Song for Abiy

First Lady Zinash Tayachew

"Maren" - "Have Mercy On Us"

Abay

Psalm 40: And He Hath Put a New Song in My Mouth

Robin Song
[Photo By: KPA]

Psalm 40

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.

14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Mexico Lindo y Querido

Charles Aznavour: Emmenez-Moi

Charles Aznavour
Emmenez-Moi
2004

Emmenez-Moi

Vers les docks où le poids et l'ennui
Me courbent le dos
Ils arrivent le ventre alourdi
De fruits les bateaux

Ils viennent du bout du monde
Apportant avec eux
Des idées vagabondes
Aux reflets de ciels bleus
De mirages

Traînant un parfum poivré
De pays inconnus
Et d'éternels étés
Où l'on vit presque nus
Sur les plages

Moi qui n'ai connu toute ma vie
Que le ciel du nord
J'aimerais débarbouiller ce gris
En virant de bord

Emmenez-moi au bout de la terre
Emmenez-moi au pays des merveilles
Il me semble que la misère
Serait moins pénible au soleil

Dans les bars à la tombée du jour
Avec les marins
Quand on parle de filles et d'amour
Un verre à la main

Je perds la notion des choses
Et soudain ma pensée
M'enlève et me dépose
Un merveilleux été
Sur la grève

Où je vois tendant les bras
L'amour qui comme un fou
Court au devant de moi
Et je me pends au cou
De mon rêve

Quand les bars ferment, que les marins
Rejoignent leur bord
Moi je rêve encore jusqu'au matin
Debout sur le port

Emmenez-moi au bout de la terre
Emmenez-moi au pays des merveilles
Il me semble que la misère
Serait moins pénible au soleil

Un beau jour sur un rafiot craquant
De la coque au pont
Pour partir je travaillerais dans
La soute à charbon

Prenant la route qui mène
À mes rêves d'enfant
Sur des îles lointaines
Où rien n'est important
Que de vivre

Où les filles alanguies
Vous ravissent le cœur
En tressant m'a t'on dit
De ces colliers de fleurs
Qui enivrent

Je fuirais laissant là mon passé
Sans aucun remords
Sans bagage et le cœur libéré
En chantant très fort

Emmenez-moi au bout de la terre
Emmenez-moi au pays des merveilles
Il me semble que la misère
Serait moins pénible au soleil

My Future Playlist: What I Would Sing

My Future Playlist: What I would Sing

Sous le Ciel de Paris
[Photo By: KPA]

My Future Playlist: What I would Sing

Dawn
[Photo By: KPA]

My Future iTunes Playlist - What I Would Sing

Julia Florista

"Por mais que Portugal se modernize, Amália será sempre a alma portuguesa."

The Warfare Against a Homeland

Driving through Upstate New York
July 2009
[Photo By: KPA]

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"People want a homeland despite all the psychological warfare against it, and the world can provide it."
Laura Wood
The Thinking Housewife

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"I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above."

Excerpt from "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"
(Also known as "America")
Written by Samuel Francis Smith, 1832
Via The Orthosphere, July 24, 2018
From the Article "The Shabbiest Gospel"
By: J. M. Smith

Some Folks

Recent email correspondence (abridged):

I continue to marvel at life and at what we have: The photographs I take; the honey from the summer farmers' market; the bookstore in the mall;

And seeing joy for life, and through God.

I labeled this post "Reclaiming Beauty." Reclaiming Beauty is an active and personal behavior. Refusing to be dragged in by Devil-induced negativity is one such. The Devil just loves to see us dejected and miserable. He can then lure us into his den with promises of a better world. And the weak and the miserable follow "happily" believing they will find relief from their misery.

Antidote and shield:

Some Folks
Lyrics by Stephen Foster
Video & Performance 2016 by Charles E. Szabo



1. Some folks like to sigh,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Some folks long to die,
But that’s not me nor you.
Chorus:
Long live the merry merry heart
That laughs by night and day,
Like the Queen of Mirth,
No matter what some folks say.

2. Some folks fear to smile,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Other laugh through guile,
But that’s not me nor you.
Chorus:
Some folks get grey hairs,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Brooding o’er their cares,
But that’s not me nor you.

3. Some folks fret and scold,
Some folks do, some folks do;
They’ll soon be dead and cold,
But that’s not me nor you.
Chorus:
Some folks get grey hairs,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Brooding o’er their cares,
But that’s not me nor you.

4. Some folks fret and scold,
Some folks do, some folks do;
They’ll soon be dead and cold,
But that’s not me nor you.
Chorus:
Some folks get grey hairs,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Brooding o’er their cares,
But that’s not me nor you.

