Great choices Jennifer, I will have to list some blues. Thanks for the early birthday present by the way, I will see you when you get back from Dallas.

Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself
You say I've been spending my money on other women
You've been taking money from someone else

I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago
Well your mother said "Son"
"Don't call my daughter no more"

Chorus

Come back home baby, try my love one more time
Come back home baby, try my love one more time
If I don't go on and quit you
I'm gonna lose my mind

Here is a recent cover that is pretty good, Eric Clapton and Bo Diddley by Elias McDaniel.

Greg

Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

Hard luck and trouble is my only friend
I been on my own ever since I was ten
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

I can't read, haven't learned how to write
My whole life has been one big fight
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

I ain't lyin'
If it wasn't for bad luck
I wouldn't have no kind-a luck
If it wasn't for real bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

Wine and women is all I crave
A big legged woman is
gonna carry me to my grave
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all

Yeah, my bad luck boy
Been havin' bad luck all of my days, yes

I love this one. An all time favorite.

Greg I will see you tonight and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!!! I have all ready made the reservations.

Take time to relax this weekend and rest your back.

JJ

Here is a funny song that I recall from a Marx brothers movie. There were five of them but the three well known are Harpo, Groucho, and Chico. The two lesser known as I recall are Gummo and Zeppo. If I am wrong on this please correct me, I do not Google such things.

Lyrics to Lydia, the Tattooed Lady: My life was wrapped around the circus. Her name was Lydia. I met her at the world's fair in 1900, marked down from 1940. Ah, Lydia. She was the most glorious creature Under the su-un. Guiess. DuBarry. Garbo. Rolled into one. Oooooooh Lydia oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia, Lydia, the Tattooed Lady. She has eyes that folks adore so, And a torso even more so. Lydia oh Lydia, that encyclopedia, Oh Lydia the Queen of Tattoo. On her back is the Battle of Waterloo. Beside it the wreck of the Hespherous, too. And proudly above waves the Red, White, and Blue, You can learn a lot from Lydia. La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la When her robe is unfurled, she will show you the world, If you step up and tell her where. For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paris, Or Washington crossing the Delaware. La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la Oh Lydia oh Lydia, say have you met Lydia, Oh Lydia the Tattooed Lady When her muscles start relaxing, Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson Lydia oh Lydia, that encyclopedia, oh Lydia the queen of them all! For two bits she will do a mazurka in jazz, With a view of Niagara that nobody has. And on a clear day you can see Alcatraz. You can learn a lot from Lydia. La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la Come along and see Buff'lo Bill with his lasso. Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso. Here is Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon. Here's Godiva but with her pajamas on. La la la, la la la, la la la, la la la Here is Grover Whalen unveilin' the Trilon. Over on the West Coast we have Treaure Island. Here's Najinsky a-doin' the rumba. Here's her social security numba. (whistles) Oh Lydia, oh Lydia that encyclopedia, Oh Lydia the champ of them all. She once swept an Admiral clear off his feet. The ships on her hips made his heart skip a beat. And now the old boy's in command of the fleet, For he went and married Lydia. I said Lydia (He said Lydia) I said Lydia (We said Lydia) La La It is the only song referring to tattoos that I know of lol. Some more Groucho quotes: A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five. Either this man is dead or my watch has stopped. I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home. I sent the club a wire stating, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER.

It isn't necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy.

I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

Women should be obscene and not heard.

