En.Citatepedia^®.ro

Jochanal (after Wilde)

Now, John was not a bad looking dude-
a smelly diamond in the rough. All the same
when he snubbed her in the market place
she burned with shame.
'Mama', she complained, 'he was RUDE!
and clearly at blame.'

She was nonetheless a bit surprised,
when Herod, shaking off his trance
smiled and pledged her 'whatever'
merely for dancing a dance,
and when Mama commanded
'Child, his head'.

What could she do?
She must, as the law bid,
study to be a dutiful daughter;
so, richly scented, grazing his leg, she pled
for the simple gift
of John the Baptist's head.

The king's face fell with regret-
that was not wise,
John oddly popular, after all-
but fearing if he compromised
it would be all over town
nodded, finally, sighed

And within the hour a guard in golden greaves
returned with the head in a pail
only it wasn't handsome anymore.
The king puked and grew pale
as she fetched it out, kissed it's lips
and danced it around the hall.

poem by Morgan Michaels
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Salome

Salome, the unique daughter of Philip of Rome and Herodias,
Was the stepdaughter of the ruler of Galilee, Herod Antipas,
She wanted to find for her mother's problems a real solution
Therefore, she caused to St. John the Baptist a painful execution.

This saint had condemned the marriage of Herod Antipas
With the divorced wife of his half brother Philip, Herodias.
Herod imprisoned John, but feared this great prophet to kill,
Because to become King Herod the Great he had a goodwill.

Herodias was not mollified by great John's incarceration
And wanted to induce Antipas a great mental state of elation.
She pressed beautiful Salome to seduce him with her dance,
Thinking that her smart daughter his emotions could enhance.

Salome made him to promise to give her everything she wanted.
Dancing the 'Dance of the Seven Veils', her beautiful figure she flaunted.
Salome, thus, asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter,
At her mother's behest, for whom nothing else could ever matter.

Herod did her bidding and that platter, to her mother, Salome brought.
Her mother won, this way, the John's head for saving her free thought.
Salome became a seductress of a stepfather and a murderer of a saint,
Herodias became a symbol of women, who can live without any constraint.

The Dance of the Seven Veils expresses the myth of the goddess Ishtar,
Also, the myth of the god Tammuz of Assyrian and Babylonian lore.
In this myth, Ishtar went in the underworld to visit Ereshkigal, her sister.
Ishtar passed through the seven gates and her power could glister.

At each gate, Ishtar had to shed an article of clothing, finally being nude.
Unleashing sixty diseases against her, Ereshkigal proved to be so rude.
Ishtar was imprisoned and all the sexual activity on earth ceased.
Papsukkal reported the situation to Ea, the king of the gods, at least.

Ea created the eunuch called Asu-shu-namir and sent him to Ereshkigal
To ask for the bag containing the waters of life, after Ishtar's last squeal.
She gave him this water and Asu-shu-namir sprinkled Ishtar, reviving her.
She came back and sent Tammuz to Ereshkigal, avoiding this story to recur.

Ishtar was associated with sexuality, her cult involved sacred prostitution,
Her city Uruk was the 'town of the sacred courtesans', place of persecution.
Although for the god Ishtar, love was fatal, she treated her passing lovers cruelly,
And the unhappy wretches, for the favors heaped on them, paid dearly.

Philip the Tetrarch was the son of Cleopatra of Jerusalem and Herod the Great.
He was the brother of Herod Antipas and Herod Archelaus, he had a good fate.
He inherited north father's kingdom and by Luke (3: 1) in the Bible he’s mentioned.
He married the daughter of Herodias and Philip of Rome, that Salome so tensioned.

poem by Marieta Maglas
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The Three Magi

Three wise men came from east;
They were the three Magi!
They’ad seen a star anew-
‘The Star of Bethlehem! ’
A king was born, they knew.

By camel-back, they rode;
On the way, they met King Herod;
They gave the news to him;
Herod desired to see
The boy born recently!

The Magi left Herod,
Resuming their journey;
The Star led them for miles,
And stood o’er a manger,
In which there was the babe!

They entered the stable,
And saw the divine child;
They offered gifts of gold,
Frankincense and too myrrh,
Adoring the boy king.

