An Elderly Dog
An Elderly Dog
The sun is coming down hard the dog sleeps in the shadow
on the terrace. I sit indoors and try to play the mandolin.
Sweaty palms, no good. The dogs comes to the doorway
barks. I put the mandolin on a chair, dog goes back to sleep.
The winter had been long I had looked forward to summer,
but this was too much. We, the dog and I, used to go to
the beach, but dogs aren’t allowed there anymore and
I’m too fucking old. I pick up the mandolin smash it against
the living room wall, a picture of me in uniform falls down,
broken glass everywhere. “Now, see what you have done.”
I shout to the dog, but the old cur doesn’t batter an eyelid.
poem by Oskar Hansen
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Mandolin
Oh Mandolin, oh mandolin
Waiting in the dark
Centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin
Memories oh memories
Lay stains upon your heart
When lovers dance into the trance
You weaved by candlelight
Oh I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played I cried for more.
Oh Mandolin, oh mandolin
Waiting in the dark
Centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin
Incessant sound, incessant sound
That stirs the young and pure
Incestuous I kiss my hand
And play the calling drum.
The lover cried into the silk
Many years ago
Your voice laid comfort down upon
His European skin.
Oh I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played I cried for more.
Oh I saw a sunrise like never before
As mandolin played I cried for more.
Oh I saw a runrise likenever before
As mandolin played I cried for more
Oh Mandolin, oh mandolin
Waiting in the dark
Centuries passed down upon
Your smooth Venetian skin.
song performed by by Spandau Ballet
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That song has the full extent of my mandolin abilities; I'm not a good mandolin player at all.
quote by John Fogerty
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Spanish Johnny
(paul siebel)
Those other years, the dusty years
We drove the big hers through
I tried to forget the miles we rode
And spanish johnny too
Hed sit beside a water ditch when all this herd was in
And hed never harm a child but sing to his mandolin
The old talk, the old ways, and the dealin of our game
But spanish johnny never spoke, but sing a song of spain
And his talk with men was vicious talk
When he was drunk on gin
Ah, but those were golden things he said to his mandolin
We had to stand, we tried to judge, we had to stop him then
For the hand so gentle to a child had killed so many men
He died a hard death long ago before the road come in
And the night before he swung he sung to his mandolin
Well, we carried him out in the mornin sun
A man that done no good
And we lowered him down in the cold clay
Stuck in a cross of wood
And a letter we wrote to his kinfolk
To tell them where hed been
And we shipped it out to mexico, along with his mandolin
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Spanish Johnny (feat. Waylon Jennings)
(Paul Siebel)
Those other years, the dusty years
We drove the big hers through
I tried to forget the miles we rode
And Spanish Johnny too
He'd sit beside a water ditch when all this herd was in
And he'd never harm a child but sing to his mandolin
The old talk, the old ways, and the dealin' of our game
But Spanish Johnny never spoke, but sing a song of Spain
And his talk with men was vicious talk
When he was drunk on gin
Ah, but those were golden things he said to his mandolin
We had to stand, we tried to judge, we had to stop him then
For the hand so gentle to a child had killed so many men
He died a hard death long ago before the road come in
And the night before he swung he sung to his mandolin
Well, we carried him out in the mornin' sun
A man that done no good
And we lowered him down in the cold clay
Stuck in a cross of wood
And a letter we wrote to his kinfolk
To tell them where he'd been
And we shipped it out to Mexico, along with his mandolin
song performed by by Emmylou Harris
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Something So Feminine About A Mandolin
By: jimmy buffett, jane slagsvol
1975
It was late in the evenin, just a few of us pickin
But the lady she played so easy and fine
And the chords that she strummed were so tastefully clever
They planted this song in my mind
Chorus:
cause theres somethin so feminine about a mandolin
The way that they feel, the way that they ring
Just to see slender fingers, movin so quickly
Made this boy want to sing
And when I get older and I have a daughter
Ill teach her to sing and play her my songs
And Ill tell her some stories I can barely remember
And hope that she will sing along
And maybe one day shell take a fancy to pickin
cause when that bug bites you, you live with the sting
And if she could just strum a few simple measures
She could make some young man sing
cause theres somethin so feminine about a mandolin
Way that they feel, the way that they ring
And that evenin in a pasture somewhere near austin
That mandolin made me sing
Her mandolin made me sing
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gypsy Melody
Play me a gypsy melody
on a sweet mandolin.
Let it make me cry a bit
to fit the mood I'm in.
Gathered 'round the campfire
with the stars above.
