Poetry and Lyrics

[Scott N. Leavitt]

I like Jimmy Buffet.
Here is a song my momma loved,
He Went To Paris
by Jimmy Buffet

He went to Paris looking for answers
To questions that bothered him so
He was impressive, young and aggressive
Saving the world on his own.
But the warm Summer breezes
The French wines and cheeses
Put his ambition at bay
And Summers and Winters
Scattered like splinters
And four or five years slipped away.

Then he went to England, played the piano
And married an actress named Kim
They had a good life, she was a good wife
Bore him a young son named Jim.
And all of the answers and all of the questions
He locked in his attic one day
'Cause he liked the quiet clean country living
And twenty more years slipped away.

Well the war took his baby, the bombs killed his lady
And left him with only on eye.
His body was battered, his world was shattered
And all he could do was just cry.
While the tears were falling, he was recalling
The answers he never found
So he hopped on a freighter, skidded the ocean
And left England without a sound.

Now he lives in the islands, fishes the pilin's
And drinks his green label each day.
He's writing his memoirs and losing his hearing
But he don't care what most people say.
Through eighty-six years of perpetual motion
If he likes you he'll smile then he'll say,
Jimmy, some of it's magic, some of it's tragic,
But I had a good life all the way.

And he went to Paris looking for answers
To questions that bothered him so.

Here is a song for you poets;
Death Of An Unpopular Poet
by Jimmy Buffet

I once knew a poet
Who lived before his time
He and his dog spooner
Would listen while he'd rhyme
Words to make ya happy
Words to make you cry
Then one day the poet suddenly did die

But he left behind a closet
Filled with verse and rhyme
And through some strange transaction
One was printed in the times
And everybody's searchin'
For the king of underground
Well they found him down in Florida
With a tombstone for a crown

Everybody knows a line
From his book that cost four ninety-nine
I wonder if he knows he's doin'
Quite this fine

'cause his books are all best sellers
And his poems were turned to song
Had his brother on a talk show
Though they never got along
And now he's called immortal
Yes he's even taught in school
They say he used his talents
A most proficient tool

But he left all of his royalties
To spooner his ol' hound
Growin' old on steak and bacon
In a doghouse ten feet 'round
And everybody wonders
Did he really lose his mind

No he was just a poet who lived before his time
He was just a poet who lived before his time

 

[Guest]

Try to remember
by Harvy Schmidt, Tom Jones

Try to remember the kind of September when life was slow and oh, so, mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September when grass was green and grain so yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September when you were a young and callow fellow.
Try to remember and if you remember, then follow, follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender that no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender that dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender that love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember and if you remember, then follow, follow.

Deep in December it's nice to remember although you know the snow will follow
Deep in December it's nice to remember without a hurt the heart is hollow
Deep in December it's nice to remember the fire of September that made you mellow
Deep in December our hearts should remember and follow, follow. Follow

This reminded me of -

It Was a Very Good Year

When I was seventeen
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We’d hide from the lights
On the village green
When I was seventeen

When I was twenty-one
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for city girls
Who lived up the stair
With all that perfumed hair
And it came undone
When I was twenty-one

When I was thirty-five
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
Of independent means
We’d ride in limousines
Their chauffeurs would drive
When I was thirty-five

But now the days grow short
I’m in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wine
>from fine old kegs
>from the brim to the dregs
And it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year

It was a mess of good years​

 

[Angeline]

This reminded me of -

It Was a Very Good Year

When I was seventeen
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We’d hide from the lights
On the village green
When I was seventeen

When I was twenty-one
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for city girls
Who lived up the stair
With all that perfumed hair
And it came undone
When I was twenty-one

When I was thirty-five
It was a very good year
It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
Of independent means
We’d ride in limousines
Their chauffeurs would drive
When I was thirty-five

But now the days grow short
I’m in the autumn of the year
And now I think of my life as vintage wine
>from fine old kegs
>from the brim to the dregs
And it poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year

It was a mess of good years​

Between you and Reltne, I'm almost moved to post the lyric to Those Were the Days, but I'll spare us all.

