Allison arrived home to discover, propped up against her front door, a mysterious package addressed to her but with no return address; in these dangerous times, opening a strange package with no identification is a reckless thing to do and Allison isn’t the type to take chances, no matter how curious she was about this unexpected delivery.
Unlocking the front door, Allison gave the package one last glance and went inside but she couldn’t think of anything other than the box on her porch and eventually gave up, heading back out; the more she looked at the box, the more one sticking point nagged at her: the print on the hand-written shipping label looked extremely familiar.
Suddenly, like a bolt out of the blue, Allison realized the handwriting was her father’s; a thousand thoughts flew through her mind as she tried to figure out what he could have sent her, finally coming to the conclusion that her dad must have packed away a few items for her which belonged to her late mother .… items of sentimental value …. before he sold the old family house and settled into a senior living facility.
No longer wary, Allison excitedly picked up the package and brought it into the kitchen where she placed it on the counter and with a knife carefully followed the taped-up folds until she was able to open the box; resting atop the packing material was a small envelope with her name on it written in the same handwriting as the shipping label and inside the envelope was a note which read, “Dear Ali, I remember how much you loved these and I wanted you to have them, maybe one day for your own little girl” ~ Love, Dad.
Puzzlement creased Allison’s forehead as she gently pushed away the bubble wrap to discover one of her favorite toys – a miniature playground set complete with working swings, a seesaw, monkey bars, a slide and sandbox; there was even the little family with their pet dog which she had named Tess.
Now all smiles, Allison carried the pieces into the sunroom and placed them on the side table next to her chair near the window; they looked so happy and gay with the sun shining on them and Allison sighed, not at all surprised to feel a tear running down her cheek.
Frequently, the trick of cover songs is to take the bombastic and quiet it down, ‘acoustify‘ a track, if you will. Jimi Hendrix does the opposite here, morphing folkie Bob Dylan into a churning R&R freight train, fueled by the urgent guitar licks that only Hendrix could pull off. Jimi was a super-fan of Dylan and recorded a number of pristine covers, but years later, “All Along The Watchtower” remains the cream of the crop and the song’s definitive remake version.
But first, from 1967, here is Bob Dylan with “All Along The Watchtower”
You’re gonna wanna raise the volume for this, then stand back. Here’s Hendrix with his amped-up cover of “Watchtower”.
When my sister Rosemarie had her 16th birthday, our parents decided it was the perfect time for our first family vacation in Italy. Plans were made for the summer …. three weeks traveling around Italy and another three weeks visiting family in Sicily.
One of our stops was Florence where we stayed in a breathtaking guesthouse called Pensione Mona Lisa. Our accommodations were similar to an apartment but without a kitchen; all meals were served in the communal dining room. Our parents took the master bedroom on the first floor while Rosemarie and I shared a loft bedroom which also had its own bathroom.
All the rooms were exquisitely decorated with beautiful furnishings and expensive rugs. In our bathroom there was a claw-foot tub, separate shower, a pedestal sink and an enclosed area with the toilet. Next to the toilet was an odd-looking fixture neither of us had ever seen before. It was the same size as the toilet but with extra faucets and handles and a strange sprinkler contraption in the center of the bowl. When we turned the faucets on, water shot out straight from the sprinkler; we immediately turned off the water, then sat there trying to figure out just what the hell the damn thing was.
After considerable thought, we came to the conclusion it was for foot-washing. Happily kicking off our sandals, we turned on the water and bathed our hot, tired feet. We dried off with the small paper guest towels in the bathroom and tossed them into the bowl, then pulled one of the levers expecting the towels to flush away. Well, they didn’t. In fact the ‘footwasher’ very quickly filled with water and overflowed as Rosemarie and I tried desperately to stop it.
Before we knew it, the bathroom floor was covered with water which leaked out into the bedroom, soaking the rug. We watched helplessly as the water trickled down the stairs into the main living section, drenching the gorgeous rugs. Our mother saw what was happening and rang the front desk for help but it was pretty much a lost cause.
The pensione staff arrived and started yelling and screaming at us in Italian as other guests hurried over to see what all the commotion was about. The rugs were ruined and we were responsible for the damages. The rooms became uninhabitable and when we inquired about other lodgings, the pensione manager told us they were all booked and we had to find another place to say for the remainder of our time in Florence. After paying off the front desk clerk, he begrudgingly made a few calls for us; we were told there was a small hotel in Pisa that could accommodate us.
Despite all the angry hotel personnel, the name-calling, the expense for damages, the inconvenience of relocating and our parents general frustration, nothing could have prepared them for the embarrassment and mortification they felt explaining to their sixteen year old daughter and her tween sister the purpose of a bidet.
