Song Lyric Sunday: “It’s All In The Game”

The minute I saw this week’s prompt, “game”, the only song that immediately played in my head was the old pop standard “It’s All In The Game”. Although recorded by many over the years, Tommy Edwards’ 1958 doo-wop recording is the definitive version, peaking at #1 on the Billboard charts. His earlier 1951 waltz-time recording is notable primarily in contrast to the 1958 hit. That Carl Sigman wrote the lyrics in 1951 set to music written 40 years earlier isn’t the most interesting fact related to this song. That honor belongs to the composer, Charles Gates Dawes, who was the Comptroller of the Currency in the U.S. Treasury Department when he wrote the music. Even that pales when compared with Mr. Dawes’ other claims to fame. He was Vice-President to Calvin Coolidge, making him the only V.P. with #1 hit. Impressive? But wait, there’s more. He was a Nobel laureate, having won the Peace Prize in 1925. He followed his V.P. stint with an ambassadorship to the United Kingdom. Learning about Dawes’ accomplishments bowled me over. My American Studies degree may make me just a little biased, but his pedigree blew my mind. Not only was his father a Civil War general under Ulysses S. Grant, but one of his great-great grandfathers, William Dawes, rode with Paul Revere that April night in 1775, rousing the militia to defend against the British. Whew! Even the 1958 “All In The Game” seems almost anti-climactic now.

“It’s All In The Game”

Many a tear has to fall but it’s all in the game
All in the wonderful game that we know as love
You have words with him and your future’s looking dim
But these things your hearts can rise above

Once in a while he won’t call but it’s all in the game
Soon he’ll be there at your side with a sweet bouquet
And he’ll kiss your lips and caress your waiting fingertips
And your hearts will fly away

(Soon he’ll be there at your side) with a sweet bouquet
Then he’ll kiss your lips and caress your waiting fingertips
And your hearts will fly away

Writer/s: CARL SIGMAN, CHARLES GATES DAWES
Publisher: MUSIC SALES CORPORATION,
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Response to Song Lyric Sunday

Oceans of Prompts

The day I decided to actually blog on this ol’ blog o’ mine three years after its birth, I did so because I had some words in my head that were calling to me. Really nagging me. Once I started typing, those words practically poured out, in the uncharted genre of poetry, no less. It was a strange sensation. Whenever I’ve written for work or school, while I’ve liked the end result, the writing process itself was like pulling teeth. What’s more, rather than the extensive editing I’ve usually done, I needed only minor edits before I felt confident in publishing that first post.

I figured, piece of cake; I can be a blogger. Had no idea what direction I wanted to go in or what style of writing I’d use (or try to use). Would anyone even want to read what I write? What I did know with certainty, however, was that the poem was a fluke. I’m not creative. Oh, I’d like to be creative, but I knew, realistically, I wouldn’t be writing any poems or fiction. After a lifetime of writing school essays and papers, sales proposals and reports, legal motions and briefs, I expected to primarily write opinion pieces about current events or music or books I like.

Then a strange thing happened. People started “liking” my first post and poem. Encouraging me. Following me! While reading, liking, and following their posts, I discovered the wonderful world of prompts. I responded to one and published my second post — another poem! Reading another follower’s posts, I was introduced to six-word story prompts and discovered that I can write little creative stories. Other prompts have inspired me to write a couple of flash fiction pieces. Fiction! Maybe I’m a little creative, after all.

Who knew so many prompts and challenge choices existed? For the past few days I’ve been trying to come up with a manageable system of keeping track of them all; trying to decide which ones I want to attempt and which ones I want to continue with. In the midst of it all, Fandango published his daily one word challenge prompt, “continue.” Not only did he publish the prompt, he also responded to it in a blog asking whether he should continue his dip into the sea of one word challenge hosts. That sly dog now has two posts today that people are commenting on and pinging back to, all while themselves using today’s “continue” prompt.

Well done, Fandango, well done. You should definitely continue hosting a daily challenge. This is only the second one I’ve responded to, but I’ve already decided yours is one I want to follow. Even if I never respond to another one, I enjoy reading the responses your prompts inspire. Plus, I love your sense of humor.

Response to https://fivedotoh.com/2018/06/30/fowc-with-fandango-continue/ 
 and to https://fivedotoh.com/2018/06/30/fowc-too-much-of-a-good-thing/

Cry for America: Cheers!

