Lyrics (4 page)

(Curtain)

*    *    *    *

Also indicated in the schedule for Act II are the three songs I put under Act I. Four if you add the following. (I played a dance number to this melody in Act I.)

I can try to say
that your going away
didn’t do a thing to me
But my heart tells me different.
Tells me differently
I can make believe
that I never will grieve
for a love that cannot be
but me heart tells me different
tells me differently          (You thought I couldn’t spell. Ha-ha to you.)
You can’t ever argue
with a beat that can drag you down
and walk all over your dreams
You ain’t got a chance
If you play with romance
to extremes.
And when sometimes I find
that I really don’t mind
for a moment I’m almost free
Then my heart tells me different
Different – Differently.

Not too bad a lyric. And the music is rather interesting. Too bad I can’t remember where they went.

*    *    *    *

One more song before I left M.U. in June ’49 with a bachelor of journalism degree.

To Mary.

You meet her.
You smile and hold her hand
and you greet her.
You start to understand
that you’ve never
met anyone like her before.
Her style is
the soul of style that wins you
Her smile is
the kind that makes your heart
begin to beat
as it never would beat before
and she has eyes
that sparkle and shine for you
with her embrace around you
The corner she holds
is always brighter
because she brings sunshine
in beside her
Who loves her
is hardly to blame
And Mary is her name.

To repeat myself, I should have been nicer to her. She was a warm, affectionate human being. I have not forgotten her.

*    *    *    *

After I returned to Brooklyn, I continued writing songs. Why, I don’t know. I had no market for them. I did have a market for my story writing which I now concentrated on. I sold a couple of short-shorts before moving to Los Angeles in 1951. I remember my friend Spencer commenting in awe as we ambled down a Manhattan street,
“Fifty dollars
for a
short story!
Wow
!”

That kind of awe diminished for us as time progressed.

But the song writing went on. The lyrics – as usual – fluctuated between positive and negative. (Which, in brief, probably reflected my mind.)

       (In D-flat minor no less.
Five flats
!)
Without romance
The world would be empty
Without romance
the world would be cold.         (Partially positive)
For only love can make
a dream for you.
And only love can make
That dream come true.
And though you find
That love isn’t easy
who love are blind
Your heart will be told
But with no one to care
you haven’t a chance
of finding happiness
without romance.

Well, the music is pretty cool.
D-flat minor
? Good God. And still, I kept going.

Verse:

Love is just
an up and down affair
Fluctuating night and day
Love is always
unpredictable
alternating sad and gay. (It meant something different in those days.)

Chorus:

Pity my heart
for the time it’s had
Please, darling
Pity my heart
All of the rounds
from glad to sad          (Negative)
My heart has known form the start.
Please treat it gently.
It’s not very strong
after the treatment
it’s had all along
And the worst time of all
is when we’re apart.
So be kind and
pity my heart.

How lugubrious can you get? I get close.

*    *    *    *

The next one was better. More Cole Porterish.

Verse:

Night! Stars!
Shining in a dark blue sky!
Love! Ours!
Breathless moments
Passing by!

Chorus:

The night
is blue temptation
When you are in my arms.
I yield
to blue temptation
that finds its meaning
in your charms.
And here we are together
as we were meant to be
And all those magic
moments of bliss
Will always remain with me
Blue temptation
!
A bit more positive. As was:

Anytime
any one
wants to smile at me
I’ll be more than glad
to smile right back again
Any clime
In the sun
or in the rain
I’ll be more than glad
to smile right back at them
For a smile
doesn’t cost you a thing
It’s free
and the market is good
supply and demand
don’t agree
for smiles
are as scarce as can be
So my friend
it’s the easiest
thing you can do
but that little smile
makes life worthwhile
for you
That little smile
can make life
worthwhile for you!

At the end of that song I wrote
finis
. I love it. Delightfully
gauche
.

*    *    *    *

My next two songs went downhill again.

Verse:

I can smile at a movie
Laugh at a pun
Always enjoy
some casual fun.
There’s only one thing
I can’t do
Summon a smile
when they talk about you.

Chorus:

I tried to smile.
Act unconcerned.
I tried to hide
How much I yearned.
To have you back again
To hold you near.
And never let you go
But only know
That you were always there.
I tried to smile
The sham is poor
My mind and I
Just can’t ignore
the lovely constancies
of memories
that linger all the while
My heart showed through
When I tried to smile.

And:

Verse:

There’s the beat
of the jungle tom-tom
When the tropical day
is through
There’s the beat of rain
On the window pane
And the beat of my heart
for you

Chorus:

But the beat is blue
yes, the beat is blue
The beat should be gay
and forever should stay
that way
but the beat is blue
Oh, the beat is blue.
It should constantly be
Something vibrant and free
But for me
The beat, yeas the beat is blue.
In the night
When the light
has died.
It will steal
and reveal
what’s inside
It is hopeless to try
and evade it.
For after all
it’s your own heart
that made it.
Oh, that beat of blue
Endless beat of blue
The intricate plays
of romance and its ways
will last
with the beat of blue
When the beat is blue.
When the beat is blue
And the beat is blue!

*    *    *    *

One more. I couldn’t seem to stop.

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.

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
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.

(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.)

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.

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!

Chorus #2:

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!