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldn’t put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Before Motown, there was Tamla. Berry Gordy realized that the way to make money was to produce his own records for his own label. In 1959 he founded Tamla Records with an $800 loan from his family; he added the Motown label later that year. The Tamla label remained in operation until being merged with Motown’s main line at the end of 1986. Tamla’s second release was “Merry-Go-Round” by Eddie Holland in 1959.
Charismatic and handsome with a good voice, Eddie Holland had a promising career as a singer except one big problem kept him behind the scenes …. stage fright. His time as a singer may have been short-lived but, as part of the team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, Eddie realized a long and successful career in songwriting and production.
Let’s have a listen now to Tamla Label’s Eddie Holland with “Merry-Go-Round”.
And this is what was on the B side …. “It Moves Me”
The topic today at Song Lyric Sundayis to write about a song(s) dealing with children and/or families, two themes that clearly go hand-in-hand.
We have a serious tune today, a classic song that’s a lesson and a warning to parents everywhere. The song sends a powerful message which needs to be heeded before everything slips away and is lost forever. Sounds ominous, doesn’t it?
My featured performer today is Harry Chapin, born in NYC in 1942 and cousin of Mary Chapin Carpenter. Music was always in Harry’s life and his three siblings also became musicians. His wife, Sandy, was a writer and today’s song is based on a poem which she wrote. At first, Harry wasn’t crazy about the poem but after the birth of his son, he decided to give it another look.
The result was a song of regret, the sad tale of a man who only had time for his work and put everything before the needs of his young son who emulated his dad and eventually grew up to be “just like him”. That song is “Cat’s In The Cradle” which was a huge hit for Harry Chapin in 1974, being his only #1 song. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1975 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2011.
Music magazine Cash Box called “Cat’s In The Cradle” a “lyrical delight, atender story of a father and his son and a perfect representation of how roles change in the relationship over the years”. Record World said that the song “deals with the preoccupations plaguing parenthood” and that it “bridges the generation gap by pointing up mutual faults”.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase “Cat’s in the cradle,” which is a reference to a child’s nursery rhyme about a cat sleeping in a cradle. The phrase serves as a metaphor for the passing of time and the changing relationship between father and son.
Sadly, on July 16, 1981, Harry Chapin died at the age of 38. He was killed in an accident on the Long Island Expressway when his Volkswagen Rabbit was rear-ended by a tractor trailer truck. He was on his way to perform at a benefit concert when the accident occurred. In addition to being a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Harry Chapin was a philanthropist and hunger activist. As a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger, he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. In 1987 he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.
There are many different videos for “Cat’s In The Cradle” but this is my favorite. Let’s have a listen to Harry Chapin.
In keeping with the theme today of children and/or dfamilies, here is Harry Chapin’s daughter, Jen, performing his song.
Heavy metal band Ugly Kid Joe also released their own cover; while staying faithful to the original, they chose to remove the apostrophe from the title. Interpreted literally, there is more than one cat in their cradle. This is Ugly Kid Joe with “Cats In The Cradle”.
Lyrics
My child arrived just the other day He came to the world in the usual way But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay He learned to walk while I was away And he was talking ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew He’d say “I’m gonna be like you, dad” “You know I’m gonna be like you”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man in the moon “When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when” But we’ll get together then You know we’ll have a good time then
My son turned ten just the other day He said, thanks for the ball, dad, come on let’s play Can you teach me to throw, I said-a, not today I got a lot to do, he said, that’s okay And he, he walked away, but his smile never dimmed It said, I’m gonna be like him, yeah You know I’m gonna be like him
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man in the moon “When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when” But we’ll get together then You know we’ll have a good time then
Well, he came from college just the other day So much like a man I just had to say Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while? He shook his head, and they said with a smile What I’d really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys See you later, can I have them please?
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man in the moon “When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when” But we’ll get together then, dad You know we’ll have a good time then
I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away I called him up just the other day I said, I’d like to see you if you don’t mind He said, I’d love to, dad, if I can find the time You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kids have the flu But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad It’s been sure nice talking to you And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me He’d grown up just like me My boy was just like me
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon Little boy blue and the man in the moon “When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when” But we’ll get together then, dad We’re gonna have a good time then
“Because“ Written by: Lennon/McCartney Recorded: August 1, 4 & 5, 1969 Producer: George Martin Engineers: Geoff Emerick, Phil McDonald
Released: September 26, 1969 (UK), October 1, 1969 (US)
Available on: Abbey Road Anthology 3 Love
Personnel: John Lennon: vocals, lead guitar Paul McCartney: vocals, bass George Harrison: vocals, Moog synthesizer George Martin: electric spinet Baldwin harpsichord Ringo Starr: handclaps (for timing purposes)
The ballad “Because” features a tightly woven, lush harmony vocal performance between John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, overdubbed three times to make nine voices in all.
The story has been told that this song is actually “Moonlight Sonata” by Ludwig van Beethoven played backwards, which is a gross simplification, but it’s safe to say Beethoven’s famous piece certainly served as an inspiration for the song. And it certainly wasn’t the first time the Beatles experimented with recording music (and lyrics) backwards.