“I have reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block toward freedom is not the White citizen’s councilor or the Klu Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension, to a positive peace, which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, ‘I agree with you with the goals that you seek, but can’t agree with your methods of direct action.” — the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” 1963

Here’s to those who would replace “Black Lives Matter” with “white lives matter” or “all lives matter.” Here’s to those who call the police on unknown black men lingering in white coffee shops. Here’s to those who shrug and say “well, they thought he had a gun.” Here’s to those who say, “well, those illegals should know their children will be taken from them when they break our laws by crossing our border.” Here’s to those who say, “build that wall.” Cheers!

Everyone, lift your glasses and say “Cheers” to all those who have enabled the dismantling of American democracy. “Cheers” to the misguided voters who thought Hillary was just as bad as Trump. “Cheers” to the misguided voters who voted for some minor third-party candidate as a protest vote. “Cheers” to the misguided “voters” who decided not to bother voting at all on November 8, 2016.

Give a rousing “cheers” to Mitch McConnell, thief of Supreme Court seats. “Cheers” to Paul Ryan, purveyor of tax cuts for the wealthy and destroyer of safety nets for the rest of us. “Cheers” to Representatives and Senators who vote to deprive millions of health care for their pre-existing conditions. “Cheers” to indifferent Congresspeople who fail to protect DACA Dreamers. “Cheers” to those members of Congress who vote to steal hard-earned Social Security benefits to pay for the tax cuts gifted to wealthy donors. “Cheers” to the hypocrits bought by the NRA.

Above all, an emphatic “Cheers” to our alleged president, who is reviled by most of the American people and the world. “Cheers” to our alleged comander-in-chief, master negotiator, who thinks he has forced North Korea to dismantle its nuclear capabilities. “Cheers” to the nazi-in-chief, who supports and foments bigotry, hatred, violence. “Cheers” to MAGA!

Note: This response to Stream of Consciousness Saturday was triggered by the MLK quote
Response to Daily Addictions prompt "indifferent"
Response to Word of the Day prompt "emphatically"
Image source: Emily Dabashinsky via American Icons Temple

Song Lyric Sunday — “A Dream Away” — The Cars

I just can’t get this particular challenge and this past Sunday’s prompt, dream, out of my mind. Don’t get me wrong: I love ELP’s “I’ll Be Watching Over You” that I chose as my response. But I debated with myself for quite a while, weighing that one against The Cars’ “A Dream Away”. In the end, my choice was based on two factors. First, ELP’s song seemed “dreamier”, whereas The Cars’ contender seemed, well, not exactly nightmarish but like it would produce more of a restless night, belying its title. Second, I love Greg Lake’s voice; Ric Ocasek’s, not so much.

When it comes right down to it, though, it’s The Cars’ song that I haven’t been able to get out of my mind. Usually whether or not I like a Cars song depends almost entirely on whether or not Benjamin Orr’s rich, melodious voice is the one I’ll be hearing. Surprisingly, however, Ocasek’s vocals aren’t as brusque as usual. In fact, singing the thought-provoking lyrics he wrote, he has an almost Orr-like sensual delivery. Ocasek’s lyrics tend to be cryptic yet vivid, as many dreams are. Orr’s pulsing bass line kicks in at around 00:30 to generate a sense of urgency in this dreamworld. You may not get a restful night, but you won’t soon forget the dreamscape Ocasek paints.

“A Dream Away”
Five in the morning, all alone in your room
Door locked tight, private moon
No faces to face, no one to blame
Nonexistent inside this frame

You better
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Yeah

There’s a cheetah walking high
Liquid whispers, dragonfly
Charleston booties, painted toes
Drop the knot, ivory soul

You better
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Yeah

The good life is just a dream away
I said, The good life is just a dream away

Choke emotion, lose control
Chicken counters, fill your bowls
The lonely crowd, is decomposed
Lost obsession, future froze

Well, take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run
Take it on the run

The good life is just a dream away
I said, the good life is just a dream away

Response #2 to Song Lyric Sunday - Dream
Response to FOWC - Nightmare

On Writing

https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2018/06/27

https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2018/06/28

Thank you Stephan Pastis & GoComics!