Lyrics Read online

  EVERYDAY

  Every day

  they came anew

  My darling, everyday

  these thoughts of you

  Everyday

  and every hour

  Thoughts of you

  still hold me in their power

  Every day

  I try forgetting

  but I can’t say goodbye

  I’m never sure

  that we can never be

  and all my dreaming

  brings a hope that clings

  and every day

  I love you more.

  Oh, there are more songs. But enough is enough.

  No. One more. My attempt at romantic philosophy.

  LOVE

  Verse:

  They call it sweet romance

  They crown it king.

  But who can ever know

  its meaning?

  With every word and phrase

  we rhyme and sing

  And yet alone they make

  no solid thought to take.

  Chorus:

  Love

  isn’t a flame

  That scorches a name

  in your heart.

  Love

  isn’t a song

  That’s borne you along

  from the start.

  Love

  isn’t the thunder

  isn’t the lightening

  or the rain.

  Love

  isn’t the wonder

  isn’t the frightening

  or the pain

  and love

  isn’t the glow

  that each lover knows

  but never sees

  Love

  is all of these.

  Amen. Selah. Hic jacet. So much for love. At the age of 21.

  * * * *

  In 1965, my family (wife and 4 children) moved to a community in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. Eventually, it grew into a gated community. And, eventually, I met Nick Perito.

  While I knew him – and enjoyed his sparkling company – Nick became Perry Como’s music director, arranging, conducting and writing songs. Which is where I came in. During the next few years, we collaborated on several songs. One of them became the title song of Perry Como’s Christmas album. I rewrote the lyrics of a song I’d written years before. Nick added a new melody. It was:

  I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS

  I wish it could be Christmas

  Forever.

  I wish the snow

  would never go away

  Because that’s when I’m with you

  and have you for my own

  Because that’s when I never

  have to leave you alone

  I’d never ask for other things

  if only

  The Christmas tree

  could sparkle every day.

  If time could stop forever

  each day and each tomorrow

  I wish that Christmas

  never went away.

  (OR)

  I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS

  (My rewrite, as recorded)

  I wish it could be Christmas

  forever

  I wish that glow

  would never fade away

  with friends and loved ones near us

  ‘round the Christmas tree so tall

  We hear the church bells ringing

  Dear Lord

  bless us one and all.

  I know I’d be content

  now and forever

  if those Christmas lights

  would sparkle every day

  There’d be candy canes

  and mistletoe

  and children singing

  carols we know

  carols we know

  If love and peace n earth

  would always stay

  I know it could be Christmas

  everyday.

  Apparently, someone (Nick, Perry Como et al, least of all me) wanted a full laundry list of Christmas elements – friends, loved ones, Christmas tree, church bells, Dear Lord bless us, Christmas lights, candy canes, mistletoe, children singing, carols we know, love and peace on earth. How come we couldn’t squeeze in Santa Claus and sleigh rides?

  What bothered me was the change in approach in the conclusion. What had been a wish for Christmas pleasures became a political hope for peace on earth. A bit much for a simple Christmas song. I don’t remember if Bob hope used the same generalizing approach on his Christmas show. I hope not. I know he said it was his favorite Christmas song which, again, (as I being a curmudgeon here) disturbed me because I associated SILVER BELLS with Bob Hope and Christmas.

  * * * *

  The next song Nick and I did together worked out a little better. Perry Como sang it on another of his albums. The music, quite lovely, was composed by Nick, ASCAP. Lyrics by me (now also ASCAP.)

  DO YOU REMEMBER ME?

  Verse:

  I found your photo

  in a drawer tonight

  I’d forgotten it was there

  I stared at your face

  for hours and hours

  Wondering if you still care

  Chorus:

  Do you remember me,

  As I remember you?

  I know many years have passed

  But I still can’t forget

  The love we shared.

  Do you regret the day

  you turned and walked away

  Leaving a dream behind

  one I never could find

  again.

  Life went on without you.

  I willed you from my mind

  Still the memory lingers

  in my heart

  of how we parted.

  Do you remember why

  you had to say goodbye?

  Do you every now and then

  breathe a sigh

  shed a tear

  for me?

  Wishing we were together

  still in love

  The way that we used to be.

  The only problem (there I go again) was that I thought Perry Como sang it a little too fast, too off-handedly. Later, Dolores Hope (Bob Hope’s truly charming wife) recorded it perfectly – an older woman recalling the past nostalgically.

  * * * *

  During that period, I learned that Bea Arthur was performing a one-woman show in New York. Since her accompanist was Billy Goldenberg, (who composed the wonderful atonal score for DUEL) I thought I’d try a novelty song for her.

  I WANT A BARBARIAN (Pretty good tune, too)

  Verse:

  I could form a genuine liking

  for a genuine, frenzied Viking

  I could get a great big handle

  On a wanton, raving Vandal

  Have some fun

  with a Hun

  Enjoy a toot

  with a Brute

  You can hear my heart applauding

  for a little crazed marauding

  I would gladly plight my troth

  to a rabid, bestial Goth

  Chorus #1:

  Why don’t you loot me?

  Why don’t you pillage?

  Why don’t you (boom-boom-boom) (tympani)

  sack my village?

  Why don’t you lavishly

  proceed to ravish me?

  Get to work! Be a Turk!

  Draw your sword and go berserk!

  Refrain #1:

  I want a Barbarian!

  I need a Barbarian!

  A good old Barbarian!

  Right out of the past!

  Don’t give me urbanity!

  Or even humanity!

  I want some insanity!

  The kind that will last!

  Chorus #2:

  Why don’t you raid (board) me?

  And make me wrassle?

  Why don’t you (boom-boom-boom)

  storm my castle?

  Invade my coastal line!

  Indulge in (boom) rapine?

  Beach
your long boat! Lead your crew!

  Whip out your blade and run me through!

  Refrain #2:

  I want a Barbarian!

  I need a Barbarian!

  A good old Barbarian!

  Right out of the past!

  Don’t give me civility!

  Just give me virility!

  And lots of ability!

  The kind that will last!

  Chorus #3:

  Why don’t you riot?

  Come do your duty!

  ‘cause here I am (boom-boom)

  your helpless booty!

  Why don’t you breach my wall?

  Besiege my entry hall?

  Activate your catapult!

  Break into my treasure vault!

  Refrain #3:

  I want a Barbarian!

  I need a Barbarian!

  A good old barbarian!

  Right out of the past!

  Just give me ferocity!

  A touch of atrocity!

  And lots of velocity!

  It can’t be too fast!

  Epilogue: (Spoken)

  I don’t want no man named Percy

  Want a man who’ll show no mercy

  Who’ll give me some iniquity

  Straight out of antiquity.

  One who digs depravity

  Can break the law of gravity

  Put my body on his shield

  Force my poor old will to yield

  Not a good Samaritan

  A very bad Barbarian

  Who’ll take me from East or West

  Grab my spoils and fly his crest.

  On his boat or on his horse!

  seize and carry off by force!

  Steal my stock and burn my crops!

  (I’ll throw away my headache drops!)

  Lay waste my flesh! Ignore my moans!

  Fall upon my helpless bones!

  Depredate and plunder me!

  Break the bed right under me!

  (Sung)

  Oh, boy, I want a Barbarian tonight!

  Oh, yeah I want a Barbarian tonight!

  Oh, wow! I want a Barbarian TO-NIIIIIIGHT!

  (Muttering as music fades)

  rampage – outrage – wooden cage – stone age

  molest – war chest – acid test – lots of zest

  etc adinfinitum…

  Nothing ever came of it.

  * * * *

  In the latter part of my life, (the early 80’s) I wrote a few more songs.

  One was:

  WHAT I NEED

  What I need

  is someone to love me

  Someone who will care

  What I need

  is a special person

  just for me.

  What’s the use

  of pretending

  that my life is free

  When every night I lie

  in sleepless, lonesome agony?

  What I need!

  is a sweet companion

  walking by my side

  Who will never, ever

  leave me (but abide) (Not sure of that)

  All the praise

  adulation and fame

  just won’t do.

  When I’m hungry

  for somebody who

  will love me

  through the years!

  Through all the joy and tears!

  Will always give me

  What I need.

  * * * *

  My next attempt was to write a song as a sort of counter-point to GOD BLESS AMERICA.

  GOD IS LOOKING AT AMERICA

  God is looking at America

  Watching to see what we do

  Measuring each and every

  thought and deed

  to see if they’re honest and true.

  God is looking at America

  ready to help us and guide

  what we must do for America

  is accept God’s wisdom

  inside our hearts

  Let God’s wisdom abide.

  I doubt if Irving is turning over in his grave.

  * * * *

  One more song in my final song writing days.

  LOVE IS GIVING

  Love is giving

  The most important part of living

  Is to give your love

  To everyone

  Love is giving

  If you’re generous of heart

  And show others that you care

  It’s a giving you will share

  If you take love

  You will lose it

  If you give it

  You will find

  It’s the best way

  You can use it

  As a gift you donate 2. As a gift you bestow

  Start right now Start right now

  It’s not too late And feel the glow

  To be giving Of giving

  Ask for nothing in return

  And you’ll receive it

  Unfailingly

  Never try to demand it

  You can never command it

  Love’s a treasure that is priceless

  Just as long as it is given free

  Epilogue

  Love is giving

  Why not try it?

  And you’ll see

  And you’ll see

  And you’ll see

  (Spoken)

  Try it.

  Nick wrote one more tune for a song I wrote years earlier. I had my own but his was just as good. Maybe better. It was for my 83rd birthday.

  I L-O-V-E Y-O-U!

  I l-o-v-e y-o-u!

  I s-u-r-e do!

  I h-o-p-e

  You’ll be mine

  Until our days are T-H-R-U!

  Know my he-art is yours

  forever and a d-a-y

  Oh, double-u-h-y

  Can’t you see?

  Y-o-u are for me!

  Here’s a song for you to sing

  if only you can spell

  Sing it for a little while

  and you will sing it well

  I… etc!

  And that’s that for my song writing days – as Andy Rooney might put it.

  Richard Matheson