There Were Times, I'm Sure You Knew...

Bono reflects on Frank's My Way (Thank you for sharing, Paul who I don't know...)

Always loved My Way... kind of my theme song... Appropriate as I've been struggling with a handful of stuff...



Lyrics:
And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and every highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

Early Caroling!

December 11-
River - Joni Mitchell

Back on track! And, now listening to Christmas music on the iPod at work, so when a song strikes me, I'm going to post it.

This is not really a very happy Christmas song, but I've fallen in love with it this year. Especially at the times when I'm not feeling my Christmas mood so much. It's so pretty. I asked for a Joni Mitchell piano book for Christmas...

Lyrics:
It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

But it don't snow here
It stays pretty green
I'm going to make a lot of money
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
I wish I had a river I could skate away on

Oh, I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye

It's coming on Christmas
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river I could skate away on

Missed a Day

Okay, okay, missed a day of Christmas songs - owe you 2...

First:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

One of my all time favorites... pretty much anyone can sing this to me and I swoon... it always makes me think of everyone far and near and the hope I have that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful year - "Bless everyone with us today until we meet again..."

Lyrics:
JUDY GARLAND VERSION
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles will be miles away
Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us
Will be near to us once more
Someday soon we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

FRANK SINATRA VERSION
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

There are a lot of wonderful versions of this, but how can you post any other than the original Judy Garland:


And - Here is a great NPR snippet about the James Taylor version that came out post-9/11...

Second:
Back to the Muppets!

Medley: Alfie The Christmas Tree, Carol for a Christmas Tree, It's In Every One Of Us
This is a crazy one - it's a medley... it's just gorgeous... I can't find much information about how it came to be on the album, but just take a listen...

Lyrics:
Alfie

Did you ever hear the story of the Christmas tree that just didn't want to change the show?
He liked living in the woods and playing with squirrels
He liked ice cycles and snow
He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears
And critters and creatures that crawled
Why bugs were some of his very best friends
Spiders and ants and all
And that's not to say that he ever looked down on the vision of twinkling lights
Or on mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes and a thousand other delights
And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer
And a jolly old man in a tiny red sleigh full of toys and presents and wonderful things
And the story of Christmas day

Oh Alfie believed in Christmas all right
He was full of Christmas cheer
All of each and every day
And all through out the year
To him it was more than a special time
Much more than a special day
It was more than a beautiful story
It was a special kind of way

You see, some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring
And they've never heard of Santa Claus
They've never heard the story of the Son of God
That made Alfie pause
Did that mean that they'd never know of peace on earth?
Or the brotherhood of man
Or know how to love
Or know how to give
If they can't, no one can

You see, life, is a very special kind of thing
Not just for a chosen few
But for each and every living, breathing thing
Not just me and you

So in your Christmas prayers this year
Alfie asked me to ask you
Say a prayer for the wind
And the water
And the wood
And those who live there too

It's In Every One Of Us

It's in every one of us
To be wise
Find your heart
Open up both your eyes
We can all know everything
Without ever knowing why
It's in every one of us
By and by
It's in every one of us
To be wise
Find your heart
Open up both of your eyes
We can all know everything
Without ever knowing why
By and by
By and by

Okay, I'm having a hard time finding video or audio for what I want - but the beginning of this video is Alfie - makes me cry every time! But, this is the TV Special so what follows isn't It's In Every One of Us, it's The Christmas Wish - another good one...


And - this is the best I can find for It's In Every One of Us

Christmas Caroling - Day 3!

December 8 - Christmas Song - The Dave Matthews Band (or is it just Dave Matthews - I really don't know)

You thought I was going to forget didn't you! A little more modern choice this time...

When I was in Freshman at UAlbany, the guy I was dating played this song for me - it was a ploy to get me to like DMB - or - at least that's what he told me. Anyway, I remember the exact moment I first heard this song and I fell in love with it - the song, not the guy... It's really a year-round song, appropriate for Easter as well as anytime we need a good reminder of what it's really all about...

Lyrics:
She was his girl, he was her boyfriend
She’d be his wife, and make him her husband.
A surprise on the way any day any day
One healthy little giggling, dribbling baby boy

The Wisemen came, three made their way
To shower Him with love while He lay in the hay
Shower Him with love, love, love
Love,love,love
Love,love was all around.

Not very much of His childhood was known
Kept His mother Mary worried always out on His own
He met another Mary, who for a reasonable fee,
Less than reputable was known to be

His heart was full of love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love was all around.

When Jesus Christ nailed to his tree
Said oh Daddy-o, I can see how it all soon will be
I came to shed a little light on this darkening sea
Instead I fear I’ve spilled the blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children is all around.

So I’m told, so the story goes
The people he knew were less than golden-hearted
Gamblers and robbers,
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Like you and me, like you and me

Rumors insisted that He soon would be
For His deviations taken into custody
By the authorities, less informed than He
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Searching for love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love was all around.

Preparations were made for a celebration day
He said eat this bread but think of it as me
Drink this wine and dream it will be the blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around

Father up above
Why in all this hatred do you fill me up with love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love is all around
Father up above
Why in all this hatred do you fill me up with love, fill me love, love, yeah
Love, love, love
Love, love, and the blood of our children all around.

And - sung by the man himself:

Christmas Caroling - Day 2!

December 7th -
Christmas Is Coming

My favorite Christmas album has always been and ever will be John Denver & The Muppets - songs from this album will appear frequently. I have fond memories of being in my parents' basement at our first house running around and singing this song. Plus - it's a round! One of the first things little ones are taught about music! And, it speaks to the joy of giving, rather than receiving, at Christmas...

Official Lyrics:
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny, a farthing will do
If you haven't got a farthing, then God bless you!

Piggy's Lyrics:
Scooter? Yes Ma'am. Gonzo? Check. Robin? Yes, Miss Piggy.
This is what we are going to sing. Ahem,
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat (nice),
please to put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha-penny will do,
if you haven't got a ha-penny than God bless you (good).

Now Scooter, you come in after my first line, and you two boys follow.
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat,
please to put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha-penny will do,
if you haven't got a ha-penny than God bless you.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat,
please to put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a ha-penny will do,
if you haven't got a ha-penny than God bless you.
If you haven't got a ha-penny:uh Miss Piggy? We're finished.
Oh. I knew that.
________________

I can't find a video to put up, which is strange since the album was originally a TV special. But, this post has audio of it as sung by Piggy, Scooter, Robin & Gonzo. (The play button at the very top of the post.) Enjoy!
http://mog.com/moovyphreak/blog_post/132190

Finding Christmas

Okay, I played a Christmas concert today - which was fabulous - and worked the ASO's Magic of Christmas performance - Christmas is starting to find me...

And - in honor of Christmas - I once again begin my attempt at posting one of my favorite Christmas songs each day... we'll see if I remember!

December 6th (posted last year, too - on the live journal...):
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

As Wikipedia will tell you, Bells is based upon the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - written during the Civil War after his son was wounded. The words still ring true today, and not only for those affected by war, but even for those of us struggling with the season.

Lyrics:
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

And as sung by the angel Karen Carpenter:

I'm Living A Movie

This One

Glen Hansard - Falling Slowly Lyrics

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

New Favorites

Steven Curtis Chapman & Micheal W. Smith played at The Palace Theatre last night. I went in after work and caught the end of SCC's set and the beginning of MWS' (Friends was first - which is good, because after a 12-hour-day I was hungry and exhausted - I got to leave without missing it...)

Anyway, I don't know much SCC, but I fell in love with these 2 songs:

I Will Be Here

and

Cinderella

Both have been added to the one-day-hopefully Wedding song list... I'm just can't help but plan... ;-)

Housekeeping

Just a couple things:

First and foremost: Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! to everyone who helped make 30 a joyous celebration for me!! And more thanks to come as the celebrating continues!!