It took 23 attempts over a 3-day period to achieve a finished product everyone was happy with. That’s not terribly long when you’re aspiring for perfection.
Here, in my opinion, is the perfect ballad by the Beatles. This is “Because”.
Lyrics
Aah Because the world is round It turns me on Because the world is round
Aah Because the wind is high It blows my mind Because the wind is high
Aah Love is old, love is new Love is all, love is you
Because the sky is blue It makes me cry Because the sky is blue Aah
Battery Park. The glittering lights of tall ships parading up the Hudson River. New York at its brightest. The Big Apple – excitement and energy down to its core.
So how the hell did I end up in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, hopelessly in love with my Amish husband Abel, married for four years with three kids and twins on the way?
Good old revenge. I wouldn’t play ball with my boss so instead of being assigned to photograph the tall ships in New York Harbor, I was banished for a month to cover the “Plain People’s” Summer County Fair.
What I thought was going to be a nightmare was a delicious surprise. When the handsome, lusty Abel Jansen and I locked eyes, it was “Goed gevoel”– a “good feeling” from head to toe and all parts in between.
Being accepted into the Amish community, let alone marrying, is difficult but we had a few things going for us. I was a city girl, not afraid of getting my hands dirty. We were mature. Most Amish were married before age 20; Abel and I were both 26.
But the clincher was the serendipity attached to my name …. Menno Jakob.
The most revered men among the Amish were Menno Simons and Jakob Ammann. The elders were convinced I was descended from them when I was actually an Italian Jew from Canarsie! Who was I to argue?
Abel was my tall ship and I was his splash of Manhattan sparkle. Nothing else mattered.
Written for Ronovanwrites Ovi Poetry Challenge 40: Tragedy Ovi Rules: 4-line stanza, 8 syllables or less per line, first 3 lines rhyme,4th line must not rhyme. Additional stanzas keep the same rhyming pattern but do not rhyme each other.
Homeless living on the street Children with no food to eat People crying in defeat We are stuck in a hopeless mess.
Politicians always lying Innocents in war are dying Talk of peace but no one’s trying It all seems so fucking futile.
Playgrounds teeming with poison drugs Computer hackers spreading bugs Protestors being shot with slugs Has every person gone insane?
No clean water left to drink Can you smell that awful stink Our universe is on the brink The tragedies of a mad world.
Our delightful host Rochelle at Friday Fictioneers has offered this challenge: to write creatively in 100 words or less in response to this photo. Here is my story in 100 words.
Each morning they would incline their respective hospital beds, draw back their curtains an inch and raise binoculars to their eyes. They would wave, smile radiantly and lift a hand-written note which read “Wanna blow this joint?”
A different note followed at noon and 9PM. And they’d laugh!
They found each other by accident, two teenage girls occupying apartments diagonally across Park Avenue. Each was bedridden with the ubiquitous daily flow of boring people in and out of their rooms …. parents, nurses, doctors.
It was indescribably joyful to have a secret friend.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Eddie Money Born March 21, 1949 in Brooklyn, New York
This is something that I can’t say very often so I’m going to say it loud and clear:
I’M A LITTLE TOO YOUNGto remember sitting around the radio listening to the tunes of my featured group but I’m well familiar with them and their many songs just the same. They were extremely important in the development and acceptance of R&R music; it’s a known fact this group strongly influenced the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, the Hollies, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees and other groups; in fact, their records are included in John Lennon’s personal juke box.
I’m talking about the Everly Brothers, the American rock duo known for their steel-string acoustic guitar playing and close harmony singing. The duo, consisting of Don and Phil, grew up in a musical family in Knoxville, Tennessee; they combined elements of R&R, country and pop, becoming pioneers of country rock.
The brothers began writing and recording their own music in 1956 and their first hit song, “Bye Bye Love”, came in 1957, written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. That song hit #1 later in the year and additional hits quickly followed, including “Wake Up, Little Susie” and “All I Have To Do Is Dream”. When Phil and Don enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserve in 1961, their output dropped off; additional hit singles continued through 1962, with “That’s Old Fashioned (That’s The Way Love Should Be)” being their last top-10 hit.
No need to drag out your old transistor radio; I’ve got those top three Everly Brothers tunes right here. Let’s go in order, starting with “Bye, Bye Love”. Here are Phil & Don, the Everly Brothers.
“Wake Up, Little Susie”
“All I Have To Do Is Dream”
Thanks for joining me today and thanks to Glyn for hosting Mixed Music Bag.
The young man, rail thin and incredibly tall, ran through the courtyard like a gangling, indelicate giraffe. One hand planted firmly on his head kept his cap from flying off …. a common occurrence .… while the other hand jutting out to his side performed the function of a human rudder keeping him on course. An over-large cowl flapped disobediently from one shoulder to the other. On his feet he wore simple sandals and his spindly legs took giant strides in an exaggerated attempt to keep them on his feet.
