A narrative is a constructive format (as a work of speech, writing, song, film, television, video games, photography or theatre) that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled".
The word "story" may be used as a synonym of "narrative". It can also be used to refer to the sequence of events described in a narrative. A narrative can also be told by a character within a larger narrative. An important part of narration is the narrative mode, the set of methods used to communicate the narrative through a process narration (see also "Narrative Aesthetics" below).
Along with exposition, argumentation and description, narration, broadly defined, is one of four rhetorical modes of discourse. More narrowly defined, it is the fiction-writing mode whereby the narrator communicates directly to the reader.
Stories are an important aspect of culture. Many works of art and most works of literature tell stories; indeed, most of the humanities involve stories. Owen Flanagan of Duke University, a leading consciousness researcher, writes that "Evidence strongly suggests that humans in all cultures come to cast their own identity in some sort of narrative form. We are inveterate storytellers."
Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, c. February 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing. He stood as a living counter-example to slaveholders' arguments that slaves did not have the intellectual capacity to function as independent American citizens. Many Northerners also found it hard to believe that such a great orator had been a slave.
Douglass wrote several autobiographies, eloquently describing his experiences in slavery in his 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, which became influential in its support for abolition. He wrote two more autobiographies, with his last, Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, published in 1881 and covering events through and after the Civil War. After the Civil War, Douglass remained active in the United States' struggle to reach its potential as a "land of the free". Douglass actively supported women's suffrage. Without his approval he became the first African American nominated for Vice President of the United States as the running mate of Victoria Woodhull on the impracticable and small Equal Rights Party ticket. Douglass held multiple public offices.
You were only giving me the time of day
And it was hard for me to keep that smile straight
In the corner of the bar around the way from me
But I knew what would become of us that night
Everybody else was judging through the corners of their eyes
And I could hardly tell you any single truth
Or move
And hallelujah
Me and all my friends
Waiting for the sun
To make us new again
Or finally burn up
And bring us to our end
We are not all quite as blessed as we may seem
I've got these looks but I can't keep my body clean
But I know that I can use my tongue to speak and sing
Hallelujah
Me and all my friends
Waiting for the sun
To bring us to our end
Or finally burn up
And make us free again
And hallelujah
I am free again
And praise the good old lord
But do not wait for him
'Cause he won't save your soul
Or clean it of it's sins
So let's soak in them
Hallelujah
Me and all my friends
Waiting for the sun
To make us new again
Or finally burn up
And bring us to our end
You look so dumb with your cherry red lipstick on
I can feel you push, but are you sure that this is what
you want?
And is that your can-you-see-I'm-over-you smile?
Well, baby, I will bury you if this is going to be
awhile
All year long I've waited for you to move on
You drove my patience through the floor
With your so dramatic selfish tactics
But you're right here knocking down my door
With your pretty fingers digging deeper still
You too obsessed with everything thing I do
I've been losing sleep but I can guarantee it's not
over you
It feels so good to finally be alone
I was really tired of you torturing my telephone
All year long I've waited for you to move on
You drove my patience through the floor
With your so dramatic selfish tactics
But you're right here knocking down my door
With your pretty fingers digging deeper still
You drove my patience through the floor
With your so dramatic selfish tactics
You drove my patience through the floor
And you keep me coming back for more
With your so dramatic selfish tactics
But you're right here knocking down my door
Sparing her teeth,
The curve of her smile is sharing the blame,
And what a relief it is to sign treaties over dinner at eight fifteen,
And he asked for the end of the world,
Cracking open the hearts of his girls,
And he asked for the end of a life,
When he battered the contracts his wife had adhered to for so many years,
And agreed to play prisoner for so many fears,
For herself and the children,
For swelling up inside,
The armor will fall,
He is breaching defenses with his stories of better times,
To try and recall,
Tears that had salted the wounds that he left inside her mind,
And he asked for the end of the world,
Cracking open the hearts of his girls,
And he asked for the end of a life,
When he begged for forgiveness despite...
All the reasons she could have denied,
His request for a daughter and god knows she tried,
But he broke down inside and settled his lies,
While she fervently listened,
She knew she wasn't right.
When all your photographs fade out,
I'll be the one who takes them down,
And the apologies you choose,
The only memories of you,
When all your photographs fade out,
I'll be the one who takes them down,
And the apologies you choose,
The only memories of you,
And he asked for the end of the world,
Cracking open the hearts of his girls,
And he asked for the end of a life,
When he swept all the sorrow inside.
These girls are cut out from magazines,
wearing pride on fashionable sleeves.
Corner boys with swerving glances,
settle into landmark trances.
Those poor bastards never stand a chance.
And I know you would like to leave me shaking,
from all the things that you're insinuating.
Don't you say now look at what you made me,
'cause I don't give a damn about you now.
You once said that beauty lies in truth.
Mother's curves and ignorance of youth.
Lonely now with this disease,
your desperation aims to please,
while starving for attention on your knees.
And I know you would like to leave me shaking,
from all the things that you're insinuating.
