Love Songs

Since it's Valentine's Day I thought it would be nice to share some of my favorite love songs.

While some folks prefer love ballads, you'll see that I enjoy all kinds including ballads, country, rock, and pop. It's the words and melody that move me. I like some that are sweet, some that are sappy, and some that are thoughtful. As the Beatles sang, "All you need is love"

I've included a few lines from the songs (composers in parenthesis) as well as the video.
So here goes:

"Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley)

"You know, I love you, I always will
My mind's made up
By the way that I feel
There's no beginning
There'll be no end
'Cause on my love you can depend"

***

"Softly Whispering I Love You" (Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook)

"And I know your soft  kiss turning into music

Every beat of my heart
When I hold you close to my heart
And I hear your voice whispering I love you"

***

"At Last" (Mack Gordon and Harry Warren)

"At last my love has come along

My lonely days are over
And life is like a song"

***

"When You Say Nothing At All" (Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz)

"The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all"

***

"Can't Help Falling in Love" ( Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss)

"Take my hand, take my whole life too

For I can't help falling in love with you"

***

"Asking Us to Dance" (Hugh Prestwood)

"Darling tonight I am reminded how much these two hearts need romance
You know it isn't all that often we get this kind of chance
Why don't we get caught in this moment be victims of sweet circumstance
Tonight I feel like all creation is asking us to dance"

***

"Moondance"  (Van Morrison)

"Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance

With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies"

***

"Something" (George Harrison)

"Somewhere in her smile she knows
That I don't need no other lover
Something in her style that shows me
I don't want to leave her now"

***

"Wonderful Tonight" (Eric Clapton)

"I feel wonderful
Because I see the love light in your eyes
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you"

OK, I know that's a lot of stuff. There are more songs I could have included so perhaps I'll save them for next Valentine's Day.

What is your favorite? Feel free to share a video and/or lyrics in the comments section.

Until the next time...

Puppy Update #1

Bailey, our little Chorkie, is growing up quickly. He's been part of my family since Dec. 14 and he's made himself at home. He's about 14 weeks old.

He's doing well in the potty department, using the pad probably 90 percent of the time. The remaining 10 percent is when he misses the mark or finds another convenient place to relieve himself.

For the most part, he sleeps through the night. That's if we go to bed after 10 p.m. If we turn out the lights at 9 p.m., he'll usually awaken us at 3 or 4 in the morning. But he's good about going back to bed for a couple more hours before getting us up at 5 or so for breakfast.

He loves to play ball in the hallway. We usually spend some time each day teaching him the three R's of that doggie pastime known as "Fetch!" He's great about retrieving and returning the ball, but is still a bit reluctant about releasing it.

We've had a few nice days in the past week or so and I've been able to take him outside on his leash. Since he's been a house pet, it's been fun to watch him discover the outdoors, such as leaves blowing on the ground or responding to various sounds. We're looking forward to spring.

He's also has a couple of girlfriends. There's Callie, a German Shepard mix next door, and Lady, a dainty white Poodle from across the street.

Bailey is a healthy pooch. He's probably closing in on four pounds (he weighed about one pound when we brought him home). And he gets his final shots this week.

Bailey has been a godsend as well for us since Baxter passed away on Dec. 28. We still miss Baxter a great deal but Bailey has eased some of the pain in dealing with the loss of our beloved pet. 

Until the next time...

Story Songs: God Only Knows

In celebration of St. Valentine's Day on Feb. 14, one of my favorite love songs is "God Only Knows" by the legendary Beach Boys.  

The song was written by Tony Asher and composed by Brian Wilson.  It was released in 1966 on the group's masterpiece "Pet Sounds" album. 

The words are elegantly simple, pure,  and straight to the heart as the narrator professes eternal love to a special person:

"I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it"

And then we hear the words:

"God only knows what I'd be without you"

In the second verse, and repeated in the third, the singer tells the lover that life would be empty without him/her in their life:

"If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would living do me"

And then:

"God only know what I'd be without you"

While the song wasn't a great commercial success in the United States, it was very popular in Europe. And the tune has been listed on several "greatest song" lists including Rolling Stone magazine, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Pitchfork (No. 1 of songs from the '60s). 

There's interesting history behind the song in Wikipedia.

"God Only Knows" lyrics

"Butter in the Morning: Pieces of a Kentucky Life"

Georgia Green Stamper’s delightful and insightful “Butter in the Morning: Pieces of Kentucky Life” is a collection of essays about her rich and colorful life. 

Georgia spent her formative years in Owen County, a rural area in north-central Kentucky. She later became a wife, teacher, mother, and a writer.

There is a freshness and honesty to her stories that makes you laugh, smile, and even shed a a few tears. She has a wonderful sense of humor and shares many funny incidents from her life as well as some tragedies. It was from her mother that she learned that when facing life’s unpredictable twists and turns,  “You might as well laugh.”

