plastic giant, looking down,
trying not to make a sound,
watching from the mountainside,
fables flash before his eyes,
he knows how the story ends
after all the twists and bends,
high above our playground tunes,
plastic giant gently looms,

once upon a time,
closed my eyes while you went hiding,
count to ten, but I can't find you,
once upon a time..

plastic giant wonders why
when, and how, and who decides,
boxes full of fairy tales,
slide shows from old rummage sales,
whistle some sad song you know
to the townsfolk down below,
what's that plaintive call they heard?
surely just a distant bird..

once upon a time,
closed my eyes while you were hiding,
count to ten, I still can't find you, once upon a time,
broken nursery rhymes,
passed along by children chanting,
spin in circles, fall down laughing,
once upon a time..

plastic giant looking out,
face half-hidden by a cloud,
if you can't grant one last wish,
promise you'll remember this...

Ab (F, capo 3)

Co-written with Pam Reyes, Austin TX (from the prompt words "plastic" & "giant", at a songwriting retreat hosted by Mirabelle Skipworth, 2/2025.)