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Saturday, January 14, 2012

Musical Stories 24: Literary


It's been a rough week in our house. Both the girls have had college applications to complete. One of them left it until the very last week, despite numerous reminders. I'll write more on this at a later date, but let's just say I'm really not looking forward to University applications in two years time!

I have two limericks I'm trying to write as a result of a rash statement I made on last week's musical stories. I promise you'll see the results, I just can't tell you when!

This week we're on the literary category in our musical stories. This is the week where, yes the story matters, but it's more about the beautiful words. All three of these songs are particular favourites of mine, so I do hope you find something special here.

I recently discovered that the writer of the first song wrote it about a 'composite of many people', including one C. S. Lewis. Isn't that what many of us do with our characters? Combine traits, I mean, not write about C. S. Lewis necessarily!

What can I say about the second one? I could choose any of this man's compositions for this category. Perhaps it's my imagination but I always feel an undercurrent of melancholy flowing through the happiest day of this girl's life.

If ever there was a story with the message that every day is precious, and we should celebrate. It's this last one. If you can, tell someone you love them today.

Next week, it's the turn of Chick Lit. And I'm still not posting I will Survive :-)




Lyrics here



Lyrics here



Lyrics here

103 comments:

  1. Beautiful songs, thanks for sharing.
    The first and the third one sound like our Hindi songs, when a man of non - materialistic nature falls in love with a girl who is after money or am I misunderstanding their theme? Elivis Costello's song is clear enough for me to understand.

    I wish you luck with college applications for your girls. It is a lengthy procedure but is so worth while. It is the expense I dread. Also look into FAFSA any way even if you think that you may not qualify because you never know and every bit helps.

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    1. Munir, don't worry about misunderstanding themes of songs. In my opinion, it's like stories. You take what you want to take from them, and whatever you think is right :-)

      These college applications are not the 'big' ones like the American ones, that doesn't happen for another two years, but as they have chosen 'difficult to get into' places it's still a huge deal for us. Thanks for the best wishes, we'll need it!

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  2. Oh Sarah, I know how much time such things as college applications can take. I hope it's all fine now and that the applications meet with approval.

    Great songs as always. I'm tired and I wanna go to bed (as the song says) so I'll have to come back tomorrow and have a listen.

    Denise zzzzzzzz

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    1. Thank you, we're keeping our fingers crossed. Sleep well :-)

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  3. Sarah - I'm thinking of you and your family as you go through those college apps! Such tension but I'm sure it'll all work out. Thanks for those absolutely lovely lyrics, too. You've reminded us that songs do more than entertain us - they tell stories............

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    1. Thank you Margot. We have a new source of tension now, called 'waiting for replies' :-)

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  4. We have nine and thirteen years, respectively to go before college, and I'm already dreading the process. I can't even get my oldest to do her two-paragraph report for school!

    Love the music . . . poignant and true.

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  5. I'm not looking forward to the college applications. I wish you luck! I really liked that last song. Thanks for introducing it to me.

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  6. Goodness not heard of any of these before!

    BTW if you write for RFW challnges it would break you out of your comfort zone for all kinds of writing LOL!

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    1. I did try early on, but I kept killing the MC's :-)

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  7. Elvis Costello is a phenomenal lyricist. Some of Paul McCartney's best work since 1970 was with Costello. In fact, I would go so far to say that he was Macca's best collaborator since John Lennon. McCartney is not always (to be honest, not often) the greatest of lyricists (though I love his music). This is what made his collaboration with Elvis Costello magical.

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    1. Oh yes. I hope I don't get shot down in flames for saying this but, much as I love Paul McCartney, I think Costello is the far superior wordsmith!

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  8. I like anything from Elvis Costello. He even made an appearance in an Austin Powers flick. How cool is that!

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    1. I know, awesome musician and a sense of humour too!

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  9. I love 'The Whole of the Moon'. I've not heard the other two before. My Costello knowledge starts and end with 'Oliver's Army'!

