I wrote part of this song as a poem last year, after thinking about the game rock, paper, scissors. In the children’s game, a heart of paper would clearly beat one of rock even though it can be easily cut or torn. Whether we cast our words to stone tablet or vellum or now pixels, the ones we write from the heart are the ones that stand the test of time.

 

Paper Heart

by Jamie Flanagan

 

I gave to her a paper heart

and that beats one of stone

I wrote my love upon it,

no passion left unknown

 

I gave to her a paper heart

which could be cut or torn

Yet, she kept it safe from harm

until the words were worn

 

(CHORUS)

I’m not writing pulp fiction

These words make me whole

It’s write here, right now

Right here, write now

My heart’s own crucifixion

This origami of my soul

So write here, right now

Right here, write now

 

I gave to her a paper heart

to which my love was bound

She had not meant to drop it,

to flutter to the ground

 

I gave to her a paper heart

now crumpled ‘neath our feet

Lying for the world to see

no longer fresh nor neat

 

(CHORUS)

 

I gave to her a paper heart

more fragile than I knew

which she saved, now smoothing out

the damage to undo

 

She gave to me that paper heart

which beats a heart of stone

She wrote her love upon it

her passion joined my own

 

We’re not writing pulp fiction

Our words make us whole

It’s write here, right now

Right here, write now

Our heart’s one true salvation

This origami of our soul

So write here, right now

Right here, write now