Welcome to The Tangled Branch!  Join us.

Holiday Woe

General Poetry - post, comment, review, critique
Post Reply
ajduclos
Posts: 1746
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:35 pm

Holiday Woe

Post by ajduclos » Mon Dec 09, 2019 1:50 pm

Holiday Woe       -       the lyrics 

Put away the bird
Black Friday's come and gone
time for the absurd
décor on the front lawn 

Throw out the pumpkins
cranberries and gourdes
put up lights and holly
to shimmy for the hordes

   What happened to Christmas
   Where did that warmth go
   Those times of peace and joy
   Now it's all about show 

So deck the perfect tree
timed candles in windows
schedule parties and fêtes
dressed in holiday woe 

Buy bigger and better
buy for Mary and Joe
buy uncommon and clever
and more before the snow 

   What happened to Christmas
   Where did that warmth go
   Those times of peace and joy
   Now it's all about show 

Yet through village streets
Norman Rockwell parades
a nod to our heritage
a cry we have strayed       

This Grinch feels alarm
heeds the manger yarn
heads for tranquil farm
peace and joy in the barn 

   What happened to Christmas
   Where did that warmth go
   Simpler times of old
   Veiled in aged Yuletide snow
   Those times of peace and joy
   Lost in holiday woe

   

User avatar
Colm Roe
Posts: 2697
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:45 am

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by Colm Roe » Thu Dec 12, 2019 7:04 pm

Indeed...where did the warmth go?
Nice read aj.

User avatar
Tracy Mitchell
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:11 pm

I read these well as quality lyrics -- the few bumps in cadence can be smoothed by the vocalist.  I very much like the nostalgic view.

Good stuff, Aimè.   And Happy Holidays.


ajduclos
Posts: 1746
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:35 pm

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by ajduclos » Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:10 am

Thanks Colm and Tracy.

Yes, Tracy, a good vocalist takes an interpretive approach to bumps and it can play out well, sometimes enhances the song.

The last stanza has evolved into 3 new stanzas:

     What happened to Christmas
     That star's soothing glow
     Simpler times of old
     Veiled in Yuletide snow  

   Hold your children close
   Watch their smiles appear
   Safe in youthful hopes
   As you hold back a tear  

     What happened to Christmas
     Where did that warmth go
     Those times of peace and joy
     Lost in holiday woe

 

User avatar
Tracy Mitchell
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Fri Jan 03, 2020 11:34 am

Very nice revision :)

User avatar
Deb
Posts: 769
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:10 am
Location: Southern California USA
Contact:

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by Deb » Mon Jan 06, 2020 11:49 pm

Nice, AJ.

You may have written the next Christmas hit. I'm filled with the same sort of longing for nostalgia during the Holidays. When do we get to hear it put to music?


~Deb

poet-e
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 3:10 pm

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by poet-e » Tue Jan 07, 2020 1:12 am

Nicely done.  It has certainly changed a lot!

ajduclos
Posts: 1746
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2019 1:35 pm

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by ajduclos » Wed Jan 08, 2020 6:58 am

Thanks Tracy, Deb and Poet-e............

I recorded it before Christmas at my "kitchen table" and am now awaiting the magic clean-up work that my friend Shawn does in his basement hide-out/studio.  He's currently "offline", so it might be a while.

When I do post the music it will be in "Commons" in the "Songs - The Other Poetry" thread."

Aj 
  

User avatar
Tracy Mitchell
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:18 pm

Looking forward to it.

T

Sharon Leigh
Posts: 272
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:07 am
Location: Midwest US

Re: Holiday Woe

Post by Sharon Leigh » Mon Jan 13, 2020 5:41 pm

Lots of fun, I could almost hear the music. An honest look at the post-holidays letdown. There's still some in my hometown with christmas decor on the housefront/lawn.  😖
"This creature of the poem may assemble itself into a being with its own centrifugal force."-- Sharon Olds

Post Reply