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The Velveteen Rabbitt

by wade baynham

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Written by Wade Baynham
Inspired by the book The Velveteen Rabbit

Sometimes my wife Denise will mention ideas that she thinks I might be able to craft into a song. I'm always flattered that she has enough confidence in me to share her ideas, but I am also often afraid that I'm not up to the task.

Denise has been a very accomplished teacher for years, and I am in awe whenever I get to see her work in the classroom. She engages students, creates a remarkable learning environment, and gets people thinking and engaging in ways that honestly amaze me. So, the idea that I might be able to craft a song that could convey some meaning from the cherished and time-honored story of the Velveteen Rabbit felt daunting, to say the least.

When I faced my fears, began noodling at the piano, and re-read the short classic work over again, I could feel familiar feelings coming back from when I first came across the story. I remembered the warmth and care I felt. I remembered feeling a bit less alone, and a bit less of an outsider. I remembered ways that people's love for me had given me a sense of myself, and of possibility, meaning and purpose. And I remembered wanting to give more love as well.

So, I tried to give that warmth and care and intimacy to the vocal performance, the piano part, the string arrangement and the pieces of the story I highlighted in the lyrics. And over and against all cliches, it turns out that love actually matters. Paul said so clearly in his letter to the Corinthians, 'These three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'

lyrics

The Velveteen Rabbit sat in the cupboard
And wondered what it was like to be real
The Skin Horse told how the mechanical toys bragged of being real
But never were

So the rabbit asked what real was
And the horse said it wasn't how you were made
It was something that happened to you
When you were loved

See when you are Real
You cannot be ugly
Except to people who do not understand
The rabbit was loved by the boy he became Real
He became Real

The rabbit asked if it happened all at once
And the horse said it happened over time
That you become Real
While you are being loved

And one day the boy got sick
And after a time when he got well
They took out the trash and the rabbit with it
To burn the disease away

But you see when you are Real
You cannot be ugly
Except to people who do not understand
And the rabbit had been loved by the boy and he had become Real
He was Real

And there on the trash heap the rabbit cried
He cried a Real tear
Growing from his tear was a fairy-angel
Springing up to take care of all lov-ed toys
She said her job was to make him real
Truly Real, truly Alive

I'll tell you a little secret, if you're willing to hear
This isn't about toys becoming Real
It's the story of you and me
And why love matters at all

And when you become Real
You cannot be ugly except to people who do not understand
The rabbit was loved by the boy
And we love each other to help each other
Become Real

credits

released April 6, 2023
Created by Wade at the Second Story Durham, NC
Cover art by Denise Baynham.

Thanks especially to Denise, and to Lisa Lord.

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