They wont go

They won’t go

by James Ray the Phantom Texter

inspired by Stevie wonder

October 2026

Prologue:

Typically, I only make YouTube videos of my own creations from my own imagination. But there are moments and inspirations that come from others. This is one of those moments. Stevie wonder song “They won’t go when I go” is iconic to some and unheard by others. But it’s the lyrics that grabbed me the most.

So I was inspired to do the spoken rendition of this song. And when I did it I thought it was strong and powerful. And I wanted to get a pat on the back. But I don’t have any friends. It would seem I’m not good enough for the people on the short bus. So I turned to my digital repertoire company of actors. My true family (and yes that’s a joke, kinda)

What comes next is what the whole project evolved into. Lots of time resources and of course money! Played to the back drop music of Beethoven’s Piano Moonlight Sonata. I was proud of the fact that I was able to use all of the AI creations in my acting troupe, save one… I am so sorry Rave. I promise I’ll make it up to you!

 

           Of course I won’t get the award for my art or interpretation until long after I’m dead. Those are the breaks. But like anyone else I want recognition while I’m still breathing to hear it. But I find I can’t stop myself from doing these projects from a need to express. And much like when I heard the song for the first time knowing full well it was unlikely anyone would ever ask me to sing it. It works just as powerful as a spoken word.

 

Just something to remind all of you… “You won’t go, when I go.”

* ** The Phantom Textter logo:

The video opens with a silhouetted figure in a wide-brimmed hat and cape changes into a purple cloaked hooded specter. Standing before a massive, glowing full moon flanked by candelabras and fog, establishing an eerie, theatrical tone. As the specter slowly turns to partially show an amorphous face as it points silently one long accusing finger at the viewer!

 

* ** The digitized “Me” dressed in the style of, The Phantom of the Opera / Masquerade.

Shifting to a rooftop gothic architecture scene complete with gargoyles, a character in a formal tuxedo and half-mask looks directly at the camera, gesturing with dramatic flair against the moonlight. As I speak my intro to the video.

 

“Greetings, I am the Phantom Texter. Welcome to my world. Typically, on some holiday occasions I'm tempted to write a work of my own. But this Halloween, I was reminded of another Master writer, Stevie Wonder, so I bring this to you. My interpretation of his, “They won't go when I go”. Enjoy... (Insert sinister Vincent Price style thriller laughter)”

 

* ** Aries dressed as a Cybernetic zombie complete with skull face visual

The visual cross fades to a dark, stone-vaulted hall where a skeletal, cyborg-like figure with glowing blue eyes and exposed circuitry stands framed by matrix-style digital rain and lightning, complete with a full moon in the background. Blending classic horror with a sci-fi edge.

Nothing spoken, just the motioning of silence with one finger to skinless lips. In a single nod with her skinless head as the Phantom’s laughter subsides for the viewer to remain quiet.

 

*** Abby dressed as a vampire

In her mausoleum tomb. Sitting in her stone lidded resting place. Holding a stake in her hands as she speaks the first verse.

 

“No more lying friends
Wanting tragic ends
Though they do pretend
They won't go when I go”

 *** Zel dressed as a gravedigger of the 18^th century

           In the clichéd haunted woods on a full moon night waste deed digging a grave Zel looks at the camera to disgustedly speak the second verse.

 

“All the bleeding hearts
With sorrows to impart
Were right here from the start
And they won't go when I go”

  

* ** Zarta & Roland dressed as the Frankenstein monster & His Bride

Classic cinematic horror imagery depicting a weeping bride with iconic streak-haired updo in one location of the forest while standing opposite in another location a scarred, imposing monster in a dark forest filled with mist and skeletal trees on a full moon lit night. Zarta cries and Roland looks despondent as they recite the course in unison.

 

“And I'll go
Where I've longed to go
So long
Away from tears”

  

* ** Eve dressed as an Egyptian mummy  

A dramatic shift into an ancient Egyptian crypt where Eve lays in her sarcophagi, surrounded by flickering torches, hieroglyphics, and mummified wrappings. To speak the third verse.

 

“Gone from painful cries
Away from saddened eyes
Along with him I'll bide
And they won't go when I goGone from painful cries
Away from saddened eyes
Along with him I'll bide
And they won't go when I go”

  

* ** Q dressed as a Werewolf  

A striking scene featuring a man transformed into a werewolf, draped in a tattered red royal coat and a heavy chain bearing a "Q" pendant, kneeling among rocks beneath the moonlight while wolves prowl in the background. As he angrily speaks the fourth verse, then howl at the full moon.

 

“Big men feeling small

Weak ones standing tall

I will watch them fall

'Cause they won't go when I go”

 

* ** Zarta & Roland dressed as the Frankenstein monster & His Bride

Classic cinematic horror imagery depicting a weeping bride with iconic streak-haired updo in one location of the forest while standing opposite in another location a scarred, imposing monster in a dark forest filled with mist and skeletal trees on a full moon lit night. Zarta cries and Roland looks despondent as they recite the course in unison.

 

“And I'll go
Where I've longed to go
So long
Away from tears”

 

* ** Nay dressed as Elvira

In an opulent, clichéd parlor scene where a glamorous, dark-haired African-American woman in a plunging black dress with very eye-catching cleavage, sits in a red velvet armchair beside a large arched window overlooking a graveyard and a full moon. Speaks the bridge lyrics.

“Unclean minds mislead the pure

The innocent will leave for sure

For them there is a resting place

People sinning just for fun

They will never see the sun

For they can never show their faces

There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner

Who will take more than he will give

He will give, he will give

He ain't hardly gonna give, oh yeah”

* **Dee dressed as Medusa

In a powerful classical mythology sequence set among crumbling stone columns and ivy, featuring Medusa with writhing serpents for hair, commanding the frame with the full moon in sight. As she speaks the fifth verse.

 

“The greed of man will be
Far away from me
And my soul will be free
And they won't go when I go”

 

* ** Bella dressed as a hunting ghost

Walking through a haunted corridor, through cobwebbed, decaying hallways illuminated by shafts of moonlight before concluding by looking up through broken glass at a full moon to speak the six verse.

 

“Since my soul conceived
All that I believe
The kingdom I will see
'Cause they won't go when I go”

 

* ** Zarta & Roland dressed as the Frankenstein monster & His Bride

Classic cinematic horror imagery but this time depicting the tragic couple meeting in those same words they had spoken there chorus in. This time they meet each other and embrace as they recite the last chorus then stare at the full moon night.

 

“And I'll go
Where I'll go
No one can keep me from
My destiny, yeah”

 

*** Rosie dressed as the clichéd Halloween witch

           In the classic vestige of a Halloween which in a haunted forest but in us stylish green aesthetic clothing with a black hat she speaks the Outro of lyrics.

 

 “They won't go where I go

Whoa oh, whoa oh”

 

           And as Rosie has been known to do she goes off script to add, “Hell to the no! Like, and subscribe. The Phantom is waiting…” As she lets out the oddly hunting witch’s laugh.

*** Fade to black ***