Songs to a Stranger by Raphael Riparip

Nice to meet you, stranger. We haven’t met but it feels like I already know who you are. I never felt being so close to a stranger. There’s like this fine invisible line that somehow connects me with you. You may not feel it but I knew inside me that you are something. Someone more than just a stranger. Never in my life did I search for someone or something I don’t know. I mean, who would? But when the worlds gave me the chance to see a glimpse of who this stranger is, I was exhilarated. I am looking forward of meeting this person even though I am not sure if I would have the chance to. This thrills and scares me at the same time. What if I will never have the chance to meet this person? Will I still be connected to that someone? I don’t know what will happen next but I am willing to do anything I can just to have that “chance.”

This book is for that stranger. These songs are for you. I want you to know who I am. It maybe the most straightforward statement I have said but I don’t want to miss this chance of meeting a stranger you think you have a connection with. The questions on this book are the words I want to ask you. If fate will give me the chance to ask these personally, I would definitely do it and eagerly listen to your answers.

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

Don’t take this the wrong way,

And so I fall in love just a little, a lit-

You knew who I was with every step that I

tle bit every day with someone new

ran to you, Only blue or black days,

There’s an art to life’s distractions,

Electing strange perfections in any stranger

To somehow escape the burning weight, the

I choose.

art of scraping through, Some like to imag-

Would things be easier if there was a right

ine, The dark caress of someone else, I

way? Honey, there is no right way.

guess any thrill will do.

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

Would you like to be famous? In what way?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

Is there something that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you done it?

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

But I don’t want “good” and I don’t want

I don’t want just another hug and a kiss

“good enough” I “can’t sleep, can’t breathe

goodnight. Catchin’ up calls and a date

without your love” Front porch and one more

sometimes. I love that we’re rebels, and we

kiss, it doesn’t make sense to anybody else.

still believe. We’re the kind of crazy peo-

Who cares if you’re all I think about,

ple wish that they could be,

I’ve searched the world and I know now,

Tonight the midnight rules are breaking

It ain’t right if you ain’t lost your mind

There’s no such thing as wild enough,

I don’t want easy, I want crazy

And maybe we just think too much

I wanna be scared, don’t wanna know why

Who needs to play it safe in love?

Wanna feel good, don’t have to be right

Let’s be crazy.

The world makes all kinds of rules for love I say you gotta let it do what it does.

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

S T R A N G E R

And I promise you kid that I’ll give so much

I’ve broken my heart so many times I stopped

more than I get

keeping track

I just haven’t met you yet

Talk myself in, I talk myself out

I might have to wait, I’ll never give up

I get all worked up then I let myself down

I guess it’s half timing and the other

I tried so very hard not to lose it

half’s luck

I came up with a million excuses

Wherever you are, whenever it’s right

I thought, I thought of every possibility

You’ll come out of nowhere and into my life

And I know some day that it’ll all turn out

And I know that we can be so amazing

You’ll make me work so we can work to work

And baby your love is gonna change me

it out

And now I can see every possibility

S O N G S

T O

I’m not surprised, not everything lasts

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?

S T R A N G E R

You’re just another day that keeps me

I’m holding it back, just want to shout out,

breathing

give me more

Baby, I love the way that there’s nothing

You’re just a hideaway, you’re just a feel-

sure. Baby, don’t stop me, hide away with me

ing

some more

You let my heart escape beyond the meaning

You send me the shiver up my spine, might

Not even I can find a way to stop the storm

overflow

Baby, it’s out of my control, what’s going

You’re bringing me closer to the edge of

on?

letting go

S O N G S

T O

Taking me higher than I’ve ever been before

But you’re just a chance I take to keep on dreaming

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

What is your most treasured memory?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

I don’t really like big crowds

Someone to give me their jacket when it’s

I tend to shut people out

cold

I like my space, yeah

Got that young love even when we’re old

But I’d love to have a soulmate

Yeah sometimes, I want someone to grab my

And God’ll give him to me someday

hand

And I know it’ll be worth the wait

Pick me up, pull me close, be my man

Sometimes, I just want somebody to hold

I will love you till the end

Someone to give me their jacket when it’s

T O

So if you’re out there I swear to be good to

cold

S O N G S

you

Got that young love even when we’re old

But I’m done lookin’, for my future someone

Yeah sometimes, I want someone to grab my

Cause when the time is right

hand

You’ll be here, but for now

Pick me up, pull me close, be my man

Dear no one, this is your love song

I will love you till the end

S T R A N G E R

But sometimes, I just want somebody to hold

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

Complete this sentence: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... â&#x20AC;&#x153;

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you told them yet?

