Song Lyric Sunday – 25 April 2021 – Goodbye

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Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we should aim for a song that contains one of the following Arrivederci, Bon-voyage, Ciao, Farewell, Goodbye, Hasta la vista, Sayonara, Shalom

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

This week I’m taking you back to 1969 when Mary Hopkin gave me a present, for my 21^st birthday, in the form of her second single “Goodbye”.

The song was written by Paul McCartney. For the recording, Mary Hopkin sang and performed acoustic guitar, while McCartney played bass guitar, an acoustic guitar introduction and solo, along with lap-slapping percussion and drums. Backing vocals, horns and strings, in Hewson’s arrangement, were overdubbed. The session was filmed by Apple’s Tony Bramwell for a promotional clip. In the footage, Hopkin can be seen miming to the song inside the studio, combined with shots of her and McCartney in the control room listening to a playback. I love the shots of the backing singers who are obviously having the time of their lives with their moment of fame!

To assist Hopkin in learning the song, McCartney recorded a solo demo at his home, 7 Cavendish Road, London, in February 1969. The song was arranged by Richard Hewson, who had also orchestrated “Those Were the Days,” and produced, along with its flip side, “Sparrow”, by Paul McCartney on 1 March 1969 at Morgan Studios in Willesden. To better match Hopkin’s voice, the key was raised from C major to E major. The recording was Apple’s first official double-A-side, and the first Apple record to feature a full-fledged picture sleeve. 

Paul McCartney’s demo of ‘Goodbye’ was released in 2019 on the Abbey Road 50th anniversary super deluxe box set.

Goodbye

Mary Hopkin

Please don’t wake me up too late 

Tomorrow comes and I will not be late 

Late, today when it becomes tomorrow 

I will leave to go away 

Goodbye (Goodbye) 

Goodbye (Goodbye) 

Goodbye, goodbye My love, goodbye 

Songs that lingered on my lips 

Excite me now and linger on my mind 

Leave your flowers at my door 

I’ll leave them for the one who waits behind 

Far away my lover sings a lonely song 

And calls me to his side 

When a song of lonely love invites me on 

I must go to his side 

Goodbye (Goodbye) 

Goodbye (Goodbye) 

Goodbye, goodbye My love, goodbye 

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Paul McCartney

Goodbye lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

..and here are 2 versions of the home demo by Paul McCartney:

Song Lyric Sunday – 18 April 2021 – My Sharona

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Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we should aim for a song that has a girl’s name in it which starts with an S.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

This week I’m offering you a great track by The Knack. The song is My Sharona.

In 1978 the band were performing live to great acclaim in many pubs and clubs and they jammed with some famous names such as Bruce Springstein and Tom Petty.  They were so good that a bidding war started, between the recording studios, to sign them up. Capitol Records won, by offering the group the greatest sum that had ever been offered to any newly signed artists.

They recorded their debut album, called “Get The Knack” and this single was taken from that album. The band’s stuttering delivery was influenced by The Who!

The lead singer’s girlfriend was called Sharona Alperin, she was 17, he was 25 and already had a girlfriend when he met Sharona. Sharona appeared on the cover of the single and the two were together for several years.

Because the band was so successful, so early, there was a certain amount of resentment amongst other artists and they were even accused of ripping off The Beatles.  Although they may have been “manufactured” into looking similar to The Beatles, in no way was their music copied, or similar.

What is really great about this group is their ability to reproduce a pristine performance at every live concert which matches exactly that which was recorded in the studio, all without the use of lots of technical gizmos.  Not many artists can achieve that. The backing of drums and base drive this performance along and the lead guitar gives a perfect solo. The lead singer, Doug Fieger, is backed by a perfect harmony from Berton Averre, with even the vibrato in their voices matching seamlessly.

The song was a monster hit in 1979 and, in 1994, was given a resurgence when it featured in a film called “Reality Bites”.

Sadly, in 2006 Doug Fieger was diagnosed with a brain tumour, but he continued playing after treatment.  In 2007 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in February 2010. 

Bruce Gary, the fabulous drummer, died, age 55, of non-hodgkin lymphoma.

The first video is the one issued at the time of the release of the single.  I think the film producer was either recovering from a heavy night drinking or had an idea that an artistic hazy effect would look good!

This video is the band playing live in Japan 2005.  A Japanese audience always enjoy themselves!

My Sharona

The Knack

Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one.
When you gonna give me some time, Sharona?
Ooh you make my motor run, my motor run.
Gun it comin’ off the line Sharona
Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch
Of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo.
M M M My Sharona

Come a little closer huh, ah will ya huh.
Close enough to look in my eyes, Sharona.
Keeping it a mystery gets to me
Running down the length of my thighs, Sharona
Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind.
Always get it up for the touch
Of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo.
M M M My Sharona

When you gonna give it to me, give it to me.
It is just a matter of time Sharona
Is it just destiny, destiny?
Or is it just a game in my mind, Sharona?
Never gonna stop, give it up.
Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch
Of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo.
M M M My Sharona
M M M My Sharona
M M M My Sharona
M M M My Sharona

Ohhhhh My Sharona
Ohhhhh My Sharona
Ohhhhh My Sharona

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Douglas Lars Fieger / Berton L Averre

My Sharona lyrics © Wise Brothers Music Llc, Small Hill Music, Eighties Music

As a bonus, for those who love to watch great drummers in action, I have a cover version of Sina playing My Sharona.

Sina Doering (born 6 May 1999), also known by her YouTube Channel name, sina-drums, is a German musician and drummer. She began her career by filming herself playing drums and uploading the videos to YouTube. In 2016, she released her first studio album, Chi Might, which featured a lot of musicians from around the world.  She is 19 years old in this recording.

Enjoy!

#Writephoto – Dinosaur

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Writephoto is a weekly challenge, hosted by KL, where a picture prompt is provided every Thursday and we are invited to create a post… poetry, prose, humour… light or dark, whatever we choose, as long as it is fairly family-friendly.

This week’s prompt post can be found here – 

https://new2writing.wordpress.com/2021/04/15/writephoto-dinosaur/

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Wally Mammoth

Standing by the pathway right beside the trees

I espy a mammoth who hasn’t any knees

He doesn’t want to talk at all, perhaps he’s been struck dumb

or maybe he’s just hanging round waiting for his Mum

……………

His colour’s sort of rusty red, his tusks are large and round

His floppy ears can hear it all, every little sound

He’s smiling right across his face, it goes from ear to ear

as if to say to everyone there is no need for fear

……………

He seems to breathe with little grunts, I thought there’d be more noise

Despite his size, and little eyes, he shows tremendous poise

As I approach much nearer he whispers with a hiss

Hello my lovely, come up close, and let me have a kiss!

Song Lyric Sunday – 11 April 2021 – Sorrow

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Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we should aim for a song with a one word title.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

We’ve had two weeks of love so, to balance things out a little, I’ve opted for Sorrow this week, performed by Pink Floyd.

The video was recorded on 20 October 1994 at Earls Court, London, during The Division Bell Tour. It was originally released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1995 and featured David Gilmour on guitar and vocals. Nick Mason was on drums and percussion, Rick Wright on Hammond organ and synthesiser, Guy Pratt playing bass guitar, Gary Wallis on percussion and extra drums on Pulse,  Tim Renwick on rhythm guitar, and Jon Carin on synthesiser. The ladies providing fantastic support singing are Sam Brown, Durga McBroom, and Claudia Fontaine.

“Sorrow” is the closing track on Pink Floyd’s thirteenth studio album, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, released in 1987.  Drummer Nick Mason stated that the song was almost entirely written by David Gilmour alone over the space of one weekend on his houseboat studio Astoria. When he returned from the weekend, only “some spit and polish” was needed to finish it off. Gilmour has also mentioned that the solo at the end of “Sorrow” was done on the boat, his guitar going through a small Gallien-Krueger amplifier. Sorrow was a poem he’d written as a lyric before he wrote music to it, which was rare for him. 

It takes 3 minutes and 17 seconds before a human voice is heard, that of Dave Gilmour, but that lead in time is filled with the divine voice of Pink Floyd’s 4^th singer, Dave’s guitar. 

Sublime!

Sorrow

Pink Floyd

The sweet smell of a great sorrow lies over the land
Plumes of smoke rise and merge into the leaden sky
A man lies and dreams of green fields and rivers
But awakes to a morning with no reason for waking

He’s haunted by the memory of a lost paradise
In his youth or a dream, he can’t be precise
He’s chained forever to a world that’s departed
It’s not enough, it’s not enough

His blood has frozen and curdled with fright
His knees have trembled and given way in the night
His hand has weakened at the moment of truth
His step has faltered

One world, one soul
Time pass, the river roll

And he talks to the river of lost love and dedication
And silent replies that swirl invitation
Flow dark and troubled to an oily sea
A grim intimation of what is to be

There’s an unceasing wind that blows through this night
And there’s dust in my eyes, that blinds my sight
And silence that speaks so much louder than words
Of promises broken

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Dave Gilmour

Sorrow lyrics © Concord Music Publishing LLC

Song Lyric Sunday – 4 April 2021 – You’re Just in Love

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title or lyrics of the song should contain one of the words Blossoms, Cherry, or Flowers.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

Last week we had Everlasting Love and it certainly lasted a whole week because this week I’m offering You’re Just in Love which has lovely, perfumed blossoms even though they’re not really there.

“You’re Just in Love” is a popular song by Irving Berlin. It was published in 1950 and was first performed by Ethel Merman and Russell Nype in Call Me Madam, a musical comedy that made its debut at the Imperial Theatre in New York on October 12 that year. The show ran for 644 performances. Ethel Merman also later starred in the 1953 film version. Theatre lore has it that Berlin wrote the song one night after Call Me Madam was not doing well in tryouts. The second act of the show was lacking. “What I’d like to do is a song with the kid (Russell Nype),” Merman said. So, Berlin went to his room and later produced the counterpoint song. When Berlin played the song for Merman, she said, “We’ll never get off the stage.” Reportedly, Berlin played the song for Russell Nype first, but admonished him not to admit he did so because it would infuriate Merman. 

Several recorded versions made the charts in 1950-51: Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres‘ and His Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney and Guy Mitchell, and Ethel Merman and Dick Haymes.

Musically, the song is one of Irving Berlin‘s three well-known songs that use true counterpoint—two equal and contrasting melodies running at the same time, both with independent lyrics. If you’ve ever tried it you will know how difficult it is to keep time, and not to stray into each others lyrics!

I’m offering you three very different versions to choose from, and you will find there are many more on offer.  The lyrics vary slightly from version to version.  Firstly, there is Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra and chorus.  The other two will probably follow on automatically but, if they don’t, I have included links anyway.

Please enjoy:

Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton

The Swansea U3A Ukulele Group with a great rendition

……..and my favourite, Grandfather and granddaughter Jim & Fiona Kweskin – Live at McCabe’s

You’re Just in Love

I hear singing and there’s no one there
I smell blossoms and the trees are bare
All day long I seem to walk on air
I wonder why, I wonder why

Now, I keep tossing in my sleep at night
And what’s more, I’ve lost my appetite
Stars that used to twinkle in the skies
Are twinkling in my eyes, I wonder why

Pops, you don’t need no analyzin’ , man
No?
It is not so surprising
That you feel very strange but nice

Your heart goes pitter-patter
Pops, I know what’s the matter
Because I’ve been there once or twice

Put your head on my shoulder
You need someone who’s older
A rubdown with a velvet glove

There is nothing you can take
To relieve that pleasant ache
You’re not sick, man, you’re in love

I hear singing and there’s no one there
(You don’t need analyzin’, it is not so surprising)
I smell blossoms and the trees are bare
(That you feel very strange but nice)

All day long, I seem to walk on air
(Your heart goes pitter-patter, pops, I know what’s the matter)
I wonder why, I wonder why
(Because I’ve been there once or twice)

I keep tossing in my sleep at night
(Keep your head on my shoulder, you need some chick who’s older)
(A rubdown with a velvet glove)
And what’s more I’ve lost my appetite

Stars that used to twinkle in the skies
(There is nothin’ you can take to relieve that groovy ache)
Are twinkling in my eyes, I wonder why
(You’re not sick, pops, you’re in love)

Whatcha mean I’m in love, honey?
Dig yourself, dig yourself down
(You heard me, you’re not sick, man, you’re in love)
I’m in love

Song Lyric Sunday – 28 March 2021 – Everlasting Love

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title or lyrics of the song should contain one of the words Endless, Eternity, Everlasting, Forever, Infinity, or Omega.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

Last week my musical memories were triggered by Hugh Grant, playing the Prime Minister, dancing round 10 Downing Street to the song Jump.

Carrying on the link, this week we have Hugh Grant playing the caddish ex-boyfriend in Bridget Jones – Edge of Reason. The song, this time, is Everlasting Love sung by Love Affair.

This was Love Affair’s first hit song, with a great vocal performance by Steve Ellis. It achieved No.1 status in January 1968. Steve was just 17 when the song came out and the drummer was 14!  I remember, myself, thinking that I’d found everlasting love at the age of 14.  (and I was right!)

Strangely, the CD of the film soundtrack contained Jamie Cullum‘s cover version, instead of the Love Affair version used in the film. Cullum’s version is played over the end credits.

The song was written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, and was originally a 1967 hit for Robert Knight. 

Here are Love Affair with Everlasting Love

…and quite a change in style when played by Jamie Cullum

Everlasting Love

Love Affair, Love Affair

Hearts go astray, leaving hurt when they go
I went away just when you needed me so
Filled with regret I come back beggin’ you
Forgive, forget. Where’s the love we once knew?
Open up your eyes, then you’ll realize here I stand
With my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl you’ll be my bride
You’ll never be denied everlasting love
From the very start, open up your heart
Be a lasting part of everlasting love
Real love will last forever
Ooh, ooh
Where life’s river flows, no one really knows
’til someone’s there to show the way to lasting love
Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shine
You always will be mine. It’s everlasting love
When other loves are gone, ours will still be strong
We have our very own everlasting love
Real love will last forever
You give me, you give me, you give me everlasting love
Ooh
Open up your eyes, then you’ll realize here I stand
With my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl you’ll be my bride
You’ll never be denied everlasting love
From the very start, open up your heart
Be a lasting part of everlasting love
Real love will last forever
Open up your eyes, then you’ll realize here I stand
With my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl you’ll be my bride
You’ll never be denied everlasting love
Open up your eyes, then you’ll realize here I stand
With my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl you’ll be my bride
You’ll never be denied everlasting love
Open up your eyes, then you’ll realize here I stand
With my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl you’ll be my bride
You’ll never be denied everlasting love

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Mac Gayden / Buzz Cason

Everlasting Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing

Song Lyric Sunday – 21 March 2021 – Jump

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title or lyrics of the song should contain one of the words Hop, Jump, Leap, Pounce, or Spring.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

The song I’ve chosen this week is Jump, by the Pointers Sisters, which famously featured in the 2003 film Love Actually where Hugh Grant, playing the British Prime Minister, dances around 10 Downing Street. This film is compulsory viewing every Christmas in our house.

Girls Aloud made a really good version of the song and managed to steal a little thunder from the Love Actually film by pretending to break into 10 Downing Street and film the video there.

A great A Capella version of Jump (For My Love) was performed by Perpetuum Jazzile 

and, of course, Jump was originally recorded by American hard rock band Van Halen.  It was released in December 1983 as the lead single from their album 1984.  Very much a departure from the band’s normal hard rock style, it is Van Halen’s most successful single and is often referred to as a Synth Rocker.

I can’t imagine that there is anyone who has never seen Hugh Grant dancing to this song but, just in case, here it is: 

Jump

Van Halen

I get up and nothin’ gets me down
You got it tough, I’ve seen the toughest around
And I know, baby, just how you feel
You got to roll with the punches and get to what’s real

Ah, can’t you see me standin’ here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen
Ah, can’t you see what I mean?

Ah, might as well jump (jump)
Might as well jump
Go ahead and jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Ow, oh, hey, you
Who said that?
Baby, how you been?
You say you don’t know
You won’t know until you begin

So can’t ya see me standing here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen
Ah, can’t you see what I mean?

Ah, might as well jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Might as well jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Jump

Might as well jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump
Get it in, jump (jump)
Go ahead and jump

Jump
Jump
Jump
Jump

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Alex Van Halen / Edward Van Halen / David Roth

Jump lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Song Lyric Sunday – 14 March 2021 – Happy?

Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title or lyrics of the song should contain one of the words Anguish, Misery, or Torment.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

The song I’ve chosen this week sounds as though it might not fit in with the theme.  It is called Happy? –  but it is by a group called Misery Loves Co.

Happy appears on their debut album which, after long and serious thought, they called Misery Loves Co.  Novel idea!

Misery Loves Co. have recently reformed. They are a Swedish industrial metal duo, initially active in the 1990s and early 2000s. The band combine the hostility of thrash metal riffs with electronic samples usually associated with industrial music. Their lyrics generally focus on bleak sexual visions and pain over troubled relationships. 

I have no idea what that means and, to be honest, this is not my kind of music at all.  However, I’m willing to try anything (most things) once.

I happened across this song with the help of Mrs Google and, having listened to it a few times, thought that it may appeal to some.  Actually, listening to it now, whilst typing this, it may be starting to grow on me.

HELP!

Always want what I haven’t got
Wanna be what I am not
You wish me somewhere I can’t be seen
I am caught where I’ve never been
Your feelings become mine for a while
As I realize your stronger than I
The freak show is about to begin
As I turn around and let you in
And let you in
And I let you in

I don’t know what I wanna be
Searching for someone, don’t look at me
I just want what I haven’t got
I just shoot and something dies
Find it hard to explain
So how can you understand
I’m killing things with this razor blade
Makin’ sure a price gets paid
A price gets paid

I’m happy with my misery
Please leave me be
There’s nothing wrong with me, you see
I’m happy with my misery
I’m happy
I’m happy

Though I try to kick you out of this haze
Been like this for weeks and days
What is now and what was said
I really don’t know
I really can’t tell
Creeping along these walls of hate
Quiet, don’t wanna complicate
Saying to myself once more
Forever, never, nevermore
Nevermore

Get the picture – Get the picture

I’m happy with my misery
Please leave me be
There’s nothing wrong with me, you see
I’m happy with my misery

Happy with my misery
Please leave me be
There’s nothing wrong with me, you see
I’m happy with my misery

Happy with my misery!
Please leave me be!
There’s nothing wrong with me, you see!
I’m happy with my misery!!

I’m happy with my misery
Please leave me be
There’s nothing wrong with me, you see
I’m happy with my misery

Ah! 

Songwriters: ORJAN ORNKLOO, PATRICK ANDERS WIREN

Happy lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

If you are now thoroughly fed up because of this song here is another to cheer you up. This is also called Happy but is the much better known one by Pharrell Williams.

Diamonds of Life

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The final retirement

Sue at Nan’s Farm and Gerry at The Main Aisle run a weekly prompt on their shared site Weekly Prompts.

This week they have chosen RETIREMENT as the prompt.

I have just retired for the last time and it was an easy decision to make, although, in some ways, it was the hardest decision to take.

I would have difficulty in telling you how many times I have retired.  It depends how you define retirement.

In simple terms I have retired three times.

Firstly, I retired at age 45, having served 28 years 151 days in the British Army.  I know that because I have a little red book to tell me so! 

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I would have preferred to carry on serving but, quite naturally, in a time of cutting the numbers of serving personnel, preference had to be given to younger, more active, men and women.

I retired from paid employment at the age of 64, a year earlier than normal at that time.  I was more than ready to retire because my role was stressful and overworked, although I enjoyed it tremendously.

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Retirement from MHA (Methodist Homes)

With my newly found leisure I volunteered to become a trustee of a local charity that had been providing housing for ladies and gentlemen of modest means since 1708.  I have been honoured to serve, alongside my fellow trustees, for the last nine years, the last five and a half years as an active Chairman of the Board of trustees.

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  The United Charities of Abel Collin

My latest, and final, retirement was necessary due to ill health.  I had probably (definitely according to my wife) not resigned early enough but I felt that I would be letting down my fellow trustees and the near 100 residents that we served.

Today, I received a magnificent bouquet of flowers from the charity.  I will cherish these blooms but, more than those, I will cherish all the lovely tributes I have received from my fellow trustees.

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This retirement is my last.  I shall enjoy it!