Lyrics

I am, as you readers know, something of a musician.  I can no longer play anything but the radio (tee hee).  Although I listen mostly to classical stuff these days, I have long been a fan of American popular music.  In my dotage these days I kind of dig the lyrics.

Oscar Hammerstein had a long collaboration with Richard Rogers in the last century.  Of all of his magnificent output, one song sticks for me: “You have to Be Carefully Taught (To Hate)”, from South Pacific.  If there ever was a song this pertinent for this age, it escapes me.

Frank Sinatra had the services of several lyricists in his long career.  For my money (such as it is), my fave (no. it’s not New York New York): “It Was A Very Good Year”, written in 1961 by Ervin Drake.  While “researching” for this piece, I found out that the song was originally recorded by Bob Shane and the Kingston Trio, another favorite of my youth.  Never did hear their version. Wish I had.

Woody Guthrie wrote a lot of lyrics.  My favorite: “This Land is My Land”.  Wouldn’t this make a fine national anthem? Just sayin’.

George Gershwin had a younger brother, Ira.  I’m hard pressed to single out any of his numerous lyrics.  Ira outlived George by decades, and worked with other songwriters throughout his long life.  As a lyricist,he could, at times, invent words.  There is a phrase in “It’s Not For Me” where Ira coins a word,”lackaday” to force a rhyme.  To my uncertain knowledge, it has never cracked its way into the dictionary – and probably never will.

I’ll close with a favorite.  Huddie Ledbetter wrote a song lamenting. maybe, life in general.  It was recorded by, among others, the Weavers in the early nineteen fifties:

Irene, good night, good night

Irene, Good Night

Good Night, Irene, Good Night, Irene

I’ll See You in my Dreams (Chorus)

Last Saturday night I got married

Me and my wife settled down

Now me and my wife are parted

I think I’ll take a stroll downtown (Chorus)

Sometime I live in the city

Sometime I live in the town

Sometime I take a great notion

To jump into the river and drown (Chorus)

Stop ramblin’, stop yer gamblin’

Stop stayin’ out late at night

Remain with yer wife and family

And stay by your fireside bright (Chorus)

   I had an aunt named Irene.  She was married to my Uncle Al.  She was a wonderful person I wish I’d spent more time with.  Unfortunately, the family moved to California (it’s a big country), and I lost contact.  Good Night, Irene, wherever you may be.