Story Songs: That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be

Have you ever gone along with something simply because that's the way it's always been done? Of course you have. We've all followed the norm, at various points in our lives, whether it's the right thing to do or not.

That's how I interpret Carly Simon's "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be." In this case, it's about getting married and settling down even though there are strong indicators that it may not be a wise decision. 

This heartfelt and melancholy song opens with the narrator walking through the living  room and notices that her father is sitting alone in the dark, smoking a cigarette, commenting:

 "I walk by, no remark."

Then the narrator walks past the master bedroom, where her mother is reading magazines: 

"I hear her call sweet dreams, 

But I forgot how to dream."

Then the chorus:

"But you say it's time we moved in together

And raised a family of our own, you and me -

Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be:

You want to marry me, we'll marry."

Then the narrator reflects on her friends from college who are married:

"They have their houses and their lawns

They have their silent noons,

Tearful nights, angry dawns.

Their children hate them for the things they're not;

They hate themselves for what they are"

That's followed by the chorus.

And then the narrator views considers losing her identity despite the other person's reassurances: 

"You say we'll soar like two birds through the clouds,

But soon you'll cage me on your shelf -

I'll never learn to be just me first

By myself."

And in the end:

"Well OK, it's time we moved in together

And raised a family of our own, you and me -

Well, that's the way I've always heard it should be,

You want to marry me, we'll marry,

We'll marry."

Simon composed the music and Jacob Brackman wrote the lyrics of this 1971 hit, her first, which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. She received a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Simon, along with Carole King and Joni Mitchell, led the way in recording introspective and socially relevant songs. Vanity Fair magazine referred to them as "the rebel angels."

Simon, who still performs and records, turned 70 on June 25. 

"That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" lyrics

Back to the Manuscript: Part Eight

I completed the fifth rewrite of my work in progress and there's still more work to do before it's ready to submit to the publisher.

I made quite a few changes during the rewrite, specifically to a some subplots, several characters, and dialogue. I also had to do additional research on medical issues in the story.

There are still a couple subplots that need to be resolved or eliminated. I'm still unsure which direction to go. I hope that can be fixed on the sixth rewrite.

And the manuscript grew another 3,000 words despite cutting out several passages. Why the increase? Mainly because there is much more showing than telling now.

I'll begin working on the sixth rewrite later today. It'll probably take a week to get through it. 

Pardon the cliche, but the end is in sight. 

Under the next time....

Spotlight on Petula Clark

One of the sweetest and most vibrant voices to hit the American shores during the British music invasion of the 1960s was that of Petula Clark.

She was a veteran performer in Europe for more than 20 years before the Beatles, Rolling Stones, DC5 and others dominated the U.S. airwaves, often dubbed as Britain's Shirley Temple. 

During the '50s Clark recorded in French, German, Italian and Spanish, establishing herself as one of the top singers on both sides of the English Channel.

Clark, who had several pop hits in England in the early '60s, scored her first No. 1 in America in 1964 with bouyant "Downtown." She went on to record 14 consecutive Top 40 songs in the U.S.

Other Top 20 hits include No.1 "My Love" in '65, No. 3 "I Know A Place" in '64, No.3 "This Is My Song" in '67, No. 5 "Don't Sleep in the Subway" in '67, No. 9 "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" in '66, No. 15 "Kiss Me Goobye" in '67, and No. 16 "Colour My World" in '67.

Clark  won Grammy Awards for "Downtown" in '64 and "I Know A Place" the following year. She's also an accomplished composer and lyricist, with songs such as "You're the One" (a big hit for the Vogues in '65), "Just Say Goodbye," and "Colour My World."

She's also had a remarkable career in movies ("Finian's Rainbow" and "Goodbye Mr. Chips" in the '60s) and television with numerous appearances as well as her own show. 

Harry Belafonte and Petula Clark

Notably, in 1968, she made a civil rights statement during an NBC-TV  program when she put her hands on Harry Belafonte's arm while they sang "On the Path of Glory." The show's sponsor, Chrysler, demanded another take be used, with Clark and Belafonte standing apart, but she refused and the performance aired as she intended. 

