I asked Travis of Trav's Thoughts for a song suggestion and he came up with Nightswimming by REM which I had never heard. This one may stir up all sorts of images for you to write about next week, so sign in and Take This Tune.
Nightswimming
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago,
Turned around backwards so the windshield shows
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse
Still, it's so much clearer
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge
The moon is low tonight
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night
I'm not sure all these people understand
It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
Of recklessness and water
They cannot see me naked
These things, they go away,
Replaced by everyday
Nightswimming, remembering that night
September's coming soon
I'm pining for the moon
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
Could not describe nightswimming
You, I thought I knew you
You, I cannot judge
You, I thought you knew me,
This one laughing quietly underneath my breath
Nightswimming
The photograph reflects,
Every streetlight a reminder
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night
My all time favorite Sondheim show is "Into The Woods" where in telling familiar fairy tales a musical is created about almost the whole of human experience which is everything but a fairy tale. Trav has suggested this week's Take This Tune in one of the most powerful songs in the production sung by the Witch: Children Will Listen. Here it is sung by the original star, Bernadette Peters. Take This Tune and let us know how you feel knowing children are listening.
How do you say to your child in the night? Nothing's all black, but then nothing's all white How do you say it will all be all right When you know that it might not be true? What do you do? Careful the things you say Children will listen Careful the things you do Children will see and learn Children may not obey, but children will listen Children will look to you for which way to turn To learn what to be Careful before you say "Listen to me" Children will listen Careful the wish you make Wishes are children Careful the path they take Wishes come true, not free Careful the spell you cast Not just on children Sometimes the spell may last Past what you can see And turn against you Careful the tale you tell That is the spell Children will listen How can you say to a child who's in flight "Don't slip away and i won't hold so tight" What can you say that no matter how slight Won't be misunderstood What do you leave to your child when you're dead? Only whatever you put in it's head Things that you're mother and father had said Which were left to them too Careful what you say Children will listen Careful you do it too Children will see And learn, oh guide them that step away Children will glisten Tamper with what is true And children will turn If just to be free Careful before you say "Listen to me" Children will listen (repeat 3x)
Don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky so that others can find your blog.
Nobody has sent any suggestions and I'm still all wrapped up in the new "The Union" album from Elton John and Leon Russell with Bernie Taupin throwing in his song writing abilities. Rolling Stone declared it the third best album of 2010. I'm declaring it number one. When it comes to vocals, musicianship and incredible lyrics, I simply cannot decide which one I like best, every single song is unique in mood, sound, and meaning. So I'll go with the love song. Take This Tune and tell me about a dream or a love story.
The Best Part of the Day
I hear you singing, "I Shall Be Released"
Like a chainsaw running through a masterpiece
But that's all right, that's ok
Grab the bottle and slide my way
You dreamt of a devil down below
Sprinkled cayenne pepper in your sugar bowl
But he's a fool and he's a thief
Got silly little horns and pointed teeth
Roll back the covers and raise the shades
We don't want to miss out on the best part of the day
You're my best friend you shared my crazy ways
Now we don't want to miss out on the best part of the day
There's a canyon where an echo hangs
Like the ancient bells of Notre Dame
It's beyond the hills out of sight
Thought I heard 'em ringing all last night
Hear the mating call of the morning dove
Like Romeo angels in the roof above
Rains will come sweet and clean
Let the tears of God keep the mountains green
Roll back the covers and raise the shades
We don't want to miss out on the best part of the day
You're my best friend you shared my crazy ways
Now we don't want to miss out on the best part of the day
One big sun coming up
Old moon going down
Thunder breaking in the east
I'm gonna love you 'til it comes around
Roll back the covers and raise the shades
We don't want to miss out on the best part of the day
You're my best friend you shared my crazy ways
Now we don't want to miss out on the best part of the day
You're my best friend you shared my crazy ways
Now we don't want to miss out on the best part of the day
Those participating in Music Monday can sign in below:
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
This wonderful song by Mary Chapin Carpenter is about all the small towns that we once knew that now are dying or changing beyond recognition. We flee from them, remember them, hope to find them again as imagined, and miss them when they disappear. They are hopes and dreams both fulfilled or dashed.
So next week take this tune and tell a story about one of your cities or towns. Don't forget to sign Mr. Linky down below so others can find you.
I'm a town in Carolina, a detour on a ride
For a phone call and a soda, I'm a blur from the driver's side
I'm the last gas for an hour if you're going twenty-five
I am Texaco and tobacco, I am dust you leave behind
I am peaches in September, and corn from a roadside stall
I'm the language of the natives, I'm a cadence and a drawl
I'm the pines behind the graveyard, and the cool beneath their shade,
where the boys have left their beer cans
I am weeds between the graves.
My porches sag and lean with old black men and children
Their sleep is filled with dreams, I never can fulfill them
I am a town.
I am a church beside the highway where the ditches never drain
I'm a Baptist like my daddy, and Jesus knows my name
I am memory and stillness, I am lonely in old age;
I am not your destination
I am clinging to my ways
I am a town.
I'm a town in Carolina, I am billboards in the fields
I'm an old truck up on cinder blocks, missing all my wheels
I am Pabst Blue Ribbon, American, and "Southern Serves the South"
I am tucked behind the Jaycees sign, on the rural route
I am a town
I am a town
I am a town
Southbound.
This meme also works well for Lady Java's Music Monday. Come join Music Monday and share your songs. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge
