Room 5: The Concert Singer
I'm one of these haphazard chaps
Who sit in cafes drinking;
A most improper taste, perhaps,
Yet pleasant, to my thinking.
For, oh, I hate discord and strife;
I'm sadly, weakly human;
And I do think the best of life
Is wine and song and woman.
Now, there's that youngster on my right
Who thinks himself a poet,
And so he toils from morn to night
And vainly hopes to show it;
And there's that dauber on my left,
Within his chamber shrinking --
He looks like one of hope bereft;
He lives on air, I'm thinking.
But me, I love the things that are,
My heart is always merry;
I laugh and tune my old guitar:
Sing ho! and hey-down-derry.
Oh, let them toil their lives away
To gild a tawdry era,
But I'll be gay while yet I may:
Sing tira-lira-lira.
I'm sure you know that picture well,
A monk, all else unheeding,
Within a bare and gloomy cell
A musty volume reading;
While through the window you can see
In sunny glade entrancing,
With cap and bells beneath a tree
A jester dancing, dancing.
Which is the fool and which the sage?
I cannot quite discover;
But you may look in learning's page
And I'll be laughter's lover.
For this our life is none too long,
And hearts were made for gladness;
Let virtue lie in joy and song,
The only sin be sadness.
So let me troll a jolly air,
Come what come will to-morrow;
I'll be no cabotin of care,
No souteneur of sorrow.
Let those who will indulge in strife,
To my most merry thinking,
The true philosophy of life
Is laughing, loving, drinking.
And there's that weird and ghastly hag
Who walks head bent, with lips a-mutter;
With twitching hands and feet that drag,
And tattered skirts that sweep the gutter.
An outworn harlot, lost to hope,
With staring eyes and hair that's hoary
I hear her gibber, dazed with dope:
I often wonder what's her story.
poem by Robert William Service
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Homefires
Im not the same man
I was a while ago
Ive learned some new things,
I hope that it shows.
Im free to give my love,
But youre not the one Im thinking of,
So for me the wheels are turning
Got to keep the homefires burning.
Ill walk these borders
In search of a line,
Between young lovers
Who live separate lives.
How long can this go on?
I can hear another song,
Late at night when Ive been drinking
Substitute comes at me winking.
How long can this go on?
I can hear another song,
Late at night when Ive been drinking
Substitute comes at me winking.
Im not the same man
I was a while ago
Ive learned some new things,
I hope that it shows.
Im free to give my love,
But youre not the one Im thinking of.
song performed by by Neil Young
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
A rhine-land drinking song
If our own life is the life of a flower
(And that's what some sages are thinking),
We should moisten the bud with a health-giving flood
And 'twill bloom all the sweeter--
Yes, life's the completer
For drinking,
and drinking,
and drinking.
If it be that our life is a journey
(As many wise folk are opining),
We should sprinkle the way with the rain while we may;
Though dusty and dreary,
'Tis made cool and cheery
With wining,
and wining,
and wining.
If this life that we live be a dreaming
(As pessimist people are thinking),
To induce pleasant dreams there is nothing, meseems,
Like this sweet prescription,
That baffles description--
This drinking,
and drinking,
and drinking.
poem by Eugene Field
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
My Song
I have no song
But still I sing
I let my voice
Fly on wing
For even though
My heart is bare
I have a song
Yet to spare
The song I sing
It has not one word
But far and wide
It's ever heard
My song is
Universal see
Song of wild
Always free
Sung by many
Sung by one
Sung beneath
A dying sun
Song of joy
Yet song of pain
Song of long nights
In the rain
Song of battles
Song of strife
Song of death
But also life
I'll sing untill
I have no breath
And then I'll sing
My song in death
poem by Anonymous Ghurl
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Life Songs
When a child is born into this world,
what kind of song will his or her life be?
A song of joy?
A song of hope?
A beautiful rhapsody?
One of sadness, or of grief?
A song of misery?
