Music
English
Connections
Art
|
Why do we think it? That big thoughts will not fit in Small words of one sound. —Sandra Dodd, haiku |
For Christmas my husband gave me the first season of Saturday Night Live on DVD. Paul Simon hosted the second show. He just sang and sang and sang, as the format hadn't been settled to the modern musical-guest-does-two-numbers, one at 11:10 or so and one at 11:45.
Art Garfunkle came on to sing The Boxer with him, and they did a verse I didn't know. I couldn't understand the second verse so I went to google, but I thought the words were so simple and common it might be hard to find. I found it, though, with lots of commentary on the when and who and where of previous performances.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boxer
Looking at that idea of the very common words, I saw the simplicity of the lyrics, and the beauty of the ideas:
Now the years are rolling by me
They are rocking evenly
I am older than I once was
Younger than I'll be, that's not unusual.
No, it isn't strange
After changes upon changes
We are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same
Another Paul Simon song (written with Bruce Woodley) is full of ancient, small words. It was a #1 hit by a group called The Cyrkle.
I should have known you'd bid me farewell.
There's a lesson to be learned from this and I learned it very well.
Now I know you're not the only starfish in the sea.
If I never hear your name again it's all the same to me.
And I think it's gonna be all right.
Yeah, the worst is over,
Now the morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball.
You never cared for secrets I'd confide.
For you I'm just an ornament, something for your pride.
Always running, never caring, that's the life you live.
Stolen minutes of your time were all you had to give.
And I think it's gonna be all right.
Yeah, the worst is over,
Now the morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball.
The story's in the past with nothing to recall.
I've got my life to live and I don't need you at all.
The roller coaster ride we took is nearly at an end.
I bought my ticket with my tears, that's all I'm gonna spend.
And I think it's gonna be all right.
Yeah, the worst is over,
Now the morning sun is shining like a red rubber ball.
"What does a Grateful Dead fan say when he's not stoned?"(Just because I've heard it, and I had told it, didn't keep it from being funny. We got it from Ben Lovejoy.)"This music sucks!"
Perhaps the performances and recordings were unpolished, but some of the lyrics are sterling. So I've brought this as an example of simple Anglo-Saxon English and deep thought. I'm not sure whether the links will come through, but it's from http://arts.ucsc.edu/gdead/ agdl/atti.html and there's reference to a 14th century poem (among other things).
There's an article that was brought to the Unschooling Discussion list one day, and I linked it and commented on the page SandraDodd.com/judgment. It's about wonder. So is this Grateful Dead song. Sometimes others misjudge why, and how deeply, another might experience wonder. 🙂
Sandra
"I have spent my life seeking all that's still unsung"
"Attics of My Life"
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia
My friends all tell me
Go to him, run to him,
Say sweet lovely things to him,
And tell him he's the one.
Deep in my heart I know it,
But it's so hard to show it
'Cause it's easier — easier said than done.
My buddies tell me
Fly to him, sigh to him,
Tell him I would die for him,
And tell him he's the one.
Although he gives me a feeling
That sets my heart a-reeling,
Yet it's easier — easier said than done.
Well, I know (I know) that I love him so.
But I'm afraid that he'll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye.
They all tell me
Sing to him, swing with him,
Just do anything for him,
Tell him he's the one.
I've got a love so true
And yet I'm sad and blue
'Cause it's easier — easier said than done.
Well, I know (I know) that I love him so.
But I'm afraid that he'll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye.
They all tell me
Sing to him, swing with him,
Just do anything for him,
And tell him he's the one.
I've got a love so true
And yet I'm sad and blue
'Cause it's easier — easier said than done.
Easier — said than done
You say that you love me
All of the time
You say that you need me
You'll always be mine
I'm feelin' glad all over
Yes I'm-a glad all over
Baby I'm glad all over
So glad you're mine
I'll make you happy
You'll never be blue
You'll have no sorrow
'Cause I'll always be true
And I'm feelin' glad all over
Yes I'm-a glad all over
Baby I'm glad all over
So glad you're mine
Other girls may try to take me away
But you know, it's by your side I will stay
I'll stay
Our love will last now
Till the end of time
Because this love now
Is only yours and mine
And I'm feelin' glad all over
Yes I'm-a glad all over
Baby I'm glad all over
So glad you're mine
Other girls may try to take me away
But you know, it's by your side I will stay
I'll stay
Our love will last now
Till the end of time
Because this love now
Is only yours and mine
And I'm feelin' glad all over
Yes I'm-a glad all over
Baby I'm-a glad all over
So glad you're mine
My love don't give me presents
I know that she's no peasant
Only ever has to give me
Love forever and forever
My love don't give me presents
Turn me on when I get lonely
People tell me that she's only
Fooling, I know she isn't
She don't give the boys the eye
She hates to see me cry
She is happy just to hear me
Say that I will never leave her
She don't give the boys the eye
She will never make me jealous
Gives me all her time as well as
Loving, don't ask me why
She's a woman who understands
She's a woman who loves her man
some repetition of things above
She's a woman, she's a woman
She's a woman, she's a woman
(From French, but 600 years or more ago: presents, peasant, jealous)
Little surfer little one
Made my heart come all undone
Do you love me, do you surfer girl
Surfer girl my little surfer girl
I have watched you on the shore
Standing by the ocean's roar
Do you love me do you surfer girl
Surfer girl surfer girl
We could ride the surf together
While our love would grow
In my woody I would take
you everywhere I go
So I say from me to you
I will make your dreams come true
Do you love me do you surfer girl
Surfer girl my little surfer girl
Well
Girl surfer girl my little surfer girl
("everywhere" and "together" are long, but they're native English compounds)
Your cheatin' heart will make you weep,
You'll cry and cry and try to sleep.