Don't you say now look at what you made me,
'cause I don't give a damn about you now.
Wait, I think you're better off just getting, just
getting some sleep,
'cause you've been drinking like you need it again.
And hey, you know you were beautiful when you were,
when you were like me yeah.
but how you slipping at the start of the end.
Wait I think your better off just getting, just getting
some sleep,
'cause you've been drinking like you need it again.
And I know you would like to leave me shaking,
from all the things that you're insinuating.
Don't you say now look at what you made me,
'cause I don't give a damn about you, I don't give a
Turncoat parents and the children that never arrived.
Pawnshop rings and the road swallowed up by the sky.
And though the static on the radio was signaling that this was the end,
they still sang on just like lovers till the day they decided to be just friends,
and never speak again, to keep from caving in.
So baby this is freedom and you finally are out on your own,
and you left in such a hurry but you
So tell me, if you're ready
then why are your palms sweaty?
Grab tight, your knuckles white
wind up and swing with all your might
All that will be hanging, by days spent in the dark.
Have you had enough, have you had enough?
you build yourself a house, a house that's not a home.
If every shadow is your own, is your own.
Time stands still, your movement froze,
and staring down at what you broke,
and walk on, the dust will lift from the ground,
and settle into new found comfort in your empty space.
Eyes drowning, surrounding colours bleed into the air
and the life you stood by dissolves in arbitrary lines,
you drew just to have something to cross.
Have you had enough, have you had enough?
so dirty up your hands, the hands that used to,
this whole foundation let go, let go.
Time stands still, your movement froze,
and staring down at what you broke,
and walk on, the dust will lift from the ground,
and settle into new found comfort in your empty space.
So tear it, rip away my pain my memory
stare at all the nothing you created.
Tear it, rip away my pain my memory
stare at all the nothing you created.
Time stands still, your movement froze,
and staring down at what you broke,
and walk on, the dust will lift from the ground,
We probably shouldn't talk,
cuz talking leads to thinking and
eyes wide open blank in the dark.
We probably shouldn't think,
cuz thinking leads to questioning and
circles you right back to the start
But everything used to make sense,
We're testing it in our own strength, oh no
If we don't leave now, we will break
We will falter, we will fade
If we don't leave now, we will harm,
We'll regret what we've done to ourselves
I probably shouldn't wish,
But your breath on my skin
It's like the cold that's traveling down from the vents
above our heads
And drinking is no excuse,
It's an easy one to use
When lack of self control has left you making poor
decisions for yourself
Everything used to make sense,
We're testing it in our own strength, oh no
If we don't leave now, we will break,
we will falter, we will fade.
If we don't leave now, we will harm,
We'll regret what we've done
oh, ah, oh, what have I done, what have I done
oh, ah, oh I've gone and hurt the one I love
If we don't leave now, we will break,
We will falter, we will fade.
If we don't leave now, we will harm,
We'll regret what we've done
If we don't leave now, we will break,
We will falter, we will fade.
If we don't leave now, we will harm,
Green eyes staring as the room spins baby from behind
your desk
Until you know you look so good with your pale skin in
your bright blue dress
Well I talked and I learned and my tongue couldn't turn
its tricks on you
So I tripped and perspired and fled from your island to
plan my next move
And all this time I'm waiting for a taste of what you
hide
But I'll know better when I am in too deep
You will be mine
You will be mine
You will be mine
You will be mine
Sit tight, baby, we'll be just fine slurring over
drinks for two
But it's only a chase if you've been holding out
Still, though the wine is tempting you
And you talked and you learned that my heart wouldn't
turn
But it's too late now to lose
It's the catch in your speech, it's your clothes at
your feet
And the way you dance to how I groove
And all this time I'm waiting for a taste of what you
hide
But I'll know better when I am in too deep
You will be mine
You will be mine
You will be mine
You will be mine
Sorry honey I'll be late tonight
Sorry honey I'll be late tonight
Don't wait up for me this time
Don't wait up for me this time
Sorry honey I'll be late tonight
Sorry honey I'll be late tonight
Don't wait up for me this time
And all this time I'm waiting for a taste of what you
hide
But I'll know better when I am in too deep
You will be mine
And don't ask what this ring is for,
I have yet to realize
But I'll know better when I am in too deep
You will be mine
You will be mine
Are you in danger, you swore by a ship wreck
And now you are stranded sinking like a ghost
So sit by your door, and wait for me to storm in
But I swear, I swear I'm never coming home
And the Winter's coming close
And my body is growing cold
And I'm trembling in fright, oh my
Cause I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
I drown in the mirror, you notice thing is damn disease
And I never surface who I want to be
I'm shaking with bruises; I can barely stand my shame
Knowing every inch it hesitates
And it breaks and it breaks, and it breaks
And the Winter's coming close
And my body is growing cold
And I'm trembling in fright oh my
Cause I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
Cause I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
I am a sinner with a crooked smile
And you took to the rhythm of a no good liar
I am a sinner with a crooked smile
Turncoat parents and the children that never arrived.
