Wonderland by Joe Griffin

Andy and I wrote this in the late 80s and recorded it for our first album, "Almost Home," and then again for the third album we never completed. I tend to feel ambivalent about the songs I wrote in my youth, but this song's story of acceptance - acceptance of loss, heartbreak, what have you - resonates with me more at my current age than it ever did then. Sure, there are some lines I'd rewrite if I was "still working on" the song (if you can explain the china doll, you're ahead of me). But it's not my place to correct 20-year old Joe and Andy's work; they would never stand for that.

jmg 12/28/23

Tracklist

1.	Wonderland	3:04

Lyrics

It doesn’t hurt to say goodbye
And I won’t spend my time waiting for the sky to fall
What’s left behind when dreams collide is lost
Inside a moment
And locked inside another china doll.

That’s what you wanted.
That’s what you said.
What you tried to do.

And now that I have seen you smile
I won’t fill my mind
With thoughts of how you might return
I’ll end the day
And close my eyes
And try
(just a bit too hard)
To find there was nothing left to learn.

That’s what you wanted.
That’s what you said.
What you tried to do.

This is the time that was.
These are the days gone by.
This is what you always tried to do.
No more sleepless nights
No more long drives home
No more time in Wonderland with you.

Credits

released December 29, 2023
performed by Joe Griffin

words and music by Joe Griffin and Andrew Magnuson

©1990 Stupid itchy Church Socks Music (BMI) and Magnusongs

photo: Harry F. Griffin
model: David Griffin

License