IMI (In My Imagination)

IMI (In My Imagination)
Words and music by Penny Lewton Binek

Raised in a fairy tale of This is how life is:
Here is what you do, who you are, and how you be.
I followed its steps, its rules, the best that I knew how.
Safe, I thought I was, but I was bored beyond recall.
Parent-teacher-preacher tapes--they reel 'round in my mind.
Well-intentioned they may be, I just feel confined.
In desperation, I yank a single thread.
My world's unraveling, I'm falling from my bed!
I'm falling from my bed!

Chorus:
I'm divine
In my imagination
I breathe just fine
No more expectations
I'm alright
No needless condemnations
I-M-I
In my imagination
No more manipulation

A loopy hamster on its cagey wheel,
I race! I rage! I rant! All to no avail.
All my goals, my well-laid plans, they lead to Nowhere Street.
My mirrors, they say I'm wrong, they say I'm incomplete.
I color outside one line, turns out it was a wall.
My glass house--it shatters--and I began to fall.
Afraid of landing in a twisted, scrambled heap,
I beg some god out there, “Please! My soul to keep!”
"Please, my soul to keep!"

Chorus:
I am wise
In my imagination
I delight
In my soul's appreciation
For dark and light
In all its incarnations
I-M-I
In my imagination.
No need for reparation

Hypnotic slumber--a quake shakes me awake.
In this hopeless life of mine, I can't seem to catch a break.
Chasing a ticky-tock clock, a wonderland mad hatter,
My mind, in endless chatter, asks me, “Who am I, and do I matter?”
These clay feet—they crumble—so I stumble and I fall.
I tumble down and down through a dark and spinning maw.
"Trust yourself,” I cry! “Take a deep breath and let it slide.”
I close my eyes! I open wide!--Turns out that I can glide!
Turns out that I can fly hi-igh!

Chorus:
I can fly
In my imagination
I realize
This sensual fascination
So I dive inside
Exploring my creations
I-M-I
In my imagination
I feel no limitation

When I close my eyes
In my imagination
Deep inside
I feel this liberation
Far and wide
I have this revelation--
I am I--
In my imagination,
Through all my tribulation--
I'm alright!

Refrain:
Na-na-nah, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
Na-na-nah, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
Na-na-nan, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
I-M-I
I'm alright!

Na-na-nah, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
Na-na-nah, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
Na-na-nan, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
I-M-I
I'm alright!

In my imagination
Through all my tribulation.
In my imagination
When I close my eyes
I'm al-right!

In my imagination
I have this revelation.
In my imagination
When I close my eyes
I'm al-right!

Na-na-nah, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
In my imagination
Na-na-nah, Na-na-nah, Na-nah nah
I am I--
I'm al-right!