A song about American violence I recorded in my Boston kitchen one of my last nights in the States. 

Me: www.wildethinks.com/music
Photo: Dennis van Zuijlekom 

Stain Louis

Playing with Vera Lynn's "We'll Meet Again" and Pink Floyd's "Vera." A song to the American secret police. 

Me: www.wildethinks.com/music
Photo: Dennis van Zuijlekom.

So We Meet Again

Lyrics w melody in parentheses: 

V1
Everything (G-flat F E-flat) feels (D-flat) right (E-flat) 
My (D-flat) whole body (D-flat E-flat) sings (F) 
Full (G-flat) in (F) its (E-flat) birthright (D-flat E-flat) 
Rippling (D-flat) out from you in (E-flat) rings (F)

Refrain
I’m (G-flat) so happy (A-flat) my (E-flat) heart is (G-flat) beating (G-flat F)
I’m (G-flat) so lucky (F) to breathe (E-flat) you (D-flat) in (l A-flat).
I (G-flat) want to (F) lie in your arms (E-flat) forever (D-flat E-flat F)
Being (E-flat F) born (G-flat) again (F E-flat), again (D-flat). 

V2
On (B natural) the train alone (D-flat),
I (E-flat) miss your face already (D-flat l A-flat).
Strange (B natural) to go (D-flat) home 
Where (G-flat) a cold (F) bed is (E-flat) ready.

Soon (G-flat) you’ll (F) come (E-flat) home to me to (D-flat) stay (l A-flat)—
forever (B natural) and a (D-flat) day.
Swim (G-flat) in a deep (F), warm (E-flat) sea (D-flat) of moire (l A-flat),
Safe (B natural) in your arms’ (D-flat) Faraday (F D-flat). 

Refrain
I’m (G-flat) so happy (A-flat) my (E-flat) heart is (G-flat) beating (G-flat F)
I’m (G-flat) so lucky (F) to breathe (E-flat) you (D-flat) in (l A-flat).
I (G-flat) want to (F) lie in your arms (E-flat) forever (D-flat E-flat F)
Being (E-flat F) born (G-flat) again (F E-flat), again (D-flat).

V3
If (G-flat) hope’s the (F) thing (E-flat) with (D-flat) feathers (E-flat),
Love’s (G-flat) the (F) thing (E-flat) with (D-flat) fur (l A-flat),
That (E-flat F) wraps (G-flat) itself (F E-flat) around (D-flat E-flat) you
And (E-flat) touches (D-flat) noses til you (E-flat) purr (F). 

Refrain
I’m (G-flat) so happy (A-flat) my (E-flat) heart is (G-flat) beating (G-flat F)
I’m (G-flat) so lucky (F) to breathe (E-flat) you (D-flat) in (l A-flat).
I (G-flat) want to (F) lie in your arms (E-flat) forever (D-flat E-flat F)
Being (E-flat F) born (G-flat) again (F E-flat), again (D-flat).


So Happy

Lyrics (with melody in parentheses)/with deference to Robert Frost—

To Dwell in Hope/ “Fire and Ice” 

V1: 
The (MC) world may end in (B) climate (C lA) fire (GC),
or (C) it may yet be nuclear (CD) ice (E). 
We’re (C) sure to have seen it (lA) coming (GC),
but (C) fair warning won’t (C) suffice (DE). 

Corruption (hF) trumps desire (ED)
to (D) answer the (C) drumming (lB)
before the guards fire (A). 

Refrain: 
But our (E) fathers’ (hG E) fathers (DC) made (A) a (E) deal
to (C) dwell in (D) hope (E), not (F) live (E) in (D) fear (E). 

V2: 
Oil (C), gas, guns, new (B) gear (A).
Keep (B) in line, be ruled (lA) by (G) fear (A). 
Tell (D) Google your innermost (DC) thoughts (E).
Post (D) on Facebook when you’re (D) distraught (CE). 
This (hF) is Mr. Church’s abyss (ED)
from (C) which there is no return (lBA)—this (lG). 

