My spiritual exercises
utorak, 27.12.2016.
60s & 80s
Not so surprisingly, after this survey occured to me one song, that present the blend of older and newer styles. So, the song below is mixture of Scott Walker (voice), and Tears For Fears (synth), also with a touch of Spandau Ballet (saxophone)
The other two songs are also some kind of blend of 60s and 80s music.
I LOST THE LOVE (OF HEAVEN ABOVE)
I LOST EARTH'S JOYS
BUT FELT THE GLOW
TILL LOVELINESS
AND I DID GROW
HEAVEN'S FLAME
ABOUND IN ME:
THE BARD OF
IMMORTALITY.
I LOST THE LOVE OF HEAVEN ABOVE
I FELT THE SWEETS OF FANCIED LOVE
I SPURN'D THE LUST OF EARTH BELOW
AND HELL ITSELF MY ONLY FOE
I SNATCH'D THE
SUN'S ETERNAL RAY
I LOVED, BUT
WOMAN FELL AWAY
I HID ME FROM
HER FADED FAME:
AND WROTE TILL
EARTH WAS BUT A NAME.
I LOST THE LOVE OF HEAVEN ABOVE
I FELT THE SWEETS OF FANCIED LOVE
I SPURN'D THE LUST OF EARTH BELOW
AND HELL ITSELF MY ONLY FOE
IN EVERY LANGUAGE
UPON EARTH,
I GAVE MY NAME
IMMORTAL BIRTH
ON EVERY SHORE,
O'ER EVERY SEA,
I KEPT MY SPIRIT
WITH THE FREE.
I LOST THE LOVE OF HEAVEN ABOVE
I FELT THE SWEETS OF FANCIED LOVE
I SPURN'D THE LUST OF EARTH BELOW
AND HELL ITSELF MY ONLY FOE
[according to the poem „A Vision“ by John Clare,
music by val3]
SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY
SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY, LIKE THE NIGHT
AND ALL THAT'S BEST OF DARK AND BRIGHT
OF CLOUDLESS CLIMES AND STARRY SKIES;
MEET IN HER ASPECT AND HER EYES:
THUS MELLOWED TO THAT TENDER LIGHT
WHICH HEAVEN TO GAUDY DAY DENIES.
ONE SHADE THE MORE, ONE RAY THE LESS,
HAD HALF IMPAIRED THE NAMELESS GRACE
WHICH WAVES IN EVERY RAVEN TRESS,
OR SOFTLY LIGHTENS O'ER HER FACE;
WHERE THOUGHTS SERENELY SWEET EXPRESS
HOW PURE, HOW DEAR THEIR DWELLING-PLACE.
THE SMILES THAT WIN, THE TINTS THAT GLOW,
A MIND AT PEACE WITH ALL BELOW,
SO SOFT, SO CALM, YET ELOQUENT,
A HEART WHOSE LOVE IS INNOCENT!
SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY, LIKE THE NIGHT
SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY, LIKE THE NIGHT
SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY - LIKE THE NIGHT
[according to the poem „She Walks in Beauty“ by George Gordon Byron,
music by val3]
IAM
I AM: YET WHAT I AM NONE CARES OR KNOWS,
I AM THE SELF-CONSUMER - OF MY WOES,
MY FRIENDS FORSAKE ME LIKE A MEMORY LOST;
THEY RISE AND VANISH IN OBLIVIOUS HOST,
LIKE SHADES IN LOVE AND DEATH'S OBLIVION LOST;
AND YET I AM! AND LIVE WITH SHADOWS TOST
INTO THE NOTHINGNESS OF SCORN AND NOISE,
WHERE THERE IS NEITHER SENSE OF LIFE NOR JOYS,
INTO THE LIVING SEA OF WAKING DREAMS,
BUT THE VAST SHIPWRECK OF MY LIFE'S ESTEEMS;
AND E'EN THE DEAREST - THAT I LOVED THE BEST -
ARE STRANGE - NAY, RATHER STRANGER THAN THE REST
I LONG FOR SCENES WHERE MAN HAS NEVER TROD;
THERE TO ABIDE WITH MY CREATOR, GOD,
UNTROUBLING AND UNTROUBLED WHERE I LIE;
THE GRASS BELOW-ABOVE THE VAULTED SKY.
[according to the poem „I Am“ by John Clare,
music by val3]
utorak, 20.12.2016.
MORE BONUS TRACKS
LONG AGO
WE HAVE FORGOT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
AND WHAT WE ARE WE LITTLE KNOW
WE FANCY NEW EVENTS BEGIN
BUT ALL HAD HAPPENED - LONG AGO
THROUGH MANY A VERSE LIFE'S POEM FLOWS
BUT STILL, THOUGH SELDOM MARKED BY MEN
AT TIMES RETURNS THE CONSTANT CLOSE
STILL THE OLD CHORUS COMES AGAIN
THE CHILDISH GRIEF – THE BOYISH FEAR –
THE HOPE IN MANHOOD'S BREAST THAT BURNS
THE DOUBT – THE TRANSPORT, AND THE TEAR –
EACH MOOD, EACH IMPULSE, OFT RETURNS
BEFORE MINE INFANT EYES HAD HAILED
THE NEW-BORN GLORY OF THE DAY
WHEN THE FIRST WONDROUS MORN UNVEILED
THE BREATHING WORLD THAT ROUND ME LAY
THE SAME STRANGE DARKNESS O'ER MY BRAIN
FOLDED ITS CLOSE MYSTERIOUS WINGS
THE IGNORANCE OF JOY OR PAIN
THAT EACH RECCURING MIDNIGHT BRINGS
SO LOOKING INTO THY FOND EYES
STRANGE MEMORIES COME TO ME, AS THOUGH
SOMEWHERE – PERCHANCE IN PARADISE –
I HAD ADORED THEE - LONG AGO
[according to the poem „Stanzas“ by Thomas W. Parsons,
music by val3]
AS THE MOON CLIMBS
A POEM SHOULD BE PALPABLE AND MUTE
AS A GLOBED FRUIT
AND DUMB
AS OLD MEDALLIONS TO THE THUMB
SILENT AS THE SLEEVE-WORN STONE
OF CASEMENT LEDGES WHERE THE MOSS HAS GROWN
A POEM SHOULD BE WORDLESS
AS THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS
A POEM SHOULD BE MOTIONLESS IN TIME
AS THE MOON CLIMBS
LEAVING, AS THE MOON RELEASES
TWIG BY TWIG THE NIGHT-ENTANGLED TREES
LEAVING AS THE MOON BEHIND
– THE WINTER LEAVES
MEMORY BY MEMORY -
THE MIND
A POEM SHOULD BE MOTIONLESS IN TIME
AS THE MOON CLIMBS
A POEM SHOULD BE EQUAL TO
NOT TRUE
FOR ALL THE HISTORY OF GRIEF
AN EMPTY DOORWAY, A MAPLE LEAF
FOR LOVE
LEANING GRASSES AND TWO LIGHTS ABOVE
- THE SEA
A POEM SHOULD NOT MEAN
BUT BE
[according to the poem „Ars Poetica“ by Archibald MacLeish,
music by val3]
THE LOUNGE GODDESS
WHERE ICY AND BRIGHT DUNGEONS LIFT
OF SWIMMERS THEIR LOST MORNING EYES
AND OCEAN RIVERS, CHURNING, SHIFT
GREEN BORDERS UNDER STRANGER SKIES
STEADILLY AS A SHELL SECRETES
ITS BEATING LEAGUES OF MONOTONE
OR AS MANY WATERS TROUGH THE SUN'S
RED KELSON PAST THE CAPE'S WHITE STONE
CREATION'S BLITHE AND PETALED WORD
DIALOGUE WITH EYES UNHEARD
WITH LOUNGED GODDESS - WHEN SHE ROSE
HER SMILE UNSEARCHABLE REPOSE
WAITING, AFIRE, WHAT NAME, UNSPOKE
I CANNOT CLAIM: LET THY WAVES REAR
MORE SAVAGE THAN THE DEATHS OF KINGS
SOME SPLINTERED GARLAND FOR THE SEER
BEYOND SIROCCOS HARVESTING
THE SOLSTICE THUNDERS, CREPT AWAY
LIKE A CLIFF SWINGING OR A SAIL
FLUNG INTO APRIL'S INMOST DAY
CREATION'S BLITHE AND PETALED WORD
DIALOGUE WITH EYES UNHEARD
WITH LOUNGED GODDESS - WHEN SHE ROSE
HER SMILE UNSEARCHABLE REPOSE
STILL FERVID COVENANT, BELLE ISLE
