EVERYDAY
Every day
they came anew
My darling, everyday
these thoughts of you
Everyday
and every hour
Thoughts of you
still hold me in their power
Every day
I try forgetting
but I can’t say goodbye
I’m never sure
that we can never be
and all my dreaming
brings a hope that clings
and every day
I love you more.
Oh, there are more songs. But enough is enough.
No. One more. My attempt at romantic philosophy.
LOVE
Verse:
They call it sweet romance
They crown it king.
But who can ever know
its meaning?
With every word and phrase
we rhyme and sing
And yet alone they make
no solid thought to take.
Chorus:
Love
isn’t a flame
That scorches a name
in your heart.
Love
isn’t a song
That’s borne you along
from the start.
Love
isn’t the thunder
isn’t the lightening
or the rain.
Love
isn’t the wonder
isn’t the frightening
or the pain
and love
isn’t the glow
that each lover knows
but never sees
Love
is all of these.
Amen. Selah. Hic jacet. So much for love. At the age of 21.
* * * *
In 1965, my family (wife and 4 children) moved to a community in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Eventually, it grew into a gated community. And, eventually, I met Nick Perito.
While I knew him – and enjoyed his sparkling company – Nick became Perry Como’s music director, arranging, conducting and writing songs. Which is where I came in. During the next few years, we collaborated on several songs. One of them became the title song of Perry Como’s Christmas album. I rewrote the lyrics of a song I’d written years before. Nick added a new melody. It was:
I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS
I wish it could be Christmas
Forever.
I wish the snow
would never go away
Because that’s when I’m with you
and have you for my own
Because that’s when I never
have to leave you alone
I’d never ask for other things
if only
The Christmas tree
could sparkle every day.
If time could stop forever
each day and each tomorrow
I wish that Christmas
never went away.
(OR)
I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS
(My rewrite, as recorded)
I wish it could be Christmas
forever
I wish that glow
would never fade away
with friends and loved ones near us
‘round the Christmas tree so tall
We hear the church bells ringing
Dear Lord
bless us one and all.
I know I’d be content
now and forever
if those Christmas lights
would sparkle every day
There’d be candy canes
and mistletoe
and children singing
carols we know
carols we know
If love and peace n earth
would always stay
I know it could be Christmas
everyday.
Apparently, someone (Nick, Perry Como et al, least of all me) wanted a full laundry list of Christmas elements – friends, loved ones, Christmas tree, church bells, Dear Lord bless us, Christmas lights, candy canes, mistletoe, children singing, carols we know, love and peace on earth. How come we couldn’t squeeze in Santa Claus and sleigh rides?
What bothered me was the change in approach in the conclusion. What had been a wish for Christmas pleasures became a political hope for peace on earth. A bit much for a simple Christmas song. I don’t remember if Bob hope used the same generalizing approach on his Christmas show. I hope not. I know he said it was his favorite Christmas song which, again, (as I being a curmudgeon here) disturbed me because I associated SILVER BELLS with Bob Hope and Christmas.
* * * *
The next song Nick and I did together worked out a little better. Perry Como sang it on another of his albums. The music, quite lovely, was composed by Nick, ASCAP. Lyrics by me (now also ASCAP.)
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
Verse:
I found your photo
in a drawer tonight
I’d forgotten it was there
I stared at your face
for hours and hours
Wondering if you still care
Chorus:
Do you remember me,
As I remember you?
I know many years have passed
But I still can’t forget
The love we shared.
Do you regret the day
you turned and walked away
Leaving a dream behind
one I never could find
again.
Life went on without you.
I willed you from my mind
Still the memory lingers
in my heart
of how we parted.
Do you remember why
you had to say goodbye?
Do you every now and then
breathe a sigh
shed a tear
for me?
Wishing we were together
still in love
The way that we used to be.
The only problem (there I go again) was that I thought Perry Como sang it a little too fast, too off-handedly. Later, Dolores Hope (Bob Hope’s truly charming wife) recorded it perfectly – an older woman recalling the past nostalgically.
* * * *
During that period, I learned that Bea Arthur was performing a one-woman show in New York. Since her accompanist was Billy Goldenberg, (who composed the wonderful atonal score for DUEL) I thought I’d try a novelty song for her.
I WANT A BARBARIAN (Pretty good tune, too)
Verse:
I could form a genuine liking
for a genuine, frenzied Viking
I could get a great big handle
On a wanton, raving Vandal
Have some fun
with a Hun
Enjoy a toot
with a Brute
You can hear my heart applauding
for a little crazed marauding
I would gladly plight my troth
to a rabid, bestial Goth
Chorus #1:
Why don’t you loot me?