I have been known to use the last quote,

Greg

The Rock Cries Out to Us Today

A Rock, A River, A Tree Hosts to species long since departed, Mark the mastodon. The dinosaur, who left dry tokens Of their sojourn here On our planet floor, Any broad alarm of their of their hastening doom Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages. But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully, Come, you may stand upon my Back and face your distant destiny, But seek no haven in my shadow. I will give you no hiding place down here. You, created only a little lower than The angels, have crouched too long in The bruising darkness, Have lain too long Face down in ignorance. Your mouths spelling words Armed for slaughter. The rock cries out today, you may stand on me, But do not hide your face. Across the wall of the world, A river sings a beautiful song, Come rest here by my side. Each of you a bordered country, Delicate and strangely made proud, Yet thrusting perpetually under siege. Your armed struggles for profit Have left collars of waste upon My shore, currents of debris upon my breast. Yet, today I call you to my riverside, If you will study war no more. Come, clad in peace and I will sing the songs The Creator gave to me when I And the tree and stone were one. Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow And when you yet knew you still knew nothing. The river sings and sings on. There is a true yearning to respond to The singing river and the wise rock. So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew, The African and Native American, the Sioux, The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek, The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh, The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher, The privileged, the homeless, the teacher. They hear. They all hear The speaking of the tree. Today, the first and last of every tree Speaks to humankind. Come to me, here beside the river. Plant yourself beside me, here beside the river. Each of you, descendant of some passed on Traveller, has been paid for. You, who gave me my first name, You Pawnee, Apache and Seneca, You Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, Then forced on bloody feet, Left me to the employment of other seekers-- Desperate for gain, starving for gold. You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot... You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, Bought, sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare Praying for a dream. Here, root yourselves beside me. I am the tree planted by the river, Which will not be moved. I, the rock, I the river, I the tree I am yours--your passages have been paid. Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you. History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage, Need not be lived again. Lift up your eyes upon The day breaking for you. Give birth again To the dream. Women, children, men, Take it into the palms of your hands. Mold it into the shape of your most Private need. Sculpt it into The image of your most public self. Lift up your hearts. Each new hour holds new chances For new beginnings. Do not be wedded forever To fear, yoked eternally To brutishness. The horizon leans forward, Offering you space to place new steps of change. Here, on the pulse of this fine day You may have the courage To look up and out upon me, The rock, the river, the tree, your country. No less to Midas than the mendicant. No less to you now than the mastodon then. Here on the pulse of this new day You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, Into your brother's face, your country And say simply Very simply With hope Good morning. Maya Angelou

 Another very powerful poem, such great words.

Greg

Thanks JJ, I was glad to discover that poet. Ok back to music:

My love she speaks like silence,
Without ideals or violence,
She doesn't have to say she's faithful,
Yet she's true, like ice, like fire.
People carry roses,
Make promises by the hours,
My love she laughs like the flowers,
Valentines can't buy her.

In the dime stores and bus stations,
People talk of situations,
Read books, repeat quotations,
Draw conclusions on the wall.
Some speak of the future,
My love she speaks softly,
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all.

The cloak and dagger dangles,
Madams light the candles.
In ceremonies of the horsemen,
Even the pawn must hold a grudge.
Statues made of match sticks,
Crumble into one another,
My love winks, she does not bother,
She knows too much to argue or to judge.

The bridge at midnight trembles,
The country doctor rambles,
Bankers' nieces seek perfection,
Expecting all the gifts that wise men bring.
The wind howls like a hammer,
The night blows cold and rainy,
My love she's like some raven
At my window with a broken wing.

A favorite Bob Dylan song, I especially love the line..

In ceremonies of the horsemen,
Even the pawn must hold a grudge.

Dylan uses many chess references.

another is:

Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man's brain
But he can't be blamed
He's only a pawn in their game.

Greg

One for my friend Diane

Jack & Diane lyrics

A little ditty 'bout Jack & Diane -

Two american kids growing up in the heart land.

Jack he's gonna be a football star


Diane debutante in the back seat ofJacky's car.

Suckin' on chilli dog outside the tastee freez


Diane sitting on Jacky's lap got his hands between her knees.

Jack he says "hey Diane

let's run off behind a shady tree


Dribble off those bobby brooks

let me do what I please" saying:

Oh yeah - life goes on


Long after the thrill of living is gone

sayin'

Oh yeah - life goes on


Long after the thrill of living is gone

now walk on.

Jack he sits back collects his thoughts for a moment

Scratches his head and does his best James Dean.

Well now then there, Diane, we ought to run off to the city.