UNFOLDED FLOATING DAIS BEFORE
WHICH RAINBOWS TWINE CONTINUAL HAIR
BELLE ISLE, WHITE ECHO OF THE OAR
THE IMAGED WORD, IT IS, THAT HOLDS
HUSHED WILLOWS ANCHORED IN ITS GLOW
IT IS UNBETRAYABLE REPLY
WHOSE ACCENT NO FARREWELL CAN KNOW
CREATION'S BLITHE AND PETALED WORD
DIALOGUE WITH EYES UNHEARD
WITH LOUNGED GODDESS - WHEN SHE ROSE
HER SMILE UNSEARCHABLE REPOSE
[according to the poem „Voyages“ by Hart Crane,
music by val3]
WHETHER OR NOT (WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING)
I SHALL FORGET YOU PRESENTLY, MY DEAR
YOUR LITTLE MONTH, YOUR LITTLE HALF A YEAR
SO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS, YOUR LITTLE DAY
ERE I FORGET, OR DIE, OR MOVE AWAY
WHETHER OR NOT WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING
IT IS IDLE, BIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING
AND WE ARE DONE FOREVER, BY AND BY
IF YOU ENTREAT ME WITH YOUR LOVELIEST LIE
I SHALL FORGET YOU, AS I SAID, BUT NOW
I WILL PROTEST YOU WITH MY FAVORITE VOW
I WOULD INDEED THAT LOVE WAS LONGER-LIVED
AND OATH WAS NOT SO BRITTLE AS IT IS
BUT SO IT IS, AND NATURE HAS CONTRIVED
TO STRUGGLE ON WITHOUT A BREAK - THUS FAR
WHETHER OR NOT WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING
IT IS IDLE, BIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING
AND WE ARE DONE FOREVER, BY AND BY
IF YOU ENTREAT ME WITH YOUR LOVELIEST LIE
I SHALL FORGET YOU, AS I SAID, BUT NOW
I WILL PROTEST YOU WITH MY FAVORITE VOW
WHETHER OR NOT WE FIND WHAT WE ARE SEEKING
IT IS IDLE, BIOLOGICALLY SPEAKING
[according to the poem „I Shall Forget You, Presently, My Dear“
by Edna St. Vicent Millay,
music by val3]
THE SURVEY OF SONGS BY MUSICAL STYLES
1 ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT (R. Frost) --- Tears For Fears
2 SPIRITUAL GATES (H. Crane) --- Scott Walker
3 THE STORY OF THE ASHES AND THE FLAME (E.A. Robinson) --- Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof
4 A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM (E.A. Poe) --- Soft Cell, Classix Nouveaux
5 THE TIDE RISES, THE TIDE FALLS (H.W. Longfellow) --- Duran Duran
6 THE SADDEST NOISE, THE SWEETEST NOISE (E. Dickinson) --- Tom Jones
7 PITY ME NOT BECAUSE THE LIGHT OF THE DAY (E. St. Vincent Millay) --- Ella Fitzgerald
8 GOOD-BYE (R. W. Emerson) --- Marc Almond, Sal Solo
9 SURVEY OF LITERATURE (J.C. Ransom) --- Mike Sarne
10 THE EQUILIBRISTS (J.C. Ransom) --- John Fred
11 NO HIGHER THAN THE SOUL IS HIGH (E. St. Vincent Millay) --- Abba
12 I'M NOT RESIGNED (E. St. Vincent Millay) --- Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash
13 THE STONE THAT ANGEL ROLLED AWAY WITH TEARS (E. St. Vincent Millay) --- Terry Stafford, the Wrens
14 LOVE IS NOT ALL (E. St. Vincent Millay) --- Scott Walker, Brenda Lee