Why don’t you pillage?
Why don’t you (boom-boom-boom) (tympani)
sack my village?
Why don’t you lavishly
proceed to ravish me?
Get to work! Be a Turk!
Draw your sword and go berserk!
Refrain #1:
I want a Barbarian!
I need a Barbarian!
A good old Barbarian!
Right out of the past!
Don’t give me urbanity!
Or even humanity!
I want some insanity!
The kind that will last!
Why don’t you raid (board) me?
And make me wrassle?
Why don’t you (boom-boom-boom)
storm my castle?
Invade my coastal line!
Indulge in (boom) rapine?
Beach
your long boat! Lead your crew!
Whip out your blade and run me through!
Refrain #2:
I want a Barbarian!
I need a Barbarian!
A good old Barbarian!
Right out of the past!
Don’t give me civility!
Just give me virility!
And lots of ability!
The kind that will last!
Chorus #3:
Why don’t you riot?
Come do your duty!
‘cause here I am (boom-boom)
your helpless booty!
Why don’t you breach my wall?
Besiege my entry hall?
Activate your catapult!
Break into my treasure vault!
Refrain #3:
I want a Barbarian!
I need a Barbarian!
A good old barbarian!
Right out of the past!
Just give me ferocity!
A touch of atrocity!
And lots of velocity!
It can’t be too fast!
Epilogue: (Spoken)
I don’t want no man named Percy
Want a man who’ll show no mercy
Who’ll give me some iniquity
Straight out of antiquity.
One who digs depravity
Can break the law of gravity
Put my body on his shield
Force my poor old will to yield
Not a good Samaritan
A very bad Barbarian
Who’ll take me from East or West
Grab my spoils and fly his crest.
On his boat or on his horse!
seize and carry off by force!
Steal my stock and burn my crops!
(I’ll throw away my headache drops!)
Lay waste my flesh! Ignore my moans!
Fall upon my helpless bones!
Depredate and plunder me!
Break the bed right under me!
(Sung)
Oh, boy, I want a Barbarian tonight!
Oh, yeah I want a Barbarian tonight!
Oh, wow! I want a Barbarian TO-NIIIIIIGHT!
(Muttering as music fades)
rampage – outrage – wooden cage – stone age
molest – war chest – acid test – lots of zest
etc adinfinitum…
Nothing ever came of it.
* * * *
In the latter part of my life, (the early 80’s) I wrote a few more songs.
One was:
WHAT I NEED
What I need
is someone to love me
Someone who will care
What I need
is a special person
just for me.
What’s the use
of pretending
that my life is free
When every night I lie
in sleepless, lonesome agony?
What I need!
is a sweet companion
walking by my side
Who will never, ever
All the praise
adulation and fame
just won’t do.
When I’m hungry
for somebody who
will love me
through the years!
Through all the joy and tears!
Will always give me
What I need.
* * * *
My next attempt was to write a song as a sort of counter-point to GOD BLESS AMERICA.
GOD IS LOOKING AT AMERICA
God is looking at America
Watching to see what we do
Measuring each and every
thought and deed
to see if they’re honest and true.
God is looking at America
ready to help us and guide
what we must do for America
is accept God’s wisdom
inside our hearts
Let God’s wisdom abide.
I doubt if Irving is turning over in his grave.
* * * *
One more song in my final song writing days.
LOVE IS GIVING
Love is giving
The most important part of living
Is to give your love
To everyone
Love is giving
If you’re generous of heart
And show others that you care
It’s a giving you will share
If you take love
You will lose it
If you give it
You will find
It’s the best way
You can use it
As a gift you donate 2. As a gift you bestow
Start right now Start right now
It’s not too late And feel the glow
To be giving Of giving
Ask for nothing in return
And you’ll receive it
Unfailingly
Never try to demand it
You can never command it
Love’s a treasure that is priceless
Just as long as it is given free
Epilogue
Love is giving
Why not try it?
And you’ll see
And you’ll see
And you’ll see
(Spoken)
Try it.
Nick wrote one more tune for a song I wrote years earlier. I had my own but his was just as good. Maybe better. It was for my 83rd birthday.
I L-O-V-E Y-O-U!
I l-o-v-e y-o-u!
I s-u-r-e do!
I h-o-p-e
You’ll be mine
Until our days are T-H-R-U!
Know my he-art is yours
forever and a d-a-y
Oh, double-u-h-y
Can’t you see?
Y-o-u are for me!
Here’s a song for you to sing
if only you can spell
Sing it for a little while
and you will sing it well
I… etc!
And that’s that for my song writing days – as Andy Rooney might put it.
Richard Matheson