<ok. back to the Cuban guys...>

 

[Reltne]

In the same vein...

Leaves That Are Green - P. Simon, 1965

I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song
I'm twenty-two now but I won't be for long
Time hurries on
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

Once my heart was filled with the love of a girl
I held her close but she faded in the night
Like a poem I meant to write
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

I threw a pebble in a brook
And watched the ripple run away
And they never made a sound
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

Hello, hello, hello, hello
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
That's all there is
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither in the wind
And they crumble in your hand

~~~

April Come She Will - P. Simon, 1965

April come she will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, she will stay
Resting in my arms again
June, she'll change her tune
In restless walks she'll prowl the night
July, she will fly
And give no warning to her flight
August, die she must
The autumn winds blow chilly and cold
September I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old

~~~

Bookends - P. Simon, 1968

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories; they're all that's left you

 

[BooMerengue]

Call me Sappy. Heres my fav from the genre/era y'all are choosing...

These guys couldn't make a mistake if they tried...

"Moon River"
music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer


Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.

 

[Reltne]

See Ya and Raise. . .

(Words by Mitchell Parish, music by Peter De Rose)

[Written in 1934 as a piano composition - lyrics added in 1939]

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the night
In the mist of a memory you wander on back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh

In the still of the night once again I hold you tight
Though you're gone, your love lives on when moonlight beams
And as long as my heart will beat, sweet lover we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
Here in my deep purple dreams

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the night
In the mist of a memory you wander back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh

In the still of the night once again I hold you tight
Though you're gone, your love lives on when moonlight beams
And as long as my heart will beat, sweet lover we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
And as long as my heart will beat, sweet lover we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams

[Fade]​

~~~

(Don't push me, or I'll hit you with "Unchained Melody".)

 

[BooMerengue]

(Words by Mitchell Parish, music by Peter De Rose)

[Written in 1934 as a piano composition - lyrics added in 1939]

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the night
In the mist of a memory you wander on back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh

In the still of the night once again I hold you tight
Though you're gone, your love lives on when moonlight beams
And as long as my heart will beat, sweet lover we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
Here in my deep purple dreams

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls
And the stars begin to twinkle in the night
In the mist of a memory you wander back to me
Breathing my name with a sigh

In the still of the night once again I hold you tight
Though you're gone, your love lives on when moonlight beams
And as long as my heart will beat, sweet lover we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams
And as long as my heart will beat, sweet lover we'll always meet
Here in my deep purple dreams

[Fade]​

~~~


(Don't push me, or I'll hit you with "Unchained Melody".)

I remember that! Nino Temple and April Stevens. I like that song.

*pushing you and then jumping out of the way!

 

[Reltne]

I remember that! Nino Temple and April Stevens. I like that song.

*pushing you and then jumping out of the way!

OK, I warned you! Here are the words for the Righteous Brothers version.

Unchained Melody
(Lyrics by Hy Zaret, Music by Alex North)

Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch a long,
lonely time. Time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much.
Are you still mine?

I need your love.
I need your love.
God speed your love to me.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea,
to the open arms of the sea.
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me,
wait for me.
I'll be coming home, wait for me.

Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch a long
lonely time. Time, goes by so slowly,
and time can do so much,
Are you still mine?

I need your love.
I need your love.
God speed your love, to me.

