This is one of the first songs that I wrote for my Bullying Prevention Program for schools. I was attempting to communicate the somewhat strange idea that it isn’t the words that cause us pain. It’s our INTERPRETATION of the words. If you are my friend you can probably tell me I’m fat or whatever without hurting my feelings. But if you’re a “bully” trying to hurt me with that statement, I can either feel hurt or I can decide that your opinion is not important. Someone showed me that if you string “Words Words, Words,” together slightly differently it becomes, Swordswordswordswords… I was trying to empower the “target” with the kind of interpretation that would cause any “bully’s” words to bounce off harmlessly…
Please click the arrow to play:
The Power Of Words
Song # 394 | 3/17/09 | CD: tbd
He said, she said, they said, we said,
Somebody said something
Somebody’s feelings got hurt
All because of the power of words…
Sticks and stones may break your bones
But words can only hurt you
If you allow them to
If you give them power over you…
Refrain:
The Power of words…
The power of words…
The power of words
Is the power we give them
Think about a warm Spring day
A soft breeze caresses your cheek
Cherry blossoms drift from the trees
And flutter away like pink snow
Carpeting the ground
Listen now for the sounds of birds
And children playing on the playground
Across the park….
The sounds of laughter and
the squeaking of the swing set
A friendly dog barks at his owner to
Throw the Frisbee one more time
and yet…
None of that exists.
It’s all in your mind.
My words just triggered memories that Hopefully were pleasant for you…
But what if you’d fallen off a swing
On just such a day
And had to be rushed to the hospital?
My words might have the opposite
Reaction as you remember months in traction…
Refrain:
But the power of words
To make you feel is an inexact science
Because I never really know
How you are interpreting them
Or what things I’m triggering with my words…
What I said and what I meant
And how you interpret it
Could be very different
Depending on what’s going on with you
Inside… you mind…
You have a choice to choose
You have a voice to use
You have a mind to change
You can always rearrange
What you decide it means
Refrain:
Bridge:
Words, Words, Words, Words
wordswordswordswordswords…
He said, she said, they said, we said,
Somebody said something
Somebody’s feelings got hurt
All because of the power of words…
Sticks and stones may break your bones
But words can only hurt you
If you allow them to
If you give them power over you…
Refrain:
The Power of words…
The power of words…
The power of words
Is the power we give them
Copyright 2009-2015 by Mark Shepard. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.
Photo Credit – Copyright: / 123RF Stock Photo
Facebook Comments