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    1. That, and 'Good year for the roses' are usually the two that people know when they don't know Elvis Costello :-)

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  10. OOOH! Loving your song choices this time! Fabulous! And I hope next week is much more mellow for you :)

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  11. Hmm... that sounds like the situation I had in my house... My dad always reminding, reminding, reminding about university/bursary applications, and we kids always leaving it until the end!

    I like the pictures in that first video, especially that one that looks like a little girl hanging onto a balloon that's pulling her off the ground, with a massive moon in the background.

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    1. I was, and am, the same Rachel. I'm trying to fix it though :-)

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  12. I hadn't heard any of these before. I prefer the last one. Thanks for sharing these.

    BTW, I gave you an award on my blog today.
    http://outonalimbshywritergoessocial.blogspot.com

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    1. The words are wonderful, aren't they?

      Thank you so much for the award.

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  13. Thanks for these. I love 'Whole of the Moon' but hadn't heard it in ages.

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    1. It's been too long since I've heard it before this week too.

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  14. College applications are extremely important. Are they applying to Ivy League schools? There is so much competition for them that the will want to be on the ball for these.

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    1. These are just sixth form colleges. They're going to be 16 next birthday and could leave school, but they need to study for qualifications to get into university at 18, (like your college). That's when the fun will really start!

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    1. If you like that, see if you can find 'All Grown Up' or 'Black sails in the sunset'. You might like those too :-)

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  16. These are all new to me. I hope things have settled down after the application rush.

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    1. I hope you enjoyed them Joy, and it's a bit quieter, thank you :-)

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  17. I'm familiar with the first song... geez haven't heard it in the longest time. The other two are new to me... Have to say, I'm not a big fan of the Elvis Costello one:) Thanks for sharing.

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    1. No worries about Elvis, he's not everyone's cup of tea ;-)

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  18. Yikes, sounds like it's been a busy week. Hope the musical choices helped you relax a bit. :)

    Happy weekend!

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    1. Choosing the songs was the best part of my week :-)

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  19. I've never heard the last one before but it does have a haunting-kind of melody.

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    1. Indeed. It's amazing how this song can be so melancholy yet so uplifting at the same time.

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  20. So. This comment is totally not related to this post (though I did read and listen, I swear!), but how did you get the Reply button under all the comments while still remaining with a Blogger version of the comments section?

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    1. http://pearsonreport.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-and-improved-commenting-feature-is.html

      I got the instructions from the post above, although my layout looks slightly different, it was still easy to follow. It's a new thing that Blogger has implemented, which you can enable.

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  21. I've never heard of any of those bands. LOL!

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  22. Oh, I am not looking forward to uni applications either, considering I live with a Procrastinator.
    I've never heard any of those bands either. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I'm going to nail my two to the seat when the time comes :-)

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  23. The last one is one of my favorite songs.

    Good luck with the applications and have a great week.

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  24. College applications! Eek! I'm adopting a newborn, I'm not to that step yet, but it sounds terrifying and daunting! Best of luck!

    Ooo! I saw you write chick lit for next week, I'm totally excited for that one! Glad to be back yuor blog. I've missed it!

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    1. Glad to have you back, and more hugs to keep you going :-)

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  25. Sympathies on shepherding you kids through the application process -- not fun!

    But thanks for taking tie to share those great songs with us. :)

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  26. If you post "I will survive" I will suddenly think I'm at a wedding reception or something.

    Good luck on the applications stuff!

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    1. This really made me laugh. The DJ played it at my wedding reception. I should have heeded the warning ... :-)

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  27. Good luck to your kids!

    I just love the title of the second song. That in itself is literary.

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  28. I love Elvis. Confession: I've never heard of either the Waterboys or Flaming Lips. I absolutely love the song by the Waterboys, they even mention Brigadoon, a favorite musical...And "Do You Realize" sounds hauntingly familiar, like something out of the 1960s.

    Good luck with those applications.

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    1. How wonderful to find another Elvis fan, and I'm so glad you loved the other two as well :-)

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  29. The Waterboys song is excellent. I hadn't heard it until now. Thanks for sharing, Sarah!

