October Songs... When October Goes

& when October goes

The snow begins to fly

Above the smokey roofs

I watch the planes go by

The children running home

Beneath a twilight sky

Oh, for the fun of them

When I was one of them

& when October goes

The same old dream appears

& you are in my arms

To share the happy years

I turn my head away

To hide the helpless tears

Oh how I hate to see October go

I should be over it now I know

It doesn't matter much

How old I grow

I hate to see October go

Manilow/Mercer

1984

He is one of my very favorite lyricist. In his last year, as he was dying of bain cancer, Johnny Mercer became extremely fond of Barry Manilow, in part because Manilow's first hit record was Mandy which was the name of Mercer's daughter. After Mercer's death, his widow arranged to give some lyrics never used he to Manilow to possibly develop into complete songs. Among these was When October Goes. Manilow applied his own melody to the Mercer lyric.
 
I sang this heartbreaking song when I performed with a jazz trio in the 1990s. It somehow fit my voice technically & emotionally. It was actually cathatric to give voice to it. I sang When October Goes at a gig in late October 1998 & I remember The Husband saying: "You really have the most amazing voice, most people don't know what you can do." I simply glowed; The Husband is a tough critic.
 
Don't you find it heartbreaking?

October Song... No Moon At All

No moon at all

What a night

Even lightning bugs have dimmed their light

Stars have disappeared from sight

& there's no moon at all

Don't make a sound

It's so dark

Even Fido is afraid to bark

What a perfect chance to park

& there's no moon at all

If you need atmosphere

For inspiration dear

One touch will make it clear

Tonight is right & bright moonlight might interfere

No moon at all

Up above

This is nothing like they told us of

Just to think we fell in love

When there's no moon at all

Redd Evans/David Mann

1947

I actually performed this song in the 1990s when I sang with a jazz trio. It was done as part of a "moon medley" including Old Devil Moon & Moonlight Becomes You. I am told that the trio of songs was matchless & moonirific.

October Song... Moon Over Bourbon Street

There's a moon over Bourbon Street tonight

I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight

I've no choice but to follow that call

The bright lights, the people, & the moon and all

I pray everyday to be strong

For I know what I do must be wrong

Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet

While there's a moon over Bourbon Street

It was many years ago that I became what I am

I was trapped in this life like an innocent lamb

Now I can only show my face at noon

& you'll only see me walking by the light of the moon

The brim of my hat hides the eye of a beast

I've the face of a sinner but the hands of a priest

Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet

While there's a moon over Bourbon Street

She walks everyday through the streets
 of New Orleans

She's innocent & young from a family of means

I have stood many times outside her window at night

To struggle with my instinct in the pale moon light

How could I be this way when I pray to God above

I must love what I destroy & destroy the thing I love

Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet

While there's a moon over Bourbon Street

Sting

1985

October Song... Moondance

I am entranced by the moon & always have been. I note the cycles of the moon & because I am up at 4am I have seen views of that orb. My favorite is the one I call The Cheshire Cat Moon, just a cock-eyed sliver of a moon that looks like a sly smile. I find it hard to resist the full moon in October.

Frequent readers will not that my musical tastes are vare varied & inclusive looking at the the Ms today brought me to: George Michael, Madonna, Joni Mitchell, Massive Attack, M.I.A, Morrisey, Modest Mouse, Moby, Morcheeba, My Morning Jacket, My Chemical Romance, Keb' Mo, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Johnny Mathis & Van Morrison. My largest sections go to Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello & Van Morrison, with 25+ albums each.

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes

A fantabulous night to make romance

'Neath the cover of October skies

& all the leaves on the trees are falling

To the sound of the breezes that blow

& I'm trying to please to the calling

Of your heart strings that play soft & low

& all the nights magic seems to whisper and hush

& all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush

Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?

Can I just make some more romance with you, my love?

Well, I wanna make love to you tonight

I can't wait 'til the morning has come

& I know now the time is just right

& straight in to my arms you will run

& when you come, my heart will be waiting

To make sure that you're never alone

There & then, all my dreams will come true, dear

There & then, I will make you my own

& every time I touch you, you just tremble inside

& I know how much you want me that you can't hide

Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?