Diane says: "Baby

you ain't missing a thing"

but Tack

he says:


Oh yeah - life goes on


Long after the thrill of living is gone


Oh yeah

he says - life goes on


Long after the thrill of living is gone.

Oh let it rock let it roll


Let the bible belt come and save my soul.

Holdin' on to sixteen as long as you can

Change is coming round real soon make us woman and mer

Oh yeah - life goes on

. . .

A little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane -

Two american kids doin' the best they can.

John Mellencamp

I used to see him when in college, concerts as

well as around town and at sporting events.

I know of a few little pink houses.

Greg

It's a hot and humid summer night here in NJ, and for some reason, it made me think of this Mellencamp song. He had a great way of talking about adolescence at its dirtiest.

Well, our hearts beat like thunder
I don't know why they don't explode
You got your hands in my back pockets
And Sam Cooke's singin' on the radio
You say that I'm the boy who can make it all come true
Well, I'm tellin' ya that I don't know if I know what to do

You say that's all right, hold tight
Well, I don't even know if I'm doin' this right
Well all right, hold tight
We can stay out all day or we can run around all night
Well all night, all night
Well, it's time to go home
And I ain't even done with the night

Well, I don't know no good come-ons
And I don't know no cool lines
I feel the heat of your frustration
I know it's burnin' you up deep down inside
You say that I'm the boy who can make it all come true
Well, I'm tellin' ya that I don't know if I know what to do

You say that's all right, hold tight
Well, I don't even know if I'm doin' this right
Well all right, hold tight
We can stay out all day or we can run around all night
Well all night, all night
Well, it's time to go home
And I ain't even done with the night

Ain't even done with the night, hold tight
Well, I don't even know if I'm doin' this right
Well all right, hold tight
We can stay out all day or we can run around all night
Well all night, all night
Well, it's time to go home
And I ain't even done with the night

No I ain't even done with the night
No, no, ain't even done with the night
No, I ain't even done with the night
No, no, ain't even, ain't even done with the night
No, no, ain't even done with the night
No I ain't even done with the night
[script removed]

Great songs Greg and Kitty and welcome Kitty. Here is another hot song for a hot summer night.

I came across this song as I seached for another, very good lyrics:

So you sailed away
Into a grey sky morning
Now I'm here to stay
Love can be so boring
And nothing's quite the same now
I just say your name now

(Chorus)
But I'ts not so bad..
You're only the best I ever had
You don't want me back
You're just the best I ever had

Vers. 2
So you stole my world
Now I'm just a phony
Remembering the girl
Leaves me down and lonely
We'll send it in a letter
Make yourself feel better

(Chorus)
But I'ts not so bad..
You're only the best I ever had
You don't want me back
You're just the best I ever had

Bridge
And it might take some time
To patch me up inside
But I cant take it so I
I run away and hide
I might find it in time
That you were always right
You were always right


So you sailed away
Into a grey sky morning
Now I'm here to stay
Love can be so boring
Was it what you wanted
Could it be I'm haunted?

(Chorus)
But It's not so bad..
You're only the best I ever had
You dont want me back
You're just the best I ever had

You're just the best I ever had...

Another Bob Dylan song:

I can hear the turning of the key
I've been deceived by the clown inside of me.
I thought that he was righteous but he's vain
Oh, something's a-telling me I wear the ball and chain.

My patron saint is a-fighting with a ghost
He's always off somewhere when I need him most.
The Spanish moon is rising on the hill
But my heart is a-tellin' me I love ya still.

I come back to the town from the flaming moon
I see you in the streets, I begin to swoon.
I love to see you dress before the mirror
Won't you let me in your room one time 'fore I finally disappear?

Everybody's wearing a disguise
To hide what they've got left behind their eyes.
But me, I can't cover what I am
Wherever the children go I'll follow them.

I march in the parade of liberty
But as long as I love you I'm not free.
How long must I suffer such abuse
Won't you let me see you smile one time before I turn you loose?

I've given up the game, I've got to leave,
The pot of gold is only make-believe.
The treasure can't be found by men who search
Whose gods are dead and whose queens are in the church.