From a distance he could have easily been mistaken for an apoplectic ostrich.
A quick glance at the sun and the shadows cast by the stone columns confirmed what the young man already knew – he was late. Again. He quickened his pace, awkwardly darting between the pillars, and spied the grated entrance to his right. He flew toward it, nearly falling flat on his face onto the cobblestones beneath his feet.
The young man flung open the gate and quickly entered, hunching over to prevent his head from hitting the doorframe. He stood for a few seconds in the shadows to collect himself, then quietly opened the chapel door and slipped into the one empty space at the end of the stone bench.
None of his brothers dared acknowledge his late arrival but he knew he would be called to task for this transgression.
NB: When I saw Sadje’s photo prompt, I was immediately reminded of The Cloisters in the Bronx, NY, an extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s a fascinating place which I have visited many times. To take a look inside The Met Cloisters, click here.
Ruth looked up from her book and stared at her husband Fred as he fiddled with his iPod; at one time, he knew every little detail about that thing but now the device totally confused him and in frustration Fred cursed as he threw the iPod across the room yelling “Damn thing’s busted!”
Ruth sighed and retrieved the iPod, placing it on the table between their recliners and glanced sadly at Fred who sat in his chair looking straight ahead; Ruth asked herself “Where is my husband of 55 years?” because for her it was like he was gone, replaced by this ‘nowhere man’.
In an attempt to help Fred settle down, Ruth calmly suggested they look at the iPod together after dinner to figure out what was wrong but that only seemed to anger Fred even more and he shouted back at Ruth that he was not a child and she shouldn’t patronize him; when Ruth apologized and told Fred she was going into the kitchen to make dinner, he snapped at her saying it didn’t matter because he wasn’t hungry anyway.
In the kitchen Ruth wept silently; it was like this ever since Fred’s diagnosis of early onset dementia and now they squabbled over everything, especially things he used to do without so much as a second thought, like paying the bills, but these days he got lost walking to the bank on the corner.
Fred used to be very handy but now he couldn’t even set his alarm clock and when Ruth offered to sort out his meds for him, he lashed out saying he could do it himself but he mixed up the dosage and had a terrible reaction leaving him feeling hopeless and helpless.
Fred came into the kitchen and, without being told, went straight to the spot where Ruth stored her cutting boards and knives and started helping her prepare the salad, perfectly chopping vegetables and chatting amiably about a movie his friend Jack thought they might enjoy; the old Fred was back .… at least for the moment.
John Lennon had thousands of admirers and imitators. But he was the first to admit that he had his own rock icons that he looked up to – Buddy Holly, The Ronettes, Arthur Alexander, the Everly Brothers …. and Rosie & The Originals who first took this song to #5 on the Billboard chart in 1961. Lennon said it was one of his favorite songs and when he recorded a cover in 1973 said, “send my love to Rosie, wherever she may be!” Rosie was actually Rosie Hamlin; she was only 15 years old when she recorded the song but said Lennon’s cover version was her favorite. The 1961 original was part of John Lennon’s personal juke box.
From 1961, this is Rosie & The Originals with “Angel Baby”
With his rendition of “Angel Baby”, here is John Lennon
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldn’t put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Before Motown, there was Tamla. Berry Gordy realized that the way to make money was to produce his own records for his own label. In 1959 he founded Tamla Records with an $800 loan from his family; he added the Motown label later that year. The Tamla label remained in operation until being merged with Motown’s main line at the end of 1986. Tamla’s first release was Marv Johnson’s “Come To Me” in January 1959.
An R&B singer, songwriter and pianist, Marv Johnson achieved early success in the US but ultimately became more popular overseas, especially in the UK and Australia. Let’s listen to a couple of his tunes; from 1959, this is “Come To Me”, Tamla Label’s first release.
This was written in response to John’s March 14th “Writer’s Workshop Prompts” at The Sound Of One Hand Typing, meeting two of his prompts: an eight-sentence post based on the word “respect”.I write long sentences!
Not too long ago I brought my car to the dealer for routine maintenance and since it was going to be a quick appointment, I opted to wait in the customer’s lounge rather than go home and come back when the car was ready; apparently, quite a few other people had the same idea because the waiting area was quite full.
Sometimes I’ll find myself engaged in conversation with an interesting person but most times I prefer to wait in quiet, reading my emails or making notes for a story; this particular day, since the waiting area was full, I had no choice but to sit next to a woman and her little boy, approximately 3 years old.
The first thing I noticed about the woman was the hostility and impatience that shot out of her like a machine gun and the primary recipient of her nasty temperament was her little boy; she seemed to take great pleasure in taunting and teasing him and reprimanding him, both verbally and physically.