When a newborn cries and opens its eyes,
what will its song be?
A song of greatness, a song of wealth,
or one of poverty?
When trouble comes, and surely it will,
what will that child's song be?
When we are born our song begins
and we enjoy its pleasant tune.
We sing its melody in the innocence
that leaves us all too soon.
As we grow we hear the songs of
people in various places.
Songs of pride, songs of hatred
and of conflict among the races.
The songs of children playing together
are very pleasing to hear.
Regardless of race, status or color,
their sweet songs don't cause fear.
The Master told us that with childlike qualities
we'll see God's heavenly city.
To miss such a goal because of hearts so cold
would be a tragic pity.
We hear life songs every day and
like smoke they fade away.
But lives that are sung with childlike meekness
will 'inherit the earth' someday.
To sing a song of wonder and worth
is how this life should really be-
with all the innocents throughout the earth
and with love as our constant key.
When a child is born into this world,
what kind of song will his or her life be?
A song of joy?
A song of hope?
A beautiful rhapsody?
****************
Matthew 18: 3
****************
poem by C.F. Wilkins
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Poet and his Song
A SONG is but a little thing,
And yet what joy it is to sing!
In hours of toil it gives me zest,
And when at eve I long for rest;
When cows come home along the bars,
And in the fold I hear the bell,
As Night, the shepherd, herds his stars,
I sing my song, and all is well.
There are no ears to hear my lays,
No lips to lift a word of praise;
But still, with faith unfaltering,
I live and laugh and love and sing.
What matters yon unheeding throng?
They cannot feel my spirit's spell,
Since life is sweet and love is long,
I sing my song, and all is well.
My days are never days of ease;
I till my ground and prune my trees.
When ripened gold is all the plain,
I put my sickle to the grain.
I labor hard, and toil and sweat,
While others dream within the dell;
But even while my brow is wet,
I sing my song, and all is well.
Sometimes the sun, unkindly hot,
My garden makes a desert spot;
Sometimes a blight upon the tree
Takes all my fruit away from me;
And then with throes of bitter pain
Rebellious passions rise and swell;
But - life is more than fruit or grain,
And so I sing, and all is well.
poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I'll Be Thinking Of You
I’ll be thinking of you
In all the hustle of Christmas day
I’ll be thinking of you in all I do or say.
I’ll be thinking of you
Each time a song is sung
I’ll think of you each time
A Christmas bell is rung.
I’ll be thinking of you
In this hot Texas weather
I’ll be thinking of you
And wishing we were together.
I’ll be thinking of you each time
I hear “A Blue Christmas” being played
I’ll be thinking of you
When new Christmas memories are being made.
I’ll be thinking of you when I read
About how our Saviour came
And because of that first Christmas night long ago
Our lives will never be the same.
I’ll be thinking of you
In the glow of the Christmas lights
And I’ll be hoping and praying
You have a Christmas of white.
I’ll be thinking of you
Each time I see an angel on a tree
And I’ll thank God he sent
Someone special, like you, to me.
