I WANT TO DANCE

As I mentioned in the previous post, there is one other song that I have written.  The basics came to me in a dream, and a friend challenged me to write it out.  Those of you who know us may see some parallels here to our life!  So here are the lyrics with some visuals.

I WANT TO DANCE

 

I want to dance with you at the break of dawn,

like sunlight and dew dancing on the lawn.

Our life together has just begun,

I want to dance.

I want to dance with you in the noon day sun,

from the mountains to the ocean, we’ll make life's run.

Through highs and lows, we’ll live as one,

and we will dance.

 

I want to dance with you when the sun goes down,

we’ll watch the green flash all alone,

then walk the beach until we’re home,

and we will dance.

I want to dance with you in the evening time,

enjoying friends and family, and a glass of wine,

a toast to life and the fruit of our vine,

and we can dance.

And now, we have another chance,

for romance and a dance.

I want to dance with you with the stars above,

the Milky Way shining on our love,

our lives near over, but others live on

‘cause we have danced….yes we’ve danced….yes we’ve danced.

  

© 4/29/2020 

 

I WANT TO DANCE

       D            D                               Em/add7.10

V-1 I want to dance with you at the break of dawn,

       D                         A7sus4

like sunlight and dew dancing on the lawn,

    D                          Em/add 7.10

Our life together has just begun

               D                        A7sus4

I want to dance.

                      D                               Em/add 7.10

V-2 I want to dance with you in the noon day sun,

               D                                           A7sus4

from the mountains to the ocean, we’ll make life's run,

              D                             Em/add 7.10

through highs and lows, we’ll live as one,

                    D                        A7sus4

And we will dance.

                      G                                    A

B-1 I want to dance with you when the sun goes down,

        G                               A

we’ll watch the green flash all alone,

G                         -> Em

walk the beach until we’re home,

                        A                  Em - A

and then we’ll dance.

                      D                                 Em/add 7.10

V-3 I want to dance with you in the evening time,

              D                              A7sus4

enjoying friends and family, and a glass of wine,

  D                              Em/add 7.10

a toast to life and the fruit of our vine,

                  D                        A7sus4

and we can dance.

                C6   Bm9            D

B-2  And now, we have another chance,

   C6        Bm9   A           Em - A

For romance, and a dance

                       D                                    Em/add 7.10

V-4  I want to dance with you with the stars above,

      D                            A7sus4

the Milky Way shining on our love,

       D                            Em/add 7.10

our lives near over, but others live on

                        D          A7sus4          D           Em/add 7.10          D

‘cause we have danced……yes we’ve danced                 yes we’ve danced.

STANDING IN THE CIRCLE

  

Without any Nuggets, Avalanche and Rockies games taking place, I have been watching the news, Netflix and Circle TV.  I found Circle by accident - I got so irritated with satellite and cable companies having a pissing contest with Altitude Sports over broadcasting the local pro teams, I cut the cord as it were, signed up for YouTube TV and bought an antenna to put up on the old satellite mounting post on our garage roof.  We get about 40 broadcast channels, and Circle is one of them.  I have been most impressed with the live broadcasts from the Opry, with country's best playing to an empty auditorium because of COVID 19, but still sharing great music with us folks at home across the land. 

In several of the Circle broadcasts, I was taken with how much respect and reverence was paid to the wooden circle that is in the center of the stage, as shown above.  A nice article on the history and the importance of the Circle can be found here.  Briefly, the circle was cut out of the stage of the old Ryman Auditorium and then placed in the stage at the Opry's new digs.  The Circle is considered "the most sacred space in country music" and "the circle never was painted, but it adorns the scuffs and scars of the greats and dreamers who have walked across it."

After hearing country artists and Opry Members such as Craig Morton, Daily & Vincent, Luke Combs and Ricky Skaggs and host Bobby Bones speak of the importance of the Circle, a strange thing happened - a song came to my mind!!  Strange in that it was only the second time that a tune just came to me.  I worked on it a bit, sent it to my brother in law who said "too many words", so I cut it back a bit, and am now happy with the song.  Below are the lyrics and the chord progression that I use.  If I had acceptable talent, I would make a demo, but alas, I will have to rely on others to do that. If you play, give it a shot, not too slow, not too fast. I welcome comments and ideas for improvements. Thanks in advance.

Update:  I indeed received some wonderful feedback on this, with some constructive guidance - so, I changed a few things around, and IMHO, the revised version below is significantly better.

STANDING IN THE CIRCLE

I had the perfect dream

that seemed like reality.

“Twas the sweetest of dreams

that ever could be.

I’m walkin' through the Ryman

with Opry's royalty,

  headin' for the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

I walk onto the stage,

  guitar in my hand.

I'm standing at the microphone,

surrounded by a band.