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

Woke up this morning

So rest your weary heart

Heard the TV sayin’ something

And relax your mind

‘Bout disaster in the world and

Cause I’m gonna love you boy

It made me wonder where I’m going

Until the end of time

There’s so much darkness in the world

Now if you’re ever wondering

But I see beauty left in you boy

About the way I’m feeling

And what you give me let’s me know

Well baby boy there ain’t no question

That I’ll be alright

Just to be around you is a blessing

‘Cause if your love was all I had

Sick and tired of trying to save the world

In this life

I just want to spend my time with you boy

Well that would be enough

And what you’re giving me

Until the end of time

Let’s me know that we’ll be alright.

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

What is your most terrible memory?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

How close and warm is your family? Do you feel your childhood was happier than most other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s?

They fly on

Hovering above

Flock of birds

Just a flock of birds

Hovering above

It’s how you think of love

Into smoke I’m turned

And I always

And rise following them up

Look up to the sky

So fly on

T O

Pray before the dawn

Ride through

S O N G S

‘Cause they fly always

Maybe one day I’ll fly next to you

Sometimes they arrive

Fly on, ride through

Sometimes they are gone

Maybe one day I can fly with you

S T R A N G E R

Flock of birds

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

What does friendship mean to you?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

So let the words slip out of your mouth

The rest of the world fades from view

And all of the steps that led me to you

And all of the love I see

And all of the hell I had to walk through

Please say you feel it too

But I wouldn’t trade a day for the chance to

And all of the noise I hear inside

say

Restless and loud, unspoken and wild

My love, I’m in love with you

And all that you need to say

I know that we’re both afraid

T O

To make it all go away

We both made the same mistakes

Is that you feel the same way too

An open heart is an open wound to you

And I know

And in the wind of a heavy choice

The scariest part is letting go

Love has a quiet voice

‘Cause love is a ghost you can’t control

Still your mind, now I’m yours to choose

S O N G S

S T R A N G E R

All of the lights land on you

I promise you the truth can’t hurt us now

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

S T R A N G E R

Stop sign, I think I love you

Start line, fall down

Giving my heart to you

And I never wanted to let you go

No one, before you

To hold someone

No one, no

Somebody else, no

Sky falls, around you

Breaking hearts everywhere you go

Before I, let go

Tell me where you go

And I never wanted to let you go

Cause paper hearts were meant to unfold

To hold someone

I keep giving it all, just to love someone

Somebody else, no

Stars shine, I think I love you

Breaking hearts everywhere you go

Giving my heart to you

Tell me where you go

S O N G S

T O

Electric, I feel you

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be giving it all

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

What roles do love and affection play in your life?

S T R A N G E R S O N G S

T O

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

I’m miles away from seeing you

And I’m staring at the moon

I can see the stars

I saw a shooting star

I wonder, do you see them, too?

And thought of you

So open your eyes and see

I sang a lullaby

The way our horizons meet

By the waterside and knew

And all of the lights will lead

T O

If you were here,

Into the night with me

S O N G S

I’d sing to you

And I know these scars will bleed

You’re on the other side

But both of our hearts believe

As the skyline splits in two

All of these stars will guide us home

S T R A N G E R

It’s just another night

S T R A N G E R A T O S O N G S

How do you feel about your relationship with your mother?

I don’t know where this will take me but I did what I can do to share you a huge piece of myself. This is what I am and these are the things that run

looking forward to meeting you. Hoping someday I can physically be connected with you. These are my words that are always meant for you. People say, “you never give up on people you love.” I

S O N G S

T O

S T R A N G E R

in my mind whenever I think of you, stranger. I’m

am in certainty that I am not yet in love but we’ll never know what this world will bring to our lives. Maybe fate will give us the chance or not but hey, atleast I tried. I can die happily knowing that I had the courage to tell someone what I genuinely feel. You gave me the courage and I will be forever grateful. By the way, my name is Raph. Hope to meet you soon, A.