John Williams Suite
Alohomora, Hermione's Night-Song, Hogwarts Forever, If There Were No Magicians, Prestidigitation, The Sky Chorale and Songs of the Hogwarts Express Copyright 2004 by Nimbus 1944
A filk by Nimbus 1944 to the melody of Hedwig's Theme by John Williams (the tinkly little tune that opens the HP movies)
It wouldn't be right to dream, while
Forgetting to live, it seems;
Nor would it be right to dwell on life
And yet forget our dreams.
It would be sad, indeed, if we
Could never imagine things --
If there were no magicians, gnomes,
Or elves or goblin kings!
The world would be quite a dull place,
And we'd be unhappy souls,
If boys couldn't fly to pirate ships
Or girls go down rabbit holes.
If we couldn't dream of centaurs,
Or riding a unicorn --
Or we couldn't wish, for just a while,
That we were wizard-born!
What if it was beyond our powers
Imagining wondrous things --
If there were no magicians, gnomes,
Or elves or goblin kings?
We'd meet a demanding ogre
While crossing its private lawn;
We'd give it a knut of magic loot
That vanishes when we're gone!
The girls would make pets of kneazles
With wriggily, furry tails;
But boys would prefer a dragon pal
With slithery, shiny scales.
So what would be a world of dreams
With none of these magic things --
If there were no magicians, gnomes,
Or elves, or goblin kings?
Why, who would protect the castle
By fighting an angry troll?
Why, who would release the princess fair
From serpentine control?
Why, who would defeat the evil
By casting a charm or spell?
Just boys who exceed at wizardry,
And girls who do witching well!
The world indeed would lack a lot
Of marvelous magic things,
If there were no magicians, gnomes,
Or elves or goblin kings!
A filk by Nimbus 1944 set to Harry's Wondrous World by John Williams HP CD1 track 02, 1:20-1:58, minus key changes; unaccompanied solo
My heart is op'ning, my life rebeginning
Since I felt the tug of love --
Never be without it!
Alohomora, my mind is just spinning;
Once you feel the ache of love,
Much to learn about it!
So inviting, so inciting,
Alohomora, my life!
So unending, so pretending,
Alohomora, my life!
I can feel love from wherever I'm standing,
Very near, or far apart,
Seals of love unbroken.
Alohomora, my senses expanding,
Hiding thoughts within my heart,
Hearing words unspoken!
So inducing, so reducing,
Alohomora, my life!
So eluding, so concluding,
Alohomora, my life!
Love is a friend, and then love is a stranger;
Fickle love is here and gone,
Leaving me in wonder.
Love is not meant for a babe-in-a-manger;
Love arrives in whispering,
Love departs with thunder!
So becoming, so benumbing,
Alohomora, my life!
So revealing, so concealing,
Alohomora, my life!
My heart is happy, I'm singing and humming,
Little steps of friendly love
Set my heart a-sailing!
Alohomora, the tears always coming,
Tears of joy at finding love,
Tears of sadness failing!
So amusing, so confusing,
Alohomora, my life!
So arraying, so betraying,
Alohomora, my life!
My heart will travel through love's convolution;
Always seeking happy love,
Turning from the sadness.
Alohomora, I'll find my solution;
One alone will be my love,
Bringing dreams of gladness!
So intriguing, so besieging,
Alohomora, my life!
So bestirring, so alluring,
Alohomora, my life!
A filk-medley by Nimbus 1944 : Ten Good Tonnes of Coal set to Dobby the House Elf by John Williams HP CD2 track 09, 0:00-1:14, at a brisk tempo; Ferroequinautics set to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters by John Williams HP CD1 track 06, 0:00-0:17
DRIVER
Rise and shine, my crew;
I have work for you!
Hearty shoveling meets our goal:
Ten good tonnes of .. coal!
1st FIREMAN
It's the only proper thing for us to do!
2nd FIREMAN
It's expected, seeing we is now the crew!
3rd FIREMAN (hefting a lump of coal)
Like a feather, only more than one or two!
1st FIREMAN
Only proper!
2nd FIREMAN
It's expected!
3rd FIREMAN
Like a feather!
DRIVER
All together!
ALL
Hogwarts waits for us;
Better than the bus!
Hearty shoveling makes us roll,
Ten good tonnes of .. coal!
DRIVER
Traveling by horses made from iron -- that needs a name,
The word is Ferroequinautics in the railway game!
Shovel coal and burn it to heat water into steam,
Which keeps the Ferroequinautics engine on the beam!
1st FIREMAN
Magic moves a broom, but that's where magic is the rule,
So here it's Ferroequinautics for the trip to school!
2nd FIREMAN
Objects levitate, but they ride on a magic track,
So here it's Ferroequinautics to go there and back!
3rd FIREMAN
Quidditch players fly, but they are quite the magic mob,
So here it's Ferroequinautics that will do the job!
DRIVER
Make a wicked potion, but that can't make engines run,
So we need Ferroequinautics power, by the tonne!
ALL
Traveling by horses made from iron --- that needs a name,
The word is Ferroequinautics in the railway game!