We sat in an empty theater and we kissed,
I asked ya please to cross me off-a your list.
My head tells me it's time to make a change
But my heart is telling me I love ya but you're strange.

One more time at midnight, near the wall
Take off your heavy make-up and your shawl.
Won't you descend from the throne, from where you sit?
Let me feel your love one more time before I abandon it.

Welcome Kittykatnj, I don't believe we have met.

Greg

Men

When I was young, I used to Watch behind the curtains As men walked up and down the street. Wino men, old men. Young men sharp as mustard. See them. Men are always Going somewhere. They knew I was there. Fifteen Years old and starving for them. Under my window, they would pauses, Their shoulders high like the Breasts of a young girl, Jacket tails slapping over Those behinds, Men.

Another Maya Angelou poem but I had better stop there, here words do get intense.

I have found no haikus so far, so here are a couple

Pond with ice
tadpoles
summer

After killing
a spider, how lonely I feel
in the cold of night!

He says a word,
and I say a word - autumn
is deepening.

they've gone...
where the beach umbrella was
the sand not quite so hot

KR

Lala that is such a pretty song, I had not heard of it before but the words are terrific. Your contributions have affected many of us on here, I am one of them, thank you.

The Rose

Donna Brock

The red blossom bends

and drips its dew to the ground.

Like a tear it falls

JJ

I wanted to add some limericks but the funniest ones are naughty, here are a few clean ones.

There once was an old man of Esser,
Whose knowledge grew lesser and lesser,
It at last grew so small
He knew nothing at all,
And now he's a college professor.

There once was a lady from Hyde,
Who ate a green apple and died,
While her lover lamented,
The apple fermented,
and made cider inside her inside

There was a young lady from Niger,
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger.
After the ride
She was inside,
And the smile was on the face of the tiger.

There once was a guy named Matt
Who had an overly large cat
When it chased a mouse
It shook the whole house
So Matt got rid of the cat.

Those are not the ones I wanted to post but oh well.

JJ

Hazey Jane by Nick Drake

Do you curse where you come from,
Do you swear in the night
Will it mean much to you
If I treat you right.
Do you like what you're doing,
Would you do it some more
Or will you stop once and wonder
What you're doing it for.
Hey slow jane, make sense
Slow, slow, jane, cross the fence.

Do you feel like a remnant
Of something that's past
Do you find things are moving
Just a little too fast.
Do you hope to find new ways
Of quenching your thirst,
Do you hope to find new ways
Of doing better than your worst.
Hey slow jane, let me prove
Slow, slow jane, we're on the move.

Do it for you,
Sure that you would do the same for me one day.
So try to be true,
Even if it's only in your hazey way.

Can you tell if you're moving
With no mirror to see,
If you're just riding a new man
Looks a little like me.
Is it all so confusing,
Is it hard to believe
When the winter is coming
Can you sign up and leave.
Hey slow jane, live your lie
Slow, slow jane, fly on by.

Tom Waits

Let's put a new coat of paint on this lonesome old town
Set 'em up, we'll be knockin' em down.
You wear a dress, baby, and I'll wear a tie.
We'll laugh at that old bloodshot moon in that burgundy sky

All your scribbled lovedreams, are lost or thrown away,
Here amidst the shuffle of an overflowing day
Our love needs a transfusion so let's shoot it full of wine
Fishin' for a good time starts with throwin'in your line.

a last Waits song, Innocent When you Dream

The bats are in the belfry
the dew is on the moor
where are the arms that held me
and pledged her love before
and pledged her love before

CHORUS

It's such a sad old feeling
the fields are soft and green
it's memories that I'm stealing
but you're innocent when you dream
when you dream
you're innocent when you dream

Running through the graveyard
we laughed my friends and I
we swore we'd be together
until the day we died
until the day we died

CHORUS

I made a golden promise
that we would never part
I gave my love a locket
and then I broke her heart
and then I broke her heart

CHORUS

Greg