Saturday, August 25, 2012

The First of First Year

Hey there!

So, as we're getting reacquainted, I thought it best to start at the beginning.  Throughout the year, we were given several different challenges.  (They call them assignments, but that is an understatement, as they intentionally choose things that have a heightened level of difficulty in order to push the class.)  For each 'challenge', we were tasked to write a song and given a new collaborator, along with a set of rules to follow.

Below are the lyrics I wrote as my first song of the semester.  The piece is based on the premise of a 'Sad Hello', and consists of a verse and a traditional AABA chorus structure.  The only place where the structure alters is the extension on the final A.

Side note:  Going forward, any lyrics to a song will be in all caps, as they would be in the libretto of a musical.  This will allow you to differentiate between what is sung and what is spoken.  (You're welcome!)

Side side note:  As my classmates may notice, this is not exactly as I presented it.  Due to compromises with my composer, the lyrics they ended up hearing were altered.  I personally prefer this version, as I feel the progression of the character is more fully realized.  (Just sayin'...)

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verse
MY HEART DROPPED TO THE FEET THAT BROUGHT ME THROUGH THE DOOR,
AND SHATTERED ON IT’S MELONCHOLY FALL.
A SHUDDER FLUTTERED THROUGH MY SPINE AND SHOOK ME TO THE CORE,
AS I HALTED, EYES LOCKED ON THE VISION WAITING ‘CROSS THE HALL.

THOUGH I KNOW SHE DIDN’T PLAN IT, I AM CURSING MY FRIEND LIZ,
FOR CHOOSING SUCH A LETHAL RENDEVOUS…
AND I HAVE TO SAY I’M PROUD OF JUST HOW STEADY MY VOICE IS,
AS I NONCHALANTLY, CAS-U-AL-LY SAY TO YOU…

chorus
HELLO BUFFETT
MY LONG LOST FRIEND
YOU’RE LOOKING WELL, AND HELL ONE LITTLE PLATE WON’T-
JUST A SALAD, PLEASE

STRANGE HOW TODAY,
YOU SHOULD EXTEND…
IT’S BEEN SO LONG, AND I’VE BEEN STRONG, SO IT’S O.-
NO!  JUST A SALAD, PLEASE.

THE SPREAD AHEAD IS OBVIOUSLY THE REASON THAT WE CAME,
AND THOUGH YOUR BATTERED DRUMSTICKS, ARE CALLING OUT MY NAME,
IF I GIVE IN, WELL, MY THIGHS ARE GONNA GROW TO TWICE THEIR SIZE…
IT’S A RISKY GAME!

HI, BAR-B-Q,
MAC & CHEESE, TOO?
YOU’RE VERY ‘KRAFT’-Y, DRAFTING HELP…TO SHAFT ME!
WHAT’S A GAL TO DO?

JUST A SALAD, PLEASE.

chorus
BON JOUR, FRENCH FRIES,
SO FULL OF SASS,
YOU HAD YOUR ROTTEN FRIEND, AU GRATIN, PAD MY –
PASS!  …A SALAD PLEASE!

UND GUTEN TAG,
TO YOU, HOT DOG!
SINCE I’M NOT SO SURE THAT YOU’RE KOSHER…OY VE!
…SALAD PLEASE!

IT’S NOT THAT I’M NOT TEMPTED, OH, I’VE CRAVINGS FOR YOU ALL...
THE FONDUE’S NOT EXEMPTED, NOR THE GIANT BUTTERBALL!
BUT A MOMENT'S CELEBRATION LEADS TO HELL AND PURE FRUSTRATION…
SO I MUSN'T FALL!

Y’ALL LOOK DIVINE!
IT’D BE A TREAT!
IF FUCKING SALAD WASN’T…’ALL-THAT-I- CAN-EAT!’

I’D GLADLY PASS THE YEARS WITH YOU, ‘OLD COUNTRY’, MY OLD PAL,
I’D HELP MYSELF TO HAPPINESS IN THAT ‘GOLDEN CORRAL’
AND THOUGH IT MAY SOUND GROSS, I’D POLISH OFF A ‘PONDEROSA’…
WITH THE GREATEST EASE,
BUT NOW JUST A SALAD…
I’LL ALLOW A SALAD…
BUT HOW I HATE SALAD…!

‘Oh, just give me a freakin’ plate!  First stop, dessert bar!’

PLEASE!


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And now, some extra fun!!

Since a blog is nothing without it's readers, I am going to invite YOU to be part of the process!

This particular song could potentially have dozens of choruses, and go on forever, just like Porter's 'You're The Top'...

Leave a comment below, suggesting something food or buffet related that you'd like to see worked into a verse, and I'll see what I can do and update everyone with new verses!

Together, we can make this song last longer than the end of 'Hey Jude'!

Until next time...

-Lee
...of 'Lee'rical Wordplay...

.....in case there was any question...

2 comments:

  1. My memory of eating at buffets as a child is the dessert section. Soft serve ice cream, chocolate pudding, scooping whip cream on everything... yummmm

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't know, how about asian cuisine? Rice, noodles, sushi, and such...

    ReplyDelete