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The Shortest Story Lyrics

Artist: Harry Chapin
Album: Greatest Stories Live

I am born today, the sun burns its promise in my eyes;
Mama strikes me and I draw a breath and cry.
Above me a cloud softly tumbles through the sky;
I am glad to be alive.

It is my seventh day, I taste the hunger and I cry;
my brother and sister cling to Mama's side.
She squeezes her breast, but it has nothing to provide;
someone weeps, I fall asleep.

It is twenty days today, Mama does not hold me anymore;
I open my mouth but I am too weak to cry.
Above me a bird slowly crawls across the sky;
why is there nothing now to do but die?

Comments/Interpretations

by sdqd3 on 8/7/2008 3:13pm
This is all of us

by emily on 6/12/2012 12:19pm
i love Harry Chapin he was an amazing man and song writter and a great singer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Cam, Toronto, Canada on 8/1/2018 7:56am
An incredible man with an empathetic heart, and a most talented, creative and hard-working composer and performer.

I care for many of his songs. However, I'm mostly moved by his brief piece, "The Shortest Story." I have a magic effect that I perform while I sing (if I'm in good form) the song, or else I'll recite the song as a poem. It gives me chills and goosebumps even after having listened to that song over, and over, and over for many, many years now. It is brilliant, and so was Harry.