poem by Valerie Christine Anderson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Last Night
She was there at the bar, she heard my guitar
She was long and tall, she was the queen of them all
Last night, thinking about last night
Last night, thinking about last night
She was dark and discreet, she was light on her feet
We went up to her room and she lowered the boom
Last night, thinking about last night
Last night, thinking about last night
Down below they danced and sang in the street
While up above the walls were steaming with heat
Last night, thinking about last night
Last night, thinking about last night
I was feeling no pain, feeling good in my brain
I looked in her eyes, they were full of surprise
Last night, talking about last night
Last night, talking about last night
I asked her to marry me she smiled and pulled out a knife
The partys just beginning she said, its your money or you life
Last night, talking about last night
Last night, talking about last night
Now Im back at the bar, she went a little too far
She done me wrong, all I got is this song
Last night, thinking about last night
Last night, thinking about last night
song performed by by George Harrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Flyer
(piano)
When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Flyer fly me away
Higher til I cant see
Glider keeper of my dreams
Of whatever once was me
I was thinking of you
I was thinking all I was just thinking
Fly me away
Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyer
You could make it last a long time
Well for all time
And for always
You could make it last forever
Was just thinking
Oh I was just thinking I was I was
Oh
Flyer dancing on the skylite
By play of my youth
Like a cryer clinging to a shadow
I go on and on and on on
And wishin and
Thinking of you
I was thinking oh I was just thinking
Fly me awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyer
You could make it last a long time
Well, for all time
For always
You could make it last forever
Was just thinking
Oh I was just thinking I was I was
Oh....la la la la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Da da da
Da da daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
(guitar solo )
So when I sing my song
When my heart is beating stronger
Im flying away
Flying away
Ohhhhh
Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy me away
Fly me away
Ohhhhh
Na na na na na naaaa na na
Na na naaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Na
Na na na na na naaaa na na
Na na naaaaaaaaaaaaa
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I was just thinking....
song performed by by Cyndi Lauper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Sing It Out For Love
Written by ricky & marty wilde
Theyve been out on the road so long
Now theyre working their way through all the dirty towns
Singing their hearts out
To the drunks who haunt the bars
Still the ghosts will keep on calling
Sing it out
Sing it out for love again
Guess she heard through a million tears
When you sing you should brush the hair out of your eyes
Come and sit by me girl
Would you like to share my beer?
Feel his hand slip down her shoulder
Sing it out
Sing it out for love again
But shes lonely - thinking of home
Thinking is sad
And knowing she lost the life
She could have had
Watching trucks as they roll on by
And shell wave as they disappear around the bend
Shrugging her shoulders
And shell head back to the bar
Cue the band the boss is shouting
Sing it out
Sing it out for love again
But shes lonely - thinking of home
Thinking is sad
Shes thinking about the good times
Never had
And wondering why the bad times
Get so bad
song performed by by Kim Wilde
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
2u
2u
I hope that youve been thinking about me
Chorus
I hope that you have been thinking of me too
The way that I have been thinking of you
I hope that you have been thinking of me too
The way that I have been thinking of you
Pick up the phone to call you
But I hung up cause Im so afraid
Afraid of rejection
Or another woman in your face
Hopin all day that you would call me
And that youre thinkin of me too
Well in my case with the game of love
If I played I would probably lose
Chorus
I hope that you have been thinking of me too
The way that I have been thinking of you
I hope that you have been thinking of me too
The way that I have been thinking of you
I hope that youre thinkin of me
And I pray every night you love me
I dont ever want what we have to end
And Ill always be your friend
Dont you feel me calling from afar
If you dont know Ive been there from the start
As sure as my name is what it is
Youll always have a place in my heart
Chorus
I hope that you have been thinking of me too
The way that I have been thinking of you
I hope that you have been thinking of me too
The way that I have been thinking of you
Ooh, ooh, ooh....
I hope that you have been thinking of me
The way that I have been thinking of you
When I pray every night
That its me in your dreams when your sleepin
I really hope that Im the that youre thinking about
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
Chorus
I hope that you have been thinking of me too (I hope that, I hope that youve
Been thinkin)
The way that I have been thinking of you (all the time, cant get you off my
Mind baby)
I hope that you have been thinking of me too
The way that I have been thinking of you
See I hope that its you
And I hope that you are baby
Thinking of me too
Ooh, yeah, yeah...
See I hope that you are
Ooh, youre thinking of me
I need for you to think about me
Like I think about you baby
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
I hope that its you
And I hope that youre thinking of, thinking of, thinking of me too
song performed by by Mary J Blige
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
In Summer
Oh, summer has clothed the earth
In a cloak from the loom of the sun!
And a mantle, too, of the skies' soft blue,
And a belt where the rivers run.
And now for the kiss of the wind,
And the touch of the air's soft hands,
With the rest from strife and the heat of life,
With the freedom of lakes and lands.