 

[tungtied2u]

For friends. absent and present

Stay in Touch
Joni Mitchell

STAY IN TOUCH

This is really something
People will be envious
But our roles aren't clear
So we musn't rush
Still, we're burning brightly
Clinging like fire to fuel
I'm grinning like a fool
Stay in touch
We should stay in touch
Oh! Stay in touch
In touch

Part of this is permanent
Part of this is passing
So we must be loyal and wary
Not to give away too much
Til we build a firm foundation
And empty out old habits
Old habits
Stay in touch
We should stay in touch
Oh! Stay in touch
In touch

During times like these
The wise or influential
They can bear the imperfections
They can keep the money
No doubt about it
No doubt that's essential
No doubt that's always been a tricky one for me
So, we should just surrender
Let fate and duty shape us
Let light hearts remake us
Let the worries hush
In the middle of this continent
In the middle of our time on Earth
We perceive one another
Stay in touch
We should stay in touch
Oh! Stay in touch
In touch

 

[BooMerengue]

OK, I warned you! Here are the words for the Righteous Brothers version.

Unchained Melody
(Lyrics by Hy Zaret, Music by Alex North)

Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch a long,
lonely time. Time goes by so slowly
and time can do so much.
Are you still mine?

I need your love.
I need your love.
God speed your love to me.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea,
to the open arms of the sea.
Lonely rivers sigh, wait for me,
wait for me.
I'll be coming home, wait for me.

Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch a long
lonely time. Time, goes by so slowly,
and time can do so much,
Are you still mine?

I need your love.
I need your love.
God speed your love, to me.

Ok! Ok! You win!!

Wanna know what you win?

Those oldies reminded me of my Ballroom Dancing Lessons with the Miss Comer (spinster) sisters when I was in 8th grade.

Wanna waltz with me?

 

[tungtied2u]

The Beatles

In My Life

There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed,
Some forever, not for better,
Some have gone and some remain.


All these places had their moments,
With lovers and friends I still can recall,
Some are dead and some are living,
In my life I’ve loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers,
There is no one compared with you,
And these mem’ries lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new.

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before,
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more.

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before,
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more.
In my life I love you more.

 

[JerseyBoy]

Crowded House

these guys have always inspired my writing...

Private Universe
Written By N. Finn

no time no place to talk about the weather
the promise of love is hard to ignore
who said the chance wasn't getting any better
the labour of love is ours to endure

the highest branch on the apple tree
it was my favourite place to be
I could hear them breaking free
but they could not see me

I will run for shelter
endless summer lift the curse
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe

I have all I want is that simple enough
there's a whole lot more I'm thinking of
every night about six o'clock
birds come back to the palm to talk
they talk to me, birds to talk to me
if I go down on my knees

I will run for shelter
endless summer lift the curse
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe

and it's a pleasure that I have known
and it's a treasure that I have gained
and it's a pleasure that I have known
it's a tight squeeze but I won't let go
time is on the table and the dinner's cold

I will run for shelter
endless summer lift the curse
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe

 

[Angeline]

these guys have always inspired my writing...

Private Universe
Written By N. Finn

no time no place to talk about the weather
the promise of love is hard to ignore
who said the chance wasn't getting any better
the labour of love is ours to endure

the highest branch on the apple tree
it was my favourite place to be
I could hear them breaking free
but they could not see me

I will run for shelter
endless summer lift the curse
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe

I have all I want is that simple enough
there's a whole lot more I'm thinking of
every night about six o'clock
birds come back to the palm to talk
they talk to me, birds to talk to me
if I go down on my knees

I will run for shelter
endless summer lift the curse
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe

and it's a pleasure that I have known
and it's a treasure that I have gained
and it's a pleasure that I have known
it's a tight squeeze but I won't let go
time is on the table and the dinner's cold

I will run for shelter
endless summer lift the curse
it feels like nothing matters
in our private universe

Neil Finn is great.

 

[Reltne]

Ok! Ok! You win!!

Wanna know what you win?

Those oldies reminded me of my Ballroom Dancing Lessons with the Miss Comer (spinster) sisters when I was in 8th grade.

Wanna waltz with me?

Only if you promise to lead and not to retreat while dancing!

(PS: Did you ever think that if they were spinsters then they probably wern't doing it right?)

