Poetry and Lyrics

[Liar]

Brother - Alice in Chains
(again, not sure who in the band wrote the lyrics, Jerry Cantrell or Layne Staley)

Frozen in the place I hide
Not afraid to paint my sky
With some who say I've lost my mind
Brother, try and hope to find...

You were always so far away
I know the pain
So don't you run away, like you used to do

Roses in a vase of white
Bloodied by the thorns
Beside the leaves that fall, because my hand is
Pulling them hard as I can

You were always so far away
I know that pain
And I won't run away, like I used to do

Pictures in a box at home
Yellowing and green with mold
So I can barely see your face
Wonder how that color taste

You were always so far away
I know the way
So don't you run away, like you used to do.

 

[Angeline]

Old Songs

are the best (imho). I found all these on a wonderful website dedicated to Billie Holiday. The lyrics are so lovely--

THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU
Ray Noble

The very thought of you
And I forget to do
Those little ordinary things
That everyone ought to do

I'm livin' in a kind of a daydream
I'm happy as a queen
And foolish though it may seem
To me that's everything

The mere idea of you
The longing here for you
You'll never know
How slow the moments go
Till I'm near to you

I see your face in every flower
Your eyes in stars above
It's just the thought of you,
The very thought of you, my love

YOU GO TO MY HEAD
Haven Gillespie / J. Fred Coots

You go to my head
You linger like a haunting refrain
And I find you spinning round
In my brain
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne

You go to my head
Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew
And I find the very mention of you
Like the kicker in a julep or two

The thrill of the thought
That you might give a thought
To my plea, casts a spell over me
Still I say to myself
Get ahold of yourself
Can't you see that it never can be

You go to my head with a smile
That makes my temperature rise
Like a summer with a thousand Julys
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes

Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Hasn't a ghost of a chance
In this crazy romance
You go to my head, you go to my head

THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME
George and Ira Gershwin

The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No, no they can't take that away from me

The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No, no they can't take that away from me

We may never, never meet again
On the bumpy road to love
Still I'll always, always keep the memory of
The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No, no they can't take that away from me
No, they can't take that away from me

SOPHISTICATED LADY
Duke Ellington / Mitchell Parish / Irving Mills

They say into your early life romance came
And in this heart of yours burned a flame
A flame that flickered one day and died away

Then, with disilution deep in your eyes
You learned that fools in love soon grow wise
The years have changed you, somehow

I see you now
Smoking, drinking, never thinking of tomorrow, nonchalant
Diamonds shining, dancing, dining with some man in a restaurant
Is that all you really want?

No, sophisticated lady,
I know, you miss the love you lost long ago
And late at night when nobody is nigh you cry

SAY IT WITH A KISS
Johnny Mercer / Harry Warren

Let me hear you say it
Say it with a kiss
It you mean that look I've seen
Say it with a kiss
There is wine and candle shine
And music in your lips
Music in the tops
Of your fingertips

Words may not convey it
Say it with a kiss
And your look might speak a book
That my eyes might miss
You don't have to know the words
To love's familiar tune
Say it with a kiss
And say it soon

I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU
Jimmy Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer

I took a trip on a train
And I thought about you
I passed a shadowy lane
And I thought about you

Two or three cars arked under the stars
A winding stream
Moon shining down on some little town
And with each beam, the same old dream

And every stop that we made, oh, I thought about you
When I pulled down the shade then I really felt blue
I peeked through the crack, looked at the track
The one going back to you
And what did I do? I thought about you

LUSH LIFE
Billy Strayhorn

I used to visit all the very gay places
Those come what may places
Where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life
To get the feel of life
From jazz and cocktails.

The girls I knew had sad and sullen gray faces
With distangue traces
That used to be there you could see where they’d been washed away
By too many through the day
Twelve o’clock tales.

Then you came along with your siren song
To tempt me to madness!
I thought for a while that your poignant smile was tinged with the sadness
Of a great love for me.

Ah yes! I was wrong
Again,
I was wrong.

Life is lonely again,
And only last year everything seemed so sure.
Now life is awful again,
A troughful of hearts could only be a bore.

A week in paris will ease the bite of it,
All I care is to smile in spite of it.

I’ll forget you, I will
While yet you are still burning inside my brain.

