkle little star”
V. Don’t say a word
Hush now, baby,
Don’t say a word,
Now it’s time for the womxn’s turn.
—Mother Goose, adapted by Annika Socolofsky
VI. Loves don’t / go
Loves don’t
go away they
just disappear
under new loves
like snowfall,
even grayed,
under snowfall
—Molly Moses
VII. Au clair de la lune
Open your door for me, for the love of God,
Open your door, my friend, Pierrot.
Lend me your quill, my pen,
To write a word.
Do not hush me.
—Traditional French folk song, adapted by Annika Socolofsky
VII. Shy one, sweet one
Shy one, sweet one,
Love your temper.
Shy one, sweet one,
Love your tongue.
Love what scares them,
Then you’ve won.
—Annika Socolofsky