1st FIREMAN
Only proper that we get it underway!
2nd FIREMAN
We're protected from the wind in here, he say!
3rd FIREMAN
Like a feather, float to Hogwarts in a day!
1st FIREMAN
Only proper!
2nd FIREMAN
We're protected!
3rd FIREMAN
Like a feather!
DRIVER
All together!
ALL
Stoke the fire with pride --
Magic children ride!
Hearty shoveling warms the soul,
Ten good tonnes of .. coal!
Stoke the fire with pride --
Magic children ride!
Hearty shoveling warms the soul,
Ten good tonnes of ....
Ten good tonnes of ....
Coal!
A filk by Nimbus 1944 set to Hogwarts Forever by John Williams HP CD1 track 9, 0:00-0:30
Happy we hail you,
O hallowed haven, Hogwarts,
Beacon of light
Through the ages of dark,
Herald of magic
For students brave and stalwart!
Hat having spoken,
Houses betokened,
Hogwarts, forever
Convey the spark!
Warp us and weft us,
O wizard-weaver, Hogwarts,
Wrought from the spindles
Of wise ones of yore.
Wizards and witches
Of prestidigious riches,
Willing and worthy,
Watchful and sturdy.
Hogwarts forever,
Forevermore!
A filk by Nimbus 1944 set to Fawkes the Phoenix by John Williams (HP CD2 track 02)
Like a symphony, rising, rising!
Slowly ascending, beating a path to the heavens.
Like a symphony, rising, rising!
With passionate flight, the green-haven earth left behind,
Innocent dreams are returning of floating on nothing --
Of soaring an empty sky.
Like a phoenix, immolated, dying, dying,
From the ashes, recreated, rising!
Over hillocks, through the treetops, diving, diving!
Turning upward, looking skyward, gliding!
Now by a cloud, barely glancing and reaching, touching!
Off again to glide again, and dive again, then up again
And sailing the wind to climb endlessly, outwardly,
Upwardly, ardently, joyously, fearlessly!
Like a symphony, rising, rising!
Phoenix a-borning, new life from ashes ascending.
Rising,
To soar in an unending sky!
Circling by a Nimbus, see the flashing in the blackness...!
Sensing all the power in the crashing of the thunder...!
Racing from the darkness to the rainbow to the sunlight --
Sailing the wind to climb endlessly, outwardly,
Upwardly, ardently, joyously, fearlessly!
Like a symphony, rising, rising!
Passionate flying, green-haven earth left abandoned,
Rising,
Winging and soaring unending, fearlessly on high!
A filk by Nimbus 1944 set to Mr. Longbottom Flies (aka Nimbus 2000) by John Williams, HP CD1 track 19, 1:47-3:45
1ST SOLO
Talents are a feature, but it's not all of you;
It's not what you have, it's all what you do!
Doing what you do is how your soul will be seen,
So do it with flair and be keen!
2ND SOLO
Magic is an art that we apply by the rule,
As urged in the home, as taught in the school;
Prestidigitation is perfecting the art,
So learn it with care and be smart!
3RD SOLO
Misdirected magic is a sure path to doom,
a highway to grief, a short road to gloom;
Prestidigitation is the much better way,
So mind what you do each new day!
Chorus - ALL
Prestidigitation is a flick of a hand,
the wave of a wand, the vocal demand;
It's a perfect chorus of the arts of the mind,
A talent of few in mankind!
1ST SOLO
No Abra-cadabra can do what we do
with mind-boggling, knee-weakening flair!
2ND SOLO
No hocus or pocus can ever ensue
Without such care!
ALL
Let your magic lead the way!
3RD SOLO
Let your magic lead the way!
ALL
(Chorus)
1ST SOLO
No mumbo or jumbo can open a door
with mind-baffling, eye-opening ease!
2ND SOLO
No presto or chango accomplishes more
than just a tease!
ALL
Mind your magic!
3RD SOLO
Mind your magic!
ALL
(Chorus)
A filk by Nimbus 1944 to A Window To The Past by John Williams. HP CD 3, track 7.
HERMIONE
I live in Once-Upon-a-Time,
Led here from the world sublime.
Heaven hid a magic in me
Which now is set free -- a mountain that I must climb.
Much like a window to the past,
Ancient spells I've learnt to cast.
Here I found in Happily-After
Friendship and laughter, and love at last.
To Long-Ago-And-Far-Away,
Hence I came, my role to play;
Time and fate are a flickering candle,
Not such a simple world, yet I know I'll stay.
I'm living in a Brigadoon,
Somewhere near Beyond-The-Moon;
Much to learning to set myself free,
A magical me -- my future will come so soon.
Horizons now are ever wide,
All my limits set aside;
Now I live in Only-A-Dream.
It's more than it seems ….
I'm living in Or-So-They-Tell,
Learning every charm and spell.
Life is sweet, but darkness is near --
Will I do it well, my deeds fair or fell?
I'm living in a Erewhon,
Simple life forever gone….
Here in Once-Upon-a-Time,
Led here from the world sublime.
Magic now has set me free.