Pawnshop rings and the road swallowed up by the sky.
And though the static on the radio was signaling that this was the end,
they still sang on just like lovers till the day they decided to be just friends,
and never speak again, to keep from caving in.
So baby this is freedom and you finally are out on your own,
Say when and I'll come,
hang my coat at your door.
You can touch me all you want,
with one eye on the clock.
I hold you here in my mind,
Where I am coming undone
With fleeting emotions a landslide is born
and the pieces will tumble through cracks in your floor
Silence is stating intentions
Louder than anything we've ever mentioned.
All that was promised has already fled
Just hold me 'till it ends.
Echo, your voice seems to haunt me
(Oh you should go)
Oh you should go, yeah I'm already leaving
All of your life on the doorstep,
do you turn, do you turn, do you turn your head?
Silence is stating intentions
Louder than anything we've ever mentioned.
All that was promised has already fled
Just hold me 'till it ends, 'till it ends, 'till it ends.
Who could know, what time would show?
Who could know?
Silence is stating intentions.
This is a decision that I know full well I made,
I remind myself as I'm walking up to your gate.
and through the wire diamonds I can see your shape,
you're fumbling around with your keys.
You say we can sit and stay but I'm trouble keeping up with you pleasantries,
don't you find them unsettling, can we go walking?
That's probably a good idea; yeah It's probably a good idea.
'Cause I don't want to fall in love with you again,
I'm so afraid I'm capable of it.
And after time I can't accept you're still the song on my breath.
You're not easy to forget.
Moving in rhythm, footsteps aligned.
I'm doing okay 'till your arm brushes mine and then I panic.
I thought I figured it out, but I'm taken aback.
as we pass the closing stores and lit up cafes,
there are so many of them these days; so many strangers. Their walking around in our place, in our place.
And suddenly it's all unclear; yeah suddenly it's all unclear.
Yeah this probably was a bad idea; yeah this probably was a bad idea.
'Cause I don't want to fall in love with you again
I'm so afraid I'm capable of it.
And after time I can't accept you're still the song on my breath.
You're not easy to forget.
We used to own these streets, head to head, you spinning me.
And now we say that we were young, and what we had has come and gone.
We used to own these streets, head to head, you spinning me
Your back's against a concrete wall,
your body buzzing on the intercom, the intercom, the intercom, the intercom.
Don't be alarmed at that the things that I've said, they're only the truth, love.
I know that your anxious to lay this to bed, your always the scared one.
The air has been rushing hard up against the walls and the windows.
I'll welcome the cool breeze to let itself in and con you to keep close.
It's not the same when your eyes are sinking,
don't be afraid of what I've been thinking.
I know it seems that we're moving to fast,
but don't be afraid of what I've been thinking.
There's so many people here in-between, their constantly moving.
And sneaking around them, tears at the seams of what we've been doing.
There's too many questions, try to let go, there's no harm in hurting.
The crowd that surrounds you, and darling I know, it's what their deserving.
It's not the same when your eyes are sinking,
don't be afraid of what I've been thinking.
I know it seems that we're moving to fast,
but don't be afraid of what I've been thinking.
Baby you've got faith in a smile
I think others would kill for
Baby you've got faith in a smile
I think others would kill for
It's not the same when your eyes are sinking,
don't be afraid of what I've been thinking.
I know it seems that we're moving to fast,
but don't be afraid of what I've been thinking.
Don't be afraid of what I've been thinking.
The silence and the sirens,
they're all together frightening.
The sounds of someone dying,
and I am only missing you again.
So here's a cheers to treason,
and giving me a reason
for drinking well this season.
When you will learn to leave this lonely bed,
for every word he said.
And will you still come around,
to keep me on the ground?
We might be better off then,
with every inch of distance.
So you don't have to cope with
the pulsing sound that caught you from the start,
and caught me off guard.
And will you still come around,
to keep me on the ground?
And will you still come around,
'Cause I've been breaking down?
She said "Please don't do this,
yeah you know we're still the best of friends."
(Every choice you make.)
"and you know it's not like that,
it's just been way too hard."
(Pushes me away)
She said "lease don't do this,
yeah you know we're still the best of friends."
(I'm better now)
"and you know it's not like that,
it's just been way too hard."
(But you're not here to find out.)
And will you still come around,
to keep me on the ground?
And will you still come around,
Creature from another life
Walking out from in the light
The times is wrong, place is right
And he crosses to the other side
He reached out and touched her hand
Yeah, and awoke in wonderland
Where black is white and wrong is right
But she killed him with her half smile
It made his life worth living
And now she's gliding away
And he hesitates
Yeah, he waits and he waits
Now she's changing her name
Petals in the air float to the ground
Oh this life is fleeting
Chasing a feeling
So he threw away his safety net
And climbed into his fighter jet
Launching missiles as goodbyes
He planned his kamikaze dive
But she made his life worth living
And now she's gliding away
And he hesitates
Yeah, he waits and he waits
Now she's changing her name
Petals in the air float to the ground
Oh this life is fleeting
Chasing a feeling