Au-thentic Songs

Counting Stars by OneRepublic

Counting Hearts

(autistic community version)

Living my life, mainly deprived of sleep

Seeing a negative world that we now reap

I’ve been living, life shouldn’t be so hard

Said, “No more counting dollars, we’ll be counting hearts”

Yeah, we’ll be counting hearts

To start, I’ll offer mine

Living is more than fine

And in my face is flashing signs

Seek yourself and you shall find

Fold, I’m not gonna’ fold

Sold, my values can’t be sold

And I don’t think people should be trolled

For doing just what we’re told

I can feel the light

Doing the right thing

And I feel a void

Doing the wrong thing

I couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie

Everything that hurt me just made me survive

Living my life, mainly deprived of sleep

Seeing a negative world that we now reap

I’ve been living, life shouldn’t be so hard

Said, “No more counting dollars, we’ll be counting hearts”

Living my life, mainly deprived of sleep

Seeing a negitive world that we now reap

I’ve been living, life shouldn’t be so hard

Said, “No more counting dollars, we’ll be counting hearts”

Yeah, yeah

I feel your love, and I feel the warm

Rediscovered hope, every turn

Hope is our future world

Go to school, but don’t learn

Fold, I’m not gonna’ fold

Sold, my values can’t be sold

And I don’t think people should be trolled

For doing just what we’re told

I can feel the light

Doing the right thing

And I feel a void

Doing the wrong thing

I couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie, couldn’t lie

Everything that hurt me just made me survive

Living my life, mainly deprived of sleep

Seeing a negative world that we now reap

I’ve been living, life shouldn’t be so hard

Said, “No more counting dollars, we’ll be counting hearts”

Living my life, mainly deprived of sleep

Seeing a negitive world that we now reap

I’ve been living, life shouldn’t be so hard

Said, “No more counting dollars, we’ll be counting hearts”

Oh, Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Everything that hurt me just made me survive

Living my life, mainly deprived of sleep

Seeing a negitive world that we now reap

I’ve been living, life shouldn’t be so hard

Said, “No more counting dollars, we’ll be counting hearts”

Living my life, mainly deprived of sleep

Seeing a negitive world that we now reap

I’ve been living, life shouldn’t be so hard

Said, “No more counting dollars, we’ll be counting hearts”

Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Go to school, but don’t learn

Found in loneliness the lessons I’ve learned

Dance Monkey by Tones and I

Smile Au-thentically

(autistic community version)

They said be yourself it's ok you will be fine

Take my hand and place your footprints just in mine,

Hide in your head as life and love will pass you by

But now I beg to see my smile just one more time

Ooh I see me, see me, see me every time

And oh my I, I, I loved my smile

Life makes me, makes me, makes me wanna cry

And now I beg to see my smile just one more time

So they say

Smile for me, smile for me, smile for me, oh, oh, oh

Take my mask off be the me I was before

They say move from me, move from me, move from me, ay, ay, ay

And all you've learned they make you do it all again

I thought I see all you people connecting walking by

Please don't take my hand, my dear, or look me in my eye

‘Cause I feel like I've been hiding my whole life

But I beg to see my smile just one more time

Ooh I see me, see me, see me every time

And oh my I, I, I loved my smile

Life, makes me, makes me, makes me wanna cry

And now I beg to see my smile just one more time

So they say

Smile for me, smile for me, smile for me, oh, oh, oh

Take my mask off be the me I was before

They say move from me, move from me, move from me, ay, ay, ay

And all you've learned they make you do it all again

They say

Smile for me, smile for me, smile for me, oh, oh, oh

Take my mask off be the me I was before

They say move from me, move from me, move from me, ay, ay, ay

And all you've learned they make you do it all again

Ooh

Woah-oh, woah-oh, oh

Ooh

Ah ah, ah

They say

Smile for me, smile for me, smile for me, oh, oh, oh

Take my mask off be the me I was before

They say move from me, move from me, move from me, ay, ay, ay

And all you've learned they make you do it all again

They say

Smile for me, smile for me, smile for me, oh, oh, oh

Take my mask off be the me I was before

They say move from me, move from me, move from me, ay, ay, ay

And all you've learned they make you do it all again

All again

Don’t stand so close to me by The Police

(Autistic community version)

