| (The assignment for On Display this month is a real killer
— compose an entry written entirely in song lyrics. I don't know how much sense
this all makes, but here's my attempt! [sources are listed at the end]. A little poetic
license has been taken in a couple of the lyrics, set in italics.)
THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
24 June 2002
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. I want to ride my bicycle.
I love to go a-wandering, along the mountain track, and as I go, I love to sing, my camelback
on my back. The wheels go round, round, round, as they skim along with a happy sound.
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. I'm queen of the road!
Last night I had the sweetest dream. Rolls and flows of angel hair,
ice cream castles in the air, feather canyons everywhere. I dreamed I was flying over
mountains and glaciers, and coming through up larger looking at me from above a
giant creature that forever seems to grow in size. Both a little scared, neither one
prepared.
And now it's four in the morning, honey, I can't sleep. I can't seem
to get you out of my mind. I keep tossing and turning, yearning for the sun to shine.
Sometimes there's a space between dreams and day, lying, without motion, open eyes but not
awake.
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun. It's all right, it's all
right.
Tumble outta bed and stumble to the kitchen. Pour myself a cup of
ambition. Yawnin' and stretchin' and try to come to life. Oh, It's a new day It feels so
good to be alive, even if a little rain should fall 'cause every moment brings a new
surprise to us all.
What am I doing hangin' 'round? I should be on that train and gone.
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone. What am I doing hangin' 'round? Do you
hear that whistle down the line, I figure that it's Engine #49. People get ready, there's
a train a-coming.
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board. I'm on my way from
`Frisco*, going back to Dixieland. My pocketbook is empty, my heart is full of
pain. I'm a thousand miles away from home, just waiting for a train.
Will it always be like this? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond
the rainbow, why oh why can't I?
Up up and away in my beautiful balloon. Up in the air, sky high, sky
high. Sail away with me honey, I put my heart in your hands. It's been very hard,
but it's getting easier now, hard times are over, over for a while. I've just got to get a
message to you — hold on, hold on. This is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon, long
ago. For long you live and high you fly and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry. And
all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be.
All this sorrow, all this promise, all this pain. Such is life, such
is being, such is spirit, such is love. Thank God we're doing fine.
-----
*for a native San Franciscan to actually write
"Frisco" is very painful!
Lyrics are taken from recordings of or by, or lyrics
written by: Phantom of the Opera, Misterogers, Queen, Scouting songs,
Perry Como, John Denver, Roger Miller, Simon & Garfunkle, Neil Diamond, Abba, Beauty
and the Beast, Dan Phillips, George Harrison, Dolly Parton, Anime, The Monkees,
Johnny Mercer, Mayfield, Steve Schalchlin, Judy Garland, The Fifth Dimension, Gilbert
& Sullivan, David Gray, John Lennon, The BeeGees, Lawsuit |
