Stories in the Dark
Words and music by Joe Ficklin

Dm C Can you tell me please, where have the children gone today? Dm F C E It seems like just a minute since I've sent them out to play Am C I thought I heard their voices calling through the tangled trees Dm F E But when I went to look for them I only found the breeze Am G E There are doorways in this world that lead to places far a-way G Dm Am Where space and time have never left their mark Am G E Beneath the spreading branches we have found a place to stay G Am A place for sharing stories in the dark. Kyle kicked the soccer ball, it rolled into the conduit The concrete pipe was dark and damp, yet Jodi went in after it The children all came running at the shout of her surprise And crawling through they found a magic world before their eyes The tree that rose up from that soil had never known the sun's pure light Instead a million stars shone down and filled this world with colors bright And books lay scattered on the ground, their leather covers carved and worn The writing on their pages writhed and then took on familiar form There are doorways in this world that lead to places far away Where space and time have never left their mark Beneath the spreading branches we have found a place to stay A place for sharing stories in the dark. With awesome wonder in his voice, the eldest, Dave, began to read The words took shape before his eyes, a tale of dark and loathsome deed From their safe and hidden darkness, creatures of the tree emerged Foul of form, yet one in plan, upon the children they converged David read with strengthening voice, while Jennifer and Jodi stood Ethan sat while Kyle stared upon the creatures of the wood Despite their fearsome company, the children knew they'd naught to fear The monsters sat within the circle, once again the tales to hear There are doorways in this world that lead to places far away Where space and time have never left their mark Beneath the spreading branches we have found a place to stay A place for sharing stories in the dark. Can you tell me please, where did the children go today? There seems to be a shadow on the substance of their play And David brought me back some strange and twisted bark I think they may have found the place where WE shared stories in the dark. There are stories in this world that lead to places far away Where space and time have never left their mark Beneath the spreading branches we have found a place to stay A place for sharing stories in the dark A place for sharing stories in the dark A place for sharing stories in the dark.