Romance is mush,
Stifling those who strive.
I’ll live a lush life in some small dive.
And there I’ll be, while I rot
With the rest of those whose lives are lonely, too.


*********

Yes, I'm out of control with these lyrics, I know, but I love this stuff.

 

[minsue]

Re: Re: I really must go dig out the CD before I go mad

oh my god, I used to listen to this one in college almost as a prayer!

LOL

So did I, but in high school. 'Almost as a prayer' I like that.

 

[minsue]

Another of my high school prayers...

Precious Pain
Melissa Etheridge


Everybody's got a hunger
No matter where they are
Everybody clings to their own fear
Everybody hides some scar

Precious pain
Empty and cold but it keeps me alive
I gave it my soul so that I could survive
Keeping me safe in these chains
Precious pain

Everybody's got a reason
To abandon their plan
How can I think of tomorrow
With my sorrow in hand

Precious pain
Empty and cold but it keeps me alive
I gave it my soul so that I could survive
Keeping me safe in these chains
Precious pain

Each road that I walk down
Reminds me of you
This whole town is haunted
There'll never be anything new

Precious pain
Empty and cold but it keeps me alive
I gave it my soul so that I could survive
Keeping me safe in these chains
Precious pain

 

[minsue]

One last one before work...

Don't You Need
Melissa Ethridge

I had a dream late last night
The water was running low
And my fields were on fire, burning my sky
My body was moving slow
And when I awoke I tasted the sweat of desire in my mouth
And I realized my heart had abducted my mind
And they were last seen headed south
Now I can't sleep I'm so wired
And I find myself screaming out

Don't you need don't you want
Can't you taste it when you're alone
Don't you cry don't you feel
Sometimes I wonder if you are real
Don't you bleed
Don't you need

There's no quenching the thirst there's no relief
For the hungry at heart
And as far as you're concerned I'm just a thief
Entertaining in the dark
But it's you that holds the cards
Now that the joker is wild

Don't you want to lay it down
And feel your skin against the ground
Don't you want to ride the storm
And then sleep inside the calm
Don't you want to get that high
Don't you want to be satisfied
Well if you don't want it from me
Don't you need

I had a dream late last night
The water was running low
And my fields were on fire burning my sky
How was I to know
That I burn every night in my dreams
And only morning can set me free

Don't you need don't you want
Can't you taste it when you're alone
Don't you cry don't you feel
Sometimes I wonder if you are real
Don't you bleed
Don't you need

 

[Angeline]

Happy Birthday

Today would be the 100th birthday of the late great musician and entertainer Fats Waller. He was an amazing man with such talent who died way too young at only 39. The following excerpt is from a terrific website, Red Hot Jazz.

Fats Waller was the son of a preacher and learned to play the organ in church with his mother. In 1918 he won a talent contest playing James P. Johnson's Carolina Shout which he learned from watching a pianola play the song. He would later take piano lessons from Johnson. Fats began his recording career in 1922 and made a living playing rent parties, as an organist at movie theatres and as an accompanist for various vaudeville acts. In 1927 he co-wrote a couple of tunes with his old piano teacher James P. Johnson for his show "Keep Shufflin'". Two years later Waller wrote the score for the Broadway hit "Hot Chocolates" with lyrics supplied by his friend Andy Razaf. Fats' most famous song, "Ain't Misbehavin'" was introduced in this show which featured Louis Armstrong. Fats Waller's big break occurred at a party given by George Gershwin in 1934, where he delighted the crowd with his piano playing and singing. An executive of Victor Records, who was at the party was so impressed that he arranged for Fats to record with the company. This arrangement would continue until Waller's death in 1943. Most of the records he made were released under the name of Fats Waller and his Rhythm. The group consisted of around half a dozen musicians who worked with him regularly, including Zutty Singleton. Throughout the 1930s and early 1940s Fats was a star of radio and nightclubs, and toured Europe. He unexpectedtly died on board a train near Kansas City, Missouri of pneumonia in 1943.

If you don't know Fats. listen to his music. He was a genius in his crazy way.