5. Some folks toil and save,
Some folks do, some folks do;
To buy themselves a grave,
But that’s not me nor you.
Chorus:
Some folks get grey hairs,
Some folks do, some folks do;
Brooding o’er their cares,
But that’s not me nor you.

For Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne
Sang by: Ronnie Browne
Poem by: Robert Burns
Melody: Sixteenth Century Schotland, attributed to David Rizzio,
an Italian courtier who became the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots.

English translation here

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Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

And surely you'll be your pint stoup,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

Chorus

We twa hae ran about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit
Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun til dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine,
And we'll tak a right gude willie waught
For auld lang syne!

Chorus

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Below is a post from my Camera Lucida blog from December 2005!

One of my favorite carols (too many to choose from). -------------------------------------------------------- The Twelve Days of Christmas On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me A Partridge in a Pear Tree On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Eight Maids a Milking Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a Milking Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me Ten Lords a Leaping Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a Milking Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me Eleven Pipers Piping Ten Lords a Leaping Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a Milking Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me 12 Drummers Drumming Eleven Pipers Piping Ten Lords a Leaping Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a Milking Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

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"My Funny Valentine" for Valentine's Day

Frank Sinatra singing "My Funny Valentine"

I posted this on June 14, 2011 at Camera Lucida. It was because I heard the song somewhere that day.

Well, let me do it the honor of posting it on the real Valentine's day.

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My Funny Valentine, for Valentine's Day!

I recently heard "My Funny Valentine" on one of those store muzak without the words, remembered some of the words, and searched for the song on-line.

Here's what I found about its origins:

"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by former child star Mitzi Green. After being recorded by Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra and Miles Davis, the song became a popular jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists.

Babes in Arms opened at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, in New York City on April 14, 1937 and ran for 289 performances.[1] In the original play, a character named Billie Smith (played by Mitzi Green) sings the song to Valentine "Val" LaMar (played by Ray Heatherton).[2] In the song, Billie pokes fun at some of Valentine's characteristics, but ultimately affirms that he makes her smile and that she doesn't want him to change.

The song was performed by male and female vocalists over the years. Looking at the lyrics, I think it could be sung by either a male or a female. But, I think a female rendition has just a little more authenticity. I somehow don't think romantic men would list these (minor) faults in the object of their desire. They are usually all gushy about her beauty and other wonderful attributes. Women might be a little more realistic about physical attributes (and even "smartness, perhaps preferring kindness).

Here are the lyrics. There is a longer version at the beginning which I've left out, since most of the interpretations use the shorter version. I've posted the beginning lyrics at the end of this post. Here are the commonly sang lyrics:

My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart

You looks are laughable, unphotographable
Yet you're my favorite work of art

Is your figure less than Greek?
Is your mouth a little bit weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smart?

Don't change your hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay.
Each day is valentine's day

Above, I've posted the video of my favorite version by Frank Sinatra, who sings it straight (and not too slow) in his inimitable, confident style.

The black jazz singers, Sarah Vaughan, Etta James, and both male and female, sing it with too much scatting (which I've complained about here about Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday singing "Am I Blue," although a young Ella Fitzgerald performs "My Funny Valentine" with restrained charm). The energetic Welshman Tom Jones, with the modernized instrumentals, gives it a rock vibe. A surprising actress-turned-singer is Michelle Pfeiffer (I've always liked her as an actress) sings it in her movie The Fabulous Baker Boys. Contemporary black singers perform it with too many riffs and improvisations (known as melisma [pdf article]), which overloads the melody. Linda Ronstadt, whom I never used to like, sings it with a pure voice. Melinda Doolittle, who was a highly placed contestant at American Idol a few years ago, imitates Anita Baker, who I think performs it much better. Melinda overdoes the improvisational melisma and overloads the melody with too many notes, to the detriment of the song. This is common among black singers today.

There are a couple of non-vocal versions, including Miles Davis on his haunting trumpet (whom Sting- formerly of the band the Police - does a great job of channeling). Chet Baker also performs it on his trumpet, although I haven't listed his version, since he drags his melodies so much that it is hard to sit patiently through them.

Here are the beginning lyrics, which many singers leave out:

Behold the way our fine feathered friend
His virtue doth parade
Thou knowest not my dim witted friend
The picture Thou hast made
Thy vacant brow and Thy tousled hair
Conceal Thy good intent
Thou noble upright, truthful, sincere
And slightly dopey gent

Here is a sweet rendition of the complete song by Kristine Chenoweth is more known for her television programs, but is a veteran Broadway performer.
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Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat

Musical Interlude: Bei Mir Bistu Schein

Kate Smith



Stephanie Blythe



Ella Fitzgerald



Judy Garland



Benny Goodman Sextet with Martha Tilton



Andrews Sisters



Jacksons Variety Show



Everyone loves this song


About the song.


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Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat