Summer Song- Something's Coming

Could be!

Who knows?

There's something due any day

I will know right away

Soon as it shows

It may come cannonballing

 Down through the sky,

Gleam in its eye,

Bright as a rose!

Who knows?

It's only just out of reach

Down the block, on a beach

Under a tree

I got a feeling there's a miracle due,

Gonna come true,

Coming to me!

Could it be? Yes, it could.

Something's coming, something good,

If I can wait!

Something's coming, I don't know what it is,

But it is

Gonna be great!

With a click, with a shock,

Phone will jingle, door will knock,

Open the latch!

Something's coming, don't know when

 But it's soon

Catch the moon,

One-handed catch!

Around the corner,

Or whistling down the river,

Come on, deliver

To me!

Will it be? Yes, it will.

Maybe just by holding still,

It'll be there!

Come on, something, come on in,

Don't be shy,

Meet a guy,

Pull up a chair!

The air is humming,

& something great is coming!

Who knows?

It's only just out of reach,

Down the block, on a beach,

Maybe tonight . . .
Bernstein/Sondheim
1957

This Is What I Was Listening To 50 Years Ago Today, July 25th

You tell me that you're leaving

I can't believe it's true

Darling, there's no living

Without you

Don't take your love

Away from me

Don't you leave my heart

In misery

Cause if you go

Then I'll be blue

Cause breaking up is hard to do

They say that breaking up is hard to do

Now I know, I know that it’s true

Don’t say that this is the end

Instead of breaking up,

I wish that we were making up again

Remember when

You held me tight

& you kissed me

All through the night

Think of all

That we been through

Breaking up is hard to do

They say that breaking up

Is hard to do

Now I know, I know

That it's true

Don't say that this is the end

Instead of breaking up

I wish that we were making up again

I beg of you

Don't say good-bye

Can't we give our love

Another try

Come on, baby

Let’s start a new

Breakin' up is hard to do

Breaking up's so very hard to do

So hard to do

Sedaka

1962

Summer Song... That Wasn't Me

Hang on

Just hang on for a minute

I've got something to say

I'm not asking you to move on or forget it

But these are better days

To be wrong all along & admit it is not amazing grace

But to be loved like a song you remember

Even when you've changed

Tell me did I go on a tangent?

Did I lie through my teeth?

Did I cause you to stumble on your feet?

Did I bring shame on my family?

Did it show when I was weak?

Whatever you see, that wasn't me

That wasn't me, that wasn't me

When you're lost

You will toss every lucky coin you'll ever trust

& you will hide from every god

Like he never turns his back on us

& you will fall all the way to the bottom

& fall on your own knife

But you'll learn who you are

Even if it doesn't take your life

Tell me, did I go on a tangent?

Did I lie through my teeth?

Did I cause you to stumble on your feet?

Did I bring shame on my family?

Did it show when I was weak?

Whatever you see, that wasn't me

That wasn't me, that wasn't me

But I want you to know that you'll never alone

Do I make myself a blessing to everyone I meet

When you fall I will get you on your feet

Do I spend time with my family?

Did it show when I was weak?

When that's what you see, that will be me

That will be me

That will be me

That will be me

Carlile

2012

I dig Brandi Carlile & her slightly retro American-Alt-Country-Roots-Folk sound. Brandi is a dog loving lesbian from Seattle, making me like her even more. Her new album is Bear Creek & this summer, Brandi is on tour with the Dave Matthews Band. Oddly enough, I actually know Dave Matthews, but that is another post for another day. This song really get to me.

Summer Song- 46 Years Ago... Wouldn't It Be Nice

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?

Then we wouldn't have to wait so long

& wouldn't it be nice to live together

In the kind of world where we belong

You know it’s gonna make it that much better

When we can say goodnight & stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up

In the morning when the day is new

& after having spent the day together

Hold each other close the whole night through

Happy times together we've been spending

I wish that every kiss was never ending

Wouldn't it be nice?

Maybe if we think & wish & hope

 & pray it might come true

Then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do

We could be married

& then we'd be happy

Wouldn't it be nice?

You know it seems the more we talk about it

It only makes it worse to live without it

But let’s talk about it

Wouldn't it be nice?

Good night my baby

Sleep tight my baby

Wilson/Asher

1966

Summer Songs #39... If You Go Away

It is difficult to wrap my head around... summer is winding down, Labor Day weekend is the second bookmark that holds the season up, & that holiday's stab is the start of summer's sleep. I took a vacation day yesterday & the first half of the day was greeted by dark & drizzle. I just got right in there & threw myself into a fit of melancholia. For a guy who looks tough, I do wistful & woeful well.

