CHAPTER SIX
A Manhattan Fairy Tale
Song Stories
Album Liner Notes
In this series of Song Stories we’re taking you behind the scenes of each song.
Chapter VI– A Manhattan Fairy Tale is the fifth EP from our album Old Bones Odyssey.
Coming soon: we’re creating a podcast that dives deeper into the stories and history behind our songs.
Listen
Videos
A Manhattan Fairy Tale Playlist
Lyrics
A Manhattan Fairy Tale
“A long, long time ago
When squirrels in Central Park could still talk”- Lyrics/Ellen Kaye
Ellen C Kaye – Lead Vocal
Ethan Fein – Guitar
Andrew Drelles – Clarinet, Flute, Tenor Saxophone
Koa Ho – Upright Bass
Zach Mullings – Drums, Congas
© 2022 Ellen C Kaye and Ethan Fein. All rights reserved.
A long, long time ago
When squirrels in Central Park could still talk
A little girl lived
high above the treetops
On a rooftop, nestled between the clouds on foggy days
A long, long time ago
When water towers watched o’er the realm
One lived alone
on her rooftop
Bellowing warnings
when danger
was near
Tomatoes, petunias, and wild roses grew
Windows caught the moonlight
Dreams shimmered in the air
Back when squirrels could talk
I lived in a golden time
We had golden things
Old, unhappy, far-off things
A long long time ago
When stilt walkers still danced upon the moon
Her family lived
Deep inside their own world
A shining circus, made of flames and fireflies
A long long time ago
When all who loved were still loved in return
A knight named Cruz
Saved her from the bad dreams
Holding her close
When danger
Was near
Tomatoes, petunias, and wild roses grew
Windows caught the moonlight
Dreams shimmered in the air
Back when squirrels could talk
I lived in a golden time
We had golden things
Old, unhappy, far-off things
A long long time ago
When all good things began to disappear
Her father died
Struck down by bad luck
Swept from this earth like sand before the wind
A long long time ago
When spirits still sang songs that shook your bones
Her mother drank
Sweet sips, from golden lilies
Locking her sorrows
Deep beneath
The sea
Tomatoes, petunias, and wild roses grew
Windows caught the moonlight
Dreams shimmered in the air
Back when squirrels could talk
I lived in a golden time
We had golden things
Old, unhappy, far-off things
A long long time ago
When bears still dined on shish kebab and wine
A stranger came
Silver tongue and moonshine
Wolfsbane whispers
Fateful kisses
Veiled his prey
A long long time ago
When mandrakes still told tales that woke the night
Her mother wed
The stranger on their rooftop
The watchtower bellowed warnings through the night
A long, long time ago
When fairy tales could still set people free
I ran away
Flying off our rooftop
Leaving my very heart and soul behind
Dancing street lights far below
Cruz’s pounding heart
Over the watchtowers
Over the circus, shining below
Flames spinning, people laughing
Over all the streets I knew and loved
All of it vanishing beneath me
Stars
a new fragile moon
Dancing street lights far below
Cruz’s loving heart
Wind blowing through me
Changing every cell
With a flick of its tongue
Here I go
Up, up, up and… gone
Tomatoes, petunias, and wild roses grew
Windows caught the moonlight
Dreams shimmered in the air
Back when squirrels could talk
I lived in a golden time
We had golden things
Old, unhappy, far-off things
A long, long time ago
When squirrels in Central Park could still talk
Ellen C Kaye – Lyrics
Ethan Fein – Music
Recorded/Mixed/Mastered by Bill Moss
Ellen C Kaye, Ethan Fein, Bill Moss, Alan Joseph–Producers
Samurai Hotel Recording Studio, Queens, New York
A Repair With Gold Production LLC SM
© 2023 Ellen C Kaye and Ethan Fein. All rights reserved.
The Story
A Manhattan Fairy Tale
“I started telling this story a long time ago. For now I’ll let the song say it all.”-Ellen Kaye
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Ellen C Kaye
Singer/songwriter, producer, podcast maker, mom, born and bred in NYC. Night Club singer at heart.