Clark, who is 82, has been eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1986 -- and she has never been nominated. She has sold nearly 70 million records in a career that spans seven decades. Isn't it about time for Petula Clark, one of the legends in rock history,  to be recognized for her contributions?

And now for a few of Clark's hits:

Until the next time...

Back to the Manuscript: Part Seven

I've completed the fourth rewrite of my manuscript and there's more work to be done to get it ready for publication. 

But the end is in sight.

As mentioned in my last post, I moved copy from the first third of the manuscript to the end. I'm satisfied with the change since it provides -- I hope -- a stronger emotional impact and ties everything together for a memorable ending. I know there will be a few tweaks but the foundation of beginning, middle and end is set.

Because of moving copy,  I had to rewrite other parts of the manuscript. Most of the writing now has to do with the timeline, which I will focus on when I go back to it -- today. There are still a few loose ends that need to be addressed but that's a standard part of the process. When I'm at this stage of editing, it's a daily process until it's transformed from a work in progress to a finished work.

I added nearly 4,000 words during the fourth rewrite that included deleting passages and tightening dialogue; I wouldn't be surprised if there will be another 4k or so when I'm finished, increasing the total to more than 75k.

I'll also give more attention to coming up with the right title for the novel. That's not easy. The working title has been "New Horizons," but after some thought, I'm not sure it reflects the essence of the story. Furthermore, there are several titles out there, fiction and nonfiction, with the similar or variations of horizon/horizons.

I want to come up with something that will make the book stand out among the thousands of titles out there. I hope to have one of those "voila" moments where it pops out and smacks me across the face -- a real knockout for a title. 

Now to work on the fifth rewrite.

Until the next time...

European Experience: Observations and Reflections

It's been nearly three weeks since my wife Mary and I returned from our European vacation to London, Paris and Roma. 

Here are some reflections from our unforgettable journey:

Big Ben in London

• Which city did we enjoy the most? We liked them all equally. I know it sounds like a cop out but they are so different and distinct from each other. London has its regal atmosphere, Paris has its opulence, and Roma has its glorious history. 
• We had read and heard  so much about the rudeness among some Europeans, especially the French. We didn't encounter any of that in these cities. We found most of them to be friendly, and if not that, polite. I hope that means something coming from a person  who comes from a place known for its hospitality -- Kentucky.
• We read about pickpockets being so prevalent, especially around the historic sites in Roma. I'm sure they were there, but hey, pickpockets are everywhere large crowds with money congregate, and that includes the United States and anywhere else in the world. Just use commonsense. 

  

  The Eiffel Tower in Paris

• The traffic wasn't nearly as bad as we had read except maybe going from Heathrow in London to our hotel on the narrow roads with narrow lanes. And since traffic moves in opposite lanes in England, you see pedestrian warnings throughout the city to look both ways before crossing a street (look right first).  I almost got hit by a motor scooter in Roma (the driver came out of nowhere near a historic plaza and he probably thought I did as well). I will say I have no desire to drive in those cities and that's fine since they have excellent public transportation.
• While in Roma, we encountered a young man who said he was from Kenya (he was wearing a turban and brightly colored shirt) near the Castel Sant'Angelo. He gave us three small hand-carved trinkets -- two turtles and an elephant -- and said he didn't want anything in return. It was simply out of friendship. When I gave him a euro, and then Mary handed him one, he told us he was hungry and wanted more (he didn't appear hungry/starving). We then offered to give him back the wooden trinkets, but he refused, again  saying it was out of friendship. We then had a friendly parting of the ways, at least from our viewpoint. 

  

  The Colosseum in Roma

• We didn't see a lot of homeless people. That could be because we didn't travel to the underbelly of the cities (most guided tours take you to the places the cities want to showcase). Of course, there were vendors hawking items, especially in Roma. 
• Probably the most disappointing views we had were of

  

  Graffiti from the Seine

   graffiti, most notably in Paris and Roma. It's a shame to have these eyesores distract from the overall beauty and grandeur of these great and wonderful cities.  
• We felt safe and secure in each of the cities. The security areas at the airports were efficient, orderly and respectful. TSA in the United States could learn a few things from their European counterparts about moving people through security, especially in how to address and treat people. After returning to the U.S. at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, I thought about what our European visitors must think since we were all herded through like cattle. It certainly isn't a "Welcome to America"  message that TSA is conveying. 