That feeling, is building

The walls are closing in

need out so, so badly

But people surrounding me

Inside, heads screaming

A minute feels like an age

Don’t touch me or get closer

This place feels like a cage

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Heart pounding not beating

It feels like no escape

This life it’s not so easy

Nor is it to explain

Instinctual, frustrating

So bad it overwhelms

Queueing now, I’m waiting

Feeling people all around

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Hand shaking while paying

Can’t really concentrate

Now panicked on the way out

Breathing getting tough to do

Get outside, get all alone

Hands tremble, dropping my bags

I need to get back home

So please let me by

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Don’t stand, don’t stand so

Don’t stand so close to me

Fireflies by Adam Young and Owl City

(Autistic community version)

You would not believe your eyes

If millions of people

Lit up the world like fireflies

‘Cause they just filled up their hearts

No more teardrops everywhere

You’d see me I would just stand, smile and stare

I’d lost all my belief that planet Earth was sometimes fair

It’s hard to say that I’d thought stay hidden or asleep

‘Cause everything is never as it seems

‘Cause I’d get a thousand stares

From literally everywhere

As they tried to teach me how to live

A remark above my head

Treating me like they want me dead

My heavy mind was just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)

I’d lost all my belief that planet Earth was sometimes fair

It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay hidden or asleep

‘Cause everything is never as it seems (when I stay awake)

Not living my life under attack

Please take me away from here

‘Cause I feel like such an insomniac

Please take me away from here

Why do I tire of trying to sleep?

Please take me away from here

When I’m far too tired to fall asleep

To ten million fireflies

Wouldn’t you like to see spirits rise

I got misty eyes as they said, “We’re free” (they said we’re free)

I can see where several are

Hearts as bright as stars

‘Cause I felt a few giving so much hope from afar (from afar)

I’d lost all my belief that planet Earth was sometimes fair

It’s hard to say that I’d thought stay hidden or asleep

‘Cause everything is never as it seems

I’d lost all my belief that planet Earth was sometimes fair

It’s hard to say that I’d thought stay hidden or asleep

‘Cause everything is never as it seems

Robin Hood by Ocean Colour Scene

You Could

(autistic community version)

When you’re starting to see

You’re meant to feel free

It’s inspirational

When you’re life is a mess

Hold your hope to your chest

It’s so logical

It’s something you don’t get to decide

But be Au-thentic, that I freely prescribe

Take yourself for a ride

Living never felt so good

When you find the life that you never thought you could

No hiding in the backrooms of your mind

Wishing for a time when you felt fine

A time you feel is left behind

When you’re starting to cry

Come and sit by my side

I will love you so

And when the nightmares come

I will not try to run

I’ll just understand

I’ve been that scared, you know

It’s something you don’t get to decide

But be Au-thentic, that I freely prescribe

Take yourself for a ride

Living never felt so good

When you find the life you never thought you could

No hiding in the backrooms of your mind

Wishing for a time when you felt fine

A time you feel is left behind

No hiding in the backrooms of your mind

Wishing for a time when you felt fine

A time you feel is left behind

When you’re starting to cry

Come and sit by my side

I will love you so

Fall at your feet by Crowded House

Fall to your knees

(autistic community version)

If it’s really close tonight

And you feel the light is dying with fear

Lying in the dark

And think that life feels like a blur

Let it go

I’ll be there when you fall

And whenever you fall to your knees

You let your tears rain down on me

Assuring I understand, your own pain

No hidin’ from the dark

There’s light in the heart that your holdin'

The world doesn’t feel right

But keep that, bright shining inside you

Know

I’ll be there when you fall

And whenever you fall to your knees

You let your tears rain down on me

Assuring I understand, your own pain

There is no shame in being yourself

I had to shed that imposed skin myself

Becoming the butterfly I was meant to be

Not knowing where that might lead

I fall

Whenever I fall to my knees

I no longer let my tears try to drown me

Whenever I fall (to my knees)