The 270-page book, published by Wind Publications, is divided into four sections reflecting different stages in Georgia’s rich and colorful life -- from her childhood, humorous events, places she’s lived, and who she is today. There’s also some history about people and places interspersed that many readers will find interesting.

The stories are culled from columns and essays she’s written in several publications and as a National Public Radio commentator. Whether she’s writing about guacamole, her childhood home going up in flames, an encounter with chiggers, or getting into the wrong car on a rainy day, Georgia’s words are warm and sincere.

From her heart-felt remembrances, you discover that she was nurtured in a caring and loving family while growing up, and that she grew up to become a caring and loving wife, mother and grandmother.

And, after reading these stories, you will sense that she’s your friend by getting to know her so well.

Until the next time...

Super Dad

I  don’t have a preference on the Super Bowl match up between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. For the sake of the owners, coaches, players, fans, bettors or anyone else who gives a toot, I hope it’s a competitive contest that everyone can feel somewhat good about when it’s over.

The one person I’m cheering for in the Super Bowl is Jack Harbaugh, the father of the Super Bowl coaches -- Jim and John.

I got to know Jack when he was coaching the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers from 1989-2002., compiling a 91-68 record.

I was an AP sportswriter at the time, and every year I’d make the rounds to I-A and I-AA schools to interview coaches and players for season previews. And occasionally, if there wasn’t a conflict with University of Kentucky or University of Louisville games, I’d cover the big I-AA games.   

I always looked forward to my trips to Bowling Green. Sports information director Paul Just would set up the interview with Jack in the coach’s office and I’d spend an hour or so asking questions about his squad.

And then we’d talk about other things, such as his year at Morehead State in the late 1960s (where I was a student for two years) and his cousin Mike Gottfried.  Jack is a great storyteller and loves a great story.

Harbaugh didn’t arrive at Western at the best of  times. There had been discussions about ending the football program. But Harbaugh was a great choice for the school because he wasn’t a quitter. On top of that, he’s such a positive and upbeat person.  It was contagious.

Harbaugh rallied the students, alumni and townsfolk, and with some assistance from his sons (shoe donations, etc.), he turned the seemingly moribund program around to a winner.  In 2002, he led the ‘Toppers to a I-AA national championship.

He left after the 2002 season to become  an associate athletic director at Marquette University, where his son-in-law, Tom Crean (now at Indiana University), was the head basketball coach.

I was fortunate to interview Jack again in 2003 for a program article for his induction into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. He was most deserving of the honor for what he accomplished at WKU.

I recall Jack being so proud of his family. The outcome Super Bowl is probably unimportant to him because he knows both of his sons are winners -- just like Dad.

Until the next time…

Story Songs: When I'm Sixty-Four

I was 18 in the summer of 1967 when The Beatles released their masterpiece album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

One of the tracks was the Paul McCartney-penned "When I'm Sixty-Four." For me, 64 seemed distant and so old! I arrived at that number several months ago and I suppose that makes me old now. 

The song is about a young man asking his sweetheart if they'll still be together in their twilight years:

"When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

"If I'd been out til quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four?"

The narrator goes on to tell what a wonderful life they'll have if they stay together into old age, such as doing things around the house, renting a vacation cottage, and eventually having grandchildren "Vera, Chuck and Dave."

And he awaits her answer:

"Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.

"Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?"

This is really a feel-good song, full of optimism and love. When I hear this tune it reminds me how versatile the group was and how they weren't afraid to take chances with their lyrics and melodies.

Sadly, only surviving members McCartney (70) and Ringo Starr (72) reached 64. John  Lennon (40) was murdered in 1980 and George Harrison (58) died from cancer in 2001. (As for the image at the right, I remember when it was published. If anyone can provide artist/publication, I will give a credit line).

For me, during those years since the song was released, I've been losing my hair and I've got two grandchildren (Lily and Lola). I have rented cottages a few times and I've fixed (and damaged) a few things around the house. And my spouse still feeds me so I guess she still needs me now that I'm 64.


"When I'm Sixty-Four" lyrics

The Write Focus

I must confess that I haven't been diligent with my writing this year. I can make rationalizations, and some would probably be plausible. But I don't like to make excuses. 

The truth is that I simply haven't been that focused. I have written a draft for one short story and started two others. I also have notes for about eight other stories. So I have made some progress.  Just not enough.

My intention at the beginning of 2013 was to write one short story a week for about three or four months. I thought I'd be able to produce 15 or so stories. Then I would spend the next few months editing, revising, and polishing them for publication.

I know it's still early in the year but I need to get my moving if I'm going to reach my goals. I also have my National Novel Writing Month manuscript on my desktop that needs attention as well.

Sometimes telling others (as I'm doing with this post) will jumpstart serious writing. I certainly hope so.

Until the next time…