Refrain: 
But our (E) fathers’ (hG E) fathers (DC) made (A) a (E) deal
to (C) dwell in (D) hope (E), not (F) live (E) in (D) fear (E). 

V3: 
So (D) fire on BP and (C) Shell (D). 
Send (E) the NRA to (D) hell (E). 
But (D) it’s too late now to untangle (CB)
the (C) net in which every move is a (B) wrangle (lA). 
It’s (B) a mess, to be precise (lA A-flat),
whether (A) the world ends in fire (A) or (B) ice (C).

Refrain: 
But our (E) fathers’ (hG E) fathers (DC) made (A) a (E) deal
to (C) dwell in (D) hope (E), not (F) live (E) in (D) fear (E). 


To Dwell in Hope (Fire and Ice)

something like...


"Let the Darkness (Fade Away)"


V1: 
It (lA-flat) takes (lA-flat) me (lBflat) back (lB nat). [accomp: A A]
Gone (lA-flat) in (lA-flat) a (lBflat) flash (lB nat).
In (D-flat) your (lB nat) arms (lB nat)—love (lB-flat) and (lB-flat) safety (lB-flat lB nat). 
Suddenly (D-flat lB nat lB nat)—gone (lB-flat) from (lA-flat) me (lA-flat). 
And (hA-flat) I look gray and (E-flat) white with (D-flat) guilt (MC)—
like (D-flat) I’ve seen a ghost, you (lB nat) say. 
You’d (E-flat) give anything (E-flat D-flat MC) to have me (lB-flat) 
never (D-flat) look at you again that (MC) way (lA-flat).  

Refrain: 
[attn. changed melody a bit here and there in recording 07-17-16?] 
Two (MC) lives unravel (D-flat D-flat MC) in (B-flat) my head (MC).
One’s (D-flat) alive (MC) and (B-flat) one is dead (MC). 
Now (E-flat) warmth and (D-flat) sweetness overtake (D-flat MC MC). 
I (B-flat) let the darkness (B-flat B-flat MC) fade (D-flat) away (C). 
Let (E-flat) the (D-flat) darkness fade away (MC). 
Let (E) the (E-flat) darkness (E-flat D-flat lB) fade (D-flat) away (B). 

V2: 
I’m (l A-flat) sorry I don’t always (A-flat B-flat) know (B nat)
when (D-flat) it’s (B) yes and (B-flat) when it’s (B) no,
when (D-flat) to look (E-flat) back and (E nat) when to let (E-flat) go.
You (l B-nat) say in (l G-flat) 20 years it’ll be “Who (A-flat) cares (B)?”
I (E-flat) wonder if I’ll make it (D-flat) there (B). 

Refrain: 
Two (MC) lives unravel (D-flat D-flat MC) in (B-flat) my head (MC).
One’s (D-flat) alive (MC) and (B-flat) one is dead (MC). 
Now (E-flat) warmth and (D-flat) sweetness overtake (D-flat MC MC). 
I (B-flat) let the darkness (B-flat B-flat MC) fade (D-flat) away (C). 
Let (E-flat) the (D-flat) darkness fade away (MC). 
Let (E) the (E-flat) darkness (E-flat D-flat lB) fade (D-flat) away (B). 

Bridge: 
Confusion (E) links them (hG-flat), we (A-flat) are (G-flat) one. 
Both (E) lives setting (E E-flat) with (D-flat) the (E-flat) sun.
Don’t (lB) you (G-flat) know (E-flat)? That (E) girl is (E-flat) dead. 
Don’t (lB) trip that (G-flat) wire in (D-flat) my (B nat) head. 

beginning V1 chiasmus plus ending refrain: 
It (lA-flat) takes (lA-flat) me (lBflat) back (lB nat).
Gone (lA-flat) in (lA-flat) a (lBflat) flash (lB nat).
In (D-flat) your (lB nat) arms (lB nat)—love (lB-flat) and (lB-flat) safety (lB-flat lB nat). 
Suddenly (D-flat lB nat lB nat)—gone (lB-flat) from (lA-flat) me (lA-flat). 
Let (E) the (E-flat) darkness (E-flat D-flat lB) fade (D-flat) away (B). 
Let (E) the (E-flat) darkness (E-flat D-flat lB) fade (D-flat) away (B). 
Let (E) the (E-flat) darkness (E-flat D-flat lB) fade (D-flat) away (B). 


