3/30/82

Miscellaneous Art Songs

1.  Ich Grolle Nicht from Dichterliebe  (I bear no grudge) 

by Robert Schumann

Original Text:

http://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=7544

Original sung here: 

(This was written with reference to the Reagan administration, which admittedly seems pretty benign now from my 2019 vantage point)       

You Don't Complain  Lyrics (c) 1979 Joan D. Levin

You don't complain, if poor folks have no food;

We'll always have our poor; it's time you understood!

You don't complain! You don't complain, 

For Nancy's* furs, and jewels that catch the fire,

And limousines, and shiny Air Force One give you a thrill!

So don't complain,  though Stockman** runs amok!***

(Poor people run for cover, until the next election, lots of luck!)

A schlang**** is in the White House, and we're stuck!

And you can bet your very bottom buck,You'll soon complain!  

You'll soon complain!


* Nancy Reagan

**David Stockman, Reagan's budget director  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Stockman)

***pronounced "a-muk"

****a snake, as in "die Schlang, die dir am Herzen frisst" The snake that feeds upon your heart.  If you find this offensive, substitute "it's midnight in the White House."

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 Vergebliches Ständchen by Johannes Brahms 
Revisited Twenty Years Later.  (c) 1981 Joan D. Levin
In the original song by Brahms, the young fellow begs the young lady to let him into her house.  She refuses and tells him to go home to bed and gives him a firm "Good Night, my boy!" 

But this version takes place twenty years later.  They've finally gotten together but things still aren't so great between them!

You can hear Brahms original of this charming song at:

And here is where the couple is today!

(He)
Where the hell are you Mabel, I'm home, can't you hear?
I'm home, can't you hear?
I've had a hell of a day,  I need a drink right away,
What? You're still not dressed?
Get my drink!  Get my food!  God, you look like a mess!

(She)
Just shut up your fat mouth and listen to me!
Listen to me!
Daughter was busted for grass, Spot bit some guy in the ass,
Really tore him up!
Oh and yes, Junior says, that his girl is knocked up!

(He)
Don't lay that crap on me, I've been working hard all day!
Working hard all day!
Just like a mule on a rope, while you've been home watching soaps,
In my corporate suite,
Spinning wheels, making deals, so my family can eat!

(She)
Mama said she saw you downtown just today,
Downtown just today!
You had a girl in your car, just pulling out of a bar,
Just a client I guess,
(I've a hunch, clients don't lunch, in a gold sequined dress!)

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Home Improvements based on "Upon the Hearth" 
from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Tolkien is not a big fave of mine but I wrote it for a friend who was into Tolkien.   
Lyrics(c) 1979 Joan D. Levin

 The tune is less well known but here's a singer singing it.  My lyrics need a little work to show  repeat at the end - someday!

View the house and sign your name,
Take possession, start the game,
Windows rattle in the breeze, 
But it has possibilities!
You'll make a showplace grand, and how,
With time and work (and fifty thou--) 
Patch the plaster, paint the walls,
New wallpaper in the halls,
Then it rains, your work goes "poof,"
And  you --- discover --- the roof!
Router, sander, saw and drill, 
Hardware shop will send the bill.
How you wish you had a lock, 
On lots of Black and Decker stock! 
You're tired and sore, but getting by,
With "Strip-eze" fumes to keep you high!
Wires cascading everywhere, 
A pasta-maker's worst nightmare!
Black to black, red to red!
With care--- or ZAP--- and you're dead!

Soon the work will all be done, 
The dentals all stripped one by one, 
With fingernails encased in grout,
Asbestos batting up your snout!
You set aside your caulking gun, 
You're ready now to have some fun!
You're ready now to have some fun!
------

But here's that County building lout,
He walks right in, his hand is out!
"Improvements? Here?--- Oh no, siree!
We've just cleaned up a bit, you see!" 

(Repeat last lines as needed -- 
I need to go over the last two verses) 
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