I was very uncomfortable with her behavior and found it extremely difficult to stay out of the situation but if I expect people to respect my boundaries, I need to show the same respect to them, however, this woman seemed to be inviting someone to say something; obviously no one wanted trouble so everyone kept their eyes averted, heads down and mouths shut, but the atmosphere in the room was tense.
The final straw came when the woman reached into her purse, pulled out a granola bar and began eating while her little boy stood at her knees whining because he wanted something to eat, too; the woman told him that was too bad because he already had his snack and the granola bar was HERS, and, of course, the child threw himself onto the floor and began crying at which point the woman bent over in her seat and slapped the boy several times on the side of his head, causing him to scream out.
That was it for me and while the other people tsk’d and muttered and winced, I turned to the woman and said in a tone as matter-of-factly as if I was asking what time it was, “Please don’t hit your child” to which she yelled “Shut up, bitch, and mind your own fucking business!”, which wasn’t entirely unexpected but I was prepared.
I got up and left the room, fully aware of eyes on me, glaring at me and I could feel their resentment as if I was the wrongful party in this scenario who let that little boy down while they all sat mutely by and allowed the poor child to be mistreated; what’s more, I could feel that horrible woman’s eyes boring a hole in my back, acting the fool and flaunting her victory over a defenseless child.
When I returned a minute later with a policewoman to show her what was going on in front of people who chose to remain silent, the mood in the room immediately shifted and I was suddenly the hero with people actually applauding for me as if this was some kind of performance for their entertainment; I wanted to scream “Live by example, you fucking bastards!”, but I wouldn’t lower myself to their level and couldn’t get out of that room fast enough .… a room reeking of the stench of cowards with no self-respect.
Sammi at Weekend Writing Prompt is challenging us to get creative with the word “adventure” in exactly 76 words. This is my response to that word challenge.
Bill and his blackfish
You ever have that feeling you get when you meet someone for the first time …. and you know?
That’s what happened to me when I first met Bill …. almost 56 years ago to the day. It was our first date, the dreaded blind date, but we had chemistry and we still do.
The topic today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sundayis to write about songs dealing with war and/or peace .… subjects that have been plaguing the world since the beginning of time.
Bill and I are pretty patriotic people; still, we were very relieved when he failed the draft physical. He and his identical twin brother were numbers 8 & 9 when they were called up; if not for them both having a pilonidal cyst, they surely would have been drafted and shipped off to Vietnam. It was the first and last “F” Bill ever got in his life. Let me just add …. Bill and I have total respect for all veterans – those who served and came home, those who died. Bill’s older brother served in the Navy, his sister’s husband was a marine and our fathers were in the US Army; Bill’s dad never left The States whereas my dad fought in the Battle of the Bulge. It was literally the luck of the draw.
Here are four songs about war and peace which were the soundtrack of our lives from the late 60s and early 70s.
From his 1969 video, this is Edwin Starr singing “War”. Originally written under the Motown label and first performed by The Temptations, “War” was later re-released as a single with Edwin Starr on vocals. This version has become the most popular protest song ever.
LYRICS
War, huh, yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, uhh War, huh, yeah What is it good for? Absolutely nothing Say it again, y’all War, huh (good God) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, listen to me, oh War, I despise ‘Cause it means destruction of innocent lives War means tears to thousands of mother’s eyes When their sons go off to fight And lose their lives
I said, war, huh (good God, y’all) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, just say it again War (whoa), huh (oh Lord) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, listen to me
It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker (War) Friend only to The Undertaker Oh, war it’s an enemy to all mankind The thought of war blows my mind War has caused unrest Within the younger generation Induction then destruction Who wants to die? Oh
War, huh (good God y’all) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing Say it, say it, say it War (uh-huh), huh (yeah, huh) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, listen to me
It ain’t nothing but a heartbreaker (War) It’s got one friend that’s The Undertaker Oh, war, has shattered many a young man’s dreams Made him disabled, bitter and mean Life is much too short and precious To spend fighting wars each day War can’t give life It can only take it away, oh
War, huh (good God y’all) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, say it again War (whoa), huh (oh Lord) What is it good for? Absolutely nothing, listen to me
It ain’t nothing but a heart breaker (War) Friend only to The Undertaker, woo Peace, love and understanding, tell me Is there no place for them today? They say we must fight to keep our freedom But Lord knows there’s got to be a better way, oh
War, huh (God y’all) What is it good for? You tell me (nothing) Say it, say it, say it, say it War (good God), huh (now, huh) What is it good for? Stand up and shout it (nothing)
Here are the Animals with “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place”. Though the song never mentions war, it was quickly adopted by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War and was the most requested on Armed Forces Radio, according to the late radio personality Adrian Cronauer, whose life inspired the 1987 film “Good Morning, Vietnam”.