The boy was named Jesus;
He brought peace, joy to earth;
He was the Son of God,
And Savior of mankind-
‘The Lamb of God, born man! ’

The Magi then returned
By yet another route,
Warned by angel of God,
As Herod wished to kill
The new-born baby King.

Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-1-2008

poem by John Celes
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Anything My Mama Don't Like

I'm no believer
I just listen to my own head
I'm no believer
I just call you liar instead
Keep all your sorrows
Words might be pathetically vain
Life is a fire
Light it and you can read your name
I'm the king of the night generation
I'm anything my mama don't like
I'm a slave of perverted nation
Anything my mama don't like
I am a flyer
Rising in the wake of my dreams
I am a tumbler
Life can be as good as it seems
I'm a child playing chess with tomorrow
I'm anything my mama don't like
I'm a clown and I beg, steal and borrow
Anything my mama don't like
I'm the king of the night generation
I'm anything my mama don't like
I'm a slave of a perverted nation
Anything my mama don't like

song performed by by Helloween
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Unacceptable Behaviour

Words you said
Made something snap inside my head.
Later I hunted you down
And found you in the market place.
We stood there face to face:
I punched you twice -
You doubled up and fell to the ground.
It wasn't very nice
But I think you deserved it.

poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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Mama I'm Strange

What's this little lie
They keep on telling me
It's just another high
They keep on selling me
I was only five
They fed me so much jive
They said just have a ball Just be a Barbie doll
They churned and burned me out
Until they turned me out
Over and over again

Mama I'm strange
The thoughts and the wants are the locks
On the back of my brain
I'm descending pretending I'm blending
I'm going insane
And they want me to change
Mama I'm strange

I'm on a shaky wall
I'm tripping down the hall
And all the king's men can't
Can't sew me up again
I've got a leaky head
Don't know the full extent
I'm drowning in my bed
I'm just an accident
They chewed and blew me out
Until they threw me out
Over and over again

If I could tranquilize
I might just vaporize
They couldn't supervise
They couldn't criticize
I have no evidence
I have no reverence
It makes no difference
I have no innocence

Help me mama help me now

song performed by by Melissa Etheridge
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Anything My Mamma Dont Like

(m - deris / kusch, l - deris)
Im no believer
I just listen to my own head
Im no believer
I just call you liar instead
Keep all your sorrows
Words might be the
Pathetically vain
Life is a fire
Light and you can read your name
Im the king of a night generation
Im anithing my
Mama dont like
Im a slave of a perveted nation
Anything my mama dont like
I am a flyer
Rising in the wake of my dreams
I am a tumbler
Life can be as good as it seems
Im a child playing chess with tomorrow
Im anything my
Mama dont like
Im a clown, Im a beg steal and borrow
Anything my mama dont like
Im the king of a night generation
Im anithing my
Mama dont like
Im a slave of a perveted nation
Anything my mama dont like

song performed by by Helloween
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Get Up John

(bill monroe/marty stuart/jerry sullivan)
Well get up john go down to jordan
Get up john prepare the way
Man from galilee is waiting
You must meet him there today
Get up john go tell my people
This will be a holy day
Tell them of the jew thats waiting
That the saviors on the way
John
Even the children
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
Well get up john go tell jerusalem
Saviors waiting on the shore
Baptize him in the river jordan
Ill send a dove from heavens door
John
Even the children
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day
Well get up john your work is finished
Daylight breaks the soldiers come
You will die for me tomorrow
Welcome home your race is run
John
Youve been chosen
John
Go unafraid
John
Ill go with you
John the baptist
This is the day