But sleep won't come the whole night through,
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you.
When tears come down like fallin' rain.
You'll toss around and call my name.
You'll walk the floor the way I do,
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you.
Your cheatin' heart will pine some day
And crave the love you threw away.
The time will come when you'll be blue,
Your cheatin' heart will tell on you.
You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again
Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again
You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again
_________
"Ocean" and "desert" are from Greek and Latin, and probably came into English very early ("desert" with the Bible). "Forest" and "senses" are probably from Norman French. Otherwise..... clean.
_________
I told Mary about us,
Told her about our great sin.
Mary cried and forgave me,
Mary took me back again,
Said if I wanted my freedom
I could be free evermore.
But I don't want to be,
and I don't want to see
Mary cry anymore.
Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, let go of me.
Devil Woman, let me be,
And leave me alone.
I want to go home.
Mary is waitin' and weepin'
down in our shack by the sea.
Even after I've hurt her,
Mary's still in love with me.
Devil Woman it's over,
trapped no more by your charms,
Cause I don't want to stay.
I want to get away;
Woman let go of my arm.
Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, let go of me.
Devil Woman, let me be,
And leave me alone.
I want to go home.
Devil Woman, you're evil,
like the dark coral reef.
Like the winds that bring high tides,
you bring sorrow and grief.
You made me ashamed to face Mary
barely had the strength to tell.
Skies are not so black,
Mary took me back,
Mary has broken your spell.
Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, let go of me.
Devil Woman, let me be,
And leave me alone.
I want to go home.
Runnin' along by the seashore,
runnin' as fast as I can.
Even the seagulls are happy
glad I'm comin' home again.
Never again will I ever
cause another tear to fall.
Down the beach I see
What belongs to me,
The one I want most of all.
Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, don't follow me.
Devil Woman let me be,
And leave me alone.
I'm goin' back home.
See, don't ever set me free
I always wanna be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can't sleep at night
You can make me cry
You can break my heart
But I'll never say we're through
Even when I cry,
I can't stay mad at you
You can run around
You can tell me lies
But there's nothing I can do
I'll never say goodbye,
Cause I can't stay mad at you
I got mad at you last night
When you were holding another girl tight
But when I thought of all your charms
I bounced right back into your arms
One thing you'll know for sure
I won't be the one
To fall in love with someone new
I'll love you 'til I die,
And I can't stay mad at you
How do you do what you do to me?
I wish I knew
If I knew how you do it to me
I'd do it to you
How do you do what you do to me?
I'm feeling blue
Wish I knew how you do it to me
But I haven't a clue
You give me a feeling in my heart
Like an arrow passin' through it
Suppose that you think you're very smart
But won't you tell me how do you do it?
How do you do what you do to me?
If I only knew
Then perhaps you'd fall for me
Like I fell for you
You give me a feeling in my heart
Like an arrow passin' through it
Suppose that you think you're very smart
But won't you tell me how do you do it?
How do you do what you do to me?
If I only knew
Then perhaps you'd fall for me
Like I fell for you
When I do it to you
Songwriter: Mitch Murray
Shout a warning unto the nation that the sword of God is raised!" concerning the song "Pride of Man" by Hamilton Camp, with lyrics.
Holy cow.Except for maybe "terror," "repaid," "nation" and treasure" (give or take), Anglo-Saxon words.
Lo, it uses "lo"!
I've been collecting some things with "small words," and I'll link this from there.
A live performance by Jefferson Starship that was linked there:
I got to thinking about the lyrics of this song, and it is yet another example of big ideas stated in small words. There are two words I spotted on a once-through that aren't native Germanic, but both of them are used in idiomatic expressions (phrases that come whole), and so it's understandable. One is "state" and one is "seize" (I think Greek and Latin origins, respectively). There might be others; if you find any, let me know, but I think the rest are words that English's grandma had.
Yeah yeah
I bet you haven't heard a word I've said
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough of all your trying
Just give up the state of mind you're in
[Chorus] If you want to be somebody else,Hey hey-
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself.
If you want to be somebody else
Change your mind, change your mind.
Oh no!
Take it all in—the world's a show,
And yeah, you look much better, look much better when you glow.
Yeah yeah
I hope you heard every word I've said.
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough of all your trying
Just give up the state of mind you're in
[Chorus]Hey hey- what ya say we both go and seize the day,
Yeah yeah
I hope you've heard every word I've said
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough of all your tryin'
Just give up the state of mind you're in:
[Chorus a little different:]
If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of losing battles with yourself...
...change your mind.
Get out of your mind, get out of your mind,
Just close your mind.
—They Might Be Giants
You say your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
~ Billy Joel, "Only the Good Die Young"
Ernest Hemingway wrote (unfortunately in criticism of another author, but still...)
Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? He thinks I don't know the ten-dollar words. I know them all right. But there are older and simpler and better words, and those are the ones I use.Here from Bartleby's, Joyce Kilmer's poem which was a standard for schoolkids to memorize in the early 20th century in the U.S.: http://www.bartleby.com/104/119.html—Ernest Hemingway
119. TreesKilmer was in his 20's when he wrote that, and then died in the first World War at the age of 31.I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Except for the word "intimately," and "poem" which is from Greek, way back, those words were in English since before there was an English—very ancient words. And yet they could be put into a new arrangement in the 20th century that would inspire and last.