15 THE PAST (R. W. Emerson) --- Walker Brothers
16 THE BEST-BELOVED NIGHT (H.W. Longfellow) --- Joe Brown
17 READ TO ME SOME POEM (H.W. Longfellow) --- Doris Day
18 THE CURFEW BELL (H.W. Longfellow) --- Righteous Brothers
19 A BOLDER ONE (E. Dickinson) --- Scott Walker
20 THE CITY IN THE SEA (E.A. Poe) --- Dr. Feelgood
21 TO THE INVISIBLE ONE (V. Hugo) --- Cliff Richard
22 ONCE BY THE PACIFIC (R. Frost) --- Tears For Fears
23 DREAMS (E.A. Poe) --- Scott Walker, Cliff Richard
24 I SHALL GO TO THE BLEAK SHORE (E. St. Vincent Millay) --- Abba
25 RIVER OF TIME (H. W. Longfellow) --- Spandau Ballet, Tears For Fears
26 LONG AGO (Thomas W. Parsons) --- Bryan Ferry
27 AS THE MOON CLIMBS (A. MacLeish) --- Bob Dylan
28 THE LOUNGE GODDESS (H. Crane) --- Johnny Cash
29 WHETHER OR NOT (E. St. Vincent Millay) --- Abba
srijeda, 14.12.2016.
6 BONUS TRACKS
THE CITY IN THE SEA
LO! DEATH REARED HIMSELF A THRONE
IN A STRANGE CITY LYING ALONE
FAR DOWN WITHIN THE DIM WEST
WHERE GOOD AND BAD AND WORST AND BEST
WENT TO ETERNAL REST
BUT LIGHT – FROM OUT THE LURID SEA
STREAMS UP – THE TURRETS SILENTLY
GLEAMS UP – PINNACLES FAR AND FREE
- THE CITY IN THE SEA
NO RAINS FROM HOLY HEAVEN COME DOWN
ON THE LONG NIGHTTIME OF THAT TOWN
THERE SHRINES AND PALACES AND TOWERS
RESEMBLE NOTHING THAT IS OURS
RESIGNEDLY BENEATH THE SKY
THE MELANCHOLY WATERS LIE
BUT LIGHT – FROM OUT THE LURID SEA
STREAMS UP – THE TURRETS SILENTLY
GLEAMS UP – PINNACLES FAR AND FREE
- THE CITY IN THE SEA
SO BLEND THE TURRETS AND SHADOWS THERE
THAT ALL SEEM PENDULOUS IN THE AIR
WHILE FROM A PROUD TOWER IN TOWN
DEATH LOOKS GIGANTICALLY DOWN
RESIGNEDLY BENEATH THE SKY
THE MELANCHOLY WATERS LIE
BUT LIGHT – FROM OUT THE LURID SEA
STREAMS UP – THE TURRETS SILENTLY
GLEAMS UP – PINNACLES FAR AND FREE
- THE CITY IN THE SEA
[according to the poem „The City in the Sea“ by Edgar Allan Poe,
music by val3]
DREAMS
OH, THAT MY YOUNG LIFE WERE BUT A LASTING DREAM
MY SPIRIT NOT AWAK'NING TILL THE BEAM
OF AN ETERNITY SHOULD BRING THE MORROW
YES! THOUGH THAT LONG DREAM WERE OF HOPELESS SORROW
'TWERE BETTER THAN THE COLD REALITY
OF WAKING LIFE, TO HIM WHOSE HEART MUST BE
AND HATH BEEN STILL, UPON THE LOVELY EARTH
A CHAOS OF DEEP PASSION, FROM HIS BIRTH
BUT SHOULD IT BE THAT DREAM ETERNALLY
CONTINUING – AS DREAMS HAVE BEEN TO ME
IN MY YOUNG BOYHOOD – SHOULD THUS IT BE GIVEN
'TWERE FOLLY STILL TO HOPE FOR HIGHER HEAVEN
DREAMS! IN THEIR VIVID COLORING OF LIFE
IN THAT FLEETING, SHADOWY, MISTY STRIFE
DREAMS! OF SEMBLANCE WITH REALITY THAT BRINGS
TO DELIRIOUS EYE, MORE LOVELY THINGS
FROM MY OWN HOME, WITH BEINGS THAT HAVE BEEN
OF MINE OWN THOUGHT – WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE SEEN?