Can I just make some more romance with you, my love?

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes

A fantabulous night to make romance

'Neath the cover of October skies

& all the leaves on the trees are falling

To the sound of the breezes that blow

& I'm trying to please to the calling

Of your heart strings that play soft & low

& all the nights magic seems to whisper and hush

& all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush

Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?

Can I just make some more romance with you, my love?

One more moon dance with you

In the moon light, on a magic night

All the moon light, on a magic night

Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love?

Van Morrison

1970

October Songs... Things Have Changed

A worried man with a worried mind

No one in front of me and nothing behind

There's someone on my lap & we are drinking champagne

Got white skin, got assassin's eyes

I'm looking up into the sapphire tinted skies

I'm well dressed, waiting on the last train

Standing on the gallows with my head in a noose

Any minute now I'm expecting all hell to break loose

People are crazy & times are strange

I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range

I used to care, but things have changed

This place ain't doing me any good

I'm in the wrong town, I should be in Hollywood

Just for a second there I thought I saw something move

Gonna take dancing lessons do the jitterbug rag

Ain't no shortcuts, gonna dress in drag

Only a fool in here would think he's got anything to prove

Lot of water under the bridge, Lot of other stuff too

Don't get up gentlemen, I'm only passing through

People are crazy & times are strange

I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range

I used to care, but things have changed

I've been walking 40 miles of bad road

If the bible is right, the world will explode

I've been trying to get as far away from myself as I can

Some things are too hot to touch

The human mind can only stand so much

You can't win with a losing hand

Feel like falling in love with the first one I meet

In a wheel barrow & wheeling down the street

People are crazy & times are strange

I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range

I used to care, but things have changed

I hurt easy, I just don't show it

You can hurt someone & not even know it

The next 60 seconds could be like an eternity

Gonna get low down, gonna fly high

All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie

I'm love with a someone who don't even appeal to me

Mr. Jinx & Miss Lucy, they jumped in the lake

I'm not that eager to make a mistake

People are crazy & times are strange

I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range

I used to care, but things have changed

Bob Dylan

2000

October Songs... Dreams

Dreams

I have dreams when I'm awake,

when I'm asleep

& you, you are in my Dreams

You're underneath my skin,

how am I so weak

& now in my dreams,

I can feel the weight,

I can just come clean

I keep it to myself,

I know what it means

I can't have you,

but I have dreams

How long can you hold your breath?

Can you count to ten, can you let it pass?

Keep, can you keep it in?

Keep it behind lashes, can you make it last?

& now in my dreams, I can feel the weight

I can just come clean

I keep it to myself,

I know what it means

I can't have you,

but I have dreams

Oh, I have dreams,

I have dreams

Mind,

can you read my mind?

Has it come undone,

am I showin' signs?

& now, in my dreams

I can feel the weight,

I can just come clean

I keep it to myself,

I know what it means

I can't have you,

but I have dreams

I have dreams

I have Dreams
Brandi Carlile
2010

October Songs... I'm Just A Ghost In This House

I don't pick up the mail

I don't pick up the phone

I don't answer the door

I'd just as soon be alone

I don't keep this place up

I just keep the lights down

I don't live in these rooms

I just rattle around

I'm just a ghost in this house

I'm just a shadow upon these walls

As quietly as a mouse I haunt these halls

I'm just a whisper of smoke

I'm all that's left of 2 hearts on fire

That once burned out of control

You took my body and soul

I'm just a ghost in this house

I don't care if it rains

I don't care if it's clear

I don't mind staying in

There's another ghost here

He sits down in your chair

And he shines with your light

And he lays down his head

On your pillow at night

I'm just a ghost in this house

I'm just a shadow upon these walls

I'm living proof of the damage

Heartbreak does

I'm just a whisper of smoke

I'm all that's left of two hearts on fire

That once burned out of control

& took my body & soul

I'm just a ghost in this house

Hugh Prestwood

1990