I envy the farmer's boy
Who sings as he follows the plow;
While the shining green of the young blades lean
To the breezes that cool his brow.
He sings to the dewy morn,
No thought of another's ear;
But the song he sings is a chant for kings
And the whole wide world to hear.
He sings of the joys of life,
Of the pleasures of work and rest,
From an o'erfull heart, without aim or art;
'T is a song of the merriest.
O ye who toil in the town,
And ye who moil in the mart,
Hear the artless song, and your faith made strong
Shall renew your joy of heart.
Oh, poor were the worth of the world
If never a song were heard,--
If the sting of grief had no relief,
And never a heart were stirred.
So, long as the streams run down,
And as long as the robins trill,
Let us taunt old Care with a merry air,
And sing in the face of ill.
poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Fast Buck Freddie
He said hold a dollar bill up to the mirror
And Ill show you something funny
Its only a fast buck, but
Its so hard to make that kind of money.
Now its hard to get serious when the joker
Is laughing
And by now the joker is wild
Its hard to keep laughing when a rich mans
Reflection
Looks like a gun thats gonna smile
Whats going on, I ask you
Whats going on, can you see?
Whats going on, I ask you and
Whos coming on, is it you or me?
Coming on while its still soft and warm
Burn it dry before the fiery storm
Sing it now while you still have a song
Grab on now while youre still feeling strong.
How long, how long would you like it
How long, how long will it be
How long, how long can we take it?
How long before we take it back, you and me
Think fast.
I was thinking that I should be singing along
Think fast I think hes coming thru
Think fast, he thinks hes running you
I was thinking that I should be singing along
Think fast, he thinks hes coming in
Think fast, I think hes wearing thin
I was thinking that I should be singing along
Think fast, hes taking all your time
Think fast, you know hes out of line
But who cares, you know you can, you will, you
Know you can.
Sing it now while you still
Sing it now while you still
Sing it now while you still have a song.
song performed by by Jefferson Starship
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Song of Sadness
Let the sadness sing
Make me believe in what use to be
Show me the truth when there's only lies
I want to see that there's hope in the midst of pain
I will wait for those days
Singing a soft song
A sad song
I am lost to this world
So far gone
I dream of another world
An unknown world
Where nothing matters but to sing
My song of sadness
It fabricates the dream and gives it sound
It tells me a different story each day
So there is no use in praying
For hope and strength
When in this world
There is no God.
So I shall sing this song
Sing it all day long
I'll pass it on when the day of death comes
But untill then...
Yes untill then..
I shall sing my sad, sad song.
poem by Janelle Morehart
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Pig
Isnt it strange
How we move our lives for another day
Like skipping a beat
What if a great wave should
Wash us all away
Just thinking out loud
Dont mean to dwell on this dying thing
But looking at blood
Its alive right now
Deep and sweet within
Pouring through our veins
Intoxicate moving wine to tears
Drinking it deep
Then an evening spent dancing
Its you and me
This love will open our world
From the dark side you can see a glow
Of something bright
Theres much more than we see here
Dont burn the day away
Is this not enough
The blessed sip of life
Is it not enough
Staring down at the ground
Oh then complain and pray
More from above
Greedy little pig
Stop just watch your world trickle away
Oh its your problem now
Itll all be dead and gone in
A few short years
Just love will open our eyes
Just love will put the hope back in our minds
Much more than we could ever know
Dont burn the day away
Come sister
My brother
Shake up your bones shake up your feet
Im saying open up
And let the rain come pouring in
Wash out this tired notion
That the best is yet to come
But while youre dancing on the ground
Dont think of when youre gone
Love! love! - what more is there?
