We have lost a great songwriter in Stephen Sondheim and I think I was channeling him somehow when I wrote this poem because it sounds a bit like a song…
Also, the word of the day was Sure, and that set me off…
Last week I took part in Jim Adam’s Song Lyric Sunday Challenge, the theme was Atoll, Island, Key, Lagoon, Peninsula, Reef, Tropical suggested by Tales from the mind of Kristian (oh that’s me!).
The Song Lyric Sunday Challenge this week the theme is songs that feature wind instruments which include Brass instruments (horns, trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas) and Woodwind instruments (recorders, flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, and bassoons) suggested by Maggie From Cave Walls. Â
Click on the link below to see Jim Adam’s post and to take part in the challenge.
The weather today here in England is pretty awful, horrific in fact! It’s blowing a gale and the rain is so heavy, to coin an old English phrase, it’s coming down in stair rods!
It’s the perfect weather for me to sit and procrastinate, and while I avoid doing the laundry, I thought what better than to take part in this challenge and post some songs that have some wind in them.
Firstly a song that instantly came to mind was California Dreamin’, as when the weather is a foul as it currently is, to sit and dream of a warmer climate is what we Brits do (then complain bitterly of the heat when we get there, but we are a capricious lot!).
The song also contains a beautiful refrain on the flute and so it does the trick nicely.
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray) I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk) On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day) I’d be safe and warm (I’d be safe and warm) If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California dreamin’ (California dreamin’) On such a winter’s day
Stopped into a church I passed along the way Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees) And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray) You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold) He knows I’m gonna stay (knows I’m gonna stay)
California dreamin’ (California dreamin’) On such a winter’s day
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown) And the sky is gray (and the sky is gray) I’ve been for a walk (I’ve been for a walk) On a winter’s day (on a winter’s day) If I didn’t tell her (if I didn’t tell her) I could leave today (I could leave today)
California dreamin’ (California dreamin’) On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’) On such a winter’s day (California dreamin’) On such a winter’s day
Songwriters: John Edmund Andrew Phillips / Michelle Gilliam Phillips
And another song that came to mind is Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty that has a marvelous Saxophone solo which pretty much elevates the song to a timeless classic.
Lyrics
Winding your way down on Baker Street Light in your head and dead on your feet Well, another crazy day You’ll drink the night away And forget about ev’rything
This city desert makes you feel so cold It’s got so many people, but it’s got no soul And it’s taken you so long To find out you were wrong When you thought it held everything
You used to think that it was so easy You used to say that it was so easy But you’re tryin’, you’re tryin’ now Another year and then you’d be happy Just one more year and then you’d be happy But you’re cryin’, you’re cryin’ now
Way down the street there’s a light in his place He opens the door, he’s got that look on his face And he asks you where you’ve been You tell him who you’ve seen And you talk about anything
He’s got this dream about buying some land He’s gonna give up the booze and the one-night stands And then he’ll settle down In some quiet little town And forget about ev’rything
But you know he’ll always keep movin’ You know he’s never gonna stop movin’ ‘Cause he’s rollin’, he’s the rolling stone When you wake up, it’s a new mornin’ The sun is shinin’, it’s a new mornin’ You’re goin’, you’re goin’ home
The Song Lyric Sunday Challenge is to post a song with girls name in the title that begins with the letter S. Click on the link below to see Jim Adam’s post and to take part in the challenge.
This is the song that came into my mind, but I’m sure I will not be the only one.
Sandy – Written by: LOUIS ST. LOUIS, SCOTT SIMON (of Sha Na Na) and performed by John Travolta in the film Grease.
Stranded at the drivin', branded a fool
What will they say Monday at school?
Sandy, can't you see I'm in misery?
We made a start, now we're apart
There's nothing left for me
Love has flown, all alone I sit and wonder why yi-yi-yi
Oh why you left me, oh Sandy, oh Sandy
Baby, someday, when high school is done
Somehow, someway, our two worlds will be one
In heaven forever and ever we will be
Oh, please say you'll stay, oh, Sandy!
Sandy, my darlin'
You hurt me real bad
You know it's true
But, baby, you gotta believe me when I say
I'm helpless without you
Love has flown, all alone, I sit
I wonder why yi-yi-yi,
Oh why
You left me,
Oh Sandy
Sandy, Sandy
Why yi-yi-yi
Oh Sandy
So how about this one from the same great musical?
Look at me, I'm Sandra Dee
Lousy with virginity
Won't go to bed 'til I'm legally wed
I can't I'm Sandra Dee
Watch it! Hey I'm Doris Day
I was not brought up that way
Won't come across, even Rock Hudson lost
His heart to Doris Day
I don't drink (No)
Or swear (No)
I don't rat my hair (Ew)
I get ill from one cigarette
Keep your filthy paws
Off my silky draws
Would you pull that crap with Annette?
As for you Troy Donahue,
I know what you wanna do
You've got your crust
I'm no object of lust
I'm just plain Sandra Dee
Elvis, Elvis, let me be!
Keep that pelvis far from me!
Just keep your cool
Now your starting to drool
Hey Fongool, I'm Sandra Dee!