Happy Birthday Fats and thanks for the music.
X 12

Ain't Misbehavin

No one to talk with
All by myself
No one to walk with
But I'm happy on the shelf
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you

I know for certain
The one I love
I'm through with flirtin'
It's just you I'm thinkin' of
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you

Like Jack Horner
In the corner
Don't go nowhere
What do I care?
Your kisses are worth waitin' for
Believe me

I don't stay out late
Don't care to go
I'm home about eight
Just me and my radio
Ain't misbehavin'
I'm savin' my love for you

****

The Joint Is Jumpin'

The joint is jumpin',
It's really jumpin',
Come in cats an' check your hats,
I mean this joint is jumpin'.

The piano's thumpin',
The dancers bumpin'.
This here spot is more than hot,
In fact the joint is jumpin',

Check your weapons at the door,
Be sure to pay your quarter.
Burn your leather on the floor,
grab anybody's daughter.
The roof is rockin',
The neighbor's knockin'.
We're all bums when the wagon comes.
I mean this joint is jumpin'.

Let it beat!

The joint is jumpin',
It's really jumpin',
Ev'ry mose is on his toes,
I mean this joint is jumpin'.
No time for talkin',
It's time for walkin'
(Yes!)
Grab a jug an' cut the rug,
I mean this joint is jumpin'.

Get your pig feet, beer an' gin,
There's plenty in the kitchen.
Who is that that just came in?
Just look at the way he's switchin'.
Don't mind the hour,
'Cause I'm in power.
I got bail if we go to jail.
I mean this joint is jumpin'.

This joint is jumpin',
It's really jumpin',
We're all bums when the wagon comes.
I mean this joint is jumpin'.

(Don't give your right name.
No, no, no!)

*****

Honeysuckle Rose

Ev'ry honey bee fills with jealousy
When they see you out with me.
I don't blame them, goodness knows,
Honeysuckle Rose.

When you're passin' by flowers droop and sigh,
And I know the reason why.
You're much sweeter, goodness knows,
Honeysuckle Rose.

Don't buy sugar,
You just have to touch my cup,
You're my sugar,
It's sweet when you stir it up.

When I'm takin' sips from your tasty lips,
Seems the honey fairly drips,
You're confection, goodness knows,
Honeysuckle Rose.

*****

Your Feets Too Big

(Who's that walkin' round here, Mercy
Sounds like baby patter, baby elephant patter thats what I calls it)

Say up in Harlem at a table for two
There were four of us,
me, your big feet and you
From your ankles up, I'd say you sure look sweet
From there down there's just too much feet

Yes, your feets too big
Don't want ya, cause ya feets too big
Can't use ya, cause ya feets too big
I really hate ya, cause ya feets too big

Where did ya get em?

Your girl she likes you, she thinks you're nice
Got what it takes to be in paradise
She likes your face
It's you she digs
But man oh man those things are too big

Your feets too big
Don't want cha, cause ya feets too big
Mad at you, cause your feets too big
I hate you, cause your feets too big

Oh your pedal extremities are colossal
To me you look just like a fossil
Got me walkin', talkin' and squarkin''
Cause your feets too big

(Yeah, Come on and walk that thing
Oh I've never heard of such walkin', Mercy
Your pedal extremities really are obnoxious

One never knows do one?)

*****

Black and Blue

Cold, empty bed,
Springs hard as lead,
Pains in my head,
Feel like old Ned.
What did I do
To be so black and blue?

No joys for me,
No company,
Even the mouse
Ran from my house,
All my life through
I've been so
Black and blue.

I'm so forlorn,
Life's just a thorn,
My heart is torn,
Why was I born?
What did I do to be so
Black and blue?

I'm white inside,
But that don't help my case.
'Cause I can't hide
What is on my face,
Oh!

*****

Two Sleepy People

Here we are, out of cigarettes,
Holding hands and yawning; look how late it gets,
Two sleepy people, by dawn's early light,
Too much in love to say good-night.

Say, here we are, in this cozy chair,
Picking on a wishbone from the Frigidaire,
Two sleepy people, with nothing to say,
Much to much in love to break away.

Do you the remember the nights we used to linger in the hall?
Papa didn't like you at all,
But I was crazy 'bout you, baby!
Do you remember the reason why we married in the Fall?
To rent this little nest, and get a bit of rest!

Well, here we are, just about the same,
Gawky little fellow, dizzy little dame,
Two sleepy people, by dawn's early light,
Much to much in love to say good-night.

Good-night!


********

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Happy Birthday

Today would be the 100th birthday of the late great musician and entertainer Fats Waller. He was an amazing man with such talent who died way too young at only 39. The following excerpt from a terrific website, Red Hot Jazz.

[/IMG]

Amen
Ain't Misbehavin' is one of my all time favorite songs

 

[Angeline]

Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Amen
Ain't Misbehavin' is one of my all time favorite songs

He's one of my heros--I couldn't let today go by without this.

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

He's one of my heros--I couldn't let today go by without this.

Glad we you around to keep us on our musical toes Ange
; )

 

[Angeline]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Glad we you around to keep us on our musical toes Ange
; )

Well yknow it makes me sad that these guys--like Fats and um Lester Young for example--who gave so much are unknown to most people now. I guess I sound like a broken record sometimes with this stuff, but it's important to me. I don't know why, but it is.

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Well yknow it makes me sad that these guys--like Fats and um Lester Young for example--who gave so much are unknown to most people now. I guess I sound like a broken record sometimes with this stuff, but it's important to me. I don't know why, but it is.

yeah I do know
i think...cuz you were a round back then...or maybe got some of Billies atoms when her body left
I'm the same way
just downloaded Louis and His Hot 5

My grandmother had the 78's
wish I had em now

 

[Angeline]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

yeah I do know
i think...cuz you were a round back then...or maybe got some of Billies atoms when her body left
I'm the same way
just downloaded Louis and His Hot 5

My grandmother had the 78's
wish I had em now

If I have but one of Billie's atoms, I'm blessed. Unfortunately, if I do it came from her big toe and not her larynx....




My dad had all those 78s...he taught me to lindy hop, lol. (Opera and the Lindy ain't a bad way to go).

And those Hot 5's songs are soooo good. That's the stuff with Earl "Fatha" Hines on piano, right? That might be the Hot 7s--I always mix them up. (How bout Sidney Bechet? You dig Bechet?)

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

If I have but one of Billie's atoms, I'm blessed. Unfortunately, if I do it came from her big toe and not her larynx....




My dad had all those 78s...he taught me to lindy hop, lol. (Opera and the Lindy ain't a bad way to go).

And those Hot 5's songs are soooo good. That's the stuff with Earl "Fatha" Hines on piano, right? That might be the Hot 7s--I always mix them up. (How bout Sidney Bechet? You dig Bechet?)

oh yes
I dig bechet
I get confused too
but i've got potato head blues, st louis blues..
that stuff
it's amazing music i mean
no one plays the trumpet like that Today for christsake
just blows me away
oh
and armstorng version of
St james Infirmary".......the best

 

[Angeline]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

oh yes
I dig bechet
I get confused too
but i've got potato head blues, st louis blues..
that stuff
it's amazing music i mean
no one plays the trumpet like that Today for christsake
just blows me away
oh
and armstorng version of
St james Infirmary".......the best

You *need* this cd:

Pops and Oscar, plus Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, and Louis Bellson. Yes, yes, yes!

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

He's one of my heros--I couldn't let today go by without this.

Thanks for this, Ange. He really was a unique talent.

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Thanks for this, Ange. He really was a unique talent.

Hiya Triss


and yes Ange i do need that
I love Oscar....almost as much as Lionel Hampton

 

[Angeline]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Thanks for this, Ange. He really was a unique talent.

Yep--I'm only disappointed I couldn't find the lyric to his Fat and Greasy; one of the funniest songs of all time.

 

[Angeline]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Hiya Triss


and yes Ange i do need that
I love Oscar....almost as much as Lionel Hampton

smithpeter wrote a beautiful tribute to Lionel--if I can remember what the hell he called it (not to mention what name it's under, lol), I'll post it.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Hiya Triss

Hi there.

 

[Tathagata]

The Hula Hula boys - Warren Zevon

We lost a genius early this year
the reason I wanted to sing was " Werewolves of London"
anyway
one of my lesser know favs


I saw her leave the luau
With the one who parked the cars
And the fat one from the swimming pool
They were swaying arm in arm
I could hear the ukuleles playing
Down by the sea
She's gone with the hula hula boys
She don't care about me
She's gone with the hula hula boys
She don't care about me
They're singing,

Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana (everybody sing the chorus together now!) or
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana (get to the point...cut to the chase)
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

Yesterday she went to see
The Polynesian band
But she came home with her hair all wet
And her clothes all filled with sand
I didn't have to come to Maui
To be treated like a jerk
How do you think I feel
When I see the bellboys smirk?
And I can hear the ukuleles playing
Down by the sea
She's gone with the hula hula boys
She don't care about me
They're signing,

Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

 

[Tathagata]

and one more

Perhaps my Theme song


Mr Bad Example - Warren Zevon


I started as an alter boy, working at the church
Learning all my holy moves, doing some research
Which led me to a cash box, labeled "Children's Fund"
I'd leave the change, and tuck the bills inside my cummerbund

I got a part-time job at my father's carpet store
Laying tackless stripping, and housewives by the score
I loaded up their furniture, and took it to Spokane
And auctioned off every last naugahyde divan

I'm very well aquainted with the seven deadly sins
I keep a busy schedule trying to fit them in
I'm proud to be a glutton, and I don't have time for sloth
I'm greedy, and I'm angry, and I don't care who I cross

I'm Mr. Bad Example, intruder in the dirt
I like to have a good time, and I don't care who gets hurt
I'm Mr. Bad Example, take a look at me
I'll live to be a hundred, and go down in infamy

Of course I went to law school and took a law degree
And counseled all my clients to plead insanity
Then worked in hair replacement, swindling the bald
Where very few are chosen, and fewer still are called

Then on to Monte Carlo to play chemin de fer
I threw away the fortune I made transplanting hair
I put my last few francs down on a prostitute
Who took me up to her room to perform the flag salute

Whereupon I stole her passport and her wig
And headed for the airport and the midnight flight, you dig?
And fourteen hours later I was down in Adelaide
Looking through the want ads sipping Fosters in the shade

I opened up an agency somewhere down the line
To hire aboriginals to work the opal mines
But I attached their wages and took a whopping cut
And whisked away their workman's comp and pauperized the lot

I'm Mr. Bad Example, intruder in the dirt
I like to have a good time, and I don't care who gets hurt
I'm Mr. Bad Example, take a look at me
I'll live to be a hundred and go down in infamy

I bought a first class ticket on Malaysian Air
And landed in Sri Lanka none the worse for wear
I'm thinking of retiring from all my dirty deals
I'll see you in the next life, wake me up for meals



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Angeline]

Louis Jordan--the original Mr Rock and Roll--

Knock Me a Kiss

I like cake, no mistake, but baby if you insist
I'll cut out the cake, just for your sake
Baby! c'mon and knock me a kiss

I like pie, i hope to die, just to get a load of this
When you get high, doggone the pie
Baby! c'mon and knock me a kiss

When you pressed your little lips to mine, that was then I understood
They taste like candy, brandy and wine, peaches, bananas and everything good

I love jam and no film flam, scratch that off my list
This ain't no jam, the jam can scram
Baby! c'mon and knock me a kiss

When you pressed your sweet little lips to mine, that was then i understood
They taste like candy, brandy and wine, peaches, bananas and everything good

I like cars and big cigars but baby they won't be missed
If everyday i hear you say
Baby! c'mon and knock me a kiss

dedicated to you, ee cutie

 

[Angeline]

*

ooopsy

 

[Tathagata]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Happy Birthday

Hi there.

 

[Tathagata]

the kinks

Here is a story about a sinner,
He used to be a winner who enjoyed a life of prominence and position,
But the pressures at the office and his socialite engagements,
And his selfish wife's fanatical ambition,
It turned him to the booze,
And he got mixed up with a floosie
And she led him to a life of indecision.
The floosie made him spend his dole
She left him lying on Skid Row
A drunken lag in some Salvation Army Mission.
It's such a shame.
Oh demon alcohol,
Sad memories I cannot recall,
Who thought I would say,
Damn it all and blow it all,
Oh demon alcohol,
Memories I cannot recall,
Who thought I would fall a slave to demon alcohol.
Barley wine pink gin,
He'll drink anything,
Port, pernod or tequila,
Rum, scotch, vodka on the rocks,
As long as all his troubles disappeared.
But he messed up his life and he beat up his wife,
And the floosie's gone and found another sucker
She's gonna turn him on to drink
She's gonna lead him to the brink
And when his money's gone,
She'll leave him in the gutter,
It's such a shame.
Oh demon alcohol,
Sad memories I cannot recall,
Who thought I would fall,
A slave to demon alcohol.