Season 562 - Poetry in Song

[wee_ginga_yin]

A future Walter de la Mare poem "The Listeners"

FALLOUT songs. A Wee original.

‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Robot,
Knocking on the bomb shelter door;
And his hovercraft hummed in the silence,
On the edge of the molten core:
A syborg flew out of the air vent ,
Above the above the robot’s head:
And he smote upon the door a second time;
‘Is there anybody there?’ he said.
But the door remained shut to the Robot;
No eye gazed from the portal hole
No data scan was made from his red eyes,
Though they burned as bright as coal.
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
Louder, and lifted his head:—
‘Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word,’ he said.
No one came to the door of the shelter,
To listen to the words he had spoken
white noise crackled in the static
no one was there to be awoken:
Ay, no one heard the roar of the engine,
Or the the sound of steel on stone,
With a tick and click of the bomb door opened,
When the roar of the engines was gone.

 

[LimousinLil]

A future Walter de la Mare poem "The Listeners"

FALLOUT songs. A Wee original.

‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Robot,
Knocking on the bomb shelter door;
And his hovercraft hummed in the silence,
On the edge of the molten core:
A syborg flew out of the air vent ,
Above the above the robot’s head:
And he smote upon the door a second time;
‘Is there anybody there?’ he said.
But the door remained shut to the Robot;
No eye gazed from the portal hole
No data scan was made from his red eyes,
Though they burned as bright as coal.
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
Louder, and lifted his head:—
‘Tell them I came, and no one answered,
That I kept my word,’ he said.
No one came to the door of the shelter,
To listen to the words he had spoken
white noise crackled in the static
no one was there to be awoken:
Ay, no one heard the roar of the engine,
Or the the sound of steel on stone,
With a tick and click of the bomb door opened,
When the roar of the engines was gone.

This is brill, Rob! We went through a phase at school, when I was about eight, of having to learn a poem a week, and I used to get up to speed on the journey back home for lunch ... I clearly remember memorising the original Walter de la Mare. Your version adds another dimension, though!

 

[joo]

By the way, thanks for theseason, my heart sank when I saw poetry as I don't get on with it....well I thought that I didn't but having revisited I have been forced to reassess my antipathy....clearly. Thanks.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, CeeJay! I really appreciate it. And I enjoy your music. You know I do. The spontaneity and energy in your playing I always admire. Being able to play(and record) music without planning and thinking too much is something I like to do myself.

I understand what you said about not getting on with poetry, lots of people I know don't.
Pa made a important point in his original A Lyric is a Poem (post#20) about poetry not having to be heavy and pompous.
I have never been much of a reader growing up. I liked to look at pictures. I think when I first saw a book of poems ( a Walter de la Mare) I was attracted by the short lines. I thought that was an easier way to read because of the fewer words. But then I realized that I had to work harder to fill in the unsaid in poems.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons why poetry is not that popular. It seems easier (for most people I know) to have things written out, or written in an obvious way for us.

I don't read much poetry. But I enjoy some of what I have read. I actually don't really care what they are called.
(although I need to make that distinction in my job as a librarian when I categorize books.)

Anyway! I actually logged on to check if anyone might like to try writing some haiku and put them to songs?
John's series of haiku is so brilliant, and fun. Made a lot of us smile and laugh, I think!
Here is the Seasonistas' original haiku to music playlist that I want to share again, if anyone is looking for some inspiration, or just something short to enjoy!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF7lwFuVgvcj1GQAd4iL2fhNtvcwIHr6r

Have a great day, afternoon, evening everyone!
Later!

 

[wee_ginga_yin]

A short Dorothy Parker poem that needs to be set to music... go on go on go on I dare you

I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I'm under the table,
after four I'm under my host

 

[joo]

A short Dorothy Parker poem that needs to be set to music... go on go on go on I dare you

I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I'm under the table,
after four I'm under my host

 

[Barbablanca]

Here is my first original this week. It is from a poem that I wrote about an ancient tree. In the recording I missed out the vital word "white" but it appears in the subtitles!

