Backup Plan
You’re up boy
He picks up his guitar
Finds his confidence
Draws himself in
To his own world
Of tunes, lyrics and meaning
He stumbles on stage
Appearing frail and clumsy
The crowd, the judges
Wait for his beginning
Wait to be disappointed
Or sucked into his world
Behind stage are his family and friends
Supportive as ever
His fallback when all else fails
Now a boy picks up his boom box
Hides it behind stage
His right hand man
Trusting that it will not fail
Where he might
Now there is little chance
Of missing a note
He just remembers the words
Though even they can be fed to him
Through voices whispering is his ear
He doesn’t need talent
He needs technology
Yet they laugh when a boy
With only his voice and a guitar
Forgets a word, misses a chord
Oh how something robotic
Something created by us
Can control, influence and destroy us
poem by Keiren Ward
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Get Off The Stage
Oh, you silly old man
You silly old man
Youre making a fool of yourself
So get off the stage
You silly old man
In your misguided trousers
With your mascara and your fender guitar
And you think you can arouse us ?
But the song that you just sang
It sounds exactly like the last one
And the next one
I bet you it will sound
Like this one
Downstage, and offstage
Dont you feel all run in ?
And do you wonder when they will take it away ?
This is your final fling
But then applause ran high
But for the patience of the ones behind you
As a verse drags on like a month drags on
Its very short, but it seems very long
And the song that you just sang
It sounds exactly like the last one
And the next one
I bet you it will sound
Like this one
So, get off the stage
Oh, get off the stage
And when we get down off of the stage
Please stay off the stage - all day !
Get off the stage
Oh, get off the stage
And when weve had our money back
Then Id like your back in plaster
Oh, I know that you say
How age has no meaning
Oh, but here is your audience now
And theyre screaming :
Get off the stage
Oh, get off the stage
Because Ive given you enough of my time
And the money that wasnt even mine
Have you seen yourself recently ?
Oh, get off the stage
Oh, get off the stage
For whom, oh ...
For whom, oh ...
For whom, oh ...
For whom, oh ...
Get off the stage
Get off the stage
Get off the stage
For whom the bell tolls
song performed by by Morrissey
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Fate of a Musician
Every day I pick up my guitar and just play
I write my own songs with the help of friends
We design music and lyrics we start new trends
Acoustic guitar, electric guitar or 12 strings
These instruments have played my songs and I have grown wings
Soaring and flying watching my creations grow
As the music expands the lyrics just flow
The more I create the more passionate I become
The more I play the more fun we have
Music gives me something to do
Each song I write I will be sure to see through
When I am up on stage standing in the spotlight
I spread my wings, start playing, and take flight!
When the crowd cheers you get a feeling of inspiration
After the gig you’re sitting home alone
You pull out your guitar stick in the headphones
You start strumming, creating your own beat
You sit there all night tapping your feet
The history of music and the sound you create
Brings friends closer together I reckon its more then fate.
Benjamin A. Green
poem by Benjamin Andrew
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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When I'm on stage, it's a little world I've created where I'm sort of the thing, so I have total control over everything that happens. When we're improvising, I'm with someone I totally trust. I know things are going to work out. I don't have those guarantees in life. There are no consequences on stage.
quote by Colin Mochrie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Rocking With My Guitar
I'M JUST SITING HERE STRUMMING
WITH MY GUITAR IN HAND
FEELING SO RELAX
WITH EVERY CHORD I TOUCH MAN
AND ROCKING AWAY
FROM WHAT THE GREAT ONES WROTE
BY FOLLOWING EACH MUSIC NOTE
AND PICTURING ME IN THERE BAND
ASK TO DO A SOLO ON MY GUITAR
AND FEELING LIKE A BRIEF SUPER STAR
IF FRONT OF THE CROWD
CHEERING AND JEERING FOR ME
WHEN I JUMP IN THE AIR
WITH MY GUITAR IN HAND
READY TO DO ANOTHER CLASSIC SONG
AND STILL THERE SCREAMING
CLAPPING ALONG
UNTIL I COME BACK TO EARTH
PUTTING MY GUITAR GENTLY IN IT'S STAND
NEXT TO MY READING LIGHT
AND QUIETLY CALL IT A RIGHT
poem by Bruce Martone
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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There Are a Lot of People in the World Called Jack
There’s an old man singing
Out on his front porch
Strumming his guitar
Like it’s 1954.
It may have been a while
But he remembers every chord
And although it doesn’t look like much
It’s all he could afford.
Yes, the paint is peeling
And the strings are wearing thin
And it’s still sporting the logo
Of the band he once was in
But every cent he ever earned
Bought him that guitar
He should have known that green ambition
Never gets you far.
His fingers pace the tired strings.
Performing through the days
Mister-Money-Buys-You-Talent
So-I’m-Al ways-Going-To-Pay.