Let the sparks from the flame
reach the one I love.
The fortune teller among you
take hold of my hand.
Tell me if you see for me
a golden wedding band?
If you don't it's okay.
I've been hurt before.
I'll cry along with the mandolin
that plays for a heart that's sore.
poem by Edwina Reizer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Miss Nickelodeon
(jay wise)
Kinda like an indian beatin on his mandolin
Lucky paul and his asian friend,
Smilin back from the place theyre in.
Heros mother hides in austin waitin for a loan
Preachers teachers boogie down in saigon,
Tryin to make it on their own.
Injun ladies with their cement hair,
Snub ulysses on the stair
I believe hes up there sellin kitchen wares,
Tryin to make it back to sweden.
Ah, kinda like an indian beatin on his mandolin
Lucky paul and his asian friend,
Smilin back from the place theyre in.
Glad to see you on the mend,
Oh, miss nickelodeon,
Guess you got the stuff I could not send,
Roll it over again.
Trip in from 43,
A magic boy, his dog and me.
On a run to eternity
Not carin what its costin.
Oh, kinda like an indian beatin on his mandolin
Lucky paul and his asian friend,
Smilin back from the place theyre in.
Oh, kinda like an indian beatin on his mandolin
Lucky paul and his asian friend,
Smilin back from the place theyre in.
Oh, kinda like an indian beatin on his mandolin
Lucky paul and his asian friend,
Smilin back from the place theyre in.
Oh, kinda like an indian beatin on his mandolin
Lucky paul and his asian friend ...
song performed by by Kinky Friedman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Blood, Sex & Booze
Waiting in a room
All dressed up and bound and gagged
To a chair
Its so unfair
I wont dare move, for the pain
She puts me through is what I need
So make it bleed
Im in distress, oh mistress
I confess so do it one more time
These handcuffs are too tight
You know I will obey, so please
Don1t make me beg
For blood, sex and booze you give me
Some say i1m disturbed
But it1s what I deserve, another lesson
To be learned...from a girl called kill
My head is in the gutter
Thank you sir, strike up another mandolin
Of discipline
Throw me to the dogs
Let them eat my flesh down
To the wood
It feels so good
song performed by by Green Day
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mandolin Wind
(rod stewart)
When the rain came I thought youd leave
cause I knew how much you loved the sun
But you chose to stay, stay and keep me warm
Through the darkest nights Ive ever known
If the mandolin wind couldnt change a thing
Then I know I love ya
Oh the snow fell without a break
Buffalo died in the frozen fields you know
Through the coldest winter in almost fourteen years
I couldnt believe you kept a smile
Now I can rest assured knowing that weve seen the worst
And I know I love ya
Oh I never was good with romantic words
So the next few lines come really hard
Dont have much but what Ive got is yours
Except of course my steel guitar
Ha, cause I know you dont play
But Ill teach you one day
Because I love ya
I recall the night we knelt and prayed
Noticing your face was thin and pale
I found it hard to hide my tears
I felt ashamed I felt Id let you down
No mandolin wind couldnt change a thing
Couldnt change a thing no, no
The coldest winter in almost fourteen years
Could never, never change your mind
And I love ya
Yes indeed and I love ya
And I love ya
Lordy I love ya
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mandolin Rain
(bruce hornsby/john hornsby)
The song came and went
Like the times that we spent
Hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent
Id laugh and hed smile
And it would last for a while
You dont know what you got til you lose it all again
Listen to the mandolin rain, listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break, every time that he goes away
Listen to the banjo wind, a sad song drifting low
Listen to my tears roll, down my face as he turns to go
A cool evening dance
Listening to the bluegrass band takes the chill
From the air til they play the last song
And Ill do my time
Keeping you off my mind but theres moments
That I find, Im not feeling so strong
Listen to the mandolin rain, listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break, every time that he goes away
Listen to the banjo wind, a sad song drifting low
Listen to my tears roll, down my face as he turns to go
Running down by the lakeshore
He did love the sound of a summer storm
It played on the lake like a mandolin
Now its washing him away once again
Once again, once again
Listen to the mandolin rain, listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break, every time that he goes away
Listen to the banjo wind, a sad song drifting low
Listen to my tears roll, down my face as he turns to go
Listen to my tears roll, down my face as he turns to go
song performed by by Pam Tillis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Big Riff And Mando
Marty loved the sound of the stolen mandolin.
Somebody took it on a dare in the night-time.
Run up to the radio, calling out to the wind.
Now, bring it, bring it back at least an hour before flight time.