There’s Hank and George and Patsy,

and other greats no longer seen,

gathered ‘round the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

Oh the Circle, sacred Circle,

where the greatest ones have stood.

A simple six foot circle made out of common wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

of country’s royalty

who have stood in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

As the house lights go down,

a lump grows in my throat.

But we break into my song,

and we're hittin' every note.

The music flows like honey,

the band is heavenly.

We’re playing in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

And like so many dreams,

this one ended with a start.

But it brings a smile to my face

And a song rings in my heart

It’s etched into my memory

for all eternity

‘cause I was standing in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee.

Oh the Circle, sacred Circle,

where the greatest ones have stood.

A simple six foot circle made out of common wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

Of country’s royalty

who have stood in the Circle

in Nashville, Tennessee

[Closing in the tradition of the Grand Ole Opry]

Will the circle be unbroken,

By and by Lord, by and by.

There’s a better home awaiting

In the sky Lord in the sky.

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Here's the Chords with the Lyrics

STANDING ON THE CIRCLE

[G] - I had the perfect dream

that [D] that seemed like reality.

“Twas the [C] sweetest of dreams

that ever could [D] be.

I’m [G] walkin' through

with [D] Opry's royalty

  [C] headin' for the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenne [G] ssee.

[G] I walk onto the stage,

a [D] Gibson in my hand.

I'm [C] standing at the microphone,

sur [D]rounded by a band.

There’s [G] Hank and George and Patsy,

and other [D] greats no longer seen,

[C] gathered ‘round the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

Oh the [D] Circle, sacred Circle,

where the [C] greatest ones have [G] stood.

A [D] simple six foot circle made [C] out of common [G] wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

of [D] country’s royalty

[C] who’ve stood in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

[G] As the house lights go down,

a [D] lump grows in my throat.

But we [C] break into my song

and we're [D] hittin' every note.

The [G] music flows like honey,

the [D] band is heavenly.

We’re [C] playing in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

[G[ And like so many dreams,

this one [D] ended with a start.

But it [C] brings a smile to my face

And a [D] song rings in my heart.

It’s [G] etched into my memory

for [D] all eternity

‘cause I was [C] singing in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold] Tenn [G] essee.

Oh the [D] Circle, sacred Circle,

where the [C] greatest ones have [G] stood.

A [D] simple six foot circle made [C] out of common [G] wood.

It’s the most majestic symbol,

of [D] country’s royalty

[C] who’ve stood in the [Am7] Circle

in [D] Nashville, [hold...] Tenn [G] essee

  © 4/28/2020

BURN ONE WITH JOHN PRINE

 

As nearly everyone in the literate music world knows, John Prine died this week from COVID 19 complications.  Like me, he was born in 1946 and was 73 years old.  Unlike me, he was a giant among Americana/Roots/Folk songwriter-singers.  His songs are too numerous to mention here, but many of us who get together to jam always get around to playing some of his songs, from picking the quiet ballad Summer's End with Glenn and the gang to pounding out the scathing commentary of Paradise with Stan and the crew.  One that he did not write, but always make me chuckle is Kacey Musgraves' Burn One With John Prine:

STRANGE DAYS

With all the craziness going on in the country and world these days, this seemed appropriate.

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They're going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town

Yeah!

Strange eyes fill strange rooms
Voices will signal their tired end
The hostess is grinning
Her guests sleep from sinning
Hear me talk of sin
And you know this is it

Yeah!

Strange days have found us
And through their strange hours
We linger alone
Bodies confused
Memories misused
As we run from the day
To a strange night of stone

MY CANDIDATE

 

MY CANDIDATE

Was not born into a family whose considerable wealth was obtained primarily by real estate profiteering

Was not sent by an excessively stern father to a military boarding school for children of the wealthy

Attended a highly selective university, and does not make the false claim of “graduating number one in my class” without ever being on any honor roll

Does not aggressively hide SAT scores and grades

Did not receive 4 draft deferments, and then after medical examination being declared fit for service, mysteriously develop bone spurs, receiving a 1-Y and then a 4-F total exemption from serving

Did not claim that his greatest contribution to the war effort in Vietnam was “not getting a sexually transmitted disease” for which he claimed to deserve the Congressional Medal of Honor

Did not get “a small loan of a million dollars” [actually $14 million] from his dad to get started in the real estate business

Never stated "I do play with the bankruptcy laws—they're very good for me” nor used bankruptcy court six times to avoid paying contractors, small businesses, bank creditors, and stock and bond holders

Did not have to pay a settlement of $25 million for making false claims and defrauding students

Did not violate state charitable fund-raising laws, resulting in a cease and desist order and distribution of remaining funds

Was not named in a lawsuit, along with Jeffrey Epstein, for repeatedly raping a 13 year old

Never bragged that one could “Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.”

Has not been accused by at least 25 women of sexual misconduct

Has not paid porn stars and other prostitutes hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep quiet

Is not a serial adulterer who has been unfaithful to each of his three wives

Knows that there are approximately 60,000 Corinthians, and that there are two letters in the Bible dictated by Paul and written by amanuensis Sosthenes to the ancient Corinthians

Has asked God for forgiveness

Respects and supports our allies, and does not praise and support dictatorial adversaries

Has not had any close associates and advisors prosecuted and sent to prison

Does not demand fealty from everyone in his domain and expelling everyone considered disloyal

Does not promote conspiracy theories and false narratives

Does not refuse to release IRS tax forms

Does not mock disabled persons

Does not mock families whose sons have died in service to the USA

Does not mock and bully anyone who happens to have a different perspective or opinion

Does not display classic characteristics of severe narcissistic disorder

Does not live in an alternative reality that is unencumbered by facts and science

Does not listen to only sycophants, ass-kissers and power-hungry self-promoters

Does not claim that he is above the law

Does not claim credit for successes that are not his and blame others for his failures

Does not view the Presidency as a personal piggy bank for himself, family and associates

Does not put himself above the law and direct associates to do the same

Understands the importance of a vital and independent Fourth Estate

Understands why the flu vaccine does not protect a person from coronavirus COVID19

Understands that a President is working in the best interests of all in this country, unlike the current POTUS who considers the 53.9% of USAians who did not vote for him the enemy

Understands that bipartisanship, collaboration and compromise are required to address the nation’s pressing needs regarding health care, immigration, the environment, and other major issues

Understands that the Presidency is not a monarchy

Does not play golf

Actually reads

Tells the truth

KICKIN' IT WITH KIZ

Whenever I get an attitude about some stupidity in sports, I will shoot off an email to one of the Denver Post sports writers.  I have been pleasantly surprised that they actually read my rants and often reply.  One of my favorite writers is Mark Kiszla - Kiz is a favorite because he is funny and insightful, but more importantly I generally agree with him!  I've written to him a couple of times, with my latest affirming his rant that Michael Malone, the Denver Nuggets head coach, was wasting the opportunity to let a potential superstar, Michael Porter Jr, play rather than languish on the bench.   On February 29 Kiz wrote some blistering commentary regarding Malone's blindered approach to playing Porter - you can see it all here, but it may require a subscription to access, so I will clip some below:

There are too many apologists for the Nuggets. After the blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, it’s time to get real. Stacked against the toughest competition, you’re left with little reason to believe Denver is a championship-winning team this year. They have the talent, no doubt, but haven’t found the right formula to this point.

G.C., keeping it real

Kiz: Could it be the Nuggets’ starting five needs an overhaul? Although there are matchup exceptions to every rule, this should be the lineup introduced before the game and on the floor at crunch time: Nikola Jokic at center; Jerami Grant at power forward; Michael Porter Jr. at small forward; Will Barton at shooting guard, and Jamal Murray at point guard.

It amazes me Porter can get pulled for making a mistake, but Harris is allowed to continue to shoot – er, throw – balls off the side of the backboard. If the Nuggets want defense, play Torrey Craig. Harris should be sitting on the pine, compass in hand, trying to locate the basket.

Dan, Sarasota, Fla.

Kiz: Harris is last week’s news. The Nuggets have a MPJ problem. If Malone leaves Porter to rot on the bench, maybe Denver can trade him away in 2022 for a future second-round draft choice.

The Nuggets have got a lot of problems, Kiz. Harris is one of them. Paul Millsap is another. But the biggest problem of all is your friend Malone and his loyalty to Harris, Millsap and Craig.

Steven, problem-solver

Kiz: What did Forrest Gump’s momma used to say? Stubborn is as stubborn does. Or something like that.
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So, after the above appeared in the Denver Post, I sent a short email to affirm Kiz' perspective on the MPJ - Malone 'situation.'  Well, the very next game, Malone sat MPJ the entire game!!  So, I sent another email to Kiz saying basically that apparently Malone reads Kiz' column!  Interestingly, Kiz used our brief exchange in his next column:


Looks like Nuggets coach Michael Malone reads your column, Kiz. And he decided to show that sports guy only the coach decides if Michael Porter Jr. gets off the Denver bench.

Douglas, the wily professor

Kiz: After Malone complained about his team’s poor defense, I guess we should’ve seen a DNP coming for Porter in the victory at Charlotte. But let me point out something I bet Porter also duly noted. He scored a team-high 19 points and added eight rebounds during a decisive home victory over the Hornets in January, then plays zero minutes as Denver squeaks by the same team in March? Hey, if Malone wants to make an example out of Porter, that’s his business. But it’s also how a coach can destroy trust with a young player.
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So, henceforth you all may refer to me as The Wily Professor!!