Stupid to the audience
Who stand around and stare
He closes his eyes and flutters back
Forgets his silver hair.
When he carried solos
With the music in his arms
Failure was not a choice
Nothing could do him harm.
As the final bar echoes
A chord dies in his hands
He falls down hard onto his porch,
And ceases the painful sound.
His weary face stares from his hands
The audience just smile,
Walk from the man and his guitar
Always in denial.
poem by Victoria Annette Bailey
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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picks up attitude;
rejects, vagabonds alike;
picks up a guitar
haiku by Chris Gardner
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Happiness in change of stages
I went on foot to far away school.
Then I rode on a bicycle with a pride.
Later two-wheeler took me to pedestal.
Now a car. In each stage I was happy.
In each stage the intensity was same.
Every up stage is a happy stage
till it is replaced by the next stage.
31.12.2000, Pmdi
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Putting words on hold
some words, some elaborate words
they have not acquired a life
in my system, so they shall not have
the chance to grace my humble stage - the page
i reckon they are still in the makeup stage
bewildering over which colours
to choose for their cheeks, nails
as well as the most flamboyant
outfit to go with them all
until they claim a character
of their own, they shall be held
in silence behind the large red curtains
of my academic stage
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Hats Off To The Band
let the crowd rise in front of me
no longer in my cage
the crowd sings they stomp there feet
while my band is on the stage
my guitar sings to me
it's voice is one of rage
i can see her in the front
the one i came to meet
this is all just rock to me
but the crowd is at the edge of there seat
skinerds on electric
rob zombies on the drums
i crank up on that amp now
cuz where just having fun
The singer
She stands on the stage
and her eyes catch mine
in front of giant speakers
that is in a row
with a cordless microphone
in her hand
and the power in her blue eyes
is magical
and I see endless energy in them.
There is something intimate in her voice
and the foreign girl bedazzles me
while she pulls a electronic piano
nearer with a white cord
and the guy next to me
says something crude
and I hit him
with my elbow
is making him windless
and his voice gets a hoarse sound
and pain
written all over his face
and she bends in front of me
and look deep into my eyes
and throw a nonchalant kiss
and the crowd cheers
and I wonder
for whom she is intending it
and a guitar hits a high note
that cuts right through everyone,
the drums boom thundering
and for moments she is only singing for me
and the audience pull out cigarette lighters
and everywhere there are bright flames
burning romantically
and a blonde girl takes my hand
and I barely notice her
and then the crowd asks loudly for an encore
where she again sings beautiful
and when I leave the super dome
there’s a bodyguard
placing a hand on my arm
and the man with the aching stomach says:
“your ticket is punched, friend”
and the bodyguard looks strictly at me
and says that I have a appointment with her.
poem by Gert Strydom
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We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force.
O Night
O night what is this
Which you have shown to me
A play built upon my worlds stage
With a cast of friends I see
A burgeoning love does grow
From where did it begin
Tell me now o night, tell me now
That which I have desired
My not to secret thoughts
Are centre stage in this piece
A tale the like of which I dream
Is this a sign for me to follow
That upon the stage I shall find
The love I have sought so often
The beginning of my life
Light the spot and hand my script
That I may stand and find
O night is this what is to be
Or is it all but a dream
poem by Matthew Holloway
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There are many stages to a man's life. In the first stage, he is young and eager, like a beaver. In the second stage, he wants to build things, like dams, and maybe chew down some trees. In the third stage, he feels trapped, and then 'skinned.'' I'm not sure what the fourth stage is.
Jack Handey in Deep Thoughts
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Guitar
He keeps his sercrets
Under his shirt sleeve
And hides his face
In his black hair
It hangs in his eyes
And all the girls think he's so cute
Why can't they see it?
Sometimes
He hides behind the school
And plays his guitar
It's so beautiful;
The rhythm he plays
No one notices what he does when he goes home
Because his mom's always drunk
And his dad's abusing her
And the boy tries to step in
To stop his mother from getting hit anymore
But it doesn't work
His father hits him instead
And he goes to his room
And cuts with his knife
Under his shirt sleeve
So no one sees it
And he hides in his room
And plays his guitar
This guitar
He says
Is keeping me alive
If I didn't have this guitar
I would've killed myslef already
Him
And his guitar
poem by Alyssa Ray
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Getting Old
When you’re young you think you know it all
Then you get old and life begins to unfold.
In their youth they don’t think ahead
The future is something they do not dread.
They feel that everything in life they can control
They’re young and strong and very bold.
Aaaah! Those beautiful days bring back memories
Of how simple life used to be.
Youth had respect for the elderly
And their fellow man.
Now the elderly they try to scam.
When they are older they will see
They want respect and to live with dignity.
they are young and they don’t seem to understand
That with age you may need a helping hand.