We need the light of love in here
Dont beat your head
Dry your eyes
Let the love in there
There are bad times
But thats ok
Just look for love in it
Dont burn the day away
Look
Here are we
On this starry night staring into space
And I must say
I feel as small as dust
Lying down here
What point could there be troubling
Head down wondering what will
Become of me
Why concern we cannot see
But no reason to abandon it
Time is short but thats all right
Maybe Ill go out in the middle of the night
Take your hands from your eyes, my love
Everything must come to an end sometime
Dont burn the day away
Come sister
My brother
Shake up your bones shake up your feet
Im saying open up
And let the rain come flooding in
Wash out this tired notion
That the best is yet to come
But while youre dancing on the ground
Dont think of when youre gone
Love! love! - what more is there?
We need the light of love in here
Dont beat your head
Dry your eyes
Let the love in there
There are bad times
But thats ok
Just look for love in it
song performed by by Dave Matthews Band
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Love From Your Child
I lay here thinking, Thinking of my life, Thinking of the disappointment, Contention, worry and strife.
Thinking of what could of been, Or maybe what could be, What has been, And what I failed to see.
Thinking is this all there is, Should I expect more, I mean don't I have everything, With these two kids I adore.
Sighs as I think of attaining the stars, The one thing I want to achieve, is true happiness and love, Something now I'm not sure I believe.
Then I lay back and smile, As things don't seem so sad, I hold my children tight, And hear I Love you Dad! ! ! ! !
poem by Richard Goolsby
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Gleam Of Hope
From despair to a gleam of hope
I wrote this poem to dream of hope...........
Hope is a candle in my dark
At night he is the sparkling stars
Hope is my eternal dream
In the day he's my sunbeam
Hope so special - makes my life
He saves my heart from inner strife
Hope is my window opened wide
After my rain - my rainbow guide
Hope is my perfect scenting flower
Against all strife, he gives me power
Hope fights for me heroically
While the whole world opposes me
Hope for my weakness - for my sadness
He is my strength - he is my gladness
Hope knocks my door of loneliness
His key, a sweet smile, gives me gladness
Hope is a mystery an enigma
His soft light mellows his charisma
Hope is the roots of a fruitful tree
He matures me and he makes me free!
{September 11,2009}
***a gleam of HOPE is the light of LIFE
poem by Glamorous Enigma
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Milestones
Gay balloons and coloured streamers,
Gliding figures, footsteps light,
Flannelled youths and short-frocked maidens
Jazzing gaily through the night.
Music quaint and queer and catchy,
Lilting cadence of the band,
‘Tis a scene of harmless frolic.
Youth and pleasure hand in hand.
Laughter, frank and merry hearted,
Careless banter – burst of song-
“While the red, red robin
Goes bob-bob-bobbin’
Goes bob-bob-bobbin’ along!”
Small Miss Anne is sitting, dreaming
In the vine-clad window-seat
Listening to the lilting music,
To the trip of dancing feet,
But her vision sees a ballroom
Where the swaying lanterns glow
Over maidens in flowing muslins,
Courteous gallants bowing low.
Hear the cooing flutes and violins,
‘Tis a waltz song sweet and old-
“Glide along, oh river,
Where the willows quiver,
Glide along for ever
O’er thy sands of gold.”
Ah, the cruel, gleaming river
That can sweep young lives away,
Gone, long gone the youthful lover,
Closed the boyish eyes of grey.
But the old heart-wound is throbbing
As she dreams, with cheeks aglow,
Of a dew-drenched, fragrant garden
Where the river breezes blow
Over beds of phlox and pansy,
Waxen jasmine, while and cold-
“There amid the gloaming
Lover true are roaming
Hand in hand in Love’s dreamland,
Where fond hearts ne’er grow old.”
Soft and clear the rippling music
Steals into a chamber nigh
Where the dear Old Irish grandma
Waits her summons from on High,
Ready for the great adventure
Is her gently child-like soul,
For the grand old Faith upholds her,
And her life’s long simple scroll
Is a screed of shining whiteness;
But just now her old eyes glow
As, like dancing, flickering turf-fires,
Long-lost memories come and go-
‘When the boys began to gather
In the glen of a summer night,
And the Kerry pipers tuning
Made us long with a wild delight.”