Whenever I fall

Human by Rag‘n’Bone Man

Autistic community version

I’m only human

I’m only, I’m only

I’m only human, human

Maybe I’m foolish

Maybe I’m blind

Together we do this

A world that is kind

I think we could do it

Or maybe I’m blind

‘Cause I’m only human after all

I’m only human after all

Are you the same as me

Take a look in my mirror

Well what can you see

Because you see it clearer

I was deceived

In what I believed

But I’m only human after all

We’re only human after all

Don’t put the blame on me

Don’t put your blame on me

Some people get a great life

Some people get none

Only some people accepted

Now isn’t that dumb

But I’m only human after all

Only human after all

Are you the same as me

If you ask my opinion

Don’t tell me to lie

Then call me offensive

For making you cry

That makes me cry

‘Cause I’m only human after all

Only human after all

Don’t put that blame on me

Don’t put the blame on me

Some people get a great life

Some people get none

Only some people accepted

Now isn’t that dumb

But I’m only human after all

Only human after all

Are you the same as me

I’m only human

Make mistakes

Well don’t we all

But I take the fall

Don’t put no shame on me

Inside there is a burning desire

To come together and take us higher

‘Cause I’m only human after all

I’m only human after all

Are you the same as me

I’m only human

I do what I can

I’m just a man

I do what I can

Are you the same as me

Are you the same as me?

He Still Loves Me by Beyoncé and Walter Williams

Image (loosely) based on the Beyoncé Album “Homecoming”.

I Will Love Me

(autistic community version)

Took me a while

Now I’m finally here

I just wanna tell you

Make it crystal clear

See I’ve been picked on

Was picked on

Talked ‘bout

Outta their mouth

I’ve been beat down

But I turned my life around

(turned my life around)

Seems like I always fell short

Of bein’ worthy

But I am good enough

I will love me

I ain’t no superstar

Spotlight ain’t made for me

(no, no, no, no, no)

But I am good enough

I will love me

Love me

I used to wake up some days

And wish I’d stayed asleep

‘Cause I went to bed on top of the world

Today the world’s on top of me

Everybody’s got opinions

(they share)

They ain’t been in my position

(do they care)

And it breaks my heart when I hear what they

Have to say about me

(what they say about you)

Seems like I always fall short (fallin’ short)

Of bein' worthy (why ain’t I worthy)

But I am good enough (yeah)

I will love me (will love me)

I ain’t no superstar

Spotlight ain’t made for me

(but I want it for you)

‘Cause we are good enough

We should feel free

I’m not perfect

(I’m not perfect)

They say I do wrong

(they say I do wrong)

I’m trying my best

(trying my best)

Just want to belong

(just want to belong)

Felt shunned by the world

(felt shunned by the world)

So I didn’t succeed

‘Cause I wasn’t understood

I will love me

(I am good enough)

If you felt unworthy just raise your hands

And let me know that you understand

Come stand by me

To be loved, loved

Stand together, not fall alone

Through others’ eyes we all look the same

Can we have a life

Without pain?

Feels like I always fell short

Of bein’ worthy (I was not worthy)

But I am good enough

I will love me

I’m not perfect

You say I do wrong

I’m tryin’ my best but

(tryin’ my best)

Just want to belong

(I am good enough)

Felt shunned by the world

(felt shunned by the world)

So I didn’t succeed

(So I didn’t succeed)

But I am good enough

I will love me

(come sing with me)

Yes I am good enough

I will love me

(raise your hands if ya understand)

Yes I am good enough

(be the Au-thentic you ‘cause I’m Au-thentic too)

I will love me

(I see I was always worthy)

Yes I am good enough

(we are worthy, I’ll be there for you)

I will love me

(we will get through)

I am good enough

(we are good enough)

I will finally love me

(and you finally love you)

Yesterday by The Beatles

(Autistic community version)

Yesterday

All my troubles were here to stay

Now I’m going to move away

I am free from yesterday

Suddenly

I’m not stuck where I used to be

There’s no shadow hanging over me

Oh, yesterday went suddenly

Why is it time to go, I don’t know

I couldn’t say

I said nothing wrong

Now I am free from yesterday

Yesterday

Life shouldn’t be a game to play

No I’m not going to hide away

I am free from yesterday

Why is it time to go, I don’t know

I couldn’t say

I said nothing wrong

I am free from yesterday

Yesterday

Life shouldn’t be a game to play

No I’m not going to hide away

I am free from yesterday