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The Dragon

from Bloom and Grow by Kyla Tilley

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about

This song.

This song is inspired by the Yakuza video game franchise, which I discovered right at the beginning of the shutdown in March 2020. My New Shoes tour got cancelled, and I suddenly found myself stuck in my apartment without any rehearsals or events to go to. The pure zaniness of these games, paired with the compelling stories and characters proved to be an essential part of my mental health maintenance throughout the pandemic. These game are truly inspired works of art.

I maybe identified a little too closely with the main character. He spends a lot of time trying to do what's expected of him until it all becomes too much and the dragon is unleashed. We're both Geminis and I am in the same age demographic as he is in the games. He gets distracted easily, waffles back and forth on things, has some violent mood swings, makes a lot of bad choices. Sticks his foot in his mouth a lot. He's quick to anger and quick to forgive. He is very set on doing things his own way. That often backfires, but he keeps trying. Over the course of the series he continues to understand and accept himself. The long and short of it is, I love blazing guitars solos so I'm gonna put some on my folk album.

lyrics

The Dragon

I might be kinder than I look
But I still find myself talking with my fists
Solving problems the only way I know how

Trying to fit into a world that's moved ahead
Trying to fit into a system that's too small
Begin to wonder why I'm trying to fit at all


I've got places to be
Things to do
Obligations to meet
People depending on me
I can't let them down

I've got debts to repay
Wrongs to right
Skill to learn
Hunger to satiate
How far can I climb?


I follow this code as I was taught
No way around it that's how I was brought up
Living my life the only way I know how

I've forgiven the men I looked up to
And I've forgiven those that moved against me
They're forgiven but did I forgive myself?


Missing cats and
Dine and dashers
Pro-ball players
Needing practice

Foiling scams
Impressing damsels
Into the sex hotel

Hit me stand down
Night on the town
I can out drink
all of you clowns

Trade your watch in
I'll do your job
I don't have time for this!


I've got people to see
Calls to make
Punks to beat down
Questions need answering
I can't let this go

I've got money to earn
Heat to build
Commitments to keep but
Somehow I'm always too
late
And I think I just said
The wrong thing again

I've made mistakes in the past
Things I can't take back
Can't really say that I'm proud
But what's done is done
I did what I thought was the right thing

I live my life like a real man
Face the consequences for my actions
Walking my path the only way I know how

I chose this path and I will stick with it
I chose this path for better or for worse
Took so long to learn the path was mine to choose
The path was mine to choose
The path was mine to choose

credits

from Bloom and Grow, released August 2, 2022
Kyla Tilley: Electric and Classical Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Julian Squires: Drums

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Kyla Tilley Newfoundland and Labrador

Kyla Tilley plays guitar, wears high heels, and writes sometimes sad, often funny, occasionally disconcerting, story-telling songs which rarely rhyme.

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