What Is This Place?
Music and Lyrics by Hal Stephens
Listen to the song
demo in RealAudio 
CHENG HUAN
DIRT AND FILTH AND SHAMELESSNESS
EVERYWHERE I TURN,
A FAR CRY FROM MY ASIAN HOME.
FATHER, YOU HAVE SENT ME HERE,
YOU SAY IT IS BEST FOR ME.
IT WILL BE A TEST FOR ME.
ALL MY LIFE I HAVE PREPARED TO SERVE MY EMPEROR
THEN THE EMPERESS STRIPS MY DREAMS AWAY.
FATHER, YOU HAVE ALWAYS TAUGHT
LET THE FUTURE BE YOUR GUIDE.
TELL ME NOW, HAVE I ARRIVED?
WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
THIS DAMP AND DREARY PLACE?
IT SERVES NO PURPOSE BUT TO FILL A VOID HERE.
THESE PEOPLE PACE AT SUCH A WEARY PACE,
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE I AM TO AVOID HERE.
THEIR WORDS I HEAR ARE VILE AND UNCOMPREHENDABLE
AND HOW THEY REEK OF ALCOHOL.
AND HERE A FOREIGNER’S COMPLETELY UNDEFENDABLE;
I DON'T THINK I’LL FIT IN AT ALL.
WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
THIS OLD AND AWFUL PLACE?
I WANT TO WAKE UP FROM THIS LONELY NIGHTMARE!
THEY HAVE NO GRACE.
SUCH AN UNLAWFUL RACE,
THEY'RE SO AMBITIONLESS,
BUT, WHAT DO I CARE?
I'LL GET THROUGH THIS, I'LL DO IT BY KEEPING TO MYSELF,
I'LL MAKE NO FRIEND, I'LL MAKE NO FOE.
I'LL JUST GET LOST INSIDE MY BOOKS, INSIDE MY LITTLE ROOM.
BEFORE I KNOW IT I'LL BE HOME.
WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
I'M TRYING TO ERASE THIS STENCH, THIS ATMOSPHERE,
BUT CAN'T IGNORE IT.
WHAT IS THIS PLACE?
WITHOUT ONE SMILING FACE,
DICKENS DID LITTLE TO PREPARE ME FOR IT.
I'LL GET ALONG, I'LL DO IT; IT WILL NOT DRAG ME DOWN.
I ONLY NEED MYSELF ALONE.
I'LL JUST GET LOST INSIDE MY BOOKS, INSIDE MY LITTLE ROOM;
BEFORE I KNOW IT I’LL BE HOME.
HOME, IT’S WHERE I LONG TO SEE.
HOME, THIS PLACE WILL NEVER BE!
(OH, FATHER)
PLEASE BRING ME HOME,
PLEASE BRING ME HOME!
Copyright 2000