The Mr. Henry Suite
1. Mr. Henry / 2. Doctor Havelock / 3. Rubber Room
This suite was specifically made for the Vocal Media "Harmonic Verses" challenge.
Thank you to my friend Tiffany Gordon for encouraging me to enter this challenge.
"The Rick Henry Suite" is comprised of three songs based on my recurring story series called "Voices", the lead character is named Timothy Andrews. Timothy's alter ego is Mr. Henry.
Lyrics by Rick Henry Christopher
Concept by Rick Henry Christopher
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The Mr. Henry Suite
1. Mr. Henry
[Verse 1]
Mr Henry walks the halls of silent gold
Pictures of stories never told
Famous family, the name is overblown
In a house of skeletons Mr Henry feels alone
[Verse 2]
A multitude of questions he dares not ask
Hidden behind his perfect mask
Is there a meaning for this game called fame?
He’s searching for an answer beyond the family name
[Chorus 1]
Mr Henry’s lost in a world of cameras flashing
He’s searching for something that isn’t always crashing
In this insane noise, he finds a quiet space
He’s on a hidden path to a slower pace
[Verse 3]
In jars and boxes, his fantasy world lies
Microscopic realms beneath his eyes
Insects crawl sparking Mr Henry’s game
A private kingdom expanding beyond the family fame
[Bridge]
In the glare of fame his parents are blinded
They unload him on Nannies to be guided
They send gifts from far away
Their love feels distant, cold, and strained
Each gesture meant to lift him high
Only emphasizes this long goodbye
[Verse 4]
In his solitary garden, peace is found
A world of discovery without a sound
With every creature, he begins to see
The beauty in nature and the wonder of being free
[Chorus 2]
Mr Henry’s escaping the world of cameras flashing
His foundation is strong, no longer always crashing
In this sore insane noise, he finds a quiet space
He’s on a hidden path to a slower pace
[Outro]
Mr Henry is a lonely boy
His insect village is his joy
Inside his manufactured world
Lies a happiness unfurled
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2. Doctor Havelock
[Verse 1]
Confusion took over Mr Henry
As he woke from a frightening dream
He was a black cat
Walking under ladders
Tiptoeing across thirteen shattered mirrors
[Verse 2]
Someone tried to suffocate him
Under an umbrella opened indoors
A siren blared from faraway
As his mother’s head fell to the floor
[Chorus 1]
Dr Havelock spoke in a strange voice
The master of psychoactive drugs
Dr Havelock gave me no choice
He knocked me out with his hypnotism
[Verse 3]
Mr Henry struggled with a dark shadow
An image larger and stronger than he
He managed to knock the chair out from under
But soon he blacked out into a dream
[Chorus 2]
Dr Havelock calls me Timothy
An alter ego of the real me
Dr Havelock my name is Rick Henry
He numbs my mind to the point of frailty
[Chorus 3]
Dr Havelock I’m knocking
I want to escape from this box
Dr Havelock won’t you let me out
Please remove the chains and locks
[Outro]
Dr Havelock I want to be free
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2. Rubber Room
[Intro]
They’ve got a rubber room and it’s waiting for me
[Verse 1]
My name is on the door R. I. C. K.
Wrap me in a jacket
My arms are confined
Take me to that rubber room
To live out my life
[Verse 2]
I am bouncing off the walls
Sorry, I didn’t mean to bite your arm
But nothing seems to be able to control me
I am a danger
But I mean no harm
[Verse 3]
They call me by name. Are you OK Rick?
Am I one of the loonies?
I can’t see I’m blind
Take me to that rubber room
To live out my life
[Verse 4]
The padded walls are safe
I need to be protected from myself
But nothing seems to be able to control me
I am down spiral
From my mental health
[Bridge]
I’m out of control
Sinking down in this hole
It’s dark all around me
I cannot see
Drowning, drowning
But I have a good life
I’m just lonely
I love you
[Chorus 1]
I love you in my rubber room
All alone in my rubber room
Always dark in my rubber room
Tears are falling in my rubber room
[Outro]
*Warning*
You better stay away from me, my teeth are razor sharp
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Links to the chapters of Voices
Chapter 2: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/voices-part-two%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}
Chapter 3: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/voices-iii%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}
Chapter 4: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/voices-iv%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}
Chapter 5: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/voices-part-five%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}
Chapter Six: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/voices-part-six%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}
Chapter Seven: https://shopping-feedback.today/chapters/blackbird-fly-part-14-voices-part-7%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="1e4ilk4-Heading">.css-1e4ilk4-Heading{font-size:1.625rem;margin-top:40px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;}
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Musically Yours, RHC
About the Creator
Rick Henry Christopher
Writing fulfills my need for intellectual stimulus, emotional release, and soothing the bruises of the day.