LYRICS
In this dirty old part of the city Where the sun refused to shine People tell me there ain’t no use in tryin’ Now my girl you’re so young and pretty And one thing I know is true You’ll be dead before your time is due, I know Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin’ Watched his hair been turnin’ grey He’s been workin’ and slavin’ his life away Oh yes I know it
(Yeah!) He’s been workin’ so hard (Yeah!) I’ve been workin’ too, baby (Yeah!) Every night and day (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
We gotta get out of this place If it’s the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place ’cause girl, there’s a better life for me and you
Now my girl you’re so young and pretty And one thing I know is true, yeah You’ll be dead before your time is due, I know it Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin’ Watched his hair been turnin’ grey, yeah He’s been workin’ and slavin’ his life away I know he’s been workin’ so hard
(Yeah!) I’ve been workin’ too, baby (Yeah!) Every day baby (Yeah!) Whoa! (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
We gotta get out of this place If it’s the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place Girl, there’s a better life for me and you Somewhere baby, somehow I know it We gotta get out of this place If it’s the last thing we ever do We gotta get out of this place Girl, there’s a better life for me and you Believe me baby I know it baby You know it too
This is “Peace Train”by Cat Stevens. His Majikat – Earth Tour was recorded during his last legendary North American tour in 1976. This was the ultimate tour for Cat Stevens before he quit the music business and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. He didn’t perform on stage again for nearly thirty years.
LYRICS
Now I’ve been happy lately Thinking about the good things to come And I believe it could be Something good has begun Oh, I’ve been smiling lately Dreaming about the world as one And I believe it could be Someday it’s going to come
‘Cause out on the edge of darkness There rides the peace train Oh, peace train take this country Come take me home again
Now I’ve been smiling lately Thinkin’ about the good things to come And I believe it could be Something good has begun
Oh, peace train sounding louder Glide on the peace train Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah Come on now, peace train Yes, peace train holy roller Everyone jump upon the peace train Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah Come on now, peace train
Get your bags together Go bring your good friends too Because it’s getting nearer It soon will be with you Now come and join the living It’s not so far from you And it’s getting nearer Soon it will all be true
Oh, peace train sounding louder Glide on the peace train Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah Come on now peace train Peace train
Now I’ve been crying lately Thinkin’ about the world as it is Why must we go on hating? Why can’t we live in bliss?
‘Cause out on the edge of darkness There rides a peace train Oh, peace train take this country Come take me home again
Oh, peace train sounding louder Glide on the peace train Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah Come on now, peace train Yes, peace train holy roller Everyone jump upon the peace train Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah Come on, come on, come on Yes, come on, peace train Yes, it’s the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah Come on now, peace train Oh, peace train Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Here’s the Plastic Ono Band with what has become the anthem for peace activists …. “Give Peace A Chance”. The song was written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono during their 1969 weeklong ‘BED-IN’ peace advertising campaign in Montreal, Canada. The film features the original recording of “Give Peace A Chance” and includes John and Yoko appearing at the National Peace Rally in Bryant Park, New York on April 22, 1972. It concludes with impromptu gatherings of fans in Liverpool, London, New York, etc. after John’s shooting on December 8, 1980. Since the lyrics are part of the video, I did not print them.
There are few things better than waking up feeling happy and in a good mood. It doesn’t matter how you got to that happy place, as long as it didn’t result in someone else’s unhappiness. If you woke up feeling glum, chum, I’m sure this piece of fun from the Bluebird of Bitterness will take that frown and turn it upside down! Looking for a smile? Click here!
This is Rufus Wainwright doing his best Judy Garland singing “Get Happy”. Check out those gorgeous gams!
Our gracious host Jenne at The Unicorn Challenge has offered up this photo prompt hoping to inspire us to creatively write something in 250 words or less. This is my 250-word response to the photo prompt.
The year was 1987. Bill and I were celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary by going on a cruise to the Bahamas with our sons, aged 10 and 8.
On the third day we made plans to disembark at our next port of call …. St. Thomas …. and asked one of the stewards to recommend a nice beach. He gave us a name, saying it was not a touristy place and if we were lucky, we’d see some iguanas. Having had a pet iguana before, the boys were excited.
We ate breakfast in an outdoor cafe with thatched umbrellas before heading to the beach, bringing with us some leftover croissants and muffins too delicious to leave behind. The steward was right; the beach was deserted. It was pristine with the clearest, bluest water we’d ever seen. After a couple of hours, there was still no sign of iguanas anywhere and our boys were sorely disappointed. We searched a large rock outcropping, knowing the little lizards like hiding in crevices, but none were there.
Rounding the rocks to check out what was on the other side, we stopped dead in our tracks. It was like a land before time with iguanas the size of small dinosaurs sunning themselves on the beach. They were magnificent and, aside from their enormous whip-like tails, appeared harmless.
Cautious yet unafraid, we slowly approached as the herbivores watched from heavy-lidded eyes. To our sons’ utter delight and amazement, iguanas enjoy being fed leftover muffins and croissants!
