Brija And The Test

from Janissary, A Balkan Rock Opera by Paul Shapera

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lyrics

Brija:
a test is declared to decide and determine which of the girls may be worthless or worthy
wild child, watch from the shadows as the other girls plot your demise
a trial by combat, the girls all inside, and they make a pact that first birja will die
wild child, no one in the world who loves you and who's still alive

the trial begins, all alone brija stands, and the girls all come at her with blades in their hands
wild child, tears in your eyes as your sisters betray you once more
brija, she dances, her dead mother whispers, a feral ballerina with fierce blood red kisses
wild child, in a ballet of blood as the bodies pile up on the floor

Chorus:
what secrets now have they said
the strange sounds in your head
do they tell you it over and over again

the voices that speak
that ones no one else sees
for hours you just sit a nd you stare absently

Brija:
and when the test was done, no one moved or spoke a word
until a single person, the vizier slowly rose
a slow and lonely clap echoed from his hands
until at last the hall was filled with applause and cheering men

he took young Brija by the shoulders and they walked
and he told her of the glory of the janissary guard
and so he offered her a post, a life and more
she left with him, beside him as his private body guard

credits

from Janissary, A Balkan Rock Opera, released October 1, 2018
Vocals by Lauren Osborn

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about

Paul Shapera Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cama’s attempt to commune with higher beings failed; she only found Decadent Dottie. Together they roamed, indulging in dangerous forms of psycho-neural self-exploration which Cama hoped would present the key to her people’s further evolution. It only led to her destroying her people so that one of their pets could evolve. She sat in her former civilization's rubble and listened to Paul Shapera. ... more

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