Let the Darkness (Fade Away)

“If You Can Hold Me”

V1:
I (hF#) feel so confused
Don’t (E) want to be (D) used (C#)
But (lB) I (C#) need (D) a place (C#) to (lA) lay (lF#)
And (lB) you’ve been (C#) kind (D) to me (C#) today (lA F#)

Refrain: 
So (hF#) if you (D) can (hF#) hold (hG) me (hA)
Than (hF#) we (D) must (hF#) trust (hG hA)
That (hF#) we (D) were (hF#) made for
Lovers (ED)

V2: 
Thought (D) I dreamt your face
In (C#) in earlier time and place
We (lB) were jumping waves and (lA) sand (lF#).
You (lB) smiled and held my (lA) hand (lF#). 

It’s (lB) not polite to (lA) say (D)
Since (E) we met today  (DB)
That (lB) I (C#) know (D) you from (C#) before (lA lF#). 
Sang (lB) to you (C#) on the (lA) shore (lF#). 

Refrain: 
That if (hF#) you (D) can (hF#) hold (hG) me (hA)
Than (hF#) we (D) must (hF#) trust (hG hA)
That (hF#) we (D) were (hF#) made for
Lovers (ED)

V3/bridge [modified melody in recording draft 07-25?]: 
You (lB) laugh at my (lA) wretched (lBA) singing (BD), 
Empty (E) accounts, and (D) my (E) ears (D) ringing (BD)
When (lB) the bully (BA) holds (B) the heroine (BA) down (lF#). 
Close (lB) my eyes again to (lA) men (BD), you (E) were not even (DE) my (D) friend (lB). 

On (lA) the (B) road (D) with (E) nothing left but one more new (D) life (hF#), 
I (E) see your name on (D) an envelope (lB) and move away (lAB). 
It’s (B) been years and I have nothing nice to (lA) say (F#). 
Driving (B) to France with my new (A) love (B) today (lAF#). 

I’ve (lB) been there with you before (C#), in (D) my (C#) dreams (lB). 
Excited (lB) to return again (lABD). 
On (E) the way I’ll close my (D) eyes (lB) to (lA) dream of (lF#) you; 
Before (lB) we met and (D) you (E) were not even (DE) my (D) friend (lB). 
You (E) were not even (DE) my (D) friend (lBD). 
You (E) were (D) not (F#) even (E) my (D) friend (lB). 


Refrain: 
But if (hF#) you (D) can (hF#) hold (hG) me (hA)
Than (hF#) we (D) must (hF#) trust (hG hA)
That (hF#) we (D) were (hF#) made for
Lovers (ED)

If (hF#) you (D) can (hF#) hold (hG) me (hA)
Than (hF#) we (D) must (hF#) trust (hG hA)
That (hF#) we (D) were (hF#) made for
Lovers (ED)




If You Can Hold Me

“Life Goes On”

V1: 
You (F—123412) had to leave (MC#).  Your (F) home was on fire
now there’s no time to grieve (MC#).

Your (lA) mom would be (lB) glad (D)
to (E) know (D) that you (lB) left (lA)
and (lA) are not (lB) sad (D). 

Refrain: 
Life (F) goes on (MC#).
Sun (E) can’t be (D) wrong (MC#). 
Rising (D) and shining like (MC#)
pigs (D) on a (C#) farm (B). 

V2: 
Don’t (F—123412) stop to think (MC#). 
The (F) spring storms are coming 
and we’re on the brink (MC#). 