It was a souvenir, but it was a right arm missing.
Swap a woodwork rhythm for a humbucking top line.
Big Riff, rough boy, wants to be a singer in a band.
A little slow in the brain box, but he had a quick right hand.
Run left, run right -- everywhere he look --
nobody watching, no, but that was all he took last night.
Running on the power of a stolen mandolin.
Steal a little inspiration. Steal a little muscle.
Will he wake in the morning, wondering -- was it really worth it?
So make a little deal, Yeah, make a little hustle.
Ringing on the radio -- got a proposition for those English boys.
I'll make the sing-song -- you can make the background noise.
One, two, three, four -- one bar and in.
Give you back the mando, if you'll let this singer sing tonight.
Marty loved the sound of the stolen mandolin.
Big Riff took it on a dare in the night-time.
Now it's four o'clock, and we're waiting at the sound-check.
Looking for a face staring in from the sunshine.
We got two strong lawmen from the sheriff's office.
They're going to lift Big Riff before he plays the first line.
Big Riff, rough boy, wants to be a singer in a band.
Yeah, help him on the stage now, put the microphone in his hand.
Think hard. Think right -- nothing in his mind --
So Riff did a runner, but he left the mandolin behind
song performed by by Jethro Tull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Big Riff & Mando
Marty loved the sound of the stolen mandolin.
Somebody took it on a dare in the night-time.
Run up to the radio, calling out to the wind.
Now, bring it, bring it back at least an hour before flight time.
It was a souvenir, but it was a right arm missing.
Swap a woodwork rhythm for a humbucking top line.
Big riff, rough boy, wants to be a singer in a band.
A little slow in the brain box, but he had a quick right hand.
Run left, run right --- everywhere he look ---
Nobody watching, no, but that was
All he took last night.
Running on the power of a stolen mandolin.
Steal a little inspiration. steal a little muscle.
Will he wake in the morning, wondering --- was it really worth it?
So make a little deal, yeah, make a little hustle.
Ringing on the radio --- got a proposition for those english boys.
Ill make the sing-song --- you can make the background noise.
One, two, three, four --- one bar and in.
Give you back the mando, if youll let this singer sing tonight.
Marty loved the sound of the stolen mandolin.
Big riff took it on a dare in the night-time.
Now its four oclock, and were waiting at the sound-check.
Looking for a face staring in from the sunshine.
We got two strong lawmen from the sheriffs office.
Theyre going to lift big riff before he plays the first line.
Big riff, rough boy, wants to be a singer in a band.
Yeah, help him on the stage now, put that microphone in his hand.
Think hard, think right --- nothing in his mind ---
So riff did a runner, but he left the mandolin behind.
song performed by by Jethro Tull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Reuben & Cherise
Cherise was brushing her long hair gently down
It was the afternoon of carnival as she brushes it gently down
Rubin was strumming his painted mandolin
It was inlaid with a pretty face in jade played in the carnival parade
Cherise was dressing as Pirouette in white
When a fatal vision gripped her tight Cherise beware tonight
Rubin, Rubin tell me truly true
I feel afraid and I don't know why I do, Is there another girl for you?
If you could see my heart you would know it's true
There's none Cherise, except for you, except for you
I'd swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, say I fall down cold
When Rubin played on his painted mandolin
The breeze would pause to listen in before going on its way again
Masquerade began when nightfall finally woke
Like waves against the bandstand, dancers broke to the painted mandolin
Looking out to the crowd who is standing there
Sweet Ruby Claire at Rubin stared, at Rubin stared
She was dressed as Pirouette in red
And her hair hung gently down
The crowd pressed round, Ruby stood as though alone
Rubin's song took on a different tone and he played it just for her
The song he played was the carnival parade
Each note cut a thread of Cherise's fate it cut through like a blade
Rubin was playing his painted mandolin
When Ruby froze and turned to stone for the strings played all alone
The voice of Cherise from the face of the mandolin
Singing Rubin, Rubin tell me true for I have no one but you
If you could see my heart you would know it true
There's none Cherise, except for you, except for you
I'd swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, say I fall down cold
The truth of love an unsung song must tell
The course of love must follow blind without a look behind
Rubin walked the streets of New Orleans till dawn
Cherise so lightly in his arms and her hair hung gently down
song performed by by Grateful Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dust # 2
the old man fell asleep in his chair, and dreamt:
he was swinging the sledge barechested in the
hot summer sun, driving iron fence posts. his
daughters were pulling the wire fence every
now and again he stopped to help them pull it
tight. the dogs ran free, chasing each other, and
barking
finally, he stopped. 'gonna go in and check on your
mom. y'all watch the dogs! '
he opened the sliding door, and walked into the coolness.
letting his eyes adjust for a moment, he stared across
the room. his woman sat on the counter, her feet in
the sink, shaving her legs. grinning, he walked across
the room.
she looked up. 'what are you grinning at, fool? '
'the prettiest damn thing i've seen in a while! '
she wrapped her legs around his sweaty waist. 'well,
what are you going to do about it? '
he picked her up. one of his daughters came to the door.