Hope you enjoy:

 

[joo]

I have been made fun of the way I pronounce some English words. Actually, many English words!

No one has told me that I say Poetry funnily.
But every time I say it, I think of Poultry.

Here's the wrap-up for today

Alan - The Pirate Don Durk of Dowdee, a poem by Mildred Plew Meigs set to music
WOW!!!! This is so good! Standing ovation good! The melodica sounds fantastic! Did you double track that? Such an outstanding performance here, singing, harmonies, playing, the poem itself is so fun! I love these words like "squizzamaroo", and the phrase "crook'd like a squash". Really enjoyed this. Thanks so much, Alan!

CeeJay covers A boy named Sue which was originally a poem by Shel Silverstein
you are such a joy to watch and listen to, CeeJay! (haha, that face you pulled after the crocodile part...) I was going to mention Shel Silverstein in my intro but I thought it was such "low hanging fruit" it touches the ground...Thanks so much for this!!! I enjoyed this immensely! Love the light from your window!

Del - The Perfect Gem, a poem by Paul Allon set to music
that American Tremelo effect is sort of spooky and dark, which shouldn't go with the words, but it did! Hmmm. Great spacing and timing in your reading, I feel. Your voice, so mellow and slightly weary sounding, is a really nice contrast with the "dramatic" sound your used. A fantastic production. Thanks so much for this, Del! (edit: really nice poem from Paul. and I have told you and Lynda before how gorgeous the Caramel looks. It sounds especially lovely in this mix.)

CeeJay covers The Raven by Alan Parsons Project, which is based on a poem by Edgar Allan Poe
Argh I love your loose, improvisationary playing so much! I am going to get better so I can play like this one day! THIS IS AWESOME!!! If one does not know how the original sounds like, they would not know how cool this is! I also like the effect/double vocals on that "Nevermore" at the end. Thanks, CeeJay! (Like the drawing! One of yours?)

Rob - Walter emerges from the FALLOUT 4 shelter , Rob re-wrote Walter de la Mare's The Listeners into a futuristic version and set it to music
I love Walter de la Mare, he was actually the first poet I read when I was a child. This can easily be an original poem about the (scary) future of robots and cyborgs. Like what you said - a future Walter de la Mare poem. I actually mixed this up with his "Some One came knocking at my door" poem. That one spooked me when I first read it. This confused and baffled me too. I find quite a lot of his poems rather frightening. Not sure if you would call this a mash up. I have never been able to appreciate mashups but when they are good, they are hilariously so. This one is brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing, Rob!

Berni - The Great White Tree, a poem set to music
When I was a child, my grandparents and my mum would tell me stories about old trees, not necessarily ancient, that would take a person's life (I wasn't told how) and trap his/her spirit in them. I think it was a way to stop us from wandering about late at night. It did scare me as a child. The branches of trees always looked like limbs to me. There are also some really old trees in Singapore that are so venerated that people regard them as some kind of deity, worship and make offerings to them. They make the place near the trees a shrine. Sometimes temples are built nearby. It is interesting that this practice/belief exists in different people and cultures.
I value and respect your entry, Berni. And you, your friendship and encouragement all these "seasons". Thanks so much for your first original! I am looking forward to your next one!!!

PLEASE KEEP THE SONGS COMING!!!

 

[One Man And His Uke]

Pam Ayres falls into that (perhaps sometimes overused, but in this case warranted I think) category of National Treasure. Known more for her humorous poems, but I find this one so beautiful and comforting. I saw an interview where she was saying she dreading the thought of death because she couldn’t bear the idea of no longer being able to see snow drops coming up.

The video (slightly blurred at times) was taken on my phone while walking our dog Coco on Tuesday on the St Ives estate, Bingley. I love the woods there, at any time of year. It is a magical place. The background is just a simple improv I conjured up on my bari.