Everything in life comes in stages
It’s like a book when you turn the pages
It gets deeper and keeps you enthralled
Until the time that you reach the end
And you’ve lost all your family and friends.
The First stage is when you are a child
And someone is taking care of you for that while.
The Second stage is when you become a teen
And you feel like a king or queen.
You feel that you can not get old
This is what you believe at this stage in your life
Because you’re not looking at the struggles and strife.
The Third stage is the adolescent years
And you feel you’re in control and lose your fears.
The final stage is when you become old and gray
And your youthful years have slipped away.
You look back and ask yourself!
where did All those years go?
Why did I waste so much time?
And the most important thing is
That I am so glad I made you mine
For with you by my side I had a life divine.
So to the youth who have not gotten to this stage
Don’t get angry, and get rid of your rage.
There is no way to turn back the time
For time just moves straight ahead
You’re getting to the point that you now dread.
WELCOME TO OLD AGE! HA-HA
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Father, With His Arthritic Hands
My father, with his arthritic hands
Closes his door, picks up the bow
Tucks the bit under his chin
Tunes it real low
My father can compete with the world's best bands
My father plays the violin.
His eyes are dim but the notes are clear
His hearing is faulty but we can hear
The songs that pour out from within
People outside stop to listen
When my father plays the violin.
He opens up another world
Far from stress and pain
I become a child again
As without a word
He picks up the bow, tunes it real low
My father plays the violin.
My father with his arthritic hands
Holds a magnifying glass to his eyes to read
He sits out there under the clear blue skies
Now that he can hardly walk
(Luckily my sisters are there when he needs to talk) .
And when its dusk and he enters within
Then with his arthritic hands
Father picks up his violin.
poem by Rani Turton
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Spotlight
(eric carmen)
Get my guitar
Get the car Im gonna take a little strip out of town
Gotta go do a show
Rock and roll until Im upside down
(I see the light) I see the light
Hear the crowd
Clappin loud, they want the show to start
Oh, and now the stage is dark
Mmm, I can feel my heart
Cant you feel your heart
Spotlight, lighting the stage
I gotta go a little crazy tonight
Spotlight, take me away
Im gonna rock till I feel alright
Here it comes
Feel the drums pound the rhythm of a jungle beat
And all around
Hear the sounds that go up and down the city street
(play that guitar) play that guitar
Play it hard
Open up and let it move your soul
Oh, Im goin out of control
Im goin out of control
Cant you feel it grow
Spotlight, lighting the stage
I gotta go a little crazy tonight
Spotlight, take me away
Im gonna rock till I feel alright
Spotlight, give me the heat
Im gonna burn like a star in the sky
Spotlight, Im gonna explode now
Im ready to go, Im ready to go
Alright
Spotlight, lighting the stage
I gotta go a little crazy tonight
Spotlight, take me away
Im gonna rock till I feel alright
Spotlight, give me the heat
I wanna burn like a star in the sky
Spotlight, I wanna explode now (yeah)
Im ready to go, Im ready to go
Alright, alright
Alright, alright
(give it to me)
Spotlight
Feel the drums pound the rhythm of a jungle beat
Spotlight
Cant you feel it, feel it, feel it, feel it
Spotlight
song performed by by Eric Carmen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Before, I was terrified on stage. I only play guitar during the acoustic songs. After a while, you can elicit certain responses from the crowd, like Elvis.
The Talent Show
Hundreds of people wait in the queue.
All eager to show off what they can do.
At today's talent show,
They hope for a 'yes', but may get a 'no.'
The panel of judges, they want to wow.
Their families, they want to make proud.
The singers range from bad to good.
Some can't sing, but someone told them they could!
A few singers are totally amazing,
And they lap up the judge's praising.
Represented, are all types of dance.
Round the stage, the dancers prance.
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Folk and Street.
To the music, the dancers move their feet.
Stand-up comedians go through their paces,
Hoping to put a smile on the judge's faces.
A martial arts duo show off various kicks.
There's many magicians doing magic tricks.
A ventriloquist takes the stage with his furry friend:
To his friend's performance, a hand he lends!
The contortionist can do many a weird pose,
Like getting her toes to touch her nose!
There's dogs who can dance or sing,
Or, indeed, try their hand at anything!
Some people have turned up, just for a bet,
And some of the acts, the judges just don't get.
It's been a long day, but it's been fun,
And soon the judge's shortlist is done.
All of the acts have now been put to the test.
Now it's the moment to decide who is best.
poem by Angela Wybrow
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Comparison
A bird can live anywhere.
It doesn't worry about rent.
Finds a tree. Picks one out.
Never feels that its without.
A man can't live anywhere
and worries about his rent.
Finds a house. Picks one out.
Loses his job and is left to shout
Now what?
poem by Edwina Reizer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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