(1912 Gerhard Heintzman at Wind-in-the-Pines)
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Lakeside Deck (October, 2011)
SONGS
It was about 2006 when we discovered that we were able to construct melodies. Many of these melodies might be characterized as small "piano compositions’' which have a wider range of notes than is appropriate for songs. But some of them do seem appropriate for lyrics.
We have concluded that writing lyrics–like writing poetry–requires specialized skills–skills which, unfortunately, we do not possess. We tend to write lyrics that are grammatical–like those in some of the old standards (Smoke Gets in Your Eyes)–rather than more loosely suggestive. Our thought tends to be unoriginal, predictable, and sentimental. Sometimes the lyrics are strongly reminiscent of other eras; in no way are they contemporary. It seems that each generation develops its own style of music, and it is that style which remains as the most revered.
Despite our perceived deficiencies, we have, of course, written lyrics, and we will probably continue to do so. If asked: "Why do you continue to write lyrics which are uninspired, derivative, and unappealing, we would reply simply: "Because we can."
We would be intrigued if the melodies were to inspire more suitable lyrics, vocal performances, or both.
This rhythmic tune (Around, Around) has been hanging around for at least a
couple of years. This month,
we decided to add some lyrics. The astute observer will notice a similarity to
the Nonsense Song (below)
which, in turn is derived from The Explanation of Everything. (Drivel,
July 18, 2011). We confess that we
do not have many ideas, but hope that repeating the few that we do will give the
impression of intellectual
fecundity.
AROUND, AROUND
(On the Merry-go-round) April 23, 2012
Click here to play.
Around, around, We’re up and down, We aim our steeds The sound is the pulse that we share, |
Around, around, We’re travelling fast We see the ring, The sound is the pulse that we share,
|
WAVES
We do make apologies for the startling and novel theme--lost love. It will probably require a bit of adjustment--but novelty is sometimes worth paying attention to. We suggest playing this every day for a week, until the notion that sometimes love doesn't work out is thoroughly assimilated.
Click here to play.
Waves
(2007, published October 19, 2011)
The waves sound gently in the moonlight;
They play an ancient rhythm of the sea–
They stir a memory of other moonlight,
Of distant starlight--
An island paradise--
A haunting melody.
I thought then that our new love was forever;
I thought then that our true love was as strong as the sea;
But now I know
The waves may come,
The waves will go.
The waves sound chords of ceaseless changes,
Of currents blind and deep and coldly true;
They tell of tides that ebb in any moonlight,
In distant starlight,
Or island paradise
Where time began anew.
I thought then that our new love was forever;
I thought then that our true love was strong as the sea.
But now I know
The sound of the tide,
The music below.
And now I know
You’ll never,
No never
Come back,
You’ll never come back to me.
Take Me Again to the Fair would appear to have been channelled directly from 1911.
Click here to play.
Take Me Again to the Fair (Approx 2006, published September 25, 2011)
Oh, take me again to the fair!
I want to see everything there!
The rides on the midway!
Those games with no payday!
Oh, take me again to the fair!
I want to see Johnny and Sue,
And Freddy, and Mary, and you.
I want to go round and around!
I want to zoom up and swoop down!
The sounds of that heyday!
The warmth of that May day!
Oh, take me again to the fair!
I want to see Johnny and Sue,
And Freddy, and Mary, and you.
The jugglers and clowns will be there!
The guessers and testers we’ll dare!
That hot dog and floss day!
That life-without-care-day!
Oh, take me again to the fair!
I want to see Johnny and Sue,
And Freddy, and Mary, and you.
Oh take me again to the fair!
I long to see everything there.
It’s sweet to remember
So bleak in December,
The days of that wonderful fair.
I’d love to see Johnny and Sue,
And Freddy, and Mary, and you.
The Nonsense Song (September 1, 2011)
We are pleased to present our latest song, The Nonsense Song. It came to us, as did Xanadu to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in a dream. The song was much longer than presently appears, but we were interrupted in our transcription by a knock on the door by a delegation from the nearby Jehovah’s Witness Facility on Porlock Street. Once we had explained to the delegation the error of their ways, and they had departed-- murmuring prayers to the Great God Murphy-- we found we could no longer remember the untranscribed portions.
Perhaps a subsequent dream will recall the missing bits, but the song seems quite long enough, as it is. Because of a long tradition of childhood nursery rhymes without apparent meaning, it struck us that this song would be an ideal ditty to be belted out at a kindergarten or at Cub Scout campfires.