Like the horns of elf-land blowing,
Rings the distant pipers’ tune,
Laughter gay of lads and colleens
Underneath the harvest moon.
To the “wind that shook the barley”
Tripped their glancing footsteps fleet,
Ah! Did you dance light, dear Grandma
On the hearts beneath your feet?
On the daisy spangled greensward
‘Neath the hawthorn hedge abloom-
“Ah! The days of Kerry dancing
Oh! The lilt of the pipers’ tune.
poem by Alice Guerin Crist
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
I Sing
I sing to vent the pain that is sometimes in me
Other times I sing of happiness, jubilation and glee
Sometimes I sing in celebration and can rock out all night long
I sing of love through every ballad and heart wrenching love song
Sometimes I sing a song that is trapped inside my head
I sing it all day long, sometimes until I go to bed
I sing of memories, songs that mark pages in my past
I sing on holidays, great carols that last and last and last
I sing when I am working, then time doesn’t seem so long
I sing when I am lonely, there’s nothing like the comfort of a song
To me, to sing with all my voice is simply a blast
I hope to sing everyday of my life until I breathe my last
poem by Rhonda Baker
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Lost Shepherd
Ah me! How hard is destiny!
If we could only know. . . .
I bought my son from Sicily
A score of years ago;
I haled him from our sunny vale
To streets of din and squalor,
And left it to professors pale
To make of him a scholar.
Had he remained a peasant lad,
A shepherd on the hill,
like golden faun in goatskin clad
He might be singing still;
He would have made the flock his care
And lept with gay reliance
On thymy heights, unwitting there
Was such a thing as science.
He would have crooned to his guitar,
Draughts of chianti drinking;
A better destiny by far
Than reading, writing, thinking.
So bent above his books was he,
His thirst for knowledge slaking,
He did not realize that we
Are worm-food in the making.
Ambition got him in its grip
And inched him to his doom;
Fate granted him a fellowship,
Then graved for him a tomb.
"Beneath my feet I can't allow
The grass to grow," he said;
And toiled so tirelessly that now
It grows above his head.
His honour scrolls shall feed the flame,
They mean no more to me;
His ashes I with bitter blame
Will take to Sicily.
And there I'll weep with heart bereft,
By groves and sunny rills,
And wish my laughing boy I'd left
A shepherd on the hills.
poem by Robert William Service
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Even So
THE DAYS go by—the days go by,
Sadly and wearily to die:
Each with its burden of small cares,
Each with its sad gift of gray hairs
For those who sit, like me, and sigh,
“The days go by! The days go by!”
Ah, nevermore on shining plumes,
Shedding a rain of rare perfumes
That men call memories, they are borne
As in life’s many-visioned morn,
When Love sang in the myrtle-blooms—
Ah, nevermore on shining plumes!
Where is my life? Where is my life?
The morning of my youth was rife
With promise of a golden day.
Where have my hopes gone? Where are they—
The passion and the splendid strife?
Where is my life? Where is my life?
My thoughts take hue from this wild day,
And, like the skies, are ashen gray;
The sharp rain, falling constantly,
Lashes with whips of steel the sea:
What words are left for Hope to say?
My thoughts take hue from this wild day.
I dreamt—my life is all a dream!—
That I should sing a song supreme
To gladden all sad eyes that weep,
And take the Harp to Time, and sweep
Its chords to some eternal theme.
I dreamt—my life is all a dream.
The world is very old and wan—
The sun that once so brightly shone
Is now as pale as the pale moon.
I would that Death came swift and soon;
For all my dreams are dead and gone.
The world is very old and wan.
The world is young, the world is strong,
But I in dreams have wandered long.
God lives. What can Death do to me
The sun is shining on the sea.
Yet shall I sing my splendid song—
The world is young, the world is strong.
poem by Victor James Daley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!