song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Bahama Mama

Bahama, bahama mama
Got the biggest house in town bahama mama
Bahama, bahama mama
But her troubles getting down bahama mama
She has six daughters
And not one of them is married yet
And shes looking high and low
And none of them plays ever hard to get
So if youre lonesome go there go
Bahama, bahama mama
You should all be looking for bahama mama
Bahama, bahama mama
And Im sure you will adore bahama mama
Bahama, bahama mama
Got the biggest house in town bahama mama
Bahama, bahama mama
But her troubles getting down bahama mama
Youll meet her daughters
They ll be treatin you to honeycake
Theyll be sweet and nice to you
And maybe there is one youd like to take
Well then youll know just what to do
Bahama, bahama mama
She is really in a fix bahama mama
Bahama, bahama mama
Being stuck with all them six bahama mama
Whats the matter with men today
Six beautiful roses
And nobody to pluck them
Its a crying shame
Bahama, bahama mama
Got the biggest house in town bahama mama
Bahama, bahama mama
But her troubles getting down bahama mama
The thing is each of them looks
Like a gorgeous moviequeen
Every one a perfect find
And if a man refused that temptin scene
He simply cant make up his mind
Bahama, bahama mama
Got the biggest house in town bahama mama
Bahama, bahama mama
But her troubles getting down bahama mama

song performed by by Boney M.
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Salome dancing

To remove the head from holy John
when she was near to that great saint
Salome did decide beneath a silver moon,
before that godless girl danced on.
When Salome danced before drunken Herod
that king was swept away as if enchanted
and he wanted to fall over his own feet,
while she looked really stunning,
the gleaming glance of her eye caught his
and her gruesome mother took her chance
and this is how things still go today
when a girl is prettier than the rest,
and some men realise this
and let no one admonish them.

poem by Gert Strydom
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Your Mama Don't Dance

Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
But when evening comes around and it's time to
Hit the town
Where do you go - You gotta rock it
The old folks say that ya gotta end your date
By ten
But if you're out on a date don't you
Bring her home late cuz it's a sin
You know there's no excuse
You know you're gonna lose you never win
I'll say it again
And it's all because your mama don't dance
And your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
When evenin' rolls around and it's time to
Hit the town
Where do you go - To rock it, rock it
(lead)
Everyone gather round let me tell you all
About it
You see I pulled into a drive-in and
I found a place to park
We hopped into the backseat where it's
Always nice and dark
I'm just about to move thinking to myself Mmm
Bret this is a breeze
Then there's a light in my eye and a guy says
Out of the car long hair
Oowee - You're coming with me
Said the local police
And it's all because your mama don't dance
And your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
When evenin' rolls around and it's time to
Hit the town
Where do you go - Play me a little C.C.
(lead)
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't
Rock and roll
They just ain't cool and they ain't about to start
Your mama don't dance and you daddy don't rock
Your mama don't dance, no
She just don't dance, no
You mama don't dance
And you daddy don't rock and roll, oww no

song performed by by Kenny Loggins
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Three Kings

Three Kings came riding from far away,
Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar;
Three Wise Men out of the East were they,
And they travelled by night and they slept by day,
For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.

The star was so beautiful, large, and clear,
That all the other stars of the sky
Became a white mist in the atmosphere,
And by this they knew that the coming was near
Of the Prince foretold in the prophecy.

Three caskets they bore on their saddle-bows,
Three caskets of gold with golden keys;
Their robes were of crimson silk with rows
Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows,
Their turbans like blossoming almond-trees.

And so the Three Kings rode into the West,
Through the dusk of night, over hill and dell,
And sometimes they nodded with beard on breast
And sometimes talked, as they paused to rest,
With the people they met at some wayside well.

"Of the child that is born," said Baltasar,
"Good people, I pray you, tell us the news;
For we in the East have seen his star,
And have ridden fast, and have ridden far,
To find and worship the King of the Jews."

And the people answered, "You ask in vain;
We know of no king but Herod the Great!"
They thought the Wise Men were men insane,
As they spurred their horses across the plain,
Like riders in haste, and who cannot wait.

And when they came to Jerusalem,
Herod the Great, who had heard this thing,
Sent for the Wise Men and questioned them;
And said, "Go down unto Bethlehem,
And bring me tidings of this new king."

So they rode away; and the star stood still,
The only one in the gray of morn
Yes, it stopped, it stood still of its own free will,
Right over Bethlehem on the hill,
The city of David where Christ was born.

And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard,
Through the silent street, till their horses turned
And neighed as they entered the great inn-yard;
But the windows were closed, and the doors were barred,
And only a light in the stable burned.

And cradled there in the scented hay,
In the air made sweet by the breath of kine,
The little child in the manger lay,
The child, that would be king one day
Of a kingdom not human but divine.