I have loved Ne Me Quitte Pas since the early 1960s, when at age 7, I would pose & brood while sipping a whiskey, wearing a beret as I would regard the rain listening to Jacques Brel.

I sang Ne Me Quitte Pas at my Elementry School graduation ceremony, & it has been covered by nearly every important singer of the past 60 years: Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Brenda Lee, Shirley Bassey, Madonna, Marc Almond  & Cyndi Lauper, but Dusty Springfield does my favorite cover.

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

Il faut oublier

Tout peut s'oublier

Qui s'enfuit déjà

Oublier le temps

Des malentendus

Et le temps perdu

A savoir comment

Oublier ces heures

Qui tuaient parfois

A coups de pourquoi

Le coeur du bonheur

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

Moi je t'offrirai

Des perles de pluie

Venues de pays

Où il ne pleut pas

Je creuserai la terre

Jusqu'après ma mort

Pour couvrir ton corps

D'or et de lumière

Je ferai un domaine

Où l'amour sera roi

Où l'amour sera loi

Où tu seras reine

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

Je t'inventerai

Des mots insensés

Que tu comprendras

Je te parlerai

De ces amants-là

Qui ont vue deux fois

Leurs coeurs s'embraser

Je te raconterai

L'histoire de ce roi

Mort de n'avoir pas

Pu te rencontrer

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

On a vu souvent

Rejaillir le feu

De l'ancien volcan

Qu'on croyait trop vieux

Il est paraît-il

Des terres brûlées

Donnant plus de blé

Qu'un meilleur avril

Et quand vient le soir

Pour qu'un ciel flamboie

Le rouge et le noir

Ne s'épousent-ils pas

Ne me quitte pas

Ne me quitte pas

ne me quitte pas

Je ne vais plus pleurer

Je ne vais plus parler

Je me cacherai là

A te regarder

Danser et sourire

Et à t'écouter

Chanter et puis rire

Laisse-moi devenir

L'ombre de ton ombre

L'ombre de ta main

L'ombre de ton chien

Ne me quitte pas

Jacques Brel

1959

In English, loosing a lot in translation, I am told:

 

If you go away on this summer's day,

Then you might as well take the sun away

All the birds that flew in the summer sky

When our love was new and our hearts were high

When the day was young and the nights were long

And the moon stood still for the night bird's song

If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.

 

But if you stay, I'll make you a day

Like no day has been, or will be again

We'll sail on the sun, we'll ride on the rain

& talk to the trees & worship the wind

But if you go, I'll understand

Leave me just enough love to fill up my hand

If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.

If you go, as I know you will

You must tell the world to stop turning

Till you return again, if you ever do,

For what good is love without loving you?

Can I tell you now, as you turn to go

I'll be dying slowly till the next hello

If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.

But if you stay, I'll make you a night

Like no night has been, or will be again

I'll sail on your smile, I'll ride on your touch

I'll talk to your eyes that I love so much

But if you go, I won't cry

Though the good is gone from the word goodbye

If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.

If you go away, as I know you must

There is nothing left in this world to trust

Just an empty room, full of empty space

Like the empty look I see on your face

I'd have been the shadow of your shadow

If you might have kept me by your side

If you go away, if you go away, if you go away

Rod McKuen

1964

Summer Song #37... Cool

Boy, boy, crazy boy,

Get cool, boy!

Got a rocket in your pocket,

Keep coolly cool, boy!

Don't get hot,

'Cause man, you got

Some high times ahead.

Take it slow & Daddy-O,

You can live it up & die in bed!

Boy, boy, crazy boy!

Stay loose, boy!

Breeze it, buzz it, easy does it.

Turn off the juice, boy!

Go man, go,

But not like a yo-yo schoolboy.

Just play it cool, boy,

Real cool!

Sondheim/Bernstein

1957

Summer Song #36... Sunshine's Better

If I call you sugar, if you call me honey

Does this mean you've got a hand in my fate

If you take my money, if I take your liberty

Does it mean it's all down to love & hate

If you open doors for me,

 I'll have the manners to respond

I'll treat you like mine

Sunshine's better on the other side

Sunshine's better when you make it shine

The sun shines better

Sunshine's better on the other side

The other side of the hill

The sun shines better.

If I call you lover & if you call me dad

Does it mean that we're in love

If you give me all your hate

Open up the garden gate

Does that mean we're in love.

