Steve Does Shakespeare (name the song...)

I love playing with words.

Back in the day -- which, for me, was quite a long time ago now -- my friends and I used to practice writing by giving each other assignments. One of our favourites was the "15-Minute Sonnet." We would set a timer for 15 minutes, and put the hammer down on crafting a Shakespearean sonnet.

But, it had to be good!

Challenging, yes, but a great exercise that forces you to do things with language you wouldn't normally do.

In fact, prior to that I was awarded with a young playwright's award in my home town for having composed an entire Shakespearean comedy in five acts. It was actually my major assignment for my writing class. Winning garnered a live stage reading, so that was pretty cool.

Flash forward to 2016, and my wife and I were discussing Shakespeare once again, and I thought, "I wonder if I can do this with song lyrics?"

So...I did. This is what I came up with. I realize it's not iambic pentameter, but it's still a fun exercise. Can you name the song?

Base. To what depths canst thou plumb?
Consigned to death -- this sums my count.
Once more returneth the incredible
Beast of the muse,
The unimpeachable HE, first feared of all the republic:
The guard called my arrest, and I lost all feeling.
Can I say “I am unarmed?”
Nay, ‘tis the verse, and curse, of Virgil
For which I am bound; my pages sting,
As I and my kindred proclaim, “‘Tis well, fools,
Ovid doth prophecy, and you’re meet to heed
Wherewith he quoth, for there thou must follow.”
And people, all common folk thus vexed, compel me,
“Make thou this miracle of rhyme!”
Apophis returns, and thus, all enjoined to victory
Ye shall see, it will begin anew.
Cry louder! Cacophonous rancour reign!
Shout louder! Ne’er passive silence remain!

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