His mother Mary of Nazareth
Sat watching beside his place of rest,
Watching the even flow of his breath,
For the joy of life and the terror of death
Were mingled together in her breast.

They laid their offerings at his feet:
The gold was their tribute to a King,
The frankincense, with its odor sweet,
Was for the Priest, the Paraclete,
The myrrh for the body's burying.

And the mother wondered and bowed her head,
And sat as still as a statue of stone;
Her heart was troubled yet comforted,
Remembering what the Angel had said
Of an endless reign and of David's throne.

Then the Kings rode out of the city gate,
With a clatter of hoofs in proud array;
But they went not back to Herod the Great,
For they knew his malice and feared his hate,
And returned to their homes by another way.

poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Matthew (Chapter 14)

When tetrarch Herod then had heard
About Jesus’ reputation,
He told his servants, ‘This is John,
The Baptist, who’as been raised from dead,
Because of which mighty powers
Are seen at work in him right now.’

For, Herod had arrested John,
Bound him and threw him in prison,
Because of Herodiaz, wife
Of his brother Philip, as John
Had told Herod, ‘’Tis unlawful
For you to have your brother’s wife! ’

Although, he wanted to kill him,
He feared the people who had high
Regards for John as a Prophet.

Herodiaz’s daughter then,
Performed a dance for Herod’s sake,
On his birthday celebration.
Herod was so delighted then,
He swore to give her what she asked.

Her mother prompted her to ask
For John’s head on a platter kept!
Although the king was distressed, still
He ordered her request be done,
As he had promised before guests.

So, John was beheaded in jail.
His head was put on a platter,
And given to the girl who took
And gave it to her mother then.
His disciples carried the corpse,
And buried it and told Jesus.

On hearing news then Jesus went
By boat to secluded a spot,
By himself but the crowds followed.
His heart felt pity for the crowd;
And so, He cured the sick, they brought.

When evening came, his disciples
Then told, ‘This is a deserted place,
And it is already so late;
They wanted crowd to go and eat,
By buying food in villages.’

But Jesus said, ‘There is no need
For them to leave, give them some food.’
They said that there were five loaves just
And two fishes with them that time.
Then Jesus said, ‘Go bring them here.’

He ordered them sit on the grass.
He took the five loaves and two fish
And looking up to heaven, blessed;
He broke the bread and gave to all
His disciples, and crowds were fed.

They ate with satisfaction great.
The fragments remaining were picked,
Which were twelve wicker basketfuls.
There were five thousand men at least,
Not counting children and women.

By boat, his disciples then went,
As crowds by Jesus were off sent.
Up the mountain, He went to pray,
And was alone, by evening, Aye!

Meanwhile the boat had gone some miles;
It was tossed by fierce winds and waves;
And by the fourth watch of the night,
Came Jesus walking on the sea!

His disciples got terrified,
On seeing Him walk on the sea.
In fear, they cried out, ‘’Tis a ghost! ’
But, Jesus said to them, ‘Its I,
Take courage, do not be afraid.’

Then, Peter said in reply, ‘Lord,
If it is you, command me too
To walk on water, towards you.’
He said, ‘Come Peter! ’ and he walked
Upon the water to Jesus!

But when he found the wind so strong,
He feared that he would only sink,
And cried out loudly, ‘Lord, save me! ’

So, Jesus stretched His hand and held
The frightened Peter and told him,
‘Of little faith, why did you doubt?
The wind had died as they climbed boat!

And those upon the boat remarked,
‘You are the Son of God, truly! ’
And after helping them to cross,
He came to Gennesaret land.