'TWAS ONCE – AND ONLY ONCE – AND THE WILD HOUR
FROM MY REMEMBRANCE SHALL NOT PASS – SOME POW'R
OR SPELL HAD BOUND ME – 'TWAS THE CHILLY WIND
CAME O'ER ME IN THE NIGHT, AND LEFT BEHIND
ITS IMAGE ON MY SPIRIT – OR THE MOON
SHONE ON MY SLUMBERS IN HER LOFTY NOON
TOO COLDLY – OR THE STARS – HOWE'ER IT WAS
THAT DREAM WAS ON THE NIGHT WIND – LET IT PASS
I HAVE BEEN HAPPY, THOUGH BUT IN A DREAM
I HAVE BEEN HAPPY – AND I LOVE THE THEME:
DREAMS! IN THEIR VIVID COLORING OF LIFE
IN THAT FLEETING, SHADOWY, MISTY STRIFE
DREAMS! OF SEMBLANCE WITH REALITY THAT BRINGS
TO DELIRIOUS EYE, MORE LOVELY THINGS
[according to the poem „Dreams“ by Edgar Allan Poe,
music by val3]
TO THE INVISIBLE ONE
BEFORE I CAME UPON THIS EARTH
I KNOW I LIVED IN GLADNESS
FOR AGES AS AN ANGEL. BIRTH
HAS CAUSED MY PRESENT SADNESS
MY SOUL WAS ONCE HEAVENLY DOVE
DO YOU, IN HEAVEN'S DOMAINS
LET FALL A PINION FROM ABOVE
UPON THIS - BIRD'S REMAINS
TO THE INVISIBLE ONE
I MOAN THE SONG OF NIGHT
TO THE INVISIBLE ONE
TO HIS MANSION GLEAMING BRIGHT
YES IT'S MY MISFORTUNE NOW
TO HANG BETWEEN TWO TIES
TO HOLD WITHIN MY FURROWED BROW
THE EARTH'S CLAY, AND THE SKIES
ALAS THE PAIN OF BEING MAN
OF DREAMING OVER MY FALL
FINDING HEAVEN WITHIN MY SPAN
YET BEING BUT A PALL
TO THE INVISIBLE ONE
I MOAN THE SONG OF NIGHT
TO THE INVISIBLE ONE
TO HIS MANSION GLEAMING BRIGHT
I AM THE FUGITIVE WHO FAR
FROM HOME HAS TAKEN FLIGHT
ALONG WITH OWL AND EVENING STAR
I MOAN THE SONG OF NIGHT
WITH TONES LOVING AND BECKONING HAND
YOU SAY „BEYOND THE NIGHT
I CATCH A GLIMPSE UPON THE STRAND
OF YOUR MANSION GLEAMING BRIGHT“
TO THE INVISIBLE ONE
I MOAN THE SONG OF NIGHT
TO THE INVISIBLE ONE
TO HIS MANSION GLEAMING BRIGHT
[from Victor Hugo's poem „Á celle qui est voilée“,
music by val3]
ONCE BY THE PACIFIC
THE SHATTERED WATER MADE A MISTY DIN
GREAT WAVES LOOKED OVER OTHERS COMING IN
AND THOUGHT OF DOING SOMETHING TO THE SHORE
THAT WATER NEVER DID THE LAND BEFORE
THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN OCEAN WATER BROKEN
BEFORE GOD'S LAST 'PUT OUT THE LIGHT' WAS SPOKEN
THE CLOUDS WERE LOW AND HAIRY IN THE SKIES
LIKE LOCKS BLOWN FORWARD IN THE GLEAM OF EYES
YOU COULD NOT TELL, AND YET IT LOOKED AS IF
THE SHORE WAS LUCKY IN BEING BACKED BY CLIFF
THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN OCEAN WATER BROKEN
BEFORE GOD'S LAST 'PUT OUT THE LIGHT' WAS SPOKEN
THE CLIFF IN BEING BACKED BY CONTINENT
IT LOOKED AS IF THE NIGHT OF DARK INTENT
WAS COMING, AND NOT ONLY A NIGHT, AN AGE
SOMEONE HAD BETTER BE PREPARED FOR RAGE
THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN OCEAN WATER BROKEN
BEFORE GOD'S LAST 'PUT OUT THE LIGHT' WAS SPOKEN
[according to the poem „Once by the Pacific“ by Robert Frost,
music by val3]
RIVER OF TIME
THUS THE SEER, WITH VISION CLEAR
SEES FORMS APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR
IN THE PERPETUAL ROUND OF STRANGE
- MYSTERIOUS CHANGE
HIS WONDERING EYES REVEAL
THE UNIVERSE, AS IMMEASURABLE WHEEL
TURNING FOR EVERMORE BY LINE
IN RAPID RUSHING - RIVER OF TIME
RIVER OF TIME (RIVER OF TIME)
RIVER OF TIME (RIVER OF TIME)
FROM BIRTH TO DEATH, FROM DEATH TO BIRTH
FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN, FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH
TILL GLIMPSES MORE SUBLIME
OF THINGS UNSEEN BEFORE OUR TIME
UNTO HIS WONDERING EYES REVEAL
THE UNIVERSE, AS IMMEASURABLE WHEEL
TURNING FOR EVERMORE BY LINE
IN RAPID RUSHING - RIVER OF TIME
RIVER OF TIME (RIVER OF TIME)
RIVER OF TIME (RIVER OF TIME)
[according to the poem „Rain in Summer“ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
music by val3]
I SHALL GO AGAIN TO THE BLEAK SHORE
WHAT MY LIPS HAVE KISSED AND WHERE AND WHY
- FORGOTTEN GHOSTS TONIGHT, THAT TAP AND SIGH
I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT MY ARMS HAVE LAIN
UNDER MY HEAD TILL MORNING; BUT THE RAIN
IS FULL OF GHOSTS THAT TONIGHT TAP AND SIGH
UPON THE GLASS - AND LISTEN FOR REPLAY
I'LL BUILD A SHANTY ON THE SAND
IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE EXTREMEST BAND
OF BREETLE SEAWEED WILL ESCAPE MY DOOR
BUT BY A YARD OR TWO; AND NEVERMORE
SHALL I RETURN TO TAKE YOUR HAND
I SHALL BE GONE - TO WHAT I UNDERSTAND
THE WORDS THAT LAY A MOMENT ON YOUR TONGUE
A LITTLE UNDERSAID AND UNDERSUNG
ARE ONE WITH ALL THAT IN A MOMENT DIES
WITH LOVE THAT STOOD - A MOMENT IN YOUR EYES
AND HAPPIER THAN I EVER WAS BEFORE
I SHALL GO AGAIN - TO THE BLEAK SHORE
AND I SHALL FIND THE SULLEN ROCKS AND SKIES
UNCHANGED FROM WHAT THEY WERE
– WHEN I WAS YOUNG
[according to the poems „What My Lips Have Kissed, and Where and Why“/“
„I Shall Go Back Again to the Bleak Shore“ by Edna St. Vincent Millay,
music by val3]
