CHANGES

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Self-indulgence leads me today to enthuse about a song which, for me at least, epitomises our present situation amidst the restrictions of the Covid19 pandemic.

Since his ‘Black Adder’ and ’Fry and Laurie’ days, I have been a great fan of British actor and musician, Hugh Laurie. In this blog I wish to draw attention to his version, along with his traditional jazz musicians, …… , as both pianist and singer. of ‘CHANGES’.

The song uses the tune of the traditional gospel hymn ‘What a Friend we Have in Jesus’, one of the best known and liked hymns from the 19th century religious revival in America. The words of the original were written in 1855 as a poem by preacher Joseph M. Scriven and with the melody composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. The same tune was re-worked by Alan Price, re-worded as ‘CHANGES’, and released by him in 1973. Hugh Laurie released it on the album ‘Didn’t It Rain’ in 2013.

I give the words below – a true mirror of the year 2020

Changes”

Everyone is facing changes
No one knows what’s going on
And everyone is changing places
Still the world keeps moving on

Love must always change to sorrow?
And everyone must play the game
Because it’s here today and gone tomorrow
Still the world goes on the same

Love must always turn to sorrow
And everyone must play the game
Because its here today and gone tomorrow
Still the world goes on the same

It’s here today and gone tomorrow
Still the world goes on the same

There are many versions of both songs on YouTube. I give a link to my favourite Hugh Laurie version below . . .

I DiD, I DiD, I DiD – An Affirmation

Manhole cover – Surrey, England:  Photo WHB – 2020   ©

Did I do it?
I did not
No, I didn’t do it, Dear,
Did I?

Well, OK, what if I did?
What if I did it?
If I’d really done it
I’d say I did
Wouldn’t I Dear?
I’d say
I DiD, I DiD,
Yes, I DiD, I Did.

I think you think
I did do it, Dear.
Don’t you, Dear?
Don’t say you don’t
‘Cos you know that I did.
I always do, don’t I Dearest?

But Did I do it?
Well, if I did it
Then I did it, didn’t I?
So… Consider it done
Well and truly done
Done to death
Done and Dusted, Dear,
Done in, Done down,
Easier Said than Done.
I’ve been Done
She’s been Done
You’ve been Done.

Didn’t I do well to do it, Dear?
But really,
No!
No, I did not!
‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman!’

Oh, well, if you insist,
yes, Maybe, I did do it.
Yes, Perhaps I did, Dear.
At least I think I did it.
I told myself
Not to do it,
But I DiD, I Did, I DiD …

Don’t say you don’t believe me, Dearest.

 

 

What is Happening?

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The ordinariness of life
As day succeeds on day,
Now grips more than it ever did
And fear is just a sneeze away.

What is it that tomorrow brings,
How trenchant is life’s grip,
Will time refuse to stumble on,
Is now just a minor blip?

Or is this really Armageddon,
Is it what was foretold,
Has fate at last revealed itself,
The future to unfold?

 

Reverie #6: Doubt

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Reverie #6: Doubt

 

Nothing in the world is certain
Pull up anchor
Sink or swim
Switch the light off
Draw the curtain
Do it now upon a whim. 

You’ll find your destiny has spoken
Only when you realise
That all is doubt
Some lows
Some highs
And all good fortune  rests
Upon that final funeral hymn. 

Abide with me
Do not forsake me
You are needed by my side
A life is given
A life is taken
Now fast falls the eventide
Stay for ever
Leave me never
‘Lama sabachthani’, He cried.

 

 

 

 

Cum Dubito Desisto

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WHEN IN DOUBT – DON’T!

The indecisive man
Never can.

Before he will try
He first must ask ‘Why?’

Will he win or maybe lose?
He hesitates to choose.

This is the the way to go, 
But then he thinks, ‘We’ll, NO!’

That way might be right,
But he is never sure quite.

So his ardour cools
And indecision rules.

All is shilly-shally;
Always a blind old alley.

As resolution stutters
His heartbeat trips and flutters.

Timid and forever fickle,
Always in a hopeless pickle.

Should he leave or should he go? 
Cum dubito desisto.

Wendy Cope: ‘The Uncertainty of the Poet’

[  No.68 of my favourite short poems  ]

The uncertainty which afflicts many poets concerning their right to call themselves such, is perhaps illustrated in this ‘Vimrod’ cartoon to be found on the lastlemon.com website, and further expressed in Wendy Cope’s delightful short poem, below . . .

The indecision which afflicts so many of us, leaves us, as in the last line of Wendy Cope’s poem, still insecure, unsure of ourselves and our abilities, and certainly ‘uncertain’.  But the need to press on remains, regardless of our doubts, and that is what tells me we must have something of the poet in us.

 

‘The Uncertainty of the Poet’  by  Wendy Cope

 

I am a poet.
I am very fond of bananas.

I am bananas.
I am very fond of a poet.

I am a poet of bananas.
I am very fond.

A fond poet of ‘I am, I am’ –
Very bananas.

Fond of ‘Am I bananas?
Am I?’ – a very poet.

Bananas of a poet!
Am I fond? Am I very?

Poet bananas! I am.
I am fond of a ‘very’.

I am of very fond bananas.
Am I a poet?

Vimrod – as explained on Wikipedia:

Vimrod is a cartoon character created by Lisa Swerling & Ralph Lazar.  Vimrod is best known for its greetings cards, which sell worldwide in the millions, and books, which are published by Harper Collins and Andrews McMeel / Universal press Syndicate.