The layout of Freedomland; I’d forgotten it was in the shape of the US!
Back in 1960, before the first Six Flags opened in Texas, there was Freedomland USA …. a fantastic, 85-acre amusement park with rides, restaurants, attractions, shopping, etc. And one of the things that made this wonderland so amazing was the fact that it was about 20 minutes from my house in The Bronx, NY. We would sit on our front porch at night and watch the fireworks coming from Freedomland.
“What else was so special about the place?”, you ask; well, it was the music hall known as the Moon Bowl!
In an attempt to attract visitors of varying ages, the Moon Bowl featured swing bands from the 1940s and contemporary pop stars. There was a stage and a 15,000 square foot outdoor dance floor. Among the performers who entertained us (and who I saw) were the Count Basie Orchestra, Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker and more.
A ticket to Freedomland; check out the price of admission!
Bobby Darin performing at the Moon Bowl
Somewhere in my attic I have many tickets and autographs tucked away with all my Beatles scrapbooks and R&R memorabilia. I was a very lucky girl who got to meet a lot of famous people! Unfortunately, Freedomland USA went belly up after just five seasons but I have memories that will last forever.
Today I am featuring one of the performers I saw at Freedomland, the place where I fell in love with him when I was 10 years old …. the one-and-only Bobby Darin, definitely tops on my list. He can bring me out of a lousy mood or help me chill when I’m feeling stressed out.
There aren’t enough adjectives to describe the incredible talents of Bobby Darin. He was the consummate performer, a one-man show who composed songs, conducted the orchestra, sang different genres of music, danced, played the drums, piano, harmonica and guitar, did impressions, acted in movies and dazzled us with his Sinatra-like charm, mannerisms and sense of humor. My fellow-New Yorker was born Walden Robert Cassotto on May 14, 1936. It was a time when ethnic-sounding names such as his were frowned-upon by music producers; they felt something more white bread Americana would help these performers with strange names go further in the biz so Walden Robert Cassotto became Bobby Darin.
Bobby was only 37 years old when he died .… recurring bouts of rheumatic fever as a child left him with a seriously weakened heart. Believing his time on earth was limited, he lived his life to the fullest, pushing himself to all he could. In 1973, after failing to take antibiotics to protect his heart before a dental visit, Bobby developed sepsis. On December 19, 1973, a four-person surgical team worked for over six hours to repair his damaged heart. In the early morning hours of December 20, Bobby Darin died in the recovery room without regaining consciousness. That day the entertainment world lost one of its brightest stars and my own heart broke a little.
“Mack The Knife” is undoubtedly Bobby Darin’s most famous hit …. a cool, finger-snapping song about the notorious killer, thief and arsonist, Macheath (AKA Mac the Knife). The song was originally written in 1928 for the German dramatic play Die Dreigroschenoper (Threepenny Opera) and sounds totally different than Bobby Darin’s version.
Another one of Bobby’s hits is “Beyond The Sea”, a jazzed-up version of a romantic love song based on the classical piece called “Le Mer” by French composer, lyricist, singer and showman Charles Trenet. The 2004 movie Beyond The Sea was released starring Kevin Spacey in the role of Bobby Darin. In case you only Spacey for his dramatic roles and have never seen him in a musical role, you’re in for a treat. Spacey is a master of impersonations and sang all Bobby Darin’s songs himself. He became Bobby Darin and if you like dramatic biographies with a splash of nightclub routines, you’ll love this movie.
Anything else you want to know about Freedomland, USA or Bobby Darin you can Google or read in Wiki. I’m just so grateful I had a chance to spend my pre-teen years in a place like Freedomland where I got to see Bobby Darin up close and personal and got his autograph. People have asked me “Why don’t you sell some of this stuff? You’ve got a treasure trove packed away.” Yeah, it’s a treasure trove and that’s exactly why I’ll be keeping it for as long as I live.
This is Bobby Darin performing his greatest hit, “Mack The Knife” on the Ed Sullivan Show, May 31, 1959.
Now “Beyond The Sea”, also from the same airing of the Ed Sullivan show.
In this video, several of the many talents of the fabulous Bobby Darin are put on display. Bobby sings, plays bluesy harmonica, boogies on piano and performs a blistering Gene Krupa style drum solo. Live on the David Frost Show, 1972 …. 18 months before his death.
I hope you enjoyed taking a walk with me down Memory Lane …. not just sharing my fond, girlhood memories of Freedomland but remembering the remarkable Bobby Darin.
Our lovely host, Rochelle, at Friday Fictioneers has offered up this photo prompt to inspire us to write creatively using 100 words or less. This is my 100-word story from days in Montauk.
“Surf rods are the heaviest and longest rods you can get. They’re designed to cast very far distances and pull in heavier fish from breaking waves. Depending on which bait you’re using – worms, squid, bunker – you’ll need to choose the right rig.”