Woodland Burial by Pam Ayres

Don’t lay me in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall
Where the dust of ancient bones has spread a dryness over all,
Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold
Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.
There kindly and affectionately, plant a native tree
To grow resplendent before God and hold some part of me.
The roots will not disturb me as they wend their peaceful way
To build the fine and bountiful, from closure and decay.
To seek their small requirements so that when their work is done
I’ll be tall and standing strongly in the beauty of the sun.

 

[One Man And His Uke]

There was another poem I so wanted to do but sadly I won’t have time, Birmingham Roller, by Liz Berry. To me as wonderful as the Pam Ayres above. Liz Berry has a really strong Black Country accent, but I could listen to her speak all day. I won’t embed the video, but here’s a link for anyone who wants to investigate…..

oh, that seems to have embedded itself anyway

 

[joo]

here is a poem by Roger Stevens, from his book What Rhymes with Sneeze? - a collection of rhyming poems and the secret of how to write rhymes. This is from my primary school library.

Making a Poem
If you say
something
and make it rhyme
that's
not
necessarily
a poem,
okay?

But
a kiss
always
is

 

[LimousinLil]

Hello, Joo ... and thanks for the week! Working on the principle of "better late than never," I have finally found time to record something. This one goes right back to my early childhood, which was bedevilled by a series of 78 rpm records, recorded by a 9-year old Ann Stephens in 1941. (I hasten to add this was NOT when I listened to them!) Even at that early age, I found her very clipped, prissy accent highly irritating ... did we Brits EVER really talk like that??!! I DID love Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin, though ... the original books, not the Disney cartoons! I seem to have assumed a slightly greenish tinge - I wasn't recording in my usual place, so the lighting was different. I can assure you that I am perfectly well, though! (Oh, and the uke I am playing - although you can hardly see it - is a Pono tenor ... all mahogany, I think.)

 

[Wiggy]

’The Perfect Gem’ by Paul Allon

I used to dream I’d dug up some treasure,
They say, ”It’s the little things in life are nice”,
From caviar and oysters I get no pleasure,
And vintage wine’s just a drink at a dear price.

As a busy child, for collections I’d look,
Matchboxes and stamps, but no Penny Black;
Once a friend gave me his ‘William’ books -
As time went by I lost or gave up that stack.

I know a bit about items of antique,
And at artistic works I like to stare;
But when I come upon something quite unique,
I write about it, why? Because it’s there!

I‘ve studied in recent years the uncommon lot,
All have a rare story in each one of them.
In you, my love, I have hit the jackpot -
And to me you will always be the Perfect Gem!

Well done DelGriff!
The perfect blend of storytelling and music.

 

[jtsteam]

Hello!
It's another new day!
I am later than usual to check in today, partly because I was trying to make a lil' video for you.

I noticed that some of the videos this week have few, maybe 1-2 comments...Um. Some have very few views...
please check out each other's videos and try to comment. :-----)
I know all of us are not professional musicians, but who needs to listen to them when we have us?

Here is a lil' video showing you the poetry section at the primary school library where I am (I like to call myself) chief librarian.
(there is only 1 librarian so I make myself the boss)
I also read some excerpts from a book, about a boy who seems to be forced to attend a poetry writing class.

Hi Joo! I enjoyed this little visit to your library - it's great to have these little insights into the lives of other seasonistas!

But I also want to echo this comment on comments. It sometimes takes a few days for all of us to catch up with other contributions, but even so it's always sad to post a thing and get no response at all. Especially when you're the host and you're not even guaranteed that one comment! So, if you get a comment on a song, please consider commenting back. At the extreme, this means everyone says something nice about everyone else. It is, apparently, against the rules of the internet to say nice things, but we're all rebels here so I think we can manage that.

Joo has been telling us all about the lovely stuff everyone has posted. Don't forget to return the favour!

Meanwhile, I've been considering Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again, given that it was written by a Nobel Laureate, but I can't decide which verses to leave out to make it a reasonable length. So, in the morning, I might just consider doing the whole thing...

 

[joo]

Hello everyone! (and lurkers! You are most welcome to join us.)

Thanks for dropping by to check out the little poetry section at my library, Edwin! (They never had one before, nor a comics section, so I had to make them! I think you can guess which one is more popular....)
And I appreciate your gentle reminder for "friendly Seasons behavior". Hehe.
For me, I will not cry if I don't get any comments. :---P
Someone has told me he often feels he doesn't know what to say when he watches my videos....
See, I enjoy random or silly comments over a video. I like the friendly connection more than a validation or compliment.
For me, when I say nice things about someone's videos, often it is taken as kindness. But it really isn't that. If I like something I will say it, in my own way. That's all.
I really don't want people to feel like they have to say nice things all the time! Just enjoy and have fun.

Can't wait to hear that song with that long and strange title! I don't mind if it is super lengthy. If you gotta do it, you just have to do it all the way sometimes.

Thanks to John and Val for your lovely videos!!!

It is a sunny day here in Singapore. It is almost always sunny here.

Here is another contribution from me!

I saw this video by John (One Man And His Uke) and could not resist using an exaggerated Singlish accent to cover it.
Wahlau is a common Singlish expression. "Wah Lau" is translated to “ Oh my Dad ”, and the “ eh ” is added to enhance this. The expression is commonly used to profess surprise or that something is stupid, can be compared to “ Oh my God!

It is recommended to watch John's first, then mine.

 

[wee_ginga_yin]

I WROTE THE SONGS
by John cooper clarke

I wrote the songs that nearly made
The bottom line of the hit parade
Almost anthems, shoulda been hits
Songs like… Puttin’ on the Ritz
Some enchanted afternoon
Twenty-four hours to Levenshulme
Dancin’ in the daylight, singin’ in the smog
You ain’t nothin’ but a hedgehog
So close and yet so far
Do you remember they way we are
I’d like to get you on a speedboat to china
From an idea by George Steiner
Ain’t no blag – uncle’s got a brand new jag
Ain’t no slouch – mama’s got a brand new couch
She ain’t heavy, she’s my sister
Not to leave out twist and whisper
Brand new leapordskin pillbox glove
Baby you and me we got a greasy kind of love

 

[pabrizzer]

i wrote the words (for a specific purpose) then the music

words

just a one trick pony
impaled on the merry go round
going round in circles
prancing up and down

a record revolving
needle jumping back
same groove repeating
my life has just one track

no relief of chorus
no bridge to give variety
one verse after another
just one melody

just a one trick pony
prancing up and down
going round in circles
impaled on the merry go round

 

[Barbablanca]

Second installment this week. This is an acoustic version of one of the rock songs I wrote for my old 80s/90s band "Pere Flipat".
It was inspired by Dylan Thomas' poem "Do not go Gently into that Good Night" which has the line "Rage against the dying of the light".

It opens with the original riff, which doesn't quite have the power of one on a Stratocaster

PS Should you be interested in how our band sounded in 1989, you can hear us play the original rock version here:

The Dying of the Light by Pere Flipat

The Dying of the Light - As Dylan Thomas said: When death comes, don't just lie there and let him in. #catalanRock

soundclick.com

 

[LimousinLil]

A short Dorothy Parker poem that needs to be set to music... go on go on go on I dare you

I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I'm under the table,
after four I'm under my host

I am sorely tempted - time permitting - to have a go at this, Rob ... I LOVE Dorothy Parker!

 

[bobjking]

Here's an old traditional poem in the epic style set to music by myself.

I'm playing Edith's Kala tenor with the original strings that were on it when we bought it. Probably Aquillas...but don't hold me to that...

 

[joo]

I am sorely tempted - time permitting - to have a go at this, Rob ... I LOVE Dorothy Parker!

DO IT, WOMAN! I was thinking of requesting for you to try Pointy Birds and when I saw this I thought of you too!
(if you have the time........<3)

AND SO THRILLED TO SEE MORE SONGS COMING IN TODAY!!!!
This is how a Seasons thread should look on a Saturday (or Friday, or every day!)!!

I have updated the playlist now( realised I missed Val's out, fixed now), will comment soon!
Thank you, everyone!!!
For your songs!

I do love you all. Later!