Not all song lyrics work as straight poems – many song lyrics need the music to get the message across, to tap into the emotion, whatever it is the purpose of the song is. I love Green Day’s “Holiday” but without that music it just doesn’t have the PUNCH that the song does. But some songs do work as poems. “Mr. Harris” by Aimee Mann (do NOT even get me started on that song.) Pretty much every Indigo Girls song works as poetry. “Galileo”? Totally. “Watershed.” Yes~!<\/p>\n
The following song is one of my favorites. It really resonates for me at this moment in my life. sniff sniff. Also I love all of the internal rhymes. (“that you”, “statue”, etc.) It’s a perfect song. Kills me.<\/p>\n
It’s “Bill” – from Showboat<\/i><\/b>
\nWords by P.G. Wodehouse & Music by Jerome Kern<\/i><\/p>\n
I used to dream that I would discover
\nThe perfect lover
\nsomeday,
\nI knew I’d recognize him if ever
\nHe came ’round my way.
\nI always used to fancy then
\nHe’d be one of the God-like kind of men
\nWith a giant brain and a noble head
\nLike the heroes bold
\nIn the books I’ve read.<\/p>\n
But along came Bill,
\nwho’s not the type at all
\nYou’d meet him on the street and never notice him;
\nHis form and face, his manly grace
\nAre not the kind that you would find in a statue.<\/p>\n
And I can’t explain,
\nIt’s surely not his brain
\nThat makes me thrill —
\nI love him because he’s wonderful,
\nBecause he’s just my Bill.<\/p>\n
He can’t play golf or tennis or polo,
\nOr sing a solo, or row.
\nHe isn’t half as handsome
\nAs dozens of men that I know.
\nHe isn’t tall or straight or slim
\nAnd he dresses far worse than Ted or Jim.
\nAnd I can’t explain why he should be
\nJust the one, one man in the world for me.<\/p>\n
He’s just my Bill, an ordinary man,
\nHe hasn’t got a thing that I can brag about.
\nAnd yet to be
\nUpon his knee
\nSo comfy and roomy
\nSeems natural to me.<\/p>\n
Oh, I can’t explain,
\nIt’s surely not his brain
\nThat makes me thrill —
\nI love him because he’s — I don’t know…
\nBecause he’s just my Bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Not all song lyrics work as straight poems – many song lyrics need the music to get the message across, to tap into the emotion, whatever it is the purpose of the song is. I love Green Day’s “Holiday” but … Continue reading