'you coming back out now, daddy? '
'not right now, baby.'
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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No More Music
The Porch was blazoned with geranium bloom;
Myrtle and jasmine meadows lit the lea;
With rose and violet the vale's perfume
Languished to where the hyacinthine sea
Dreamed tenderly . . . "And I must go," said he.
He spoke in that dim, ghostly voice of his:
"I was a singer; then the Was . . . and GAS."
(I had to lean to him, no word to miss.)
"We bought this little café nigh to Grasse;
With sun and flowers my last few days will pass.
"And music too. I have my mandolin:
Say! Maybe you can strum on your guitar . . .
Come on - we two will make melodious din,
While Madame sings to us behind the bar:
You'll see how sweet Italian folk-songs are."
So he would play and I would thrum the while;
I used to there every lovely day;
His wife would listen with a sunny smile,
And when I left: "Please come again," she'd say.
"He seems quite sad when you have one away."
Alas! I had to leave without good-bye,
And lived in sooty cities for ayear.
Oh, how my heart ached for that happy sky!
Then, then one day my café I drew near -
God! it was strange how I was gripped with fear.
So still it was; I saw no mandolin,
No gay guitar with ribbons blue and red;
Then all in black, stone-faced the wife came in . . .
I did not ask; I looked, she shook her head:
"La musique est fini," was all she said.
poem by Robert William Service
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I stepped back from being out front to playing bass. So we started switching: I'd play bass on one song, we'd switch on the next song; I'd play piano... we'd play mandolin.
quote by Bob Livingston
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The sound of the mandolin is a very curious sound because it's cheerful and melancholy at the same time, and I think it comes from that shadow string, the double strings.
How Do You Sleep
I've seen your severed head at a banquet for the dead
All dressed up for dinner looked so fine
You shining silver salver so tastefully powdered
With the finest military quick lime
Now try and picture this as I gave you a kiss
The apple in your mouth slipped in mine
The orchestra played the sweetest serenade
We laughed as we put away your wine
So raise your glasses here's a toast to wasted lives
May all their ghosts come back to haunt you
and tell you how they died
How do you sleep?
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay?
How do you feel when you close your eyes and try and drift away?
Does it feel any better now?
Does it mean anymore when the angel of death
Comes knock knocking and banging at your door?
When all the fun was over
I put you on my shoulder
Took you home away from it all
Shot down and claimed
Mounted and framed
Tastefully hung upon my wall
Are my dreams your nightmares?
I hope they all come true
Get off your knees
The party's over
I'm coming home to you
How do you sleep?
How do you last the night and keep the dogs at bay?
How do you feel when you close your eyes and try and drift away?
Does it feel any better now?
Does it mean anymore when the angel of death
Comes knock knocking and banging at your door?
At your door?
song performed by by The Stone Roses from Second Coming
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Dogs Of War
Dogs of war and men of hate
With no cause, we dont discriminate
Discovery is to be disowned
Our currency is flesh and bone
Hell opened up and put on sale
Gather round and haggle
For hard cash, we will lie and deceive
Even our masters dont know the web we weave
One world, its a battleground
One world, and we will smash it down
One world ... one world
Invisible transfers, long distance calls,
Hollow laughter in marble halls
Steps have been taken, a silent uproar
Has unleashed the dogs of war
You cant stop what has begun
Signed, sealed, they deliver oblivion
We all have a dark side, to say the least
And dealing in death is the nature of the beast
One world, its a battleground
One world, and we will smash it down
One world ... one world
The dogs of war dont negotiate
The dogs of war wont capitulate,
They will take and you will give,
And you must die so that they may live
You can knock at any door,
But wherever you go, you know theyve been there before
Well winners can lose and things can get strained
But whatever you change, you know the dogs remain.
One world, its a battleground
One world, and we will smash it down
One world ... one world
song performed by by Pink Floyd
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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At the age of nine, playing the violin at school, and then onto the mandolin.
quote by Noel Redding
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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