The men recognized Jesus there;
And sent word to others around.
They brought to Him all who were sick,
And those who touched His cloak’s tassel,
Were healed as if by miracle!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 6-2-2007
.

poem by John Celes
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Mama Tried

The first I remember knowin was that lonesome whistle blowin
And a youngins dream of growin up to ride.
On a freight train leavin town, not knowin where I was bound
No one could steer me right, but mama tried.
Was the only rebel child from a family meek and mild
Mama seemed to know what lay in store
In spite of all my sunday learnin
For the bad I kept on turnin and mama couldnt hold me anymore.
And I turned 21 in prison, doin life without parole
No one could steer me right, but mama tried, mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleadin I denied
That leaves no one but me to blame cause mama tried.
Dear old daddy rest his soul, left my mom a heavy load
She tried so very hard to fill his shoes
Workin hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
Oh she tried to raise me right, but I refused.
And I turned 21 in prison, doin life without parole
No one could steer me right, but mama tried, mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleadin I denied
That leaves no one but me to blame cause mama tried.

song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That's All Right

Well that's all right mama,
That's all right for you.
Yeh that's all right mama,
Just anyway you do.
That's all right,
That's all right,
That's all right my mama,
Anyway you do.
Well mama she done told me,
Papa done told me too.
Son that gal you're fooling with,
She ain't no girl for you.
That's all right,
That's all right,
That's all right my mama,
Anyway you do.
I'm leaving town baby,
I'm leaving town for sure,
Then you won't be bothered
With me hanging round your door.
That's all right,
That's all right.
Yeh that's all right my mama,
Anyway you do.
Well that's all right mama,
Yeah that's all right for you.
That's all right mama,
Just anyway you do.
That's all right,
That's all right,
That's all right my mama,
Anyway you do.
Dee dee dee dee dee dee,
Da da dee dee dee,
Da da dee dee dee,
I need your loving.
That's all right.
Well that's all right my mama,
Anyway you do.
Yeh that's all right my mama,
Anyway you do.

song performed by by Beatles
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Esther, A Sonnet Sequence: XXXVII

She seemed to change as if with a change of the wind,
And growing serious sighed, ``Now look,'' she said,
``You think me a mad woman and unkind,
But that is nonsense. I am sound of head
And not unsound of heart, ah, no, not there!
But you turn my head with your John the Baptist's face.
I will not be made jealous, so beware.''
She looked entreatingly as if for grace,
And held me by the arm. ``We are strangers both
Among these heavy Lyonnese. By right
We so should hold together. Tell me truth.
You never saw me, did you, till to--night?''
I said, ``I came here not twelve hours ago!
Why should you think it?'' ``No,'' she broke in, ``no.

poem by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt
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Shes Goin Bald

Silken hair, more silken hair
Fell on her face and no wind was blowin
(shes goin bald)
Silken hair, more silken hair
Lay near her pillbox down at her feet
(shed been on a trip)
I peeked in and when I saw shed
Lost her hair I thought I would keel
(shes goin bald)
When she saw her shining forehead
Didnt stop she swooned to the ground
(really flipped her wig)
Laughed so hard i
Blew my mind
I blew my cool
I blew myself over
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na na na na na na na
What a blow
Sha na na, sha na na
She drew her comb acrost her scalp
And brushed what she had left
I tried to salvage what I could
And threw it in a sack
She made a b-line to her room
And grabbed all kind o juice
She started pourin it on her head
And thought itd grow it back
Ah ha haaaaaa
Youre too late mama
Aint nothin upside your head
No more no more no more no more
Upside your head
Too late mama
Aint nothin upside your head
No more no more no more no more
Upside
Upside your head
Youre too late mama
Aint nothin upside your head
No more no more no more no more
(what about it, dude? )

song performed by by Beach Boys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Tarzan (A Song)

Deep in the jungle you can hear a yell
Over in the jungle an air plane fell
All the apes came gathered around
To come see this thing that fell to the ground

All inside, none survived
Until the apes heard an infant cry
Aug aug ooga no child for mama Toga
A child for you it fell from the blue

Now the apes they took it home
Mama ape Toga raised it on her own
It grew up, it didn’t take long
Now swinging from the trees it big and strong

Aug aug ooga no child for mama Toga
A child for you it fell from the blue

Some they say, call him Tarzan
Some say half ape, some say half man
Swinging tree to tree not wearing any briefs
Some they say a white chimpanzee

Aug aug ooga no child for mama Toga
A child for you it fell from the blue

Now deep in the jungle and I’ve heard it well
Not to far from where that air plane fell
Some they tried to hunt him but didn’t live to tell
He is the king of the jungle you can hear his yell

