1. |
Me and Sylvia
04:03
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Me and Sylvia
It was my first day at school, and we all stood outside
Just waiting, anticipating.
What would it be like? What would we do?
And we all just stood there waiting.
One by one, we were called by name and we walked up the stairs
And I was seated beside a girl with long blond hair
It was braided on the side and she gave me a big smile
And she told me her name was Sylvia.
Sylvia became my friend that day
We laughed and learned together
We were best friends throughout those years
Through fair and foul weather.
As long as we had each other
We could tackle anything
Sylvia was my confidante,
And she was my best friend.
One day a music teacher came out to our school
And she arranged us into groups
Had us do some la, la, la’s.
Then we did some do, re mi’s,
We had a lot of fun,
Then she asked me and Sylvia to come up to the front.
We did our la, la, la’s together as the teacher looked at us
She played a little lower, and we la, la, la’d some more.
Then she played two different notes and asked us each to sing along
And me and Sylvia , la la la, la, la, la’d in harmony.
Before long, me and Sylvia were singing a nice song
It was called Brahms Lullaby
And we practiced all month long.
One day the teacher sent notes home with us Asking for consent
And we would sing at the Kiwanis festival.
Well the day arrived, our teacher drove us into town
There were lots of people there, milling all around.
The kids had numbers pinned on their shirts
And we waited all day long
To go up on the stage to sing our little song.
Finally we got our turn, and climbed up the stairs
Went out to center stage and looked at all the people there.
I ‘m glad that I had Sylvia, and we held each other’s hand
And we sang Brahms Lullaby, just as we had planned.
Sylvia was my best friend that day
We laughed and learned together
We were best friends throughout those years
Through fair and foul weather.
As long as we had each other
We could tackle anything
Sylvia was my confidante,
And she was my best friend.
I often look back on that day, how those two little girls
Had the confidence to sing so beautiful
But the win was so much sweeter
because we were a team.
Me and Sylvia, shared all those things together.
Yes, me and Sylvia, best friends forever.
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2. |
The Girl Singer
02:14
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The Girl Singer
It was a premiere
and everyone was there
to listen to the young girl
with the wayward stare
The audience was assembled
And the house light dimmed down
The house band started up
And the spotlight came on
Center stage was a young girl
She looked frail and forlorn
Her clothes were tattered
And she just looked down
Then the music paused
and the girl looked up
She began to sing
As the band did a start up
Her voice was clear
She looked out to the distance
The melody flowed out
Without resistance
The audience held their breath
Not a sound or a murmur
All eyes were fixed
On the young performer
Her lyric was sad
And the whole crowd sighed
As the young girl cried out
Sounds were amplified
Then the solo was finished
The girl gave a bow
There was not a dry eye
She had moved them somehow.
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3. |
Party Pieces
02:02
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Party Pieces
A group of friends sitting in the backyard
around a toasty bonfire
Taking turns singing little tunes
Well into the night.
We each had our party pieces
And we sang them, one by one
We made some good memories
In Jim and Edna’s back garden
One day while driving to work
We saw a barn beside the road
Someone said ’Let’s put on a show”
And the Theatre Guild was formed
We learned the words to Pinafore
Then next, the Pirates of Penzance
We put on a Christmas panto
And we all would sing and dance.
The Three Little Maids from School became
Val’kry Warriors another year.
We flew a plane over the audience
At least, that’s what we wanted them to hear
Corn as high as an elephant’s eye
And a surry with a fringe all around
And we got caught up in the mist
On our way to Brigadoon.
There’s nothing like a little theatre
To while away your time
A dark stage, opening night
And Audrey 2 coming to life.
If the Postman rings once, don’t answer the door.
It might be theatre magic
But you can never be sure.
Whatever you can imagine
A little theatre magic is the cure.
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4. |
The Golden Horseshoe
04:13
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At the Golden Horseshoe
A young woman with a great big voice
Putting some red lipstick on her face.
It’s Open mic at the Golden Horses – hoe
Every week another variety show.
Where the onstage lights, they’re not so bright.
The marquee sign flashes on the right.
As she calmly walks out onto the stage.
Chorus: Open mic at the Golden Horses-hoe
Every Thursday night, putting on a )show.
Where hopes and dreams are pinned upon
A two-song repertoire.
Grab your courage, take a turn
Maybe next week you can return
To the open mic at the Golden Horses-hoe.
With her red lipstick on, and a smile that would win their hearts
With her cowboy boots, she taps her foot to start.
Heads turn her way when she starts to sing
She could have been singing anything
And the guys at the bar stood up and cheered her on.
There was a signal from the lighting tech
To play an extra song.
Chorus
Her set was done, the night was still young
She made her way to the man behind the bar
Basking in her three song set, she waits there for a jar.
And she sips her beer, still waiting, for the final curtain call.
She hides her tears, and makes her way back home
Another night, another night all alone.
Chorus
Every week she plans her songs and on stage moves
As she sings her heart out for the man she loves.
And every week she worries he won’t like her picks
And she worries he won’t like her red lipstick
One day,some day, she’ll realize
The man she needs will not criticize
But will think she should wear a tiara
She needs a man who doesn’t mess with her mascara.
Chorus
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5. |
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Thursday Afternoon at the Seniors’ Hall
its Thursday after noon at the seniors hall
the folks are assembled for snacks, they sit down
walkers and wheelchairs are circled around
the wobblies are given a hand
and when they're all ready
they sit back and wait, they're patient.
they chat to each other and nibble at snacks
some sit and just look around
they're waiting for the man with the acoustic guitar
he's coming to play today
he knows how to choose them
he knows how to please them
they all like to hear songs he plays
he plays all the old songs
all the old songs
they remember and they can sing along
its thursday after noon at the seniors hall
the guitar player starts off with Heart of my Heart
they love that old song, it transports them back
to the days they were young and in love
the old man at the side starts to tappin his toes
he can hardly wait to begin
the singer nows his favorite song
and plays the opening chords
and the old man waltzes, his arms still around
his wife, the love of his life
coz he remembers the times gone by
when he danced with his wife so dear
he remembers how they lived and loved
and how they loved to dance.
she was half of his life
but all of his heart
and now too unforgettable
Thursday aftenoons.
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6. |
Ordinary Woman
04:42
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Ordinary Woman
Another long day waiting, it's time to go to work
She comes in through the back door, and she takes off her shirt.
She sits down on the same chair, and reaches for the same switch
Blinded by the same lights, and she gets that same old twitch.
How many times can I pull this off?
How many minutes must I endure?
Putting myself on center stage
It's just such a crazy career.
How many people will compare
What I am now to my younger self
How many egos need to be soothed
Before they put me up there on the shelf?
Looking in the mirror there, and the years have been kind
She notices a spot and she pats on consealer
Applies a matte foundation over her full face
Then some powder where the shadows need detailing.
How many creams and lotions do I need
To keep up the illusion I do
How much eye colour should I apply
To create that perfect youthful Deye?
Now to keep my lipstick from bleeding
Or covering the front of my teeth
Such a crazy career, but I love it
And I'm ready to put on the big show.
She could be a model, or a singer on a stage
Or an actress with a premiere role in some big play
Maybe she works as a professional woman on high street
Making business deals or gourmet meals for big wheels.
Will I ever be taken seriously
Or will I constantly be under mined ?
Why can't I just be a smart woman
Instead of always being redefined ?
The camoflage we wear as a cloak
To hide and conceal our appearance
Needs to be amended. Instead
We need to applaud our existence.
So raise up the back of house lights, as we’ll dim the front lights down
The scrim between the two will disappear.
Embrace the way you are, and who you are
There is no need for theatre magic here.
There is no need for theatre magic here.
credits
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Linda Mielke Barrie, Ontario
Call me mandolinda
Just me and my mandolin, learning how to make some music.
Navigating the times with reflections of the past and thoughts about the future.
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