Technically, songs aren’t quite poetry, but …technicality is the only separation between the two. I have a feeling that I’ve covered this song for Poetry Friday before, but I woke up with it stuck in my head again, so you’re getting it again. That’s what good poetry does, anyway – it makes itself at home in your head, like the refrain from a song, and you’re treated to it again, and again, and again.
I think the funniest thing I’ve gotten from the many PBS shows I watched in my life … a soundtrack of Very Old Songs. After watching Ken Burns’ Horatio’s Drive I hummed He’d Have To Get Out (And Get Under)… a song that was written in 1913 about an EDSEL. (Yeah, I know.) After watching the hilarious shorts on Posh Nosh, I found that I loved the Chieftan’s rowdy Celtic dance version of The Raggle Taggle Gypsy Boy (the second link is Posh Nosh’s version, which is, in keeping with the show, exceedingly highbrow).
The Mrs. Bradley Mystery series was fabulous – because Diana Rigg in anything – absolutely anything – is wonderful. She’s like a sharper-tongued and better dressed (ohh, the clothes!) version of Miss Marple – and the series theme song is by far my favorite. Written in 1928 for a play called Hold Everything! “You’re the Cream in my Coffee” was covered by Nat King Cole and other 40’s-50’s greats as well. While the modern London Orchestra version is snappy and fast, I find that I prefer the 1928 original.
Makes you want to learn to swing dance, huh?
YOU’RE THE CREAM IN MY COFFEE
~ From the show “Hold Everything” (1929)
(B.G. DeSylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson)You’re the cream in my coffee,
You’re the salt in my stew;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.You’re the starch in my collar,
You’re the lace in my shoe;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.Most men tell love tales,
And each phrase dovetails.
You’ve heard each known way,
This way is my own way.You’re the sail of my love boat,
You’re the captain and crew;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.You give life savor,
Bring out its flavor;
So this is clear, dear,
You’re my worcestershire, dear.You’re the sail of my love boat,
You’re the captain and crew;
You will always be my necessity–
I’d be lost without you.
I think I like the song so much because it’s silly, and reminds me of one we sang at summer camp: You are such a pumpkin… you are such a squash… you are my zucchini and I love you, so very much. Yep. Sometimes love is just about your squash and your salt – just the things you can’t do without. (Well, technically, I could do without zucchini, but what’s life without chocolate-zucchini bread? I ask you.)
It’s Poetry Friday, and non-theme song related poetry might be found over at A Teaching Life. Or you might find more of the same, who knows. Happy Friday. May you have a stress-free weekend, such as I plan to have, surrounded by those you love. Hold on to your necessities.
Aw, fun! I never really listen to old songs (and don’t watch old movies much), but I obsess about song lyrics, in general. I think most great songs are poetry, whether they’re serious poetry or silly poetry. I like the first verse of this best–probably because it’s about food:>) And I love Fast Car. Lots of good covers of that song…
Yesterday I heard a cover of Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car, which I first heard way back in maybe 1988 (I think). It sounded good, and I said so to the barista … who informed me that it was a cover by some country guy.
Pretty much all of Tracy Chapman counts as poetry.