 

[BooMerengue]

Only if you promise to lead and not to retreat while dancing!

(PS: Did you ever think that if they were spinsters then they probably wern't doing it right?)

You always want me to lead. Not this time, buster!

Uhhh... I'm a spinster. You think I'm not doing it right? *weg

But it does have to be a waltz. Viennese, even. When it's done well, it's very sensual.

Think ya can handle it?

 

[carn-ie]

beautiful by joydrop is rather a pretty song. beautiful melody, great lyrics!

If I was beautiful like
you
All the things I would
do
Those not so blessed
would be crying out murder
And I'd just laugh and
get away with it too
Like you do

If I was beautiful like
you
I would never be at
fault
I'd walk in the rain
between the rain drops
Bringing traffic to a
halt

But that would never be
That would never ever be
Cause I'm not beautiful
like you
I'm beautiful like me,
beautiful like me

If I was beautiful like
you
I'd be quick to assume
they'd do anything to
please me, why not
To see their reaction
when you walk into the room

But that would never be
That would never ever be
Cause I'm not beautiful
like you
I'm beautiful like me,
beautiful like me
Beautiful, beautiful
like me
Like me, Like me...

If I was beautiful like
you
I'd have so many friends
All fighting for my time
to be next in line
So if I hurt one, I
wouldn't have to make
amends

That would never be
That would never ever be
Cause I'm not beautiful
like you
I'm not beautiful like
you
I'm not beautiful like
you
I'm beautiful like me
Beautiful like me,
beautiful like me
I'm beautiful like me,
I'm beautiful like me

 

[b8dbreth]

*

*****

 

[tungtied2u]

CSN&Y

Helplessly Hoping
by Stephen Stills

Helplessly hoping
Her harlequin hovers nearby
Awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses
Of gentle true spirit
He runs, wishing he could fly
Only to trip at the sound of good-bye

Wordlessly watching
He waits by the window
And wonders
At the empty place inside
Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams
He worries
Did he hear a good-bye? Or even hello?

They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for each other

Stand by the stairway
You'll see something
Certain to tell you confusion has its cost
Love isn't lying
It's loose in a lady who lingers
Saying she is lost
And choking on hello

They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for each other

 

[BooMerengue]

Helplessly Hoping
by Stephen Stills

Helplessly hoping
Her harlequin hovers nearby
Awaiting a word
Gasping at glimpses
Of gentle true spirit
He runs, wishing he could fly
Only to trip at the sound of good-bye

Wordlessly watching
He waits by the window
And wonders
At the empty place inside
Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams
He worries
Did he hear a good-bye? Or even hello?

They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for each other

Stand by the stairway
You'll see something
Certain to tell you confusion has its cost
Love isn't lying
It's loose in a lady who lingers
Saying she is lost
And choking on hello

They are one person
They are two alone
They are three together
They are for each other

Bam!! Instant WayBack Machine, Tung! I lived in a commune late 1969- early 70's just off campus at Wesleyan Middletown in CT., and partied at the Eclectic Society Frat House. This song was in the air wherever you went. (Along with the lovely smell of cannabis!) Thank you for the flashback. Peace, my friend.

 

[RhymeFairy]

Artist - Pointer Sisters
Album - Various Songs
Lyrics - Slow Hand

As the midnight moon was drifting through
The lazy sway of the trees
I saw the look in your eyes looking into mine
Seeing what you wanted to see
Darlin' don't say a word 'cos I already heard
What your body's saying to mine
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove
On my mind

I want a man with a slow hand
I want a lover with an easy touch
I want somebody who will spend some time
Not come and go in a heated rush
I want somebody who will understand
When it comes to love I want a slow hand

On shadowed ground with no one around
And a blanket of stars in our eyes
We are drifting free, like two lost leaves
On the crazy wind of the night
Darlin' don't say a word 'cos I already heard
What your body's saying to mine
If I want it all night, you say it's alright
We got the time