Bill quietly explained to our pre-school boys, blissfully ignoring the fact that the rods were four times taller than them.
“This is a science, boys. You have to be patient and psyche out the fish.” The kiddos were gleefully lost in their mini boxes of Frosted Flakes.
Bill was content; this was cherished father/son time. Pivotal first steps.
Yesterday, as I was driving up into the gated parking lot of a medical facility, I was faced with a dilemma: from my position in the driver’s seat, I was unable to reach the OPEN BUTTON. I stretched as far as I could, with no luck. Finally, I opened my door just a bit, reached out and successfully pushed the button. I closed my door, drove through the now open gate and went in search of a parking spot.
I found a spot quickly and, since we were early, my husband and I stayed in the car for a few minutes chatting. When I reached for my purse, my heart sank and I felt sick to my stomach. My purse wasn’t where I always keep it …. tucked into the space between my seat and the driver’s door. I’m sure you see where this is going. Yes, when I opened my car door to push the button which opens the security gate, I didn’t realize my purse had fallen out of the car!
Thank goodness I immediately figured out what happened and Bill took the short walk to the parking lot entrance to make sure my purse was still there. It was gone and when he returned empty handed, I almost pushed the panic button. Just like most women, my life is in my purse. It’s not big but inside was my cell phone, my wallet with my ID, driver’s license, insurance cards, credit cards and cash. My car key, a pen, lip gloss and Advil are also inside the purse. Not a lot of things but very important things. In fact, some are vital.
I tried to stay calm as Bill went into the lobby of the building to check with the security guard at the front desk. Against all odds, he had my purse in a box beneath his desk; nothing was missing. Bill had to sign for it and when he brought my purse back to me in the parking lot, I thought I would cry with relief.
All this transpired in the course of 10 minutes. Incredible good fortune which could have gone south just as easily and I was reminded of the classic line by Blanche DuBois from “Streetcar Named Desire” about the kindness of strangers. Whoever the person was who found my purse and turned it in to the front desk, I thank them with my whole being. They saved my life today and if that sounds like a ridiculous exaggeration, just think about what it would be like piecing everything together and then try not to push the panic button.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on that day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Quincy Jones Born March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois
Quincy Jones Talks About Frank Sinatra
Live in the studio – Frank Sinatra & The Quincy Jones Orchestra with “Teach Me Tonight”
“I Can’t Stop Loving You” – Quincy Jones at The BBC, 2016
Live with The Quincy Jones Band – “The ‘Ironside’ Theme”
“Celebrating Quincy Jones/Featuring Kati Brien – “The Midnight Sun Never Sets”
“Summertime” – Featuring Miles Davis with Quincy Jones & Orchestra
For Glyn’s Mixed Music Bag #11, Monthly Challenge Week 11 where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo artist beginning with the letter E or F.
Today I’m going out on the proverbial limb by doing something completely different. We’re going long-hair, and I’m not talking about hard rock metal bands. Sit up straight and pay attention, boys and girls; we’re going classical!
In his seven-section Requiem, the French composer Gabriel Fauré distilled some of the most beautiful melodies he ever composed. The creation was a musical tribute to his father who died in 1885, three years before work on the piece began.
As with much of Western classical music, Requiem owes its roots to Christian faith. Traditionally, it is a prayerful lament for the dead; however, Fauré’s Requiem was altogether different because, unlike his contemporaries, Fauré had no clear religious beliefs.
In place of the somber nature of most requiems, Fauré’s is noted for its calm, serene and peaceful outlook. Anyone looking for morose themes is barking up the wrong tree. Instead, here you will find musical solace in a work that focuses not on the morbid, but on the restful and fear-free nature of death.
Of all seven sections of Fauré’s Reqiuem, the Pie Jesu, Agnus Dei and In Paradisum emerge as the most glorious, filled with rich, soulful melodies. The work garnered the praise of many other composers who thought it divine. It was performed at Fauré’s own funeral in 1924.
I’ve been a member of choirs all my life and have sung Fauré’s Requiem countless times, especially during Holy Week leading up to Easter. Since we are rapidly approaching that time of the season, I will be attending a performance of both Faure and Mozart’s Requiems presented by the Taconic Opera this Sunday, March 17. It just so happens that my son David will be singing lead tenor. I am incredibly and unceasingly proud of him.
Please bear in mind …. you don’t have to be a classic music buff or at all religious to listen/enjoy a requiem, especially one as breathtaking as Fauré’s. Here are the Pie Jesu (Pious Jesus) , Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) and In Paradisum(Into Paradise).
This is VOICES8 performing Faure’s “Pie Jesu”
This is “Agnus Dei” performed by Netherlands Radio Chorus / Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir, this is “In Paradisum”
I hope you have enjoyed today’s change of pace. You can check out Taconic Opera here if you are so inclined.
The Elephant's Trunk 