You’ve (D) got (C#) to (lB) go (lA). 
It (hF#) hurts me so-o (hF# D).
But (lB) I (D) smile (C#) and (lB) know (lA): 

Refrain: 
Life (F) goes on (MC#).
Sun (E) can’t be (D) wrong (MC#). 
Rising (D) and shining like (MC#)
pigs (D) on a (C#) farm (B). 

V3: 
On  (F—123412) animal farm (MC#)
We (F) get jobs and give thanks. 
We have kids and bail (MC#) banks. 

Don’t (D) think (MC#) too (lB) hard (lA). 
Precook (D MC#) your (lB) lard (lA).
Nous sommes (lA) trop (lB) tardes (D). 

Refrain: 
Life (F) goes on (MC#).
Sun (E) can’t be (D) wrong (MC#). 
Rising (D) and shining like (MC#)
pigs (D) on a (C#) farm (B). 


Life Goes On (Animal Farm)

“Molly Dancing in the Meadow is Alright” lyrics (and melody) to new song in new music collection. 

V1:

Softness (E-flat MC)

Sweetness (D-flat E-flat D-flat MC)

Touch (B-flat A-flat) me (MC)

I (E-flat) want to (D-flat) love you (MC)

Tell (B-flat A-flat) me (MC)

I (E-flat) can (D-flat) tell you (MC) anything (B-flat A-flat MC)

Take (E-flat) it away (hF E-flat MC)

What? (B-flat C)

All (lB-flat) the (lA-flat) pain (MC).

See (lB-flat) we are (lA-flat) one.

Where? (E-flat)

Laughing (lB-flat) in the (lA-flat) sun.

Refrain:

Molly (D-flat) Dancing in (E-flat) the Meadow (E-flat F) is (E-flat) Alright (D-flat C)

Gentle (MC) souls resting (B-flat) together (B-flat E-flat)

in (F) a (E-flat) field (MC) of (B-flat) light (MC).

V2:

Lights (E-flat MC)

Flowing (D-flat E-flat D-flat) rivers (B-flat MC)

Watch (l B-flat) them (l A-flat) meet (MC)

Meet. (E-flat MC)

Explosions (l B-flat) of (l A-flat) heat (MC).

Heat (E-flat MC).

Flowers (E-flat) so (D-flat) sweet (C).

So (F) so (E-flat) so (D-flat) sweet (MC).

So (B-flat) easy to (l A-flat) say (MC)

Say (h A-flat E-flat)

How (B-flat) I (A-flat) feel (MC)

Feel (h A-flat) today (h A-flat E-flat)

So (l B-flat) easy to (l A-flat) know (E-flat)

Flow (h A-flat E-flat)

What (D-flat) is (MC) real (B-flat)

Heal (h A-flat G)

Refrain:

Molly (D-flat) Dancing in (E-flat) the Meadow (E-flat F) is (E-flat) Alright (D-flat C)

Gentle (MC) souls resting (B-flat) together (B-flat E-flat)

in (F) a (E-flat) field (MC) of (B-flat) light (MC).

V3:

Holy (E-flat) holy (MC)

without (D-flat) E-flat) the (D-flat) war (MC)

We (l B-flat) are never (l B-flat F) alone.

Nevermore. (MC lB)

Hard (E-flat) is (MC) soft.

All (E-flat) sharp edges (E-flat D-flat) gone (MC) inside (B-flat).

Be (MC) with (l B-flat) me

by (MC) the (l B-flat) sea.

I’ll (l B-flat) stay with (l F) you

til lMC) life is (l B-flat) through.

Sun (E-flat) rising (E-flat hF) over (E-flat MC) sea.

Policeman (l B-flat l A-flat) says we have to (l Bf-lat)

put (B-flat) our clothes (A-flat) on.

These (h F) dunes are (E-flat) sacred (E-flat MC).

Yeah (B-flat), we (A-flat) know (MC).

In (l A-flat) the light of (B-flat) day (MC)

hope (l A-flat) it’ll be ok (B flat MC)

that (D-flat) I (MC) love you (B-flat) —

everyone (l B-flat A-flat).

Refrain:

Molly (D-flat) Dancing in (E-flat) the Meadow (E-flat F) is (E-flat) Alright (D-flat C)

Gentle (MC) souls resting (B-flat) together (B-flat E-flat)

in (F) a (E-flat) field (MC) of (B-flat) light (MC).

Molly (D-flat) Dancing in (E-flat) the Meadow (E-flat F) is (E-flat) Alright (D-flat C E-flat)

Molly (D-flat) Dancing in (E-flat) the Meadow (E-flat F) is (E-flat) Alright (D-flat C)

Molly (MC) Dancing (C B-flat) in the Meadow (B-flat E-flat) is (MC) Alright (B-flat l A-flat)

Molly Dancing in the Meadow Is Alright

Lyrics (and melody): 
https://verawil.de/my-high-road/

Yeah ok so I know this one is particularly inaudible. In theory I want to record 12 new Berlin-era happy songs, of which this is #11. Just vocal sketches. Then learn the lyrics and melody from the sketch recordings. Then compose and learn proper accompaniment. Then play at Mauer Park or something... Or at least hit #12 before telling myself I can't sing and so shouldn't bother. 

My High Road

Lyrics: https://verawil.de/letters-to-no-one/

Letters to No One

Baby Blue—first draft vocal track

I blogged about this poem and the paintings I made in dialogue with it here: https://verawil.de/2017/06/something-there-is-that-doesnt-love-a-wall/


“Mending Wall”
By Robert Frost
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/44266

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbour know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
"Stay where you are until our backs are turned!"
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, "Good fences make good neighbours."
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
"Why do they make good neighbours? Isn't it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down." I could say "Elves" to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbours."

Mending Wall, by Robert Frost

I blogged about this poem and the paintings I made in dialogue with it here: https://verawil.de/2017/06/black-milk-of-morning-we-drink-you-at-night/

"Death Fugue/Todesfuge"
By Paul Celan, trans. Jerome Rothenberg
English: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/death-fugue
German: http://www.lyrikline.org/de/gedichte/todesfuge-66

 Black milk of morning we drink you at dusktime
we drink you at noontime and dawntime we drink you at night
we drink and drink
we scoop out a grave in the sky where it’s roomy to lie
There’s a man in this house who cultivates snakes and who writes
who writes when it’s nightfall nach Deutschland your golden hair Margareta 
he writes it and walks from the house and the stars all start flashing he whistles his
     dogs to draw near
whistles his Jews to appear starts us scooping a grave out of sand
he commands us to play for the dance

Black milk of morning we drink you at night
we drink you at dawntime and noontime we drink you at dusktime
we drink and drink
There’s a man in this house who cultivates snakes and who writes
who writes when it’s nightfall nach Deutschland your golden hair Margareta
your ashen hair Shulamite we scoop out a grave in the sky where it’s roomy to lie
He calls jab it deep in the soil you lot there you other men sing and play
he tugs at the sword in his belt he swings it his eyes are blue
jab your spades deeper you men you other men you others play up again for the dance

Black milk of morning we drink you at night
we drink you at noontime and dawntime we drink you at dusktime
we drink and drink
there’s a man in this house your golden hair Margareta
your ashen hair Shulamite he cultivates snakes

He calls play that death thing more sweetly Death is a gang-boss aus Deutschland
he calls scrape that fiddle more darkly then hover like smoke in the air
then scoop out a grave in the clouds where it’s roomy to lie

Black milk of morning we drink you at night
we drink you at noontime Death is a gang-boss aus Deutschland
we drink you at dusktime and dawntime we drink and drink
Death is a gang-boss aus Deutschland his eye is blue
he shoots you with leaden bullets his aim is true
there’s a man in this house your golden hair Margareta
he sets his dogs on our trail he gives us a grave in the sky
he cultivates snakes and he dreams Death is a gang-boss aus Deutschland 

your golden hair Margareta
your ashen hair Shulamite

Vera Wilde

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