Tell me sugar, call me honey

Come on darling, I'll just take all my money

We can run away naked with the flames of desire

Running through water like birds of a feather

Like birds of a feather.

I tell you, sunshine's better on the other side

The other side of the stream

Let's run in tonight, let's run in tonight

The sunshine's better on the other side of the flames

Come on darling, let's jump in tonight

Let's jump in tonight.

Sunshine's better on the other side

Sunshine's better every time you make that smile of yours reappear

You chortle, chuckle, giggle, mumble

 & swing like a bitch

'Til the day is done, that's what you do

You can giggle & laugh, make yourself happy

'Til the day is done, remember.

Sunshine's better on the other side,

 other side of the hill

We're going to get there, come on, come on

Skinny dip, skinny dip, skinny dip, skinny dip

Skinny dipping around the scene

Way down by the river

Sunshine's better on the other side.

They tell me that

 the sunshine's better on the other side

Better than this side, you know

The sunshine's better over there,

 better over there, better over there.

Sunshine's better

Sunshine's better on the other side

Sunshine's better

Sunshine's better on the other side,

 the other side of the hill

Lord, you know where the grass is green

Oh Lord, greener than you've ever seen.

Sunshine's better on the other side

On the other side

Sunshine's better on the other side

Sunshine's better, don't you dare to go & hide from me now.

If I call you sugar, would you dare to call me honey?

If I tell you that I love you,

 would you take all my money

We could run naked, naked through the fire

Through the water, through the ice, through the sun

Through the jungle, through the desert sands

On the road, down & around the swings, roundabouts.

Sunshine's better on the other side

Sunshine's better than you've ever

 seen before in your life

I'm telling you how I know

I've been there

I've been there & gone

Been there, been there & gone

Been there.

John Martyn

1971

Summer Song #35... I've Got No Strings

 

I've got no strings to hold me down

To make me fret, or make me frown

I had strings but now I'm free

There are no strings on me

I've got no strings so I have fun

& I'm not tied to anyone

How I love my liberty

There are no strings on me

Hi-ho the me-ri-o

I'm as happy as can be

& I want the world to know

Nothing ever worries me

I've got no strings to hold me down

To make me fret, or make me frown

I had strings but now I'm free

There are no strings on me

Why does the gay little dicky bird sing

What put the zing in a butterfly's wing

What's the reason for the smile of a troubadour?

Why does the breeze have a barrel of fun?

Even the bee who's a son of a gun

All because they're free

& stringless the same as me

I've got no strings to hold me down

To make me fret, or make me frown

I had strings but now I'm free

There are no strings on me

I'm as happy as can be

Nothing ever worries me

I've got no strings so I have fun

& I'm not tied to anyone

How I love my liberty

There are no strings on me

There are no strings on me

There are no strings on me

Ned Washington/Leigh Harline

1940

Summer Song #33... Summer Me, Winter Me

Summer me, winter me

& with your kisses morning me, evening me

& as the world sleeps far away, star away

Forever me with love

Wonder me, wander me

Then by a fire pleasure me, peaceful me

& in the silence quietly, whisper me

Forever me with love, forever me with love

& every day I'll gentle you, tender you

& oh, the way I'll velvet you, clover you

I'll wrap you up & ribbon you, rainbow you

& shower you with shine

Suddenly, magically

We found each other there we are, here we are

I plan to let you happy me, summer me, winter me

Always be mine

'Cause suddenly, magically

We found each other there we are, here we are

I plan to let you happy me, summer me, winter me

Always be mine

Marilyn & Alan Bergman

1974

Better in French?  Isn't it always better in French?

Été-moi, hiver-moi

De tes baisers matine-moi, veille-moi

Et pendant que l'univers s'endort au loin, étoile-moi

Pour-toujours-moi avec amour

Émerveille-moi, égare-moi

De ta ferveur égaye-moi, apaise-moi

Et dans le silence, doucement, murmure-moi

Pour-toujours-moi avec amour

Et chaque jour je te dorloterai, te cajolerai

Et oh! de la façon que je te velouterai, te trèflerai

Je t'envelopperai et t'enrubannerai, t'arc-en-cielerai

et te doucherai avec éclat

Soudainement, comme par magie, nous nous sommes trouvés

Là nous sommes, ici nous sommes

Je veux m'abandonner à toi, égaye-moi, été-moi, hiver-moi

Sois à moi pour toujours

Puisque soudainement, par magie, nous nous sommes trouvés

Là nous sommes, ici nous sommes

Je veux m'abandonner à toi

égaye-moi, été-moi, hiver-moi

Legrand

1972