All inside, none survived
Until the apes heard an infant cry
Aug aug ooga no child for mama Toga
A child for you it fell from the blue.

poem by Bill Simmons
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New Day

What we gon' do right now is go back, way back
Bring in the groove
I wanna dedicate this to those who never made it
>From kindergarten to the 12th I never graduated
Yo but college wasn't for some of us
So we joined the service
I seen a kid get murdered in Nam listening to Elvis
But on the out looking in
Things stay the same
But at the same vein
Looking out the whole world's changed
So keep your head up
Don't get caught up in the fast bucks
And find your mom crying while your lying in a black tux
Trust me
We don't need no education says a young man
Sitting in class (sitting in class)
School is out 3 o'clock on the dot
He had beef with some kids and he got shot, oh Lord
Turn on the television
I'm watching Martin Luther King who had a dream, oh
So take this dream and apply it to your life
Even though we know the ghetto's rough
But we got to
1 - Keep your head up
(Uh keep your head up)
Cause a new day will come
(Uh-huh, uh-huh)
And look towards the sun
(Look towards the sun)
Even when the darkness shall come
(Ooh) It's real son
(Ooh) To my people living Life it's real son
I turn the page
What's the news today
People getting fired, walking on a wire
Looting on the streets cause the kid's gotta eat
Oh, oh turn around and look at the hour glass
I gotta get it straight
Before it's too late
Cause I don't wanna be behind that gates
Keep your head up
(Uh keep your head up)
Cause a new day will come
(Uh-huh, uh-huh)
And look towards the sun
Even when the darkness shall come
2 - All my people in the back
Mama, mama
You know you raised me with no father figure
(Didn't ya)
I wanna take this time to thank you
For giving me life, oh yeah
Mama, mama
You know you raised me with no father figure
(Didn't ya)
I wanna take this time to thank you
Even though I'm doing Life
Alright
(Ooh) It's real son, alright
(Ooh) Can't flee
(Ooh)All my people doing time
(Ooh)People in the back playing cards
(Ooh)Don't lose your money yeah
Yeah tell them don't lose your money, c'mon, c'mon
Repeat 1
Repeat 2
(Ooh) For my people doing time (alright)
(Ooh) For my people doing time (alright)

song performed by by Wyclef Jean
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mama Tried

The first thing I remember knowin was a lonesome whistle blowin,
And a younguns dream of growin up to ride,
On a freight train leavin town, not knowin where Im bound.
And no one could change my mind but mama tried.
One and only rebel child from a famly meek and mild
My mama seemed to to know what lay in store,
spite all my sunday learnin towards the bad I kept on turnin,
til mama couldnt hold me anymore.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin life without parole,
No one could steer me right but mama tried, mama tried.
Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading I denied
And that leaves only me to blame, cause mama tried
Dear ole daddy, rest his soul left my mom a heavy load,
She tried so very hard to feel his shoes,
Workin hours without rest, wanted me to have the best
She tried to raise me right but I refused.
And I turned twenty-one in prison doin life without parole,
No one could steer me right but mama tried, mama tried
Mama tried to raise me better but her pleading I denied
And that leaves only me to blame, cause mama tried

song performed by by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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John Barley-Corn, My Foe

John Barley-corn, my foe, John,
The song I have to sing
Is not in praise of you, John,
E'en though you are a king.
Your subjects they are legion, John,
I find where'er I go:
They wear your yoke upon their necks,
John Barley-Corn, my foe.
John Barley-Corn, my foe, John,
By your despotic sway
The people of our country, John,
Are suffering to-day.
You lay the lash upon their backs;
Yet willingly they go
And pay allegiance at the polls,
John Barley-Corn, my foe.
John Barley-Corn, my foe, John,
You've broken many a heart,
And caused the bitter tear, John,
From many an eye to start,
The widow and the fatherless
From pleasant homes to go,
And lead a life of sin and shame,
John Barley-Corn, my foe.
John Barley-Corn, my foe, John,
May Heaven speed the hour,
When Temperance shall wear the crown
And Rum shall lose its power;
When from the East unto the West
The people all shall know
Their greatest curse has been removed,
John Barley-Corn, my foe!

poem by Charles Follen Adams from Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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