Second, and almost as important: TODAY is the LAST DAY to register to vote in NY! Register, register, register!

Third: 30 song...

Tim McGraw - My Next Thirty Years

I think I'll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now its time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I'm gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I've done
Maybe now I've conquered all my adolescent fears
And I'll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I'm doing here
In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I'm gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I'll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years

Stumbling Through History

Maybe it's because of the upcoming birthday, but I've been stumbling through history listening to Ani DiFranco lately (as I'm sure you've noticed)... I was introduced to ani by an ex (amusingly enough, the first person in my life who couldn't wait to get the hell out of Albany - funny how history repeats itself...) and she's been by my side ever since...

listening today came up with 2 songs - one that has been appropriate time & time again in my life, including today's romantic entanglements, and one that has just a few lines that remind me of my years in Wisconsin, homesick and lonely...

The 1st:

Shameless
"just please don't name this
please don't explain this
just blame it all on me
say i was shameless
say i couldn't slow it down
let alone stop it
and say you just hung around
'cuz you couldn't top it"

The 2nd:
Out of Habit
"art is why i get up in the morning
but my definition ends there
it doesn't seem fair
that i'm living for something
i can't even define
there you are right there
in the meantime
i don't want to play for you anymore
show me what you can do
tell me what are you here for
i want my old friends
i want my old face
i want my old mind
fuck this time and place"

Here's a little snippet of the folk singer:

Oh, I Am Angsty and Dramatic Today...

and finally they were done worshipping
the landscape and they put down their hands
and moved into the sky
and they had barely said hello
and it was time to say goodbye

goodbye ...

It is my favorite Ani album right now...

Turning Family Dogs into Dancers

I fancy myself a pretty experience flyer. When I was in Wisconsin, I flew at least once a month for 2 school years straight - plus I've been taking trips with my parents for years. I have two trips already planned for the coming months - Vegas in October and Orlando in February. One thing I loved when I was flying by myself to and from Wisconsin was greeting people and watching people greet. Around that time this Ani Difranco song came out and it's just one of those songs that always puts me bouncy and happy. I remember one particular time - I believe it was coming home for Christmas after 9/11 - when people weren't allowed to meet at the gate anymore, so it wasn't as much fun on layovers to watch people reconnect - a couple planned their flights to meet in Detroit and fly home together - it was so happy. He met her at my gate and they jumped into each others' arms - just beautiful.

c jane posted today about "learn[ing] how to love, to accept love and feel love." being our purpose here on Earth. I don't know much about The Church of Latter Day Saints, but I really like that thought. I guess there are things happening in my life right now that are just making me smile more often and open and ready to accept the love... I am so blessed with so many wonderful people... ;-)

Anyway, here's the song:

the arrival's gate

gonna go out
to the arrivals gate at the airport
and sit there all day
watch people reuniting
public affection is so exciting
it even makes airports ok
watching children run
with their arms outstretched
just to throw those arms
around their grandpas' necks
watching lovers plant kisses
old men to their misses
at the arrivals gate

watching a mother
with a mother's smile
don't tell me to move
i just wanna sit here for a while
i have determined
it's a sure cure for cancer
watching excitement turn family
dogs into dancers
at the arrivals gate

i got me a white bread sandwich
with some shredded lettuce
and i got me a ringside view
for my quaint little fetish

i just wanna drain my little pink heart
of all its malice
and kick back for the afternoon
in this fluorescent palace

everybody's in a hurry
here in purgatory
except for me
i'm where i need to be

at the arrivals gate

Ain't Gettin' No Younger

I used to describe other people with this song - I realized today that maybe I should pay attention to it too...

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get

Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky wont snow and the sun wont shine
Its hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losing all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before its too late