I’m an open book. I’m not afraid to show my face or speak my mind
Visit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vocalplusassist
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More stories from Rick Henry Christopher and writers in Beat and other communities.
Rick Henry Christopher's Top 3 Picks in 1970s Music
The following is a comprehensive list of my favorite music of the 1970s. It spans various genres and categories. There a little something for everybody. The very first section containing my overall favroites features a video for each entrant. Each successive category features only a video for the numbr one listing. ENJOY!
By Rick Henry Christopher 10 months ago in Beat
'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan5 days ago in Beat
Hurricane Joey
I saw a challenge about writing a story with as many song titles from a single artist that you can fit in and hopefully make sense of . Barclay James Harvest once released a song called "Titles" that consisted virtually entirely of Beatles song titles, so I could have just typed that and submitted it as a piece of poetry. You can listen to it here. I love it, actually.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 7 days ago in Beat
Comments (22)
The audio is excellent. Such variety and a lot of work I bet, Rick. Comical and dark. The rubber room one lol! 😄 👏
I love how the lyrics follow and capture the dark feelings and tone of the narrative. Very creative. I’m about to listen to the audio. ☺️ 🎶
"As he woke from a frightening dream/ He was a black cat/Walking under ladders/ Tiptoeing across thirteen shattered mirrors": Awesome imagery. Additionally, the contrast of rhymes for the opening character is great literary /poetic device.
Hey, I encouraged you too, but Tiffy gets all the kudos. Great work, if only i could sing. But I am encouraged by you. Good luck.
I truly felt like I was right there in the suite, experiencing every chord and pause. Looking forward to reading more from you!
Dr Havelock - Bowie-esque. Rubber Room like Robotics. This is way out of my league, so I congratulate you profusely!! Congratulations on being on the Leaderboard! 🥳 🥳 🥳
Wooohooooo congratulations on your Leaderboard placement! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Great work Rick. Good luck in the contest. Mr Henry had a Doctor Who vibe for me. Dr Havelock was like something off Bowies Space Oddity. Rubber room was straight eighties. In honor of rate o rama 100 Rubber Room 99 Doc Havelock 98 Mr Henry. Awesome 😎 I really hope this places
Awesome entry Rick! I think I liked the drums the best in the first track but that repeating keyboard sound in the last track was Killer!!! 😎
Woah, Rick!! There is such a story in your lyrics. I'll have to go read the accompanying series! Incredible!
AWESOME!
What a fantastic article blending introspection with a sense of loneliness and hearing for freedom. Rick Henry Christopher's creativity shines through each song, bringing life to a powerful and thought-provoking narrative, this is awesome!!!!
Fascinating following along while listening. I imagine David Bowie singing this just as imagined.
Great Imagery in this verse Challenge!!!!
This is a great read. This is def a contender for the absurd challenge.
I’m impressed. When I read about this challenge I thought you most likely were going to participate. This is superb. So many layers I can see. I really liked it. 🍀
A well-wrought companion to your Voices series, Rick!
Whoaaaa, this was outstanding! Also, I feel that it could fit the Absurd Challenge
Well done RHC. You know I am a huge fan of your writing!!! Keep up the great the work!!!!
Ok, so, amazing song. I can’t write songs line you can! Ok so, who has razor sharp teeth you or the doctor? Also, did I mention this is amazing!? I can write horror, sure. But you can write songs! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😈
Phenomenal job Cousin! 🫶🏾💕💖 The songs were jammin'! So lively, sophisticated, and creative! Way 2 Go! I loved your video and your colorful "musically yours" outro as well! BRAVO RHC! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🎉🎉🎉
nice one. Love how you get inside their minds