Poetry Wednesday: When October Goes

Late in his life, Johnny Mercer grew close to Barry Manilow — and asked his widow to give Manilow his unfinished lyrics. Manilow set at least one to music. The result is one of my favorite songs, When October Goes. A number of people have recorded the song, but Manilow's version seems the most haunted.

When October Goes

And when October goes 
The snow begins to fly  
Above the smokey roofs  
I watch the planes go by
The children running home  
Beneath a twilight sky  
Oh, for the fun of them 
When I was one of them
 
And when October goes  
The same old dream appears  
And you are in my arms  
To share the happy years
I turn my head away  
To hide the helpless tears 
Oh, how I hate  
To see October go
 
And when October goes  
The same old dream appears  
And you are in my arms  
To share the happy years
I turn my head away  
To hide the helpless tears  
Oh, how I hate  
To see October go
 
I should be over it now 
I know 
It doesn't matter much  
How old I grow —
I hate to see October go...

Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Music by Barry Manilow

Elizabeth and Greensleeves

Today is the birthday of UK's Queen Elizabeth II. The first Elizabeth of the realm, born a few hundred years earlier, was the daughter of one of England's most famous monarchs, who wrote songs and poetry.  This song was attributed to him — and purportedly written for the mother of Elizabeth I.

It's one of my favorite songs, and I'm glad to share it with you today. I challenge you to read it without humming the well-known tune.

Greensleeves

Alas, my love, you do me wrong,

To cast me off discourteously.

For I have loved you well and long,

Delighting in your company.

Chorus:

Greensleeves was all my joy

Greensleeves was my delight,

Greensleeves was my heart of gold,

And who but my lady greensleeves.

Your vows you've broken, like my heart,

Oh, why did you so enrapture me?

Now I remain in a world apart

But my heart remains in captivity.

chorus

I have been ready at your hand,

To grant whatever you would crave,

I have both wagered life and land,

Your love and good-will for to have.

chorus

If you intend thus to disdain,

It does the more enrapture me,

And even so, I still remain

A lover in captivity.

chorus

My men were clothed all in green,

And they did ever wait on thee;

All this was gallant to be seen,

And yet thou wouldst not love me.

chorus

Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,

but still thou hadst it readily.

Thy music still to play and sing;

And yet thou wouldst not love me.

chorus

Well, I will pray to God on high,

that thou my constancy mayst see,

And that yet once before I die,

Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.

chorus

Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,

To God I pray to prosper thee,

For I am still thy lover true,

Come once again and love me.

chorus

Sing: Lyrics and Two Performances

Sing

My Chemical Romance (watch official video here) 

(Listen to Glee performance here)

Sing it out — 
Boy, you’ve got to see what tomorrow brings.

Sing it out — 
Girl, you’ve got to be what tomorrow needs.

For every time that they want to count you out,

And use your voice every single time you open up your mouth.

Sing it for the boys, sing it for the girls —

Every time you that you lose it, sing it for the world

Sing it from the heart

Sing it 'til you’re nuts

Sing it out for the ones that’ll hate your guts

Sing it for the deaf

Sing it for the blind

Sing about everyone that you left behind

Sing it for the world

Sing it for the world

Sing it out — 
Boy, they’re gonna sell what tomorrow means

Sing it out — 
Girl, before they kill what tomorrow brings

You’ve got to make a choice if the music drowns you out.

And raise your voice every single time they try and shut your mouth.

Sing it for the boys, sing it for the girls —

Every time you that you lose it, sing it for the world

Sing it from the heart

Sing it 'til you’re nuts

Sing it out for the ones that’ll hate your guts

Sing it for the deaf

Sing it for the blind

Sing about everyone that you left behind

Sing it for the world

Sing it for the world

Cleaned-up corporation,

Progress dying in the process

Children that can talk about it

Living on the railways

People moving sideways

Sell it 'til your last days

Buy yourself the motivation,

Generation nothing, 
nothing but a dead scene

Product of a white dream

I am not the singer that you wanted,

But a dancer,

I refuse to answer

Talk about the past, sir,

Rooting for the ones who want to get away

Keep running!

Sing it for the boys, sing it for the girls

Every time you that you lose it, sing it for the world

Sing it from the heart

Sing it 'til you’re nuts

Sing it out for the ones that’ll hate your guts

Sing it for the deaf

Sing it for the blind

Sing about everyone that you left behind

Sing it for the world

Sing it for the world

You’ve got to see what tomorrow brings

Sing it for the world,

Sing it for the world

Yeah, you’ve got to be what tomorrow needs

Sing it for the world

Sing it for the world