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  30. All the songs are great... my fav has to be the flaming lips... I'm going to listen to it again:)

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  31. My fav is the Waterboys. I hadn't heard that in years.

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  33. Sarah: I found your blog on Lynn Kelley's site. I am your newest follower.

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    1. Welcome to you JJ, I look forward to getting to know you :-)

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  34. Gosh, you sound like you're run off your feet... good luck with the college applications! Oh, and I love the cool songs...

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  35. I have two boys who have finished their college applications ... so much work!! :) Hang in there!

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  36. Procrastinating kids. *sigh* Do they think mama's going to be there to remind them when they're off at college? lol

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    1. Probably, but Mama is as bad as they are - funny it's easier to be organised on behalf of someone else, especially your kids :-)

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  37. College applications are NO fun. :P I hope they got everything in on time! :) And thanks for sharing those songs! Awesome!

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    1. We came down to the wire on one of them, but we squeaked in thank goodness!

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  38. I hope the college ap process works out for your girls and you. What a pain. The lyrics to these songs are beautiful. I think the last one is the most touching. Thank you!

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    1. I love the last one, so melancholy yet so full of hope, and a good reminder to tell our loved ones that we care.

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  39. I just went through the college app thing, too! Ugh. You should reward yourself for getting through it. :D

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    1. There may have been chocolate involved, and to hell with the diet ...

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  40. Elvis Costello paints pictures like no one else.
    Good work Sarah.

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  41. What? No I Will Survive?! I'm excited for chic lit, though. This promises to be entertaining! :)

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    1. Well, you never know. If I run out of ideas ... :-)

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  42. Wow, these songs really got to me today. The last one especially launched my head and heart into overdrive. After my husband's close call over the holidays and his heart condition I have started appreciating every moment of life and every precious event regardless of how small or insignificant. This is an awesome song and I am so glad you shared it. I hope that others realize the importance of letting people know how special they are to us while they are alive. It is something we need to be mindful of. Sorry so deep, the last one really touched me.

    take care.
    Melissa

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    1. I'm glad - and not a bit surprised given what you've been through - that the song touched you. Never ever apologise for being deep. I like deep :-)

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  43. You won't play I Will Survive...bummer. It is the prefect drunk girls--out on the town--my boyfriend sucks--song :)

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    1. Oh, I know (and it was played at my wedding reception too, shoulda taken note ;-))

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  44. Now I'm singing... I will survive LOL
    Hope you find time to fit everything into your week :)

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    1. I'm almost tempted to put it up next week, I'm singing it too :-)

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  45. I LOVE the visuals for the first one. :D

    I hear your college applications are worse than those in Canada (unless things have changed up here). No essays need be written.

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    1. Let me go on record as saying 'Personal Statements' (which should be subtitled, 'why I am awesome and you should pick me, even though I am only 15 and haven't a clue yet' ) SUCK.

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  46. Not liking the "I Will Survive" song too much, eh? Me neither. Love the song choices!

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    1. I don't mind it in its place, (in the past, on nights better consigned to history), but I hope I can find something more original for chick-lit :-)

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  47. Loved the song choices, Sarah! I'm lovin' the whole music to the scene pairings, too.

    Been there, done that, on the college apps - my daughter graduated in 2007. PLEASE talk to your girls about safety on college campus!!! My daughter knows first hand.....

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    1. This is sixth form college, so they won't be going away, but I agree with you whole-heartedly. We will definitely be having discussions when the time comes. Sorry, your daughter sounds like she had a rough time.

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  48. Nice song choices. Can't wait to see my limerick. :-D

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    1. I'm really really trying - although I may have to cheat slightly ...

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  49. Love the first and last songs. There's something about the sound of the Waterboys music that has always grabbed me. Just found you via Out on a Limb. *waves*

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    1. Welcome to you. I look forward to checking out your blogs. Glad you enjoyed the songs :-)*waves back*

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  50. Good luck with those college apps. Great choices of song choices. You rock sarah :)

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  51. Thank you so much. Sorry, it's taken me so long to comment on your post, but I'm catching up :-)

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I happily answer all comments on my blog, and by email if it's not a 'noreply' address :-)