Monday, November 03, 2008

Music Monday or Lyric Lundi

The first year we were married, one of Bob’s former students came to visit us. When she was in school, the two of them had been in the habit of exchanging music with each other. On her visit, she brought CDs from this group she knew he was going to love called The Wild Colonials, excited about how they seem to incorporate almost every instrument into what they play. She was right. He did love them. What she didn’t know was that I was going to end up loving them as much as he did (maybe even a little more).


It’s hard to choose a favorite Wild Colonials song. I love so much of what they do. “A Philadelphia Story,” however, will always have a special place in my heart. You’ll understand this when I say that the movie is one of my all-time favorites. This song does such a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the film, while being a very special piece in its own right. Like Katharine Hepburn in the movie, she’s lucky. It all turns out all right in the end, and really, as she says, isn’t that what we usually want from a love story, since we’ve all known so many that didn’t?


When I was in my teens, I thought all real love stories worked out in the end. He came back, and they lived happily ever after, of course. Now that I’m in my forties, I’m convinced that love stories that do work out are very, very rare. I’m more likely to be thinking, “Okay, so he came back. Did it last this time? (I hope it did.)” What do you think?


PHILADELPHIA STORY

Wild Colonials


Everyone wants a love song

that’s happy in the end

Let me tell you a story

that helped a broken heart mend.


He walked in through the doorway

like something lost and found

My heart jumped out of my pocket

And round his hand it wound.


It’s a Philadelphia Story

this love has got a slant

With you I’ll never worry

You’re my Cary Grant.


We laughed and cried and sang

together until he had to go

halfway across the world he went

My heart back on death row

Midnight calls and lots of tears

he arrived back at my door

What can I tell you

What can I say

My voice was just a roar.


It’s a Philadelphia Story

this love has got a slant

With you I’ll never worry

You’re my Cary Grant.


You know I often wonder

How you brought him back to me

the boy with the wandering soul

is happy to be free

He tells me love is all we need

To keep us rich with joy

How can I ever thank you Lord

For sending me this boy


It’s a Philadelphia story

this love will never die

With you I’ll never worry

there’s no use asking why.

3 comments:

ZoesMom said...

I am so glad you changed the comments format because I was trying to post earlier...

I've never heard that song and I have never heard of the Wild Colonials, but I love the movie so I am going to have to check it out. I love discovering new music.

Emily Barton said...

ZM, based on what (very) little I know about your musical taste, I have a feeling you'll like the Wild Colonials. I know you don't buy CDs much, but the whole CD of "Fruit of Life" is really, truly worth having if you get a taste of them and decide you like them.

Anonymous said...

Glad to know others were having trouble posting comments! I love the Wild Colonials and I am officially hooked on Lyric Lundi (which you know can be Music Mercredi if you get too busy!) As for the relationship, my best guess is that Cary Grant won't be proposing any time soon.