We plan to visit Europe again, probably taking in other cities the next time (you only go around once in life). We're also thinking about going to Asian, African and South American countries if time and finances permit.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Until the next time...

Back to the Manuscript: Part Six

I've completed the third rewrite of my work in progress. It needed more work than what I thought. 

When I returned to it this week I ended up moving two chapters from the first third of the manuscript to the end. I was never satisfied with how the story ended and this gives it a much stronger and compelling close. 

Of course, that means that I have to rework some other chapters but that's part of the process. I wish I could write a polished first draft that didn't need any work, but that's wishful thinking. 

I even deleted some extraneous passages to make it tighter and improve the flow. Any time you're involved in rewrites, you eliminate needless words, phrases, and cliches.

There were also some inconsistencies I hadn't noticed before that needed to be corrected. I keep a notebook and index cards on my desk to help me keep things straight. That saves time searching through the manuscript, which can be a time-killer. There's software that can help, but I'm afraid that I'd be so involved in inputting data that it'd take me away from writing. 

My tentative goal is to be finished with the rewrites by the end of the month, then submit the manuscript to my publisher. From there, it will get reviewed by a critical set of eyes, go through a few more (minor, I hope) changes, and evolve into a published work. 

Until the next time...

European Experience -- A Roman Holiday

The third and final leg of our European adventure took us to beautiful, historic and majestic Roma -- the eternal city.

Roma (often referred to as Rome) is nearly 3,000-years old. The Roman Empire ruled western civilization from 31 B.C. until 476 A.D. , and its influence continues today on many levels. 

Ancient ruins in the heart of the city

When visiting this city, you can see the glory that was (and is) Roma in architectural ruins, cathedrals, sculptures, obelisks, lavish fountains and other points of interest. Another observation is that I have never seen so many motor scooters zipping in and out of traffic (I just had to share that).

One of the first places our tour group visited was the Pantheon, which dates back to the second century. Originally a pagan shrine, it was consecrated a Christian church about 500 years later. Raphael, a renowned Renaissance painter and architect, is entombed there.

The Pantheon

Raphael's tomb

Inside the Pantheon

We also walked through the Piazza Navona, a large courtyard with lush fountains and Baroque mansions that attracts artists, musicians, peddlars, and of course, tourists. 

The Piazza Navona

Nearby is the world-famous Trevi Fountain (remember the movies "Three Coins in a Fountain" and "La Dolce Vita"?). It's undergoing a restoration that is expected to be completed this fall. Our guide told us that an estimated 1,500 or more euros are tossed daily into the fountain, which are used to help the city's needy population. 

Roma's top-rated gelato parlor

We finished our first day by stopping at Giolitti, ranked as the best gelato (Italian ice cream) parlor in Roma. An interesting aspect is that you pay first, then take your receipt to the counter and tell the server what flavor you want (banana for me, chocolate for Mary). I know it's not historic, but when in Roma, do as the Romans do. Si?

I suppose the highlights of Roma were visiting the Colosseum and the Vatican City. We were amazed at the massive size of the Colosseum -- photos really don't do it justice until you view it from the inside. Next to the Colosseum is Imperial Roma. 

At the Colosseum

Inside the Colosseum

Imperial Roma

The Vatican because of its architecture, museums and historical significance and influence in Christianity that is worldwide. There was a long line leading into St. Peter's Basilica, where you could see the ornate and timeless art of Michelangelo and others. 

St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

Other places we visited included St. Paul's Basilica and the Catacombs of Roma. You also see the Appian Way and Aurelian walls in various parts of the city.

Inside St. Paul's Basilica

Here are a few other sights from our three days in Roma:

Isola Tiberina

Bridge over Tiber River

Castel Sant'Angelo

Vendors near Castel Sant'Angelo

Piazza Venezia

 Until the next time...