Little One

 You said I could be anything

As long as the words you wrote were the words I'd sing.

You said I could be anyone

If I'd do exactly what you'd want.

They said "You could be a star

If you lose ten pounds and change who you are".

They said "You could have this part. 

Come sit on this couch, you know where to start".


Oh my little one, you're prettier

In ribbons, dresses, ruby slippers,

Glossy pout and frilly knickers.

Oh my little one, your innocence 

Now bought and sold, preserved pretence

With pain and pills you're recompensed.


You said I shouldn't use my mind;

Smart women aren't hired and the world is unkind.

You said that I shouldn't frown;

Because wrinkles are ugly, ageing's not allowed.

They said someone should shut me down.

So they gave me more pep pills, trapped inside their playground.

They said I was a doped up mess;

NDA silenced, I could not confess.


Not so little one, the time has come

To climb the beanstalk, get the gold,

Write off all of the lies they've sold.

Not so little one, no one's gonna come to rescue you 

No woodsman, fairy, crystal shoe.

No no no no no no no no.


You said you'd cut another deal,

But your Faustian pact just does not appeal.

You said I'd never work again,

That I'd stumble through life and end up round the bend.

They said I would change my mind,

Come crawling back, leave my freedom behind.

They said they would write me off,

Slander my name, tell the world I'm insane.

La, la la la la la la la.


You're the little one, you come to me

On bended knee with palms outstretched 

As if I'd forgive, as if I'd forget.

You're the little one.

You cast me as your princess,

 I became the femme fatale.


I say you shouldn't follow me,

For I am the giant, this beanstalk belongs to me.

I say you couldn't take control 

Of my future. I've paid with the years that you stole. 

I say mutual exploitation

Cuts both ways. I'm banking those days.

I say "You avaricious fool,

You were just a tool now I make all the rules."


No more little one, you can't climb trees in ruby slippers.

You'll get a slap in the face from the hand that feeds. 


You're the little one

I've been where you'll never go;

Behind the curtain, beyond the rainbow.

No more little one, the time has come

To take the less well travelled road 

And follow it, wherever it goes.






Listen/Download Little One on BandCamp

https://empireof.bandcamp.com/track/little-one-original