The Challenge set by Jim Adams in his post linked below, is to find a song lyric that has something to do with a prompt. This week the Spring Blooming prompts of Blossoms/Cherry/Flower
It’s cherry pink and apple blossom white When your true lover comes your way It’s cherry pink and apple blossom white The poets say
The story goes that once a cherry tree Beside an apple tree did grow
And there a boy once met his bride to be Long long ago
The boy looked into her eyes, it was a sight to enthral The breezes joined in their sighs, the blossoms started to fall And as they gently caressed, the lovers looked up to find The branches of the two trees were intertwined,
And that is why the poets always write If there’s a new moon bright above It’s cherry pink and apple blossom white When you’re in love
A little less conversation a little more action. 🙂
A little less conversation, a little more action, please
All this aggravation ain’t satisfaction in me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and, baby, satisfy me
Satisfy me, baby
Baby, close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifting through a summer breeze
It’s a groovy night and I can show you how to use it
Come along with me and put your mind at ease
A little less conversation, a little more action, please
All this aggravation ain’t satisfaction in me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and, baby, satisfy me
(Satisfy me) Satisfy me, baby (satisfy me)
Come on, baby, I’m tired of talking
Grab your coat and let’s start walking
Come on, come on (come on, come on)
Come on, come on (come on, come on)
Come on, come on (come on, come on)
Don’t procrastinate, don’t articulate
Girl, it’s getting late, gettin’ upset waitin’ around
A little less conversation, a little more action, please
All this aggravation ain’t satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and, baby, satisfy me
(Satisfy me) Satisfy me, baby (satisfy me)
Come on, baby, I’m tired of talking
Grab your coat and let’s start walking
Come on, come on (come on, come on)
Come on, come on (come on, come on)
Come on, come on (come on, come on)
Don’t procrastinate, don’t articulate
Girl, it’s getting late, gettin’ upset waitin’ around
A little less conversation, a little more action, please
All this aggravation ain’t satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and, baby, satisfy me
(Satisfy me) Satisfy me (satisfy me)
Sunny,
yesterday my life was filled with rain.
Sunny,
you smiled at me and really eased the pain.
The dark days are gone,
and the bright days are here,
My sunny one shines so sincere.
Sunny one so true, I love you.
Sunny,
thank you for the sunshine bouquet.
Sunny,
thank you for the love you brought my way.
You gave to me your all and all.
Now I feel ten feet tall.
Sunny one so true, I love you.
Sunny,
thank you for the truth you let me see.
Sunny,
thank you for the facts from a to c.
My life was torn like a windblown sand,
And the rock was formed when you held my hand.
Sunny one so true, I love you.
Sunny
(Instrumental)
Sunny,
thank you for the smile upon your face.
Sunny,
thank you for the gleam that shows its grace.
You’re my spark of natures fire,
You’re my sweet complete desire.
Sunny one so true, I love you
Yes, I love you, baby.
Sunny,
yesterday my life was filled with rain.
Sunny,
you smiled at me and really eased the pain.
The dark days are gone,
and the bright days are here,
My sunny one shines so sincere.
Sunny one so true, I love you, yeah.
So the Word of the Day is Sand and I couldn’t help but think of this golden oldie song – Love letters in the Sand.
On a day like today We passed the time away Writing love letters in the sand
How you laughed when I cried Each time I saw the tide Take our love letters from the sand
You made a vow that you would ever be true But somehow that vow meant nothing to you
Now my broken heart aches With every wave that breaks Over love letters in the sand
Now my broken heart aches With every wave that breaks Over love letters in the sand
I would love to write some lyrics as lovely as this. The song was written by Nick Kenny, J. Fred Coots and Charles Kenny, and made famous by Pat Boone.
Call, me a total Maniacbut I decided to try to sing it myself:
Today’s word prompts are Marble, Plaster, Dream and Derivative.
These made me recall an old lyric of a song written by Michael William Balfe with the word by Alfred Bunn in the Opera, The Bohemian Girl, written in 1843. It was later arranged and recorded by Enya.
Here are the Lyrics:
I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls
With vassals and serfs at my side
And of all who assembled within those walls
That I was the hope and the pride
I had riches too great to count, could boast
Of a high ancestral name
But I also dreamt, which pleased me most
That you loved me still the same
That you loved me, you loved me still the same
That you loved me, you loved me still the same
I dreamt that suitors sought my hand
That knights upon bended knee
And with vows, no maiden heart could withstand
They pledged their faith to me
And I dreamt that one of that noble host
Came forth my hand to claim
But I also dreamt, which charmed me most
That you loved me still the same
That you loved me, you loved me still the same
That you loved me, you loved me still the same
I keep hearing people say
I’ve gotta kill my wild ways
but I’m a wild kind of guy
with no chance to change
better keep outta my way
if you think me strange
I am what I am
and that’s the way I’ll stay.
Everywhere I go, I hear
Talk of the Devil
Wherever I appear
It’s Talk of the Devil
But I’m no satan’s spawn
I just won’t be a pawn
In this society.
People say I’m just so weird
My evil image means I’m feared
but see beneath the look
and I’m just as scared
Whatever I did or said
It’s hard when no one cared
I just couldn’t conform
and the crowds just jeered.
Everywhere I go, I hear
Talk of the Devil
Wherever I appear
It’s Talk of the Devil
But I’m no satan’s spawn
I just won’t be a pawn
In this society.
Let all the crowds jeer,
I don’t care anymore
Let them say what they say
I don’t care anymore
In all their gossip, I just revel.
I don’t care, let them say
Talk of the devil
But I’m no satan’s spawn
I just won’t be a pawn
In this society.
Copyright: Kristian Fogarty, written 26th March 2005.
Tales from the mind of Kristian 
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