Indeed, we interviewed Dr. Rauchig Fluzenpuffer, of the Fluzenpuffer Children's Psychological Institute, who commented about the suitability of the lyrics for those with unformed critical faculties. The Interview appears at the end of the song lyrics.
Play: The Nonsense Song
O, sail me away The merry-go-round O, sail me away O, see how the fool |
O sail me away O see the white bone, O sail me away (Softly, slowing and fading) |
Lumpenbangen Piano: So, Dr. Fluzenpuffer, how suitable to you think the song is for young children?
Dr. Fluzenpuffer: Yes this is very nice, a wonderful thing for the little kinder to imagine sailing away and dancing with a star. It is very important to kindle imaginations at a young age, so that the little ones can dream of great accomplishments, and reach for the twinkles of impossibility in their later lives.
L.P.: Do you think perhaps the second verse is a bit too confusing? It seems to be hinting at some sort of philosophical puzzle, with the past being both sound and silence, tomorrow being a mystery, and the truth hiding–or not hiding--behind a mask?
Dr. F. Not at all, it’s all complete nonsense, and has a lot of rhyme. Little kinder love things that rhyme. And most have lifted up a shell, and been fooled by what’s underneath, and then listened for the sound of the sea. I myself, have always wondered where that sound is coming from. It is an illusion, is it not?
L.P; Just one of the many in life, we suppose. Now, what do you think of the verse with the clown, the fool, and the knave?
Dr. F.: Ah! The kinder love clowns, they way they fool around! And who wouldn’t be glad to see a knave in the grave! There is a moral lesson here for the kinder, once they get a little older. Better than watching The Sopranos. I like the way sometimes everyone goes free–just like the little ones playing hooky.
L.P.: The next verse seems to be awfully dark–too dark for the little kinder, as you call them.
Dr. F. I think you misunderstand this dream of yours. The white bone is just like the White Queen in Alice Through the Looking Glass--a chess-piece clown, smiling and merry as it goes around to the music, and the music goes on forever, just like the merry-go-round. It is important for the kinder to see life as a happy merry-go-round, full of music and fun.
L.P.: So you would have no difficulty recommending this as a bit of delightful nonsense for small children?
Dr. F: But no, of course!
Granny's Piano seems to spring from the sensibility and sentimentality of an earlier era--possibly the 1890's. We make no apologies. We writes them as they comes to us.
Play: Granny's Piano
Granny’s Piano June 13, 2011--published June 20
I dozed in the garden,
Beneath the old oak tree,
And woke of a sudden
To a strange melody:
Through half-open window,
A strain came floating free
From Granny’s piano--
Old Granny’s piano--
In old-fashioned key.
It spoke of a heart-break,
In times so long gone by–
It questioned a heart-ache
With a musical sigh.
I went to the window
To solve the mystery
Of Granny’s piano--
Old Granny’s piano--
That sad melody.
I parted the curtain,
But just as I had feared,
The notes grew uncertain,
And then just disappeared.
So now at the keyboard,
I seek that haunting key,
The notes of a heart-chord,
A sigh drifting heart-ward,
That strange melody.
There Ain’t no Flies on Me might possibly be a song from the late 1940's. The Term "Shazam" would have been familiar to readers of the Captain marvel Comic Book series, which was popular at that time.
Play: There Ain't no Flies on Me
There Aint no Flies on Me (June 4, 2011; published June 21)
Them flies is buzzing round me–
As thick as they can be–
They’re happy ’cause they found me–
But there ain’t no flies on me.
Hey, Shazam--Yes, I can--
There ain’t no flies on me!
Say Shazam–Now I can–
There ain’t no flies on me!
The world is full of trouble–
As far as I can see–
I’m gonna burst its bubble–
‘Cause it ain’t no match for me!
Hey, Shazam--Yes I can--
There ain’t no flies on me!
Say Shazam–Now I can–
There ain’t no flies on me!
They tell you: just be careful–
Just sing in harmony;
They say be quiet and prayerful–
But that’s not the life for me!
Hey, Shazam–Yes I can--
There ain’t no flies on me!
Say Shazam–Now I can–
There ain’t no flies on me!
Some folks, they seek perfection–
Wait dreamin’ by the sea–
But I reject dejection--
And so I’ll be sailing free!
Hey, Shazam--Yes I can–
There ain’t no flies on me!
Say Shazam–Now I can–
There ain’t no flies on me!