'Cos I got a man with a slow hand
I got a lover with an easy touch
I've found somebody who will spend some time
Not come and go in a heated rush
I've found somebody who will understand
When it comes to love I want a slow hand

If I want it all night, please say it's alright
It's not a fast move but a slow groove
On my mind

'Cos I got a man with a slow hand
I got a lover with an easy touch
I've found somebody who will spend some time
Not come and go in a heated rush
I've found somebody who will understand
I've found a lover with a slow hand

Lover with a slow hand
And I get all excited with his easy touch
I've found somebody who will spend the night
Not come and go in a heated rush

 

[b8dbreth]

*

*****

 

[Angeline]

Sublime

The Pointer Sisters second album, Steppin, is forever out of print because of legal battles. Too bad, it's my favorite. It has a killer Ellington medley on it. And this.

SAVE THE BONES FOR HENRY JONES
(Danny Barker / Vernon Lee aka Michael H. Goldson)
Nat King Cole & Johnny Mercer

We’re gonna have a supper
We’ll eat some food that’s rare
And at the head of the table
We’ll place brother Henry’s chair
Invite all the local big dogs
We’ll laugh and talk and eat
But we’ll save the bones for Henry Jones
‘Cause Henry don’t eat no meat

Today I’ll go to market
Buy up a lotta fish
Well, that will thrill brother Henry
‘Cause fish is his special dish
Get a large can of molasses
Have something really sweet
But we’ll save the bones for Henry Jones
‘Cause Henry don’t eat no meat

Henry is not a drinker
He rarely takes a nip
He don’t need a napkin
‘Cause the things he eats don’t drip – blip!
One day we had a banquet
It really was a bake
They started off with short ribs
Then finished off with steak
But when the feast was over
Brother Henry just kept his seat
And we served the bones to Henry Jones
‘Cause Henry don’t eat no meat

Our banquet was most proper
Right down to demitasse
From soup to lox and bagels
And pheasant under glass – class!
We thought the chops were mellow
He said his chops were beat – reet!
We served the bones to Henry Jones
‘Cause Henry don’t eat no meat
He’s an egg man
Henry don’t eat no meat
He loves a pullet
Henry don’t eat no meat
A vegetarian
Henry?
Coming mother!
Soup’s on

 

[Rybka]

...
Save the bones for Henry Jones
‘Cause Henry don’t eat no meat
...

My father and grandfather often used that tag line, but I never knew where it came from.

Another one was, "Oh, the cow kicked Nellie in the belly in the barn, and the old man said it wouldn't do her any harm!"
Do you know where that one comes from? They used to sing it.

 

[Angeline]

My father and grandfather often used that tag line, but I never knew where it came from.

Another one was, "Oh, the cow kicked Nellie in the belly in the barn, and the old man said it wouldn't do her any harm!"
Do you know where that one comes from? They used to sing it.

I googled it, but the only reference I can find is that it was once quoted on the tv show "Married With Children."

The Henry Jones song is great. I've heard Johnny Mercer's version as well. It's delightful.

 

[Angeline]

Emily
Laura Nyro

Emily and her love to be,
carved in a heart on a berry tree.
But it's only a little farewell love spell,
time to design a woman.
Touch me, oh wake me,
Emily you ornament the earth for me.

Emily, you're the natural snow,
the unstudied sea, you're a cameo.
And I swear you were born a weaver's lover,
born for the loom's desire.
Move me, oh sway me.
Emily you ornament, the earth for me.

Emmie, your Momma’s been calling you.
Who stole Mama’s heart and cuddled in her garden?
Darling Emmie, la, la, la, oo la, la la.
You were my friend and I loved you,
Emily, Emily, Emily, Emily.

She got the way to move me, Emmie.
She got the way to move me, yeah.
She